Shoptalk Team to Host New Grocery Event

The team behind retail and e-commerce conference Shoptalk revealed that it has a second event up its sleeve, Groceryshop, which will cover the "transformation" of consumer packaged goods, grocery and related industries.

The new event will take place Oct. 28-31 at the Aria in Las Vegas. More than 1,000 attendees are expected at the inaugural event, which will feature more than 150 speakers. Hot topics will include the evolution of the retail industry, including supermarkets, convenience stores and e-commerce, and the rapid changes in the production and distribution of CPGs across multiple categories. Additionally, the event will discuss shifts in how consumers shop and purchase these products in both brick-and-mortar and online outlets. 

"Grocery, consumer packaged goods and related industries are undergoing a rapid digital transformation that's changing both the store and online experiences," said Anil D. Aggarwal, founder and CEO of Groceryshop and Shoptalk. Established retailers, brands, strartups, tech companies, investors, real estate operators, media, analyists and more will be in attendance at what is expected to be an "open and friendly environment" that will "create the ecosystem's new community of innovators and to lead the dialogue critical to managing this change," he said.

"Grocery is the last major category in retail to shift online," said Zia Daniell Wigder, co-founder and chief content officer of Groceryshop. "When you look at the percentage of grocery sales that take place online in the U.S. today, it is only 2%-3%, [which is] significantly lower than other categories like apparel or electronics" that take up 20% of the online sales share, she said. "The percentage of e-commerce grocery sales in the U.S. is also lower than in other countries such as the U.K. and China." 

"Groceryshop is designed to meet the needs of a sector on the verge of a massive shift," said Widger. "Over the next few years, new omnichannel offerings will emerge which will include new ways to order as well as more convenient delivery and pickup options. The result will be an increase in orders via digital platforms as well as significant changes in physical stores as they become a key part of order fulfillment. As in other categories, price, selection and convenience will ultimately drive consumers to embrace digital shopping. These changes and more are now inevitable in the grocery industry."