2026 Agenda

Understanding where the industry is headed begins with a clear view of where it has been. In this forward-looking session, Robert Graybill will examine key financial, operational, and macroeconomic trends that shaped independent grocery performance throughout 2025 and into early 2026. Drawing on FMS benchmarking data and industry-wide indicators, Graybill will highlight emerging patterns, shifts in consumer behavior, cost pressures, and competitive dynamics that will influence the year ahead.

Attendees will gain timely insight into how economic conditions, labor trends, inflationary movement, category performance, and store-level financial indicators are evolving—and what these signals mean for independent operators. This session is designed to help grocers anticipate challenges, identify opportunities, and make more informed strategic decisions in a rapidly changing marketplace.

Sponsored by FMS Solutions