By Maggie Gioia | Marketing Coordinator
Last week, National Convenience Distributors’ CEO, Jeff Allen, and NCD’s executive vice president of government affairs, Kyle Feldman, attended the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association’s annual conference at the Gettysburg Hotel and Visitor Center in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The two-day event — Tuesday, June 14 through Wednesday, June 15 — highlighted trends, innovation and challenges within the food retail industry.
The conference began with a board member meeting, which was then followed by two educational sessions that covered food assistance programs and supply chain solutions. The day concluded with a celebrational dinner to honor the Food Industry Trailblazer Award recipient, Lisa Dell’Alba, who serves as vice chair of the PFMA board of directors, as well as president and CEO of Square One Markets, Inc. The dinner provided time for attending industry leaders to collaborate, gain inspiration and network with one another.
“I look forward to the PFMA conference every year. They are such a resourceful organization, so when all the members come together it’s a really special event. We are able to hear new ideas that help our businesses to evolve with the changing world,” said Allen, who also serves on PFMA’s board of directors. “It’s a privilege to serve on their board because it is an opportunity to be a part of molding the future of the industry.”
Day two of the conference opened with an attendee breakfast and trade show exhibition. Afterwards, the day’s educational sessions featured a panel discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace, as well as a seminar on transportation and infrastructure.
“Representing NCD at this year’s PFMA conference was a great experience. Staying informed on industry-related policy is key to what we do, but PFMA’s guidance for strategy and best practices in response to policy and workplace shifts is even more valuable,” Feldman said.
The PFMA 2022 Fall Legislative Conference is scheduled to take place on October 25 and 26 at the Hershey Country Club.