Loading
08:00 AM
  1. Marquee, Terrace & Boulevard Ballrooms
    8:00 am - 5:00 pm
  2. Registration Lobby
    8:00 am - 6:00 pm
09:00 AM
  1. Grand 121-124
    Pre-registration required. Sponsored by SpartanNash Retailers & Wholesalers: Join us for moderated table discussions on a variety of topics impacting the grocery industry. Attendees will choose from: …
02:15 PM
  1. Grand 121-124
    Speakers and details coming soon! Sponsored by FMS Solutions
  2. Grand 113-114
04:15 PM
  1. Grand Ballroom pre-function space
    Sponsored by FMS Solutions
04:45 PM
  1. Main Stage (Grand Ballroom)
    Greg Ferrara, President and CEO of NGA, and Richie Morgan, Executive Chairman of North State Grocery, Inc. and Chairman of the NGA Board, reflect on a year of progress marked by advocacy wins, enhance …
06:15 PM
  1. Grand Ballroom pre-function space
07:00 AM
  1. Main Stage (Grand Ballroom)
08:00 AM
  1. Main Stage (Grand Ballroom)
    Sponsored by WGA & Coca-Cola   Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most talked about and transformative forces in business today, yet for many in the supermarket industry, its true impact remai …
09:15 AM
  1. Grand 124
    The future of grocery may actually lie in the past. Pullman Market, led by Kevin Fink of Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group, is redefining what innovation looks like by returning to the roots of craft, qua …
  2. Grand 113
    Sponsored by Webstop As shopper behavior evolves, retailers’ marketing must adapt to keep pace. Today’s grocer is faced with navigating various shopper preferences as they seek to maintain high levels …
  3. Grand 114
    Join a panel of forward-thinking independent retailers as they share how artificial intelligence and automation are transforming the way they run their businesses. From improving inventory accuracy to …
    In today’s competitive grocery landscape, the look and feel of your store are powerful drivers of shopper behavior—and ultimately, your bottom line. This session brings together experts from Imoon and …
10:15 AM
  1. Grand 113
    For years, whether through web, social, email, or other channels, digital marketing efforts have focused on reaching shoppers before they make the trip to the store. Meanwhile, once the shopper walked …
  2. Grand 121
    Inflation, tariffs and ongoing supply chain pressures are among the challenges facing retailers, manufacturers and consumers alike. Grocers are seeing margins squeezed even tighter as they partner wit …
  3. Grand 112
    From ransomware to phishing and supply chain breaches, cyberattacks are no longer a distant risk—they’re an everyday reality for retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers across the grocery industry. As d …
  4. Grand 114
    Retail crime continues to rise, putting pressure on independent grocers to protect their people and assets without overwhelming staff. This session explores how AI-powered face matching is helping gro …
  5. Grand 113
    The weekly circular used to do the heavy lifting and has been a long standing retail staple but today’s shopper journeys are anything but linear. In an increasingly fragmented media landscape, retaile …
  6. Grand 111
    The grocery industry is facing unprecedented workforce challenges—from labor shortages and rising costs to changing expectations shaped by gig work, technology, and AI. In this dynamic panel, presente …
11:00 AM
  1. Marquee, Terrace & Boulevard Ballrooms
11:30 AM
  1. Grand 122
    Discover how direct-to-consumer food trends—driven by viral social media moments, influencer partnerships, and emerging digital-first brands—are reshaping what shoppers expect on grocery shelves. Univ …
  2. Grand 121
    Discover how direct-to-consumer food trends—driven by viral social media moments, influencer partnerships, and emerging digital-first brands—are reshaping what shoppers expect on grocery shelves. Univ …
  3. Grand 123
    Discover how direct-to-consumer food trends—driven by viral social media moments, influencer partnerships, and emerging digital-first brands—are reshaping what shoppers expect on grocery shelves. Univ …
  4. Marquee Stage sponsored by SPINS
    Ecom, plan-o-grams, marketing, shelf tags, o-my! The list of where you need high quality product images and information continues to grow. Join SPINS IX-ONE as they outline how independent grocers lev …
01:00 PM
  1. Boulevard Stage sponsored by Nielsen IQ
    Sponsored by the Mahoney Group This session will walk you through exactly how grocers like you are slashing healthcare costs without gutting coverage. We’ll unpack real-world case studies, hard number …
02:00 PM
  1. Connections Hub (Boulevard Ballroom)
    Speed networking sessions in the Connections Hub. Retailers and sponsors rotate through five-minute introductions, followed by a social hour for continued conversations.
