Fuel up for a high-impact day! Grab a coffee, enjoy a bite courtesy of our sponsor St. Pierre, and spark early conversations with fellow attendees, honorees, and innovators. The best industry collaborations start over a great breakfast.

Welcome back! After an incredible kickoff, we are ready to build on yesterday's momentum. Today's opening remarks will highlight key "aha" moments from Day 1 and tee up another action-packed agenda. Get ready to dive deeper into transformative leadership strategies, celebrate our GenNext honorees, and tackle the most pressing challenges facing the grocery sector today.

The competitive advantage of national and global retailers can increasingly be neutralized with emerging technologies and power of scale data. From simplifying manufacturing investments to driving sales increases across diverse independents, IGA CEO John Ross will discuss how the next few years will be a crucial time for independents to get the credit they deserve across thousands of stores. 

Transformation rarely succeeds because of a single strategy or leader. It succeeds when people across functions, teams and business models are aligned behind a shared direction and motivated to act. In this conversation, Lisa will share lessons from leading change across complex organizations, including how to build credibility and influence without formal authority, navigate resistance and competing priorities, and help people turn an ambitious vision into meaningful action.

The conversation will explore practical themes including influence over authority, connecting strategy to organizational momentum, balancing alignment with accountability, maintaining flexibility as circumstances change, balancing speed with rigor, and the personal leadership lessons Lisa has learned about when to push, listen and pivot.

At Grocery Impact, we know the future of food retail is powered by people. Step away from the main stage to refuel and spark new connections. Whether you’re comparing notes on the latest keynote, celebrating with Top Women in Grocery and GenNext honorees, or simply taking a breather, our networking breaks are the perfect place to grow your circle and discover your next big idea.

The way people shop, connect with brands, and define value has changed dramatically over the past several decades. The GIANT Company has evolved alongside those changes—not by chasing every trend, but by staying relentlessly focused on its customers. In this session, CMO John MacDonald will explore how his team has continued to transform its marketing strategy and structure to meet customers where they are while remaining true to its mission: delivering value, freshness, and kindness. 

The session's central question—and challenge—is one every marketing team should ask: Are you working hard for your customers, or are your customers working hard to understand you?

The traditional lines dividing physical stores, e-commerce, social platforms and digital media are blurring beyond recognition. Today’s shoppers don't distinguish between channels, they instead move seamlessly from recipe inspiration to meal planning, social scrolling, and instant checkout in one continuous journey. In this borderless retail environment, winning market share isn't about channel dominance, it’s about capturing consumer mindset at the moment of intent, whether that's online or in a brick-and-mortar store. Industry leaders will discuss how CPG brands and grocers can adapt to the disappearing channel landscape, how to meet consumers where inspiration strikes, and how to turn high-intent moments into bigger baskets.

As today’s consumers prioritize both premium quality and unbeatable value, private label brands are proving more important than ever. With a recent private label redesign and highly intentional rollout under its belt, Hannaford Supermarkets is proving that regional retailers have what it takes to compete in this pivotal playing field.

This session will explore the "how" behind the transformation, showcasing the collaboration between category management and marketing teams that brought this vision to life. Learn why elevating your own brand isn't just a margin play, but a critical strategy for regional relevance and community trust.

Step away from the conference floor and enjoy lunch at your own pace. Whether you want to decompress solo, catch up on emails, or organize an impromptu lunch date with fellow grocery leaders, take this time to recharge your batteries before we dive into an action-packed afternoon.

National Co+op Grocers CEO Tandy Harvey will highlight how food co-ops have earned enduring customer trust through embracing the cooperative movement Values and Principles. Harvey will address the importance of leading with purpose not just price, being radically transparent, and investing in local communities. This keynote explores practical strategies innate to food co-ops that have made them trusted community institutions for decades.

For decades, the dairy case has been a cornerstone of grocery retail. Yet as consumers seek more protein, convenience, functionality and sustainability from the products they buy, a new generation of value-added dairy products is creating opportunities for retailers to drive growth, differentiation and loyalty across the category. 

Together with panel host Tetra Pak, industry leaders from Cayuga Milk Ingredients and Mintel, will explore the trends reshaping dairy demand, from the rise of high-protein and functional products to evolving consumption occasions and changing shopper values. Panelists will discuss how retailers can identify emerging opportunities, elevate the role of value-added dairy, and create stronger connections with consumers in an increasingly competitive marketplace. 

Attendees will leave with practical insights into the forces transforming dairy, where the next growth opportunities are emerging, and how retailers can position their dairy departments to drive traffic, strengthen loyalty, and increase category value.  

