National Grocers Association Executive Conference Spotlights Consumer Trends and Independent Grocery’s Future
October 23, 2026 | 3 min to read
CHICAGO, IL – The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, concluded its Executive Conference, held October 20–22 at the Fairmont Chicago, bringing together grocery industry leaders for insights and discussions on the forces shaping the future of grocery retail.
The program featured consumer research, economic analysis, executive panels, and practical strategies to help independent grocers navigate changing consumer expectations, economic uncertainty, technology adoption, and evolving industry dynamics.
“The Independent Advantage: What 5,000 Shoppers Reveal About Grocery’s Next Chapter” featured Doug Madenberg, chief listening officer at The Feedback Group, and David Best, president & CEO of Retail at UNFI. The session unveiled findings from the first consumer sentiment study conducted by NGA and The Feedback Group, examining what shoppers value most about independent grocers and opportunities to better meet changing expectations.
Other sessions explored economic and supply chain challenges, the changing consumer packaged goods (CPG) landscape, and emerging consumer priorities. Industry leaders from Kimberly-Clark, The Clorox Company, Bimbo Bakeries, Kraft Heinz, and Mars Snacking discussed consolidation, retailer-manufacturer relationships and strategies for competing at the shelf. Additional discussions examined wellness, emerging product trends, and how retailers can shape the grocery experience of the future.
Leadership was another major focus in Chicago. Captain Christopher J. Cassidy, USN (Ret.), former NASA astronaut and Navy SEAL, delivered the keynote, “Leadership Under Pressure: An Astro SEAL’s Perspective.” Drawing on his military career, three spaceflights and service as NASA’s Chief Astronaut, Cassidy shared lessons on building trust, leading high-performing teams, managing risk, and making critical decisions under pressure.
The Executive Conference also highlighted the next generation of grocery leadership through “Beyond the Family Business: How Women are Building the Next Generation of Grocery.” Presented by the Women Grocers of America and sponsored by Upshop, the panel explored entrepreneurship, strategic growth, succession planning and preparing future grocery leaders.
“Independent grocers are at the heart of their communities and their ability to adapt to changing consumer expectations and a shifting marketplace is critical to their continued success,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA president & CEO. “This event brings together the voices, insights and partnerships that can help our industry navigate these changes and seize new opportunities.”
To close out the program, NGA presented its Pinnacle PAC Award to Mike Semmann, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA), recognizing his longstanding commitment to advocacy on behalf of independent grocers.
Through his leadership at WGA, advocacy on Capitol Hill and support of NGA Grocers PAC, Semmann has helped strengthen the industry’s voice on public policy issues affecting independent community grocers. He brings more than 25 years of trade association experience to his role, including previous service as WGA’s vice president of government affairs.
“Mike Semmann’s commitment to advocacy and his support of NGA Grocers PAC reflect the importance of strong industry leadership in advancing the interests of independent grocers,” said Stephanie Johnson, NGA’s head of government affairs & SVP. “His work helps ensure that policymakers understand the vital role independent grocers play in their communities and the challenges they face in a competitive marketplace.”
About NGA
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.