Washington, D.C. – A panel of leading independent grocery executives will convene to discuss their vision for the industry’s future in the closing session of the National Grocers Association’s Executive Conference and Public Policy Summit, to be held next week at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C.
“The Future of Retail Leadership” is scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, the final general session presentation of the three-day high-level gathering of grocery leaders.
“Skilled leaders who are innovative thinkers are necessary to ensure the long-term success of the independent grocery industry,” said NGA President and CEO Greg Ferrara, who will moderate the panel discussion. “This panel includes some of the most forward-thinking leaders in our industry today who know how to plan for a secure future.”
Speakers include Erin Horvath, chief operating officer of Providence, R.I.-based grocery wholesaler UNFI; Tim Lowe, president of Winston-Salem, N.C.-based supermarket chain Lowes Foods; and Kurt Schertle, chief operating officer of Sunbury, Pa.-based grocery chain Weis Markets.
“A big part of leadership today means being able to pivot in the face of a dynamic marketplace and a multigenerational workforce, whose needs and goals differ from the leaders of the past,” Horvath said. “Independent grocers are among the nimblest operators in the business world. They are keenly aware of what needs to be done to ensure success regardless of future challenges.”
The Executive Conference and Public Policy Summit is NGA’s annual event for executives and their leadership teams to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace through in-depth forecasts on the future of the industry; outlooks of emerging economic, business and policy trends; and opportunities to strengthen relationships with trading partners throughout the supply chain.
More information about the Executive Conference and Public Policy Summit can be found here.
About NGA
Washington, D.C.-based NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating 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 located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.