As physical grocery stores evolve into digital hubs, retailers must seamlessly integrate media monetization, real-time fulfillment and smart shelf technology to stay competitive. Leaders from Advantage Solutions, Storix and Vusion explore how bridging in-store retail media networks, automated fulfillment workflows and IoT-enabled shelf ecosystems creates frictionless shopper experiences while driving operational efficiency and margin growth.

At Grocery Impact, we know the future of food retail is powered by people. Step away from the main stage to refuel and spark new connections. Whether you’re comparing notes on the latest keynote, celebrating with Top Women in Grocery and GenNext honorees, or simply taking a breather, our networking breaks are the perfect place to grow your circle and discover your next big idea.

Meet the changemakers shaping the future of grocery. The GenNext Awards recognize the exceptional under-40 leaders who are driving innovation, disrupting the status quo, and delivering incredible results across the retail landscape. Join us to celebrate their achievements and get inspired by the next generation of industry giants.

Celebrate our rising stars! Step into the GenNext Reception to toast our latest class of under-40 award winners. Enjoy drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and fantastic conversation as you network with the honorees, share fresh ideas, and build relationships with the future leaders of food retail.

Fuel up for a high-impact day! Grab a coffee, enjoy a bite courtesy of our sponsor St. Pierre, and spark early conversations with fellow attendees, honorees, and innovators. The best industry collaborations start over a great breakfast.

It’s the final day of Grocery Impact, and we are starting with a celebration! Welcome back as we set the stage for a highly anticipated evening dedicated to honoring our Top Women in Grocery. Today’s kickoff will reflect on the week’s powerful insights, tee up a program centered on the trailblazing female leaders driving our industry forward, and give you the final burst of energy needed to turn this week's inspiration into execution.

Lowes Foods CEO Tim Lowe delivers the opening keynote for the final day of Grocery Impact, sharing executive insights on market trends, retail transformation and key priorities for grocery leaders in the year ahead.

As grocery retailers navigate shifting consumer demands and margin pressures, operational agility from upstream logistics to the shelf edge is critical. Leaders from Brambles Digital, Badger Technologies, SKUx and Centric Software explore how integrating circular supply chains, autonomous store robotics, targeted digital promotions and private-label innovation can reduce waste, boost profitability and future-proof the store experience.

Women leaders are at the forefront of driving innovation, culture, and operational excellence in grocery, yet navigating executive pathways and breaking through industry-specific barriers still requires intentional strategy, strong networks, and authentic leadership. Leaders from across the grocery ecosystem will come together to explore actionable strategies for building influence, mastering executive presence, advocating for career growth and more.

The modern supermarket is no longer just a physical destination—it is a dynamic, interconnected hub for discovery, omnichannel fulfillment and engagement. In an era where shoppers expect digital convenience paired with tactile browsing, grocers must seamlessly blend physical retail with smart technology. During this session, retail innovators will explore how to future-proof the traditional store footprint with the strategies, technologies and operational shifts required to transform standard aisles into smart ecosystems without losing the essential human touch that defines great grocery service.
Attendees will gain realistic and actionable ideas for optimizing logistics and unlocking growth opportunities across the dairy category.

At Grocery Impact, we know the future of food retail is powered by people. Step away from the main stage to refuel and spark new connections. Whether you’re comparing notes on the latest keynote, celebrating with Top Women in Grocery and GenNext honorees, or simply taking a breather, our networking breaks are the perfect place to grow your circle and discover your next big idea.

Join two Kroger division presidents for an informal executive conversation on regional grocery leadership. In this session, Mora and Hostetler will discuss divisional operations, store-level execution, and how Kroger tailors strategies to serve diverse regional markets.

Join Kristin Popp, president at Woodman’s Food Market and the National Grocers Association’s 2026 Woman of the Year, for a fireside chat about her career journey, strategies for developing future leaders, effective succession planning, the vital role of mentorship and much more.

That's a wrap for Grocery Impact 2026!

Take this free time to absorb the day's insights, recharge your batteries, and head back to your room to get ready for tonight's marquee event. Whether you need to catch up on emails, take a quick power nap, or put the finishing touches on your evening attire, enjoy this downtime before we see you on the red carpet for the Top Women in Grocery Gala.

Begin the evening's celebrations with cocktails and conversation. Mingle with peers, toast to our honorees, and enjoy the red-carpet atmosphere before we head into the main dining room.

Welcome to the premier celebration of female leadership in food retail. Join us for an unforgettable evening as we officially honor the outstanding achievements of the Top Women in Grocery. Experience powerful stories of resilience and innovation as we take the stage to recognize the senior-level executives, rising stars, and store managers who are actively transforming the grocery landscape. Dress to impress and prepare to be inspired by the women leading our industry forward.

Keep the celebration going! Join us for a sweet finale at the TWIG After Party, sponsored by Hershey's. Enjoy late-night networking, music, cocktails, and plenty of chocolate to cap off a fantastic evening.