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Tuesday, March 24
Lemon Learning Lounge
9:30 - 9:55 AM
Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs) - A retailer panel discussion
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Learn about ESLs from your peers!
Are they paying for themselves and in what ways?
How have customers responded?
How have employees responded?
Are they easy to install?
Would they do anything different next time?
Are they paying for themselves and in what ways?
How have customers responded?
How have employees responded?
Are they easy to install?
Would they do anything different next time?
Presented by Chuck Korenic, RDS
[more]
Chuck Korenic has been working in the grocery industry for over 25 years. Working for a three-store chain in the suburbs of Chicago, he started his grocery experience working summers in the meat department. After college, he accepted the Director of IT position for the same company, eventually settling into the position of General Manager of the company. After the company’s sale in 2010, he came over to RDS, where he continued to expand his grocery knowledge. Focused on customer service and product utilization, Chuck has been helping retailers navigate and get the most out of their technology for the last 14 years with RDS. He is currently General Manager of RDS North Central.
10:00 - 10:25 AM
EmpowerFresh AI - Guaranteed ROI day 1
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Discover how artificial intelligence is transforming produce ordering across grocery retail. In this session, EmpowerFresh shares how AI-driven insights can help produce teams make faster, data-backed decisions, reduce shrink, and boost sales—all while simplifying the ordering process. Learn how leading wholesalers and retailers are leveraging automation to stay competitive in today’s fresh market.
Presented by Jesse Himango, EmpowerFresh
[more]
Raised in a retail grocery produce department, Jesse has been a grocer his entire life, following in the footsteps of his father, Bob, a lifelong grocer. Now the architect of EmpowerFresh AI, Jesse brings his passion and experience to helping grocers succeed and win every day.
10:30 - 10:55 AM
Cash Without the Complexity: Digitizing Cash Management for Grocers
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Cash isn't going away, but the way you manage it can be simplified. This session explores how small and mid-sized grocers can convert complex cash processes into a streamlined digital operation. Learn how to reduce labor costs, enhance security, accelerate access to working capital, and gain real-time visibility across locations, so your team can focus on what matters most: your customers.
Presented by Jackie Wentz, Brink's Inc.
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Jackie Wentz is a Director of Digital Solutions at Brink's, helping small and mid-market retailers streamline cash operations and reduce costs. She partners with operators to cut labor expenses, accelerate access to working capital, and improve security, freeing managers to focus on customers and growth instead of handling cash.
11:00 - 11:25 AM
Store Operations Excellence for Whole Store Profit Optimization
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Store Operations Excellence for Whole Store Profit Optimization
Participants will learn the 5 Triggers that drive Sales and Gross Margin. When companies learn and apply The 5 Triggers System, "excessive shrink" can be reduced 25%, driving 18% Gross Margin Gains.
Presented by Larry Miller, Profit Trax
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Larry Miller is a life-long Grocer. Today, with his team at SRS, he guarantees Grocers 15% reduction in store shrink for 18% gross margin gains in just 100 days. He is creator of ProfitTrax AI for Whole Store Profit Optimization, System, Scan-it for Store Ordering, The Total Store Manager Training program, ShrinkTrax, and the National Supermarket Shrink & Operations Group.
1:00 - 1:25 PM
The Future of Grocery Operations Starts at the Shelf
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Vusion empowers independent grocers with real-time shelf intelligence to boost price accuracy, product availability, and operational efficiency. Our AI-driven solutions reduce manual work, prevent out-of-stocks, and deliver actionable insights at the shelf and beyond. Scalable across stores, Vusion helps protect margins, cut food waste, and improve merchandising for smarter, more profitable retail.
Presented by Justin Hillier, Vusion
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Justin Hillier is Vice President of Client Solutions – Data & AI at Vusion, where he drives data analytics and AI strategies to enhance retail technology solutions. With extensive experience in customer insights and retail media from leadership roles at Google and dunnhumby, Justin specializes in developing data-driven strategies that improve efficiency and deliver impactful results for CPGs and retailers.
1:30 - 1:55 PM
Why Your Data Isn’t Ready for AI — and What to Do About It
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Discover what’s blocking AI adoption. Learn practical steps to make data useful for personalization, segmentation, forecasting, and more—plus a checklist of actionable strategies to start now.
Presented by Daniel Smith, James Councill, ECRS
[more]
Daniel Smith is Analytics & Reporting Business Unit Manager at ECRS and Product Owner for Cognition, a data warehouse and AI tool empowering retailers with actionable insights. With 7+ years in analytics, Daniel helps grocers optimize operations, improve decisions, and drive profitability through scalable, innovative strategies.
