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Internal Succession Planning: Preparing Your Next Leaders
As grocery continues to navigate a rapidly evolving workforce landscape, intentional succession planning has never been more critical. This session brings together a panel of human resource leaders from leading independent grocery companies to share how they are building strong leadership pipelines from within.
Panelists will explore practical, real-world approaches to identifying high-potential talent, developing future leaders at every level of the organization, and ensuring continuity in key roles—without losing the culture that defines independent grocers. Attendees will gain insights into what’s working now, what’s changing, and how to future-proof their leadership strategies amid ongoing labor challenges and generational shifts.
Key Takeaways:
- Proven methods for identifying and assessing high-potential employees early
- Strategies to align succession planning with company culture, values, and long-term growth
- Best practices for developing leaders through mentorship, stretch assignments, and cross-training
- How to prepare for retirements, turnover, and unexpected leadership gaps
- Tools and metrics HR teams can use in 2026 to track leadership readiness and bench strength
