BJ’s Wholesale Club Chief Merchant Rachael Vegas shares her leadership approach and how building a strong, inclusive culture helps teams adapt, innovate, and perform. Vegas explains how anchoring leadership in values, building collaborative networks, and developing talent can turn complexity into opportunity and inspire teams to excel. In today’s fast-changing grocery industry, she offers practical strategies for investing in people, fostering adaptability, and strengthening the customer experience—positioning culture as a tool for competitive advantage.

In this powerful fireside chat, Southeastern Grocers President and CEO Anthony Hucker shares how purpose-led leadership has guided the company through transformation, disruption, and innovation. Drawing on a career that spans Aldi, Walmart, Schnuck Markets, and now SEG, whose turnaround story has been featured in a Harvard Business School case study, Hucker unpacks the leadership values that inspire resilience, innovation, and community impact. Attendees will gain practical insights into empowering teams, building a culture of care, and meeting the evolving needs of customers in a digitally driven, purpose-conscious world. Moderated by PG Editorial Director Gina Acosta.

Where tech meets the grocery aisle, women are leading the charge. This session features tech leaders from grocery chains and suppliers who are using technology to transform everything from store operations to pricing to personalization. Learn how they’re solving real challenges and building the next-gen grocery experience.

A wide-ranging interview with 99 Ranch Market CEO Alice Chen discussing her business background, leadership style, and plans for expanding the company to the East Coast and beyond.

A dynamic panel featuring Kroger presidents from across the country share how they lead with regional insight, customer intimacy, and operational rigor in America’s most complex grocery ecosystem (Ann Reed, Cincinnati Division; Kendra Doyel, Food 4 Less, Laura Gump, Houston Division; and Colleen Lindholz, Kroger Health.

Chief Merchant Sonya Gafsi Oblisk discusses how Whole Foods is evolving product standards, sustainability metrics, and customer discovery moments across channels, all while preserving the authenticity that made the brand iconic.

From “Impostor Syndrome” to “Fake it Until You Make It,” many women and early-career professionals are met with narratives that can diminish confidence, dilute authenticity, and limit leadership potential. In an industry long shaped by tradition and often male-dominated dynamics, the grocery sector presents unique (yet navigable) barriers to leadership growth. In this powerful panel, executives and rising leaders who’ve faced and transcended these challenges share candid stories and transformational takeaways. Together, we’ll unpack the assumptions that hold us back, explore the real impact of owning your voice, and offer practical strategies to lead with influence and integrity, without compromising your identity. This session is designed to spark reflection, build confidence, and equip participants with tools to redefine what impactful leadership really looks like in the grocery workplace.

How do you create a bold, resilient leadership path for 60,000 associates, keeping them growing, thriving, and ready to deliver for 3,000+ clients in a retail landscape that changes daily? For Acosta Group, the answer is clear - invest in people. Under Brian's leadership, the company has tripled its workforce in just four years. His focus on people development is organization-wide, driving leadership programs for all levels of experience and moving talent from intern to executive. Brian will share how the company's differentiated commitment to training has become a true competitive advantage, and how this focus on people is fueling retail's biggest wins.

Join Valerie Jabbar, Senior Vice President of Operations at Kroger, for an inspiring conversation on leadership, resilience, and the future of retail. From her start as a clerk at Fry’s in 1987 to leading nine divisions today, Valerie will share lessons on navigating career growth, balancing operational excellence with people leadership, and fostering diverse, inclusive workplaces. Known as a “people champion,” she will discuss mentoring high-potential talent, embedding DEI in everyday operations, and sustaining personal resilience across nearly four decades in retail.

Discover how open and modular technology platforms—enhanced by integrated AI capabilities—are transforming the grocery retail landscape by improving the everyday experiences of store employees. This session dives into how openness, intelligent automation, predictive insights, and seamless workflows are being harnessed to eliminate operational friction, simplify repetitive tasks, and enable staff to focus on delivering outstanding customer service. Learn how shop floor technology solutions are not only redefining the in-store journey for shoppers but also cultivating a more efficient, engaging, and rewarding environment for retail teams.

Denali leaders and retail partners explore how retailers can turn food waste into opportunity—through recovery programs, anaerobic digestion, and consumer education. More info coming soon!

Whole Foods EVP Christina Minardi and TWIG trailblazers reflect on leadership journeys, career mentorship, and shaping the future of grocery.

Progressive Grocer honors the 2025 GenNext Award Winners, celebrating the young innovators and changemakers taking exceptional action to keep the essential industry of grocery thriving.

As the grocery industry faces converging forces, from evolving consumer expectations to digital disruption and supply chain fragility, UNFI is leaning into innovation, collaboration, and purpose. In this candid fireside chat, CEO Sandy Douglas shares how one of North America’s largest grocery distributors is adapting its strategy for a more resilient, sustainable, and customer-focused future. Attendees will gain insights into shopper trends, supplier, retailer dynamics, sustainability commitments, and how technology is reshaping the grocery supply chain.

In today’s fast-moving world, uncertainty isn’t the exception — it’s the normal environment. How can leaders stay grounded or get ahead when the world around them is constantly shifting? SpartanNash CEO Tony Sarsam shares how a “prepared mind” enables us to navigate disruption, turning volatility into opportunity and building teams that are resilient, adaptable and future-ready. This session invites you to rethink your relationship with change so that you can lead boldly and thrive in the unknown.

How can grocers transform routine shopping into memorable experiences that build loyalty and drive impulse? Coca-Cola and retail partners explore how in-store theater, seasonal moments, and destination categories are reshaping the physical store. This panel will unpack how experiential merchandising, strategic brand collaboration, and retail media can turn high-traffic zones into storytelling hubs. Attendees will gain practical strategies for increasing trips, dwell time, and shopper satisfaction—especially among younger, experience-driven consumers.

For TWIG Gala registrants only.

For TWIG Gala registrants only.

For TWIG Gala registrants only.