NGA Show to feature 30 educational sessions, workshops aimed at indies

With more than 30 educational workshops and sessions led by industry experts, the National Grocers Association says its 2024 show will offer highly specialized content designed specifically for independent grocers.

Hosted by the association and Clarion Events, the 2024 NGA Show is scheduled for March 10-12 at Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas.

“The education sessions at The NGA Show are part of a diverse industry curriculum ranging from marketing and merchandising to operations and technology to human resources and finance,” NGA President and CEO Greg Ferrara said in a news release. “The show is a chance to work on your business and an opportunity to recharge and get inspired by the many expert-driven educational opportunities. Combined with content offered by the co-located IGA Rally and Indoor Ag-Con, the NGA Show lineup makes for a formidable agenda of actionable insights designed to propel your business forward.”

Here are some of the sessions and speakers at the 2024 NGA Show, according to the release:

• Technology — The technology summit returns with a new lineup of innovators illustrating how tech can streamline retail operations and take friction out of the customer experience. The summit will offer a broad look at topics like personalizing shopper connections, tech's impact on marketing and merchandising, plus the release of a new exclusive consumer survey by Acosta Group and MorningNewsBeat. Throughout the show, breakout sessions will focus on multiple aspects of artificial intelligence, in-store tech and e-commerce, including Online SNAP.
• Finance — FMS Solutions returns with its financial symposium looking at the impact of supply shortages, a diminished labor force, margin tightening and inflation. Sessions will look at profit improvement, exit strategies and environmental programs for businesses.
• Retail strategy — Todd Hale, a shopper insights consultant whose decades of experience include 30 years at Nielsen, will deliver “U.S. Retail Hot Buttons: Driving Change and Growth in Retail.” Hale’s presentation, sponsored by Kimberly-Clark Corp., will include real-life examples of how companies are driving growth.
• Operations — Sessions in this track will focus on navigating new regulations regarding refrigeration, strategic succession planning, coping with traceability regulations, reducing theft at the front end, training for retention and strategies for reducing shrink. Additionally, NGA’s government relations team will provide a regulatory and policy update. Plus, a gathering of BIPOC (Black, indigenous and people of color) grocery entrepreneurs will share their insights on how to leverage cultural diversity as a competitive advantage.
• Omnichannel marketing — These sessions will delve into tapping retail media networks, crafting cohesive marketing strategies, boosting baskets with digital promotions and harnessing the power of AI.
• Merchandising — This wide-ranging track will explore international food sales, the fundamentals of driving units and value, electronic shelf labels, trends in deli and dairy, the power of store brands, and leveraging sustainability.
• Fresh foods — These sessions will focus on growing sales in key fresh departments such as meat and produce.
• People development — Human resources topics include trends in health insurance and retirement funds, as well as strategies to improve retention.
• Kicking off the program Sunday, March 10, and sponsored by KraftHeinz, is the opening keynote speaker, Carla Hall, a dynamic chef, entrepreneur and leader. Hall has appeared on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” ABC’s Emmy-winning lifestyle series “The Chew” and the Food Network show “Thanksgiving, Holiday and Halloween Baking Championships.” Hall is the author of the bestselling cookbook, “Carla Hall’s Soul Food: Everyday and Celebration.”

A complete list of sessions and speakers is available at www.theNGAshow.com.