Las Vegas, Nevada – The NGA Show 2021, the leading trade show for the independent supermarket industry, opened with a sold-out EXPO floor. Over the three days of the event, the NGA Show features nearly 50 educational events and more than 100 speakers discussing food retail issues during the three-day conference at the Paris Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.
The in-person event enjoyed strong participation from retailers and wholesalers and opened with improved safety protocols for attendees who wear masks at all indoor events and are required to present proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID test to gain entry.
“After 18 of the toughest months our industry has ever seen, we are honored and excited to return to Las Vegas with a personal NGA show to celebrate the hard work and dedication of our supermarket superheroes,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA President and CEO. “The NGA Show continues to be the marquis event for the supermarket industry to network and learn best practices. We look forward to returning to Las Vegas next spring to celebrate NGA’s 40th anniversary. “
The show kicked off today with a presentation by the Center for Advancing Retail & Technology (CART) titled “The Path to Retail 4.0: Get Ready or Get Left Behind,” which will showcase the ongoing upheaval in the industry and how retailers can be encouraged Culture of innovation. Other sessions today focused on topics from e-commerce, automation and ransomware to sales trends, diversity and crisis management.
During the opening session, Ferrara celebrated the industry for having grown on the occasion during the pandemic. “Nothing has been normal in the past year and a half, and as we continue to navigate our ‘new normal,’ we have heard from many of you about the challenges and pressures you have faced in these unprecedented times, and like you have partnered with NGA to find support and solutions, ”he said. “And despite the uncertainty, we know our industry is looking to the future for ways in which you can enrich your communities, empower your business, and support your employees.”
Ferrara also outlined NGA’s key initiatives, including a major rebranding for the association, including a new “In the Heart of the Community” logo and slogan; a new economic impact study showing the strength of independent grocers as engines of economic growth at the local and national levels; and antitrust law enforcement to level the playing field for independent grocers.
The day ended with the opening keynote – sponsored by The Kraft Heinz Company – by celebrity chef and inspirational speaker, Chef Jeff Henderson, whose personal story of redemption, self-change, and commitment to youth at risk was an appropriate message for an industry that continues to serve its communities, while it is profoundly influenced by world events.
The 2021 NGA show lasts until September 21.
The NGA show For more than 30 years, has been the place where independent grocers come together, bringing together supermarket retailers and wholesalers, food manufacturers and service providers from around the world to share innovative solutions and best practices that support and strengthen the independent supermarket channel. The NGA Show is produced and managed by Clarion Events as part of the Food & Beverage Group in partnership with the National Grocers Association (NGA). Further information and registration at www.theNGAshow.com.
About NGA
NGA is the national trade association representing the food retail and wholesale companies that make up the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled grocery retail company that operates a variety of formats. The independent food sector accounts for about 1.2 percent of the country’s economy and is responsible for more than $ 250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $ 39 billion in wages and $ 36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers in all convention districts in the country, as well as state grocery associations, manufacturers, and service providers. More information about NGA can be found at www.nationalgrocers.org.
