A century ago, the grocery store gave people something they'd never had before: food that was safe, portable, and affordable. That was the promise — and it was enough.
Today, that promise is table stakes.
The modern shopper still wants safety, portability, and affordability. But they want it wrapped in something the big box down the street can't easily deliver: an experience that feels personal, local, healthier, and made for them.
Here's the good news: the forces reshaping consumer behavior aren't working against independent grocers. They're working for you.
That's the story we'll be telling all day long at the IGA Centennial Global Rally Business Session, and we can't wait to share the full lineup with you.
Shoppers are moving away from the transactional and toward the relational. They want to know where their food comes from, who grew it, and how far it traveled to reach the shelf. Your shorter supply chain isn't just an operational fact; it's a competitive advantage, and it's a story worth telling.
Health has also stopped being a niche aisle. It's now the lens through which a growing number of shoppers make every purchase decision. The retailers who understand that shift at the individual level, and who can respond to it personally and locally, are the ones who will earn loyalty for the long haul.
The bar has risen for all of us. But the independent grocer who understands these shifts doesn't just have a fighting chance. They have the advantage. That's what a full day of world-class speakers, panels, and conversations will help you claim.
The State of IGA: A New Era for Independent Grocers | John Ross, President & CEO, IGA Inc.
Ross traces the evolution of IGA — from founding vision to future opportunity — and makes the case for why the IGA model isn't just surviving. It's thriving, and it's exactly what the next era of grocery demands.
The Forces Changing Our World: Demographics, Data & Global Trends | Kasey Lobaugh, Chief Futurist at Deloitte Consumer Industry
We are living through a once-in-a-century transition — an unprecedented convergence of economic, social, and technological change happening all at once, not one at a time. Deloitte's Chief Futurist Kasey Lobaugh unpacks six powerful forces reshaping our world: a rapidly diversifying and aging population, a society being rewired by isolation and shifting family structures, exponential advances in AI and automation, industry-wide upheaval, extreme climate pressures, and seismic shifts in global economics and power. Drawing on Deloitte's landmark consumer research, Kasey shows how these forces are redefining who your shoppers are, what they value, and what they'll expect in the years to come.
The Global Consumer: What's Really Changing in the Cart | Bill Aul, Partner at McKinsey & Company
Grocery shoppers everywhere are becoming more deliberate — shopping more often but buying less each trip, trading up and down within the same basket, and demanding real value instead of complicated promotions. Across the globe, the data tells a consistent story: private label has moved from "cheap alternative" to genuine first choice, wellness and GLP-1 medications are reshaping what lands in the cart, and shoppers want AI to help them decide — not decide for them. At the same time, how and where shoppers buy is shifting just as fast: delivery has become the default way people shop online, the customers who shop both in-store and online are spending more with the retailers they trust, and the store itself is becoming valuable digital real estate — a new way for grocers to build supplier partnerships and fund growth. This session unpacks new global research on how consumer behavior is shifting across markets, and what it means for how independent grocers build trust, deliver value, and earn loyalty in the years ahead.
The View from the Top: IGA Board Members on the Future of Independent Retail | Members of the IGA Inc. Board of Directors
Members of the IGA Inc. Board of Directors sit down for a candid, unscripted conversation about where the independent grocery industry is heading, what it means for the Alliance, and how these leaders are preparing.
The Store of the Future: What It Looks Like, How It Works, and How to Get There | Brendan Witcher, Global VP of Product & Content at Shoptalk
Brendan Witcher brings together two forces reshaping the grocery store: the physical evolution of the format and the technology powering it from the inside out. Drawing on more than a decade of research and advisory work with some of the world's most innovative retailers, Brendan paints a vivid picture of what the independent grocery store of the future looks like and the specific technology investments that will make it possible. For independent grocers navigating real constraints of capital and bandwidth, this isn't a vision of what's possible for the biggest players — it's a practical roadmap for what's achievable for you.
Break for lunch and vendor showcases
Feeding the City: Food Security, Community Partnership & What's Possible
Food insecurity is one of the most urgent challenges facing communities around the world, and Atlanta is showing what's possible when city leadership and independent grocers work together. In this candid conversation, IGA's John Ross and a special guest discuss how the partnership with Invest Atlanta is bringing fresh, affordable food to underserved neighborhoods, why the independent grocer may be one of the most powerful tools a city has, and what other cities and countries can learn from what's happening here.
Independent, Innovative & Growing: IGA Australia | Grant Ramage, CEO of IGA Australia
Grant Ramage shares how one of the world's most dynamic independent grocery networks is winning with shoppers in a highly competitive market. From brand strategy and local marketing to the store-level experiences driving loyalty, Grant offers a candid look at what's working, what's changing, and what the rest of the IGA world can take home.
Winning Where It Counts: The IGA Retailer of the Year Panel | IGA's Retailers of the Year
They were recognized as the best independent grocers in the world; now hear what they've learned along the way. IGA Retailers of the Year sit down for an unscripted conversation about what's driving success in their businesses, how they're connecting with shoppers in meaningful ways, what keeps them up at night, and the one thing they wish they had known when they started.
Against the Odds: How Underdogs Win When the Competition Looks Unbeatable | Nicole Mericle, 12-time Obstacle Racing World Champion,
Every independent grocer knows the feeling: competing against bigger players with deeper pockets, larger teams, and seemingly endless resources. Yet time and again, the underdog finds a way to win. As a 12-time Obstacle Racing World Champion, Nicole Mericle has spent her career as the smallest competitor on the course — and beating the vast majority of the field anyway. In this session, she shares the specific tactics and mental tricks that let her out-compete bigger, stronger athletes, and shows why the real edge often comes from approaching a challenge from a completely different angle rather than matching your competitor strength for strength. It's a session on strategy as much as grit: exploring how underdogs create advantages when the odds are stacked against them, why resilience and adaptability are essential in today's competitive landscape, and how to build a culture that refuses to quit, no matter the competition.
Closing & Send-Off John Ross closes the day, joined by special guest Greg Ferrara.
This isn't just a lineup of speakers — it's a full day built around a single idea: the shifts happening in demographics, technology, and shopper behavior aren't a threat to independent grocers. They're an opening. From global consumer research to a mayor's perspective on food security to hard-won lessons from an obstacle racing champion, every session on September 18 is designed to help you walk away with a sharper read on your shopper and a clearer plan for what comes next.
This is a once-in-a-century milestone, and the Business Session is where it all comes together. Don't miss your chance to hear directly from these speakers, connect with fellow retailers and partners, and celebrate 100 years of independent grocery strength.
Register now at iga100.vfairs.com — and don't forget to book your hotel room before the block sells out.
Questions about the Centennial Global Rally & Awards Gala? Contact your IGA representative or reach out to our team directly.