Schedule

Building Resilient Organizations, People and Partnerships
A Conversation with Bryan Kaltenbach & John Frost

For the grocery industry, the unprecedented events of the Covid-19 pandemic completely upended annual sales forecasts and joint business plans. As product demand soared and shelves emptied, strategies that were created even months earlier, bore no resemblance to the situation grocers and their trade partners were facing.

As a result, the collaboration between retailers and their suppliers proceeded with an increased urgency. Manufacturers, retailers and service providers pivoted to forge more open, agile and responsive partnerships. Trade partners tapped new, creative, problem-solving approaches with an emphasis on rapid decision-making and in the process forging deeper more trusting and highly-responsive relationships to bring products to store shelves.

We’ve asked two seasoned executives, to take a closer look at how trade partner collaboration changed and adapted in this moment, and what learnings can be incorporated moving forward. They will discuss how their company’s built resilience in their organizations and their teams to position themselves to become a better partner to meet the needs of customers and build long-term strength.

About our presenters:
Bryan Kaltenbach
John Frost

This General Session is sponsored by Mondelēz International.

The Evolving Legality of CBD in the U.S.

The U.S. cannabidiol (CBD) market has expanded at an unprecedented rate, and with it, has come both huge market opportunities as well as an onslaught of lawsuits, ranging from shareholder lawsuits to product liability suits to class-action consumer lawsuits. At the same time, regulatory agencies, including the FDA and FTC, have issued rules and guidance that deem much of the CBD market illegal. Anita Sabine, who leads Manatt, Phelps & Phillips CBD and Cannabis practice group, will discuss both the evolving legality of CBD in the U.S. and provide practical guidance to mitigate risk for market players.

About our presenter:
Anita Sabine

This Whiteboard Session is sponsored by RMS, Inc.

Supply Chain Resiliency
A Conversation With Steve Spinner and Denny Belcastro

The Coronavirus pandemic disrupted the global food supply chain and in many ways is reshaping its future. It forced companies across the industry to reevaluate product assortments, streamline and enhance methods of operation while accelerating production and transportation capabilities. Our discussion will focus on building operational resiliency through improved organizational structures that anticipate future impacts, prepare for consumer demand and remain agile and responsive to emerging challenges in a safe, effective and efficient approach.

About our presenters:
Steve Spinner
Denny Belcastro

This General Session is sponsored by United Natural Foods, Inc.

Grocery Supply Chain: Mapping a Path to the Next Normal

COVID-19 has upended the grocery industry, causing strong spikes in demand and significant disruption in the supply chain. In this presentation, Deborah Weinswig, Founder and CEO of Coresight Research, will discuss the impact of the pandemic on the grocery business, how retailers are responding to the challenges facing their supply chains and what actions retailers should take to ensure a resilient and profitable supply chain in the future.

About our presenter:
Deborah Weinswig

This Whiteboard Session is sponsored by RMS, Inc.

Managing Conflict Through De-Escalation
10:00 – 10:40 a.m.

The non-confrontational methodology of WZ training has expanded into the difficult and high-pressure setting of conflict resolution and de-escalation.  Today’s retail associate, law enforcement officer, loss prevention professional or employee relations expert has often dealt with a disruptive guest, disgruntled employee or a hostile subject.  This presentation provides an introductory exploration of a sound approach to conflict resolution and de-escalation. Topics include “The Anatomy of Anger,” “Top Ten De-escalation Tips,” and “Managing Difficult Conversations.

About our presenter:
Joe Wolf

Loss Prevention – Leaning Forward in a Changing Marketplace
10:40 – 11:20 a.m.

As the world we operate changes, so must our strategic efforts to protect assets. In this one-on-one conversation, Mike Lamb, Vice President Asset Protection, Kroger Co. sits down with CGA Enterprise Risk Protection Committee Chair Mike Bower, Vice President, Enterprise Protection, Northgate Gonzalez Markets, to discuss what lessons have been learned in the past eight months and share their perspective on the future of asset protection.

About our Presenters:
Mike Bowers
Mike Lamb

CGA Advocacy Update: Elections, Propositions, New Laws
11:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

This November, Californians will decide the fate of Prop. 47 reform. In this session you will hear the latest polling information on Prop. 20 – business and law enforcement’s effort to amend Prop. 47. CGA’s government relations team will also update you on loss prevention, safety, risk management bills recently passed into law, and share the latest in local government issues.

The Independent Grocers Forum is the ideal place for independent operators from across California to gather, discuss the latest challenges and crowd-source best practices with their industry colleagues.

For those that participated in this year’s Independent Operators Symposium, you will recognize the unique value that results from gathering as independent owner/operators and exploring essential topics to help guide the success of your family business. In this forum, relevant and emerging subjects will be explored in a free-flowing format and offer plenty of opportunities to get your most pressing questions answered.

We invite owners and management teams from California’s independent grocery stores to join us for this two-hour, tailored collaboration session.

About our presenters:
Ron Fong
Dale Stern

Diversity, Inclusion & Social Justice: A Call for Authenticity
A Conversation with Phil Miller, Ron Fong & Juan Trillas

The year 2020 has been defined by chaos. From political and racial unrest to a global pandemic and resulting economic tension, the opportunity is now for leaders to build more inclusive and equitable businesses and social institutions. CGA President and CEO Ron Fong, C&S Wholesale Grocers Vice President, West Region and CGA Board Chair Phil Miller and Bimbo Bakeries Portfolio Development Manager and Illuminators Headlite Juan Trillas explore how the industry can become more inclusive and embrace America’s diversity to unlock growth. Together, they will examine how demographic trends are shifting the consumer landscape, the business advantages of inclusive organizations, and draw upon their own personal experiences as minorities. Attendees will come away with actionable strategies and tactics ready for implementation in their businesses and personal lives.