James Councill is Product Owner and Business Unit Manager for Loyalty & Promotions at ECRS. With 10+ years in product development and digital marketing, he leads an expert team creating loyalty solutions that boost customer engagement and promotional success for retailers.
James Councill is Product Owner and Business Unit Manager for Loyalty & Promotions at ECRS. With 10+ years in product development and digital marketing, he leads an expert team creating loyalty solutions that boost customer engagement and promotional success for retailers.
2:00 - 2:25 PM
From Meal Intent to Basket Lift: Loyalty Powered AI Shopping for Independent Grocers
Courtyard #3 First Floor
See how AWG, Breez AI and Loyalty Lane partnered to launch SmartMeals, an integrated, white label AI meal planning and shopping experience across 100 AWG member stores. We will share what drives engagement, how loyalty data improves personalization over time, and how proactive independents are deploying AI
Presented by Tal Zlotnitsky, Breez AI, and Bill Gray, Loyalty Lane
[more]
Tal Zlotnitsky is the CEO of Breez AI, a white label AI meal planning and grocery shopping assistant built for grocery retailers. A longtime CEO and technology transformation visionary, he has founded and scaled multiple technology companies, including iControl Mobile and iControl Data. He focuses on practical innovation that drives measurable retailer results.
Bill Gray is President and CEO of Loyalty Lane, a premier customer engagement platform that transforms overwhelming retailer data into meaningful, sales-driving actions. With decades of experience in business development and loyalty programs, Bill has grown Loyalty Lane into a leading technology services company for independent grocers across the U.S., helping retailers increase profits with more trips and bigger baskets.
Bill Gray is President and CEO of Loyalty Lane, a premier customer engagement platform that transforms overwhelming retailer data into meaningful, sales-driving actions. With decades of experience in business development and loyalty programs, Bill has grown Loyalty Lane into a leading technology services company for independent grocers across the U.S., helping retailers increase profits with more trips and bigger baskets.
2:30 - 2:55 PM
Reducing Loss & Risk: Turning real-time data into margin protection and risk mitigation
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Join us to learn invaluable insights and practical solutions for reducing food waste, lower insurance exposure, and protect grocery margins across stores and departments.
Presented by Todd Gebski, Ladle and Wells Gunn, Houchens Insurance Group
[more]
Todd Gebski is CEO of Ladle whose grocery solutions include Storewise, ComplianceMate, and MeazureUp. Todd brings over twenty years of executive experience building high-growth SaaS businesses, driving digital transformation, shaping strategy, and helping grocers strengthen operations and compliance. Wells Gunn is the Consumer Staples & Retail Practice Leader at Houchens Insurance Group. Wells focuses on building and managing comprehensive risk management programs for independent retailers, food manufacturers, and wholesalers nationwide.
3:00 - 3:25 PM
Payday Reimagined: How Grocery Employers Can Empower Today's Workforce
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Discover how earned wage access and digital pay solutions help grocery employers boost retention, reduce financial stress, and empower employees with faster, flexible access to earnings.
Presented by Wally Wright, Fiserv
[more]
Seasoned Sales Executive with 30+ years in financial services, specializing in prepaid, payroll, and disbursement solutions. I excel in C‑level engagement, enterprise sales, and customer relationship management, driving revenue and market growth for major industry leaders through a consultative approach and deep expertise in scalable financial technologies
3:30 - 3:55 PM
2026 Tech Trends: Retailers & ISVs on the Future of Grocery
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Join our panel of Retailers and IT leaders as they unpack the 2026 tech trends reshaping grocery - what’s coming, what matters, and how grocers can stay competitive.
Presented by Jason Dilleha, DCR
Panelists:
Amanda Benson, Houchens Food Group
Rene Stai, LOC Software
Lora Coggins, Partner Tech USA
[more]
Moderated By:
Jason Dilleha - Director of Sales - DCR
Panelists:
Amanda Benson - Information Systems Manager - Houchens Food Group
Rene Stai - Head of Marketing - LOC Software
Lora Coggins - Sr. Sales, Business Development Executive - Partner Tech USA
Jason Dilleha - Director of Sales - DCR
Panelists:
Amanda Benson - Information Systems Manager - Houchens Food Group
Rene Stai - Head of Marketing - LOC Software
Lora Coggins - Sr. Sales, Business Development Executive - Partner Tech USA
4:00 - 4:25 PM
The Smarter Way to Compete: Enterprise Power Made Simple for Independents
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Scale margins and compete better without adding labor! AppCard integrates in-store tech & digital experiences with AI-powered insights to automate loyalty and drive growth for independent grocers.
