Join IGA at The NGA Show This September

When NGA decided to shift the in-person annual conference and trade show, The NGA Show, from early spring to this September, the whole idea was to give more retailers, wholesalers, and vendors the opportunity attend safely. With vaccinations on the rise and COVID waning, and after reviewing the current reopening status in Nevada with their partner Clarion Events, NGA has a new date, new venue, and innovative education session line up—including topics ranging from eCommerce and marketing to fresh foods and people development—and the NGA Show is poised to be the independent grocery industry’s premier in-person event in 2021.

The NGA Show | September 19-21, 2021 | Paris Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada

“We are thrilled to be able to host the 2021 NGA Show in-person back in Las Vegas and bring the independent supermarket industry together during a time of tremendous industry growth and opportunity,” says Greg Ferrara, NGA president and CEO, adding that our industry has demonstrated how to safely operate while serving local communities, which will be celebrated throughout the event.

IGA leadership and retailers will be a big part of the show, which is all the more reason to attend. "We’ll be hosting our IGA Global Rally virtually again this fall and are postponing our in-person Rally to 2022, so this is the one event where we can bring our IGA family together in person," says IGA CEO John Ross (stay tuned to next week's IGA Minute for more information on the IGA Global Rally Virtual Conference, which will be coming your way this October). "Our collective voice as independent grocers is more important now than ever before, and NGA needs your support to make that voice heard. Put simply, this is a show you need to attend."

With the NGA Show schedule just released, read on to learn what to expect at the show and where you'll find IGA leadership and members participating.

What to Expect

Over the course of three days, The NGA Show will bring together independent retailers and wholesalers, food retail industry executives, food and CPG manufacturers, and service providers for unparalleled opportunities to learn, engage, share, network, and innovate. With over 400 companies on the EXPO floor, attendees can expect to discover innovative and game-changing products and solutions. 

And while an event of this size may seem cause for concern right now, NGA says the decision to shift the event was based on updated vaccine rollout projections as well as the current reopening status in Nevada. “The safety of our attendees will continue to be our top priority," says Ferrara. "We are working with local and state health authorities, along with the venue, to employ safety protocols and we are confident that the 2021 NGA Show will be one of the best ever.”

It's an event that IGA retailers won't want to miss, as the educational opportunities are immense. There will be over 60 specialized educational workshops led by retailers that will provide ideas to implement in your store to drive profitable growth, including education tracks on:

• Technology
• People development
• Fresh foods
• Operating for excellence
• Omni-channel marketing
• eCommerce
• Merchandising

IGA at the NGA Show

Many IGA retailers will already be in attendance, as the IGA National Retailer Advisory Board will be hosting an in-person meeting during the event, and others will be speaking at or moderating educational sessions. Here are just a few of the opportunities attendees will have to hear from IGA retailers and leadership.

eCommerce Best Practices 
Moderated by IGA CEO John Ross and featuring independent retailers, this session will explore the operational efficiencies in eCommerce and the ways independent retailers are ensuring the profitability of online shopping. 

Fresh Produce Consumer Trends
How is the produce shopper juggling fewer trips to the store with an increase in meals at home? In this session, Bob Rybick, president and CEO of Geissler's Supermarkets and several fellow independent grocers will look at how sales have shifted in the produce department and share strategies for growing sales in 2021.

The Future of Marketing: Print to Digital Shift
During the height of the pandemic, many retailers shifted advertising funds from print to digital. Hear independent retailers discuss the magnitude of the shift with IGA's Vice President of Business Partnerships Heidi Huff as moderator, while sharing best practices for ensuring a good ROI on digital spending. 

SNAP Online Purchasing
The 2014 Farm Bill created a pilot program for selected retailers and states to accept SNAP benefits online, and the program expanded almost nationwide at the onset of the pandemic due to an increase of customers shopping from home. In this session, learn more about the requirements and process for retailers to offer SNAP shoppers the option to use EBT benefits in eCommerce programs. Hear from key stakeholders in the SNAP online purchasing space—including Wright's Market's Jimmy Wright, one of the original pilot retailers, and more independent retailers—about the requirements, testing process, and challenges retailers face in this session moderated by NGA's Senior Director of Government Relations Molly Pfaffenroth. 

With so much to learn—and the opportunity to safely gather, network, and celebrate with fellow independent retailers, this year's NGA Show is a must-attend. IGA has secured a special discount for IGA retailers. Use the code "IGA" when registering for $100 off the prevailing rate, and register for the event early to secure your attendance. "Demand has already exceeded our expectations and we anticipate having a sold-out 2021 NGA Show," says NGA Show Director Courtney Mueller.

Find out more and register to attend at www.theNGAshow.com.