SACRAMENTO, Calif. — For the second time in 10 years, the California Grocers Association has changed the name of its annual convention. Beginning with the meeting next November, the event will be known as the CGA Strategic Conference, to better reflect the nature of the event, CGA officials said.
Since 1998 the annual convention has been called the Western Food Industry Exposition presented by the California Grocers Association — a name developed after several associations in the 11 Western states had eliminated their conventions; when those state associations agreed to participate in the CGA show, the name was changed to reflect its regional nature.
Over the years, however, the number of attendees from other states has declined, a CGA official told SN.
Even more significantly, the focus of the convention has changed, George Frahm, executive vice president, retail operations and administration, for Stater Bros. Markets, San Bernardino, Calif., and chairman of CGA's convention committee, said.
“Several years ago the expo moved away from its traditional trade format and focused on face-to-face prescheduled meetings, [so] it truly is a strategic conference," he explained.
This year's meeting is scheduled for Nov. 1-3 in the Mandalay Bay Resort in Las Vegas with the theme, "Where Business Gets Done.”
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