Walgreens Keynoting NFRA Exec Conference

The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association’s (NFRA) 22nd Annual Executive Conference, set for April 7-9 at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference Center in Tempe, Ariz., will feature a retailer keynote address by Maurice “Moe” Alkemade, GVP/GVM, consumables, sundries and seasonal of Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreen Co., according to the trade organization.

The conference opens at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 7 with the optional Greater Penguin Open Golf Tournament or NFRA Fishing Tournament, followed by the evening’s welcome reception. Tuesday, April 8, offers a lineup of interactive speaker presentations, in addition to the conference reception and dinner. On Wednesday, April 9, the conference features a breakfast and final informational session.

Starting off the Sessions

Alkemade’s presentation kicks off the Tuesday-morning sessions, which also include Larry Levin of IRI, who will discuss how to drive growth in frozen and refrigerated dairy through greater activation and innovation; Bob Goldin, of Technomic, who will explore major trends in foodservice and how they’re affecting refrigerated and frozen foods; and Trey Moser of Inmar Analytics, who will sum up major coupon activity for 2013, in addition to highlighting promotion activity in the frozen and refrigerated categories.

Tuesday’s afternoon sessions feature Lynn Dornblaser of Mintel Group, who will look at new product hits and misses and what factors spur success; Bob Shaw, of Concentric, who will probe how millennials shop, what makes them distinct (or similar) as a generation, what they’re expecting in future products and what key triggers will motivate them to consider and to buy; and Jenn Sutherland of Edelman, who will explore the major shift in roles, rules and traditions when it comes to how households shop, cook and eat.

On Wednesday, Inmar’s Devora Rogers will examine the burgeoning size and economic influence of the Hispanic market, and the business development opportunities and challenges presented by this diverse, highly engaged and digitally enabled shopper segment.

A nonprofit trade association representing all segments of the frozen and refrigerated foods industry, Harrisburg, Pa.-based NFRA sponsors March National Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month, June/July Ice Cream & Novelties promotion, and October Cool Food for Kids educational outreach program, as well as holding the annual National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention in October.