From Instinct to Advantage: How Wholesalers Help Stores Win with Confident Decisions

Feb 02, 2026
Marquee Stage sponsored by SPINS
Business Strategy

Store teams make countless decisions every day, often under pressure and with limited time to understand what is really driving performance. Wholesalers and distribution leaders see patterns across many stores and are uniquely positioned to turn that broader visibility into clarity, confidence, and better decisions at the store level.

In this fast-paced conversation, AFS and Salient share how leading wholesalers partner with store teams to improve buying decisions, strengthen promotions, reduce surprises, and create more consistent results across the network. The session focuses on the habits, conversations, and shared understanding that allow wholesalers to support stores more effectively and help everyone perform better.

Join us to explore how wholesalers who invest in alignment and clarity become stronger partners to their stores and deliver better outcomes across the grocery business.

Sponsored by Salient. 

Speakers
Renee Ray
Renee Ray, Director, Retail and Wholesale Consulting - Salient Corporation
Mindy Miller
Mindy Miller, VP of Analytics - Associated Food Stores