LAS VEGAS — The National Grocers Association (NGA) Show, which is produced and managed by Clarion Events in partnership with the NGA, was held Feb. 23-25, 2025, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The event saw one of its highest attendance levels this year and retailer registration grew by 12% when compared to 2024.
On top of offering a Technology Innovation Summit, a Best Bagger Championship and more exciting features, the show engaged with current events as it educated and connected attendees.
Addressing the Elephant (and Egg Prices) in the Room
Grocery costs are on many Americans’ minds — according to Jamie Reesby, CEM, Vice President, Generation & Grocery at Clarion Events Inc. – North America, the event met this issue, and many other hot-button topics, head-on.
The NGA Show hosted discussions on grocery prices and how regulatory and policy changes are impacting independent grocers and their customers. It also offered education sessions about shifts in labor policy, regulatory updates and how to make data-driven decisions to combat inflation’s impact and maintain market share.
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Also, the American Egg Board performed a briefing on egg supply and price fluctuations, and the NGA Office of Government Relations held sessions on pressing topics such as tax reform and antitrust and SNAP changes.
“The main takeaway was preparing retailers to have consistent and clear communication with their customers,” Reesby said. “Grocers are intimately involved with their communities and eager to support customers as they look to feed and support their families. The focus was on offering clear and transparent communication about price fluctuations and positioning themselves as destinations for value, service, and unique offerings that help them maximize customers’ food budgets.”
Also, the event kicked off with a new Breakfast Roundtables experience. Open to retailers and wholesalers, these discussions explored the unique challenges and opportunities that independent grocers face in 2025. Each of the 15 tables was given a specific topic, such as loyalty and personalized marketing, AI in retail and e-commerce.
“Pre-registration was required and several topics filled up immediately,” Reesby explained. “One attendee commented, ‘I learned more in that one hour than I might for the rest of the convention! It made my trip.’ We are looking forward to introducing more peer-to-peer events in 2026.”
Celebrating Success and Looking Ahead
The 2024 edition of The NGA Show will be honored for its growth at this year’s Trade Show Executive (TSE) Fastest 50 Awards & Summit, which will take place April 30-May 2 in Orlando.
“We could not have accomplished such a strong event without the partnership and collaboration between Clarion and the amazing team at the NGA,” Reesby said. “They work hard every day to support independent grocers and we want The NGA Show to be the best resource for the industry and celebrate the great work they are doing for their local communities … We have already started to make plans for 2026 in our new location, the MGM Grand, to bring more of the features that worked well this year while incorporating the feedback we got from onsite conversations and surveys.”
Click here to find the full Q&A with Reesby.
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Photo Credit: Joe Curry Photography
