NEWARK, DE, & WASHINGTON, DC - That’s a wrap, folks! After convening in Schaumburg, Illinois, from June 9–10, the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) officially wrapped up its inaugural Retail Conference. Boasting a sold-out event, more than 70 C-suite attendees and 70 buyers came together from across the United States and Canada.

“It was great to be back in person again with this incredible group of professionals focused on produce at retail,” said Joe Watson, Retail Lead for IFPA. “Continuing the legacy of this event, our focus was on creating opportunities for discussion and idea sharing. While we may not be able to solve many of the challenges ahead of us on our own, we absolutely can solve these challenges—and more—as an industry. This event is just one opportunity to collaborate and build while breaking down the silos that can hold us back from real long-term solutions.”

The conference kicked off with an inaugural golf tournament, where over 120 players brought their A-game to the course, according to a statement from IFPA. In the end, three winning teams earned prizes for their efforts, with the winning score of the tournament being 10 under par.

On the evening of June 9, the opening reception was held. Sponsored by Procurant, the gathering was well-attended and allowed guests to mingle, network, and reconnect with their industry peers. The next day, the conference began with a presentation on Fresh Perspective for Fresh Produce Growth, which included insights from Anne Marie Roerink of 210 Analytics and Watson. Following the discussion, break-out sessions took place followed by brunch.

In the second round of breakout sessions, participants discussed topics including "Combatting Pressure on Unit & Volume Sales" and "Satisfying the Impatient Consumer" as well as "The Original Plant-Based Diet, Tackling Operational Challenges," and "Sustainability & Social Responsibility."

Retail attendees facilitated the discussions during the sessions, and conversations were driven by session participants. Perspectives from each session were captured and will provide IFPA with insights for developing valuable resources for the fresh produce supply chain.

To see the full list of events, click here.

What will next year’s Retail Conference have in store for attendees? Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow to find out.

International Fresh Produce Association