02:30 PM
  1. Marquee Stage sponsored by SPINS
    Sponsored by LocalExpress With many grocery retail options available today, consumers demand convenience, relevance and seamless shopping experiences across in-store and digital shopping platforms. AI …
03:30 PM
  1. Boulevard Stage sponsored by Nielsen IQ
    Invitation-only presentation of the 4th Annual Exceptional Independents Awards, honoring  the independent U.S. grocery operators whose innovation, dedication, and community leadership set them apart. …
04:00 PM
  1. Marquee, Terrace & Boulevard Ballrooms
05:00 PM
  1. Main Stage (Grand Ballroom)
    Cheer on your state's best bagger! Baggers from across the country will vie for the championship title and a $10,000 grand prize.   Sponsored by PepsiCo
07:00 AM
  1. Main Stage (Grand Ballroom)
  2. Registration Lobby
    7:00 am - 4:00 pm
07:30 AM
  1. Main Stage (Grand Ballroom)
    Sponsored by UNFI Don't miss the exciting final round of the Student Case Study Competition to find out which school has the most compeling solution to help independent retailers!
08:15 AM
  1. Main Stage (Grand Ballroom)
    Presented by the Specialty Foods Association With shoppers tightening their budgets and hopping between channels, grocers are under more pressure than ever to drive loyalty and grow basket size. That’ …
09:15 AM
  1. Grand 121
    This in-depth educational workshop is designed specifically for owners and leaders of closely held and family businesses seeking to navigate the complexities of taxation, estate planning, and strategi …
  2. Grand 111
    Effective managers drive retention- through visibility, personal connection, team-building, feedback and showing employees a clear path forward. Join this panel discussion to uncover how independent g …
  3. Grand 112
    Managing a new business system rollout while implementing FSMA 204 is no small feat. This candid case study shares challenges faced and solutions applied by both leadership and IT. Attendees will hear …
  4. Grand 122
    Consumer demand for wellness-driven, transparent food is accelerating—just as healthcare programs are redefining how people access and pay for healthy products. This session brings together a data ana …
  5. Grand 124
    Consumers judge a grocery store by its fresh departments—and retailers who excel here win. This breakout dives into how fresh leaders can craft a clear and compelling point of difference- by leveragin …
  6. To Be Announced
    In times of increased competition and economic pressures, storytelling is possibly the most powerful tool independent grocers can capitalize on to differentiate themselves from their big box retail co …
10:00 AM
  1. Marquee, Terrace & Boulevard Ballrooms
11:00 AM
  1. Connections Hub (Boulevard Ballroom)
    Speed networking sessions in the Connections Hub. Retailers and sponsors rotate through five-minute introductions, followed by a social hour for continued conversations.
  2. Boulevard Stage sponsored by Nielsen IQ
    A strategic guide to enhancing the shopper journey within the deli. Sponsored by Dietz & Watson  
12:30 PM
  1. Marquee Stage sponsored by SPINS
    Catch a glimpse of future talent-- University students will judge products and services showcased on the expo floor. They will present an award to the most deserving exhibitor on stage  with a quick p …
02:00 PM
  1. Nielsen IQ Stage (Boulevard Ballroom)
    Sponsored by Nielsen IQ Enjoy networking and drinks to cheers to another successful year on the NGA Show Expo floor!
03:00 PM
  1. Main Stage (Grand Ballroom)
    Independent grocers are at a crossroads—adapt or risk losing customers to mega-chains. This closing session reveals how local retailers can blend advanced technology, fresh merchandising, and strategi …
05:00 PM
  1. Producer's Pool
    Sponsored by Wakefern Food Corp.