All in-person sessions are scheduled in Eastern Standard Time (EST).
From 4:45 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.
From 7:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
From 6:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Sponsored by: Federated Insurance
Try searching for another topic, sponsor, room or time.
TCC = Toronto Congress Centre
Tour stops:
Ontario Food Terminal
Longo’s Queensway
Meet in the Westin Hotel Lobby at 6:30am.
TCC North Building · Ballrooms A & B · Sessions open to all registered delegates with Full Delegate, Conference and Trade Show passes
TCC North Building · Hall I
Sessions open to all Trade Show and Conference pass holders
TCC North Building · Collaboration Corridor · J. Mitchell Lobby · Ballrooms A & B · Open to all registered delegates and exhibitors
TCC North Building · Ballrooms A & B · Registration required · Open to Full Delegates and Conference pass holders
10:25am–10:55am · Rooms 6–9
Hear the key differentiation strategies in FMI’s 2026 State of Fresh report. Learn to position fresh foods as a sales driver by spurring customer engagement and shopping appeal. Presented by David Haaf.
Grocery is being reshaped by forces that favour agility over scale—slow ecommerce adoption across the sector, the rise of Instacart and DoorDash as ready-made delivery infrastructure, loyalty programs shifting from generic points to genuine customer relationships, and the early emergence of AI agents that shop and compare on customers’ behalf.
Presented by Uwe Stueckmann, Innovate Marketing.
Canadian shoppers have changed with tighter budgets, higher expectations, and less patience for brands that don't show up where and how they actually shop. This session cuts through the noise to show what's actually working right now. We'll walk through real market shifts and real case studies: how independent and regional grocers, alongside major CPG brands, are adapting to keep shoppers loyal without burning margin. Then we'll get tactical, the new tools and approaches leading retailers and brands are using today to stay top-of-mind with Canadians, drive trips into the store, and turn engagement into actual sales.
This isn't a tech demo. It's a straight-talk session for owners, executives, and marketing leaders who need to know: what's changing, why it matters to your bottom line, and what you can put into action next week, not next year.
Presented by Aeron Lawrence, Flipp.
The barcode is undergoing its biggest transformation in more than 50 years. Discover how 2D barcodes are enabling richer product information, greater transparency, enhanced traceability, and deeper consumer engagement. Join this candid discussion on the transformation, industry readiness, and practical steps required to navigate one of the most significant ecosystem changes in decades.
Presented by François Bouchard, GS1 Canada.
TCC North Building · Hall I
Sessions open to all Trade Show and Conference pass holders
Collaboration Corridor · J. Mitchell Lobby · Ballrooms A & B · Dinner Ticket or Full Delegate with Dinner Passes only · Registration required · Onsite payment depending on availability
Life Member · Industry Builder
Life Member · Industry Builder
Life Member · Independent Grocer
NGA Show Prize Sponsor:
