We kick off GroceryTech with an inspiring introduction to the event's vision, highlighting the game-changing technologies and strategies that are shaping the grocery industry's future. We set the tone for three days of learning, networking, and discovery, underscoring the critical importance of innovation and adaptability in a competitive market. Attendees will receive a roadmap of key topics and sessions, along with an overview of opportunities to connect with industry leaders and solution providers.

Ahold Delhaize USA CIO Ann Dozier kicks off Progressive Grocer’s signature event with an engaging perspective on how her organization— and the grocery industry at large — are seizing today’s technology opportunities while preparing for the future. She’ll share the value of applying a unified lens across digital, data and technology, and her view on the powerful role of technology in helping food retailers drive efficiency, strengthen competitiveness and thrive in a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Things are moving faster than they ever have before, but they will never move this slow again.  The enablement of technology can be the catalyst to great things, or a distraction that can cripple your success. Lowes Foods' CEO Tim Lowe shares his perspective on why the attitude that we bring to technology is what makes the difference.

For grocers, modernization is now a business-survival strategy, but traditional Agile and "big bang" transformations can't keep pace with today's operational complexity. In this firesad chat, Softtke's AI-Native engineering leader shares how leading retailers are shifting from Agile to Agentic execution: prototype-driven delivery, AI-assisted engineering, and phased rollouts that modernize POS, eCommerce, and core operations, without disrupting stores, customers, or revenue.

Store-level and digital technology have become critical levers for success, but delivering meaningful results requires more than deploying new tools – it also demands alignment across people, processes and partners. Learn how retailers are evaluating, implementing, and scaling omnichannel technologies to improve execution, empower associates, and enhance the customer experience.

Sunrise 2027 is fast approaching, signaling a major shift in how products are scanned at retail checkout. This session explores what the move to 2D barcodes at the point-of-sale (POS) really means for grocery and how it unlocks more than just speed at checkout. Join Gena Morgan, VP of Standards, and Ned Mears, Senior Director of Standards, at GS1 US, as they break down core scanning and processing requirements, readiness considerations, and how the added data in 2D barcodes can enable new grocery use cases. Attendees will leave with clear next steps: what to prioritize now, which internal teams to align, and how to use available Sunrise 2027 resources to accelerate readiness.
 

In-person connections are fueling GroceryTech! Our exclusive Power Hour event provides the opportunity for 1:1 introductions with leading peers and influencers. Through a series of quick-hitting conversations, attendees have a unique chance to expand their networks in a casual setting. Power Hour keeps the conversations moving for an engaging and optimized networking experience, while tailored attendee profiles ensure maximum value for all. Instantly expand your connections and meet the diverse array of leaders who matter most to you!

Let's mingle and celebrate the start of GroceryTech!

Let's kick off day 2 of GroceryTech!

The physical grocery store is no longer just a place to buy goods; it’s a high-tech stage for customer and associate engagement. This session covers the two-sided coin of modern grocery success: implementing intuitive in-store technology that is seamless and delights customers and agentic AI workflows that can take the guesswork out of an associate’s day. Kroger Chief Information Officer Jim Clendenen will discuss how the grocer is currently utilizing in-store technology, as well as what’s in the pipeline. He will also dive into how Kroger is enabling its employees with agentic AI and other technology.

This session will outline a forward-looking vision for the grocery store of the future. Participants will immerse in the latest grocery trends, the business priorities reshaping the role of the store, and the role of technology in enabling this transformation. Leaders from McKinsey will share perspectives on evolving consumer expectations, the core priorities for grocers, and how stores can spearhead this change, with a focus on the role of AI and technology. Leaders from Vusion will share how a connected, end-to-end store technology ecosystem enables this shift by delivering real-time visibility across store operations, economics, and the shopper experience.

Though the majority of Americans say they’re trying to cut back amid macro pressures and slow wage growth, economic pain isn’t evenly distributed. Data from Upside's new Income Divide Report shows that grocery shopper behavior is now defined by the growing gap between high-income and low-income shoppers. Wealthier households are driving average spending increases, masking the fact that many shoppers are struggling to keep pace.

In this panel discussion, attendees will learn what makes each shopper tick and how to win true loyalty across the entire spectrum.

