NGA Taps Clarion Events as Equity Partner for Annual Show

The National Grocers Association inked an alliance with Clarion Events to take an equity stake in its annual show to assure continued future growth for what has become one of the top trade shows in the food industry. The partnership will add significant resources to enable new growth for the event while ensuring the NGA Show will continue to be the place “where independents gather.”

“Over the past five years, the NGA Show has seen record-breaking growth thanks to strong educational programming, best-in-class networking opportunities and a sold-out EXPO floor, [all of which] have made attending the NGA Show one of the best value propositions around,” NGA President and CEO Peter Larkin said during the show in Las Vegas. Clarion Events' investment will provide the trade association with an “opportunity to increase that value proposition, particularly on the expo floor, while continuing to maintain the special experience that we have created for NGA members and attendees.”

The alliance will begin next year, when the NGA Show moves from its longstanding venue in Las Vegas to San Diego in what Larkin said will be “a seamless transition with NGA remaining an active owner in the new venture,” including working closely with the NGA Show team on educational programming and popular events that have come to define the annual event. Clarion Events will also infuse new resources, technologies and expertise into the event, including expanding the size and offerings on the expo floor.

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“Our approach is focused on building strong, long-lasting relationships with our association partners to provide strategic support and fuel growth for their events,” Greg Topalian, CEO of Clarion UX, said in a statement. “We look forward to delivering new opportunities for growth for NGA and [its] members in this dynamic market.”

The NGA Show will become one of a growing number of association partnership events for Clarion UX, whose portfolio with association partners includes the Toy Industry Association’s PlayFair, The New York Restaurant Association, Florida Restaurant & Lodging Show, Western Foodservice Show (California Restaurant Association) and Halloween & Party Expo (Halloween Industry Association), among others.