About our presenters:
Phil Miller
Ron Fong
Juan Trillas

This General Session is sponsored by Classic Wines of California.

Personal Care and Beauty During the Pandemic and Path Forward

Nielsen will explore the impact in consumer shopping behavior that has arisen this year as a result of the COVID pandemic and social unrest. We’ll dive deep into how shoppers have changed their routines, including the rapid rise in e-commerce, and with the restrictions on other retail, how grocery is becoming a destination for health & beauty care items. Nielsen will offer a perspective on how retailers can optimize their pricing and promotional strategies to maximize revenue. Lastly, we will explore how grocery retailers can build relevance with multicultural consumer segments through optimizing their assortments. Our goal is to provide you with a state of the industry to uniquely address trends in the marketplace during these unprecedented times.

High level agenda:

• Overall beauty trends and how they have been impacted by COVID
• Segmenting shoppers: how retailers can capture growth by focusing on adjusting assortments to meet the needs of valuable segments of beauty shoppers, including multicultural consumers
• How have channel dynamics changed as a result of the pandemic; looking into the rapid rise of ecommerce, and grocery becomes a destination for Beauty
• Is this the time to raise price? Adjusting pricing and promotion strategies to maximize revenue
• Strategies going forward: how can retailers adjust to this new normal and best set themselves up for success as the pandemic continues

About our presenter:
Tara James

This Whiteboard Session is sponsored by RMS, Inc.

The COVID Intersection of Cal/OSHA, Workers’ Compensation, and Civil Litigation
10:00 – 10:40 a.m.

A strategic and comprehensive overview of the interlocking pieces between Cal/OSHA and workplace safety and their impact on the many claims employees can make against employers.  We will discuss real-world best practices and strategies for COVID related complaint, claims, and litigation.

About our presenters:
Karen Tynan
Robert Rodriguez

Public Health and the Role of Technology In The Retail Space for 2020 and Beyond
10:40 – 11:20 a.m.

A discussion of the current public health challenges and concerns facing the supply chain within the retail sector. From the front of the house, to daily employees, to shipping and receiving, today’s issues facing the consumer space present a unique set of challenges. With the advancement of technology from both hardware and software, business leaders will need to make decisions about the best approach for inclusion of each into their Q4 2020 plans and beyond.

About our Presenter
Sam Skinner

Enterprise Risk Protection Best Practices Roundtable
11:20 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

One of the Executive Summit’s most popular sessions returns. Led by Lynn Melillo, Vice President, Asset Protection, Bristol Farms, this session gives participants the opportunity to discuss common challenges/issues and share best practices. Always rated as a Summit “must attend” session, come prepared with questions and answers and join our “open mic” conversation.

Leading in Turbulent Times
A Conversation with Hee-Sook Nelson & Eric Stille

The events of the past year have tested company culture, and required leaders to re-evaluate the ways they relate to and support exhausted front-line workers and anxious customers. This top-to-bottom test of leadership has reinforced the importance of values such as humility, benevolence and authenticity.

Join us for a conversation about the new dynamics of servant leadership and employee engagement during these turbulent times. We will talk about how the pandemic and social unrest challenged, changed and, more importantly, reinforced the need for necessary skills to lead employees and to drive a positive culture that is resilient and meaningful.

About our presenters:
Hee-Sook Nelson
Eric Stille

This General Session is sponsored by Chosen Foods.

Tomorrow’s Great Experience

2020 has refined and redefined our tactical approach to grocery retailing.  But while consumers have changed their shopping habits and food spending allocation, overall they will continue to reward companies that provide great food, great service, and great value.  This session will highlight the key shopper insights driving grocers to elevate their customer experience in these areas.  We’ll hear from three outstanding California retailers and give attendees the opportunity to ask questions of our panelists and each other.

About our presenters:
Doug Madenberg
Sergio Gonzalez
Yvonne Manganaro
Dean Willhite

This Whiteboard Session is sponsored by RMS, Inc.

The Future of Grocery Retail in a Post-Pandemic World

In the annals of retail history the pandemic of 2020 will be a permanent mile marker, remembered for generations to come. Companies in all sectors will point to this unprecedented time as the moment everything changed. The moment that every market, industry, vertical, profession, and category of product or service would, in some way be shifted off its axis and for the first time in recorded history, every wheel, cog and gear in the global retail machine would grind to a virtual halt.

Bestselling author and Founder of the global consultancy Retail Prophet Doug Stephens provides an incisive look into the future of retail in a post-COVID-19 world. How will consumer, staff and executive behaviors be forever changed? What does it mean for the future of physical retail? How will digital commerce evolve to meet our new realities? How will global supply chains adapt? All these questions and more will be tackled in this fast-paced and gripping talk.

About our presenter:
Doug Stephens

This General Session is sponsored by Unilever.

Creating the Fulfillment Channels Your Customers Demand

The customer has spoken – you are behind. In WD Partner’s proprietary research conducted in June 2020, 40% of respondents said they would purchase from a dark grocery store, and only 15% said grocery stores are doing a good job at BOPIS. Your customers want more than you are giving them but the good news is that the current market disruption gives you license to reassess and reenvision for both short-term resilience and long-term success.

In this session, Joanne Heyob, SVP Operations Strategy & Design at WD, will share the latest research on where and how customers want to shop and give you real-world ways to do something now that will drivelasting impact for your brand. Through an interactive Q&A session, she’ll outline how you can identify solutions that get you through the short-term while improving your competitive position for the future, allowing you to solve for today, while building for tomorrow.

About our speakers:
Joanne Heyob
Mark Bateman

This Whiteboard Session is sponsored by RMS, Inc.