Agentic AI is moving grocery from assistants to autonomous agents that can plan and execute pricing, promotions, supply chain, inventory, loyalty and other tasks. This session explores the shift toward an agentic operating model and how companies are now using AI across the enterprise, from optimizing and executing pricing decisions to addressing the critical leadership shift required to oversee these systems. Panelists will discuss the new executive skill sets needed to manage AI agents and how retailers are restructuring their C-suite to ensure AI autonomy drives growth rather than chaos.

In a fireside chat with Progressive Grocer Managing Editor Bridget Goldschmidt, Stephanie Jensen, director of data science at Dollar General, explains how her job helps the discounter get the most out of its retail media network, and what the next phases of data science and retail media might look like.

Step off the show floor and into the future of grocery.

Join us for exclusive tours of Harris Teeter and Lowes Foods, where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how leading retailers are redefining the in-store experience - from cutting-edge technology to innovative merchandising and operations.

Enjoy a fresh, locally inspired Lowes Foods lunch experience along the way.
Spots are limited—don’t miss your chance to see what’s next, in action.

Executives from across the grocery industry take the stage to share the current state of their retail media programs, where they’re making investments, and what the future looks like for the practice.

In the fast-paced grocery industry, it’s easy to get caught up in "tech for tech’s sake" or short-term wins. But true transformation isn't about the latest gadget, it's about building a resilient, future-proof ecosystem. We will explore how retailers can move beyond pilot programs and flashy demos to integrate technology that drives sustainable, multi-year growth.

This session dives into the strategic shift from reactive retail to proactive commerce. We will examine how AI, automation, and data orchestration can act as the foundation for a "long game" approach that prioritizes operational efficiency and successful execution for long-term wins.

As grocery e-commerce grows, the real opportunity is not building new infrastructure, but unlocking the power of the store. The store is already the most cost-effective fulfillment model retailers have. In-store picking delivers the lowest cost-to-serve by using existing stores, staff and inventory, while supporting both scheduled and rapid delivery.

Technology is amplifying the power of in-store staff, enabling faster, more accurate and more
consistent picking. In Scandinavia, where store labor can exceed $35 per hour, this should have been the natural home of large-scale automation. It wasn’t. Instead, investment went into connected store technologies, turning stores into high-performance fulfilment hubs, and keeping them at the center of both fulfilment and last mile.

Join us as we celebrate the winners of the 2026 GroceryTech Innovation Awards.

Keep the celebrations going at our networking reception.

Let's kick off the final day of GroceryTech! 

AI is rapidly reshaping grocery retail, and the next frontier is agentic AI and agentic commerce. This session explores how autonomous, goal-driven AI agents are moving beyond analysis to action, optimizing assortments, pricing, replenishment, promotions, and transactions across the grocery value chain. This is not simply smarter digital commerce, it is a new operating model where intelligent agents collaborate with people and transact on behalf of shoppers and retailers within defined guardrails.

Get an exclusive sneak peek of Progressive Grocer’s 2026 Grocery Tech Trends study, which takes a deep dive into how food retailers are currently utilizing specific technology like self-checkout, electronic shelf labels and more, as well as what the future holds for tech implementation and growth.

Nothing disappoints like soupy ice cream. Omni-channel commerce for grocery and medication has exponentially increased the complexity of temperature integrity for food and drugs. From in-store fulfillment of eCommerce orders to MFC automation to autonomous delivery, a new refrigeration paradigm is needed to fight heat.  Peltier Technology's CEO, Hanson Li, and a panel of experts in eCommerce will talk about how Peltier's modular cold is modernizing operations.  

How independent food retailers can innovate and scale without losing what makes them special—or breaking the bank. Sarah Rivers from IGA will discuss innovation that actually moves the needle, digital transformation without losing the human touch, scaling technology across independent networks, and more.

Grocery is entering a new era of AI-powered commerce shaped by changing consumer expectations. As shoppers increasingly turn to conversational tools for recommendations, meal planning, and purchase decisions, leading retailers are investing in AI assistants and agentic capabilities that can streamline shopping, personalize engagement, and accelerate conversion. This session will explore how consumer shopping behaviors are evolving, how grocery retailers are adapting their digital experiences and technology strategies in response, and what it will take to build the capabilities needed to compete in an increasingly AI-driven path to purchase.