OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — With about 20 produce exhibitors alone and dozens of other food exhibitors besides, the March 25-26 Associated Wholesale Grocers’ seventh annual Innovation Showcase and Annual Meeting was bigger than ever.
“We absolutely love doing this for our members,” said Tim Graas, executive director for produce for Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kansas City, Kan.
Associated Wholesale Grocers is a cooperative food wholesaler owned by and supplying 1,100 independent member retailers in the company’s 33-state footprint, according to its website.
Produce exhibitors at the event included Sunkist, The Wonderful Company, World Variety Produce, Red Sun Farms, Mountain View Fruit, Pacific Trellis Fruit, Dole, Sage Fruit Co., Grande Produce, Avocados From Mexico, C&C Produce, Taylor Farms, RPE Inc., Sunkist Growers, iFoodDS, Giumarra and NatureSweet.
In addition to the two-day exhibitor showcase, the event featured nearly 40 learning sessions for members. Keynote speakers included FMI President Leslie Sarasin, Fox NFL analyst and former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Terry Bradshaw, and global futurist Daniel Burrus.
“We’ve been working on this show for seven months from our initial meetings,” Graas said. Associated Wholesale Grocers looked at other industry trade shows as it planned the event, he said, incorporating some of those features into its show.
The 2024 Innovation Showcase had its highest attendance ever, Graas said.
“There are tons of retailers, tons of vendors and tons of opportunities to help the independent retailer get better,” he said. “That’s what we’re all about.”
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