Presented by Eran Harel, AppCard
[more]
Eran is a respected leader in independent grocery and ROFDA Advisory Board Member with deep retail and wholesale relationships. He partners with global teams to deliver practical, scalable technology that solves real-world challenges, equipping independent grocers with the smartest tools needed to drive repeat business and protect their legacy for generations.
4:30 - 4:55 PM
Expanding Acceptance of OTC/HBC Benefit Programs
Courtyard #3 First Floor
Expanding grocers acceptance of OTC and grocery benefits cards - Come learn how easy it is to get activated with your existing POS team
Presented by Judd Ferrer, Fincretive
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Judd is a multi-patent award-winning, payments and retail technology innovator with global experience. He has been at the forefront of payments and retail innovation for over 25 years and has worked internationally and in the US developing services and products that streamline retail and service provider solutions and enhance customer experiences.
Orange Learning Lounge
9:30 - 9:55 AM
2026 SNAP Shoppers - What you need to know!
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Currently, 13% of American households receive SNAP benefits. These shoppers take more grocery trips and have higher total grocery spend compared to non-SNAP households. This year, several federal and state policy changes will impact overall SNAP participation and introduce new purchasing restrictions. Join us to hear more about this very important and valuable shopper segment!
Presented by Karen Lee, Kraft Heinz
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Karen has almost 20 years of experience working in Consumer & Shopper Insights across Retail and CPG. She is currently at Kraft Heinz, leading the efforts to uncover enterprise-level shopper insights and bring world class thought leadership to our retail partners.
10:00 - 10:25 AM
Attracting Health-Conscious Shoppers with Premium Products at a Value
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Learn about delicious nutrient dense, affordable options available to make healthy living attainable for every consumer. Combining convenience, value and ingredients with proven wellness benefits, Wellwerks and Nuwerks private brands simplify consumers’ choices and allow independent grocers to stand apart with on-trend, premium, differentiated offerings, and build deeper connections with shoppers.
Presented by Joe Bradley and
Kristin Kirkpatrick, Wellwerks & Nuwerks
[more]
Joe Bradley is CEO of Step Change Innovations, a boutique private label innovation firm built on science-backed ingredients. With 20+ years across functional food, beverage, and dietary supplements, he turns validated science into products that earn trust, velocity, and repeat purchase. Over the past four years, he has scaled Step Change commercialization programs and expanded retail-ready platforms Wellwerks and Nüwerks.
With over 22 years of experience at the Cleveland Clinic and as a best-selling author, Kristin Kirkpatrick is a premier authority on nutrition trends. Her deep expertise in nutrigenomics and metabolic health makes her an essential voice for retailers looking to align products with science-backed consumer wellness demands.
With over 22 years of experience at the Cleveland Clinic and as a best-selling author, Kristin Kirkpatrick is a premier authority on nutrition trends. Her deep expertise in nutrigenomics and metabolic health makes her an essential voice for retailers looking to align products with science-backed consumer wellness demands.
10:30 - 10:55 AM
Unlocking Food Conversion via Regional Playbooks
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Food Conversion is PIVOTAL to drive long-term sustainable growth across Regional Grocery. This session will focus on the key elements of Regional Grocery Playbooks that can unlock incremental growth in ways that is relevant to your business models and helps build long-term relationships with your shoppers.
Presented by Mariana Y. Eagen, Proctor & Gamble
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Mariana Y. Eagen has worked for Procter & Gamble for 17 years and is currently the Analytics & Insights Director for Midwest Grocery. She graduated from The University of Texas at Austin after completing her BBA in International Business and later completed her MBA at Indiana University. Mariana has had a diverse set of experiences impacting Brand Strategy across various P&G categories via Consumer & Market Insights and Advanced Analytics. For the past nine years, she has focused on the application of Deep Shopper Insights & Market Analytics across retail strategies that drive sustainable growth for both P&G and retailers combined.
11:00 - 11:25 AM
What's in Store? - 2026 Guiding Trends & Influencers Impacting Deli Bakery
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Explore five guiding trends influencing dairy, deli, and bakery in 2026, with timely insights and highlights from IDDBA's annual What's in Store industry report.
Presented by David Haaf, IDDBA
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David Haaf is the President and CEO of the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA), leading strategic initiatives for its 1,600 members and overseeing its flagship annual convention. With over three decades of leadership in retail deli, bakery, foodservice, and Starbucks operations including as VP of Foodservice & Starbucks Operations at K-VAT Food Stores—David brings a wealth of industry expertise. A certified Chef de Cuisine and Marine Corps veteran, he resides in Madison, WI, with his wife and daughter. The family is active in their faith community, and both David and his daughter hold 1st Degree Black Belts in Taekwondo.
1:00 - 1:25 PM
Decoding Gen Z: Unlocking the Next Wave of Retail Growth
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Unpack what motivates Gen Z shoppers and how to activate those insights to drive traffic, conversion, and category growth.
Presented by Sarah Bader, Kellanova
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Sarah is an insights leader with 25 years of experience turning data into growth-driving strategy. She is currently Shopper Insights Director at Mars, supporting iconic brands like Eggo, Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts. Sarah's passion is understanding WHY shoppers do what they do - then helping to activate those insights for brands and retailers.
1:30 - 1:55 PM
Analytical Insights to Grow Seafood Sales
Courtyard #4 First Floor
How analytics drive smarter seafood decisions, revealing where to grow, optimize assortments, execute winning promotions, and translate trends into in-store results across categories, regions, and stores.
Presented by Scott Kalil, Beaver Street Fisheries
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Scott is the Director of Retail Sales at Beaver Street Fisheries / Sea Best, with nearly 20 years of experience in driving seafood growth with retailers. He specializes in turning complex seafood markets into actionable strategies to increase sales, margins, and retailer performance.
2:00 - 2:25 PM
250 Years, One Global Stage: Activating World Cup & America's 250th
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Explore how World Cup and America's 250th activations turn cultural moments into impactful displays and promotions that engage consumers and elevate brand relevance.
Presented by Miguel Trejo Macin, Ferrero
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CPG sales professional with 12+ years of experience across multiple categories. Currently with Ferrero for four years in progressive roles. Holds a bachelorettes degree from UTSA and an MBA from SMU, bringing a strategic, growth-focused approach to commercial leadership.
2:30 - 2:55 PM
The Role of AI in Shopping Trends and Patterns
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Explore how AI is reshaping shopping behavior, trust, and decision-making and what brands and retailers must do to win in an increasingly AI-driven future.
Presented by Kathy Risch, Unilever
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Kathy currently oversees 50 thought leadership shopper studies fielded annually through their own proprietary Shopper Community. Prior to her 7 years at Acosta Group, Kathy held consumer insights leadership roles at P&G, Neutrogena, Paramount Pictures, and Anheuser-Busch InBev.
3:00 - 3:25 PM
From Data to Decisions: Leveraging AI Across the Grocery Enterprise
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Take a strategic look at how grocers can thoughtfully adopt AI tools to drive efficiency and insights. Explore practical AI applications in use by independent grocers, such as conversing with your data, automating invoice reconciliation and receiving, and building intelligent dashboards.
Presented by John Abbene, BrData
[more]
With over 35 years at BRdata, John has been instrumental in shaping software solutions and best practices tailored to independent retailers and wholesalers in the grocery industry. He works closely with the BRdata team and retail partners to ensure BRdata continues to grow and provide exceptional applications and services.
3:30 - 3:55 PM
Creating incremental sales growth through everyday floral selling in store
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Leveraging incremental sales through everyday floral. Building a floral program from scratch.
Presented by Anita Miller, Brightland Farms
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Floral sales and business development executive with more than 25 years assisting retailers in building sales through everyday floral programs. Specializing in developing programs for retailers new to the floral category.
4:00 - 4:25 PM
Attracting Value-Seeking Consumers
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Consumers are seeking more value, but what does that truly mean? This session explores these concepts and ways to bring them to life in store.
Presented by Clint Gagel, Reese Group
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Senior Vice President of the Reese Group Central Region Team covering Associated Wholesale Grocers and Partner Retailers. 27 years in Consumer Packaged Goods including leadership roles in the manufacturer and broker portions of the business. Residence in Overland Park, KS for the past 12 years.
4:30 - 4:55 PM
Hispanic Produce Merchandising and Promotional Pricing
Courtyard #4 First Floor
Targeted produce merchandising and promotional pricing strategies maximize sales by aligning displays, pricing, and product selection with Hispanic consumer trends and cultural preferences.
Presented by Jesse Garcia, Grande Produce
[more]
Jesse Garcia is a seasoned fresh produce sales and merchandising leader with a track record of growing revenue and margin across retail and wholesale channels. His career spans roles as produce manager, director of produce & floral, produce specialist, buyer, and sales director. Jesse excels at category management, vendor partnerships, pricing and promotions, and in-store execution consistently driving profitable growth while elevating quality, assortment, and shopper experience.