Gallery: Thirteen 2013 NGA Show Highlights

One major change at this year’s show involved operating the exhibit floor Monday afternoon and Tuesday morning instead of only in the afternoons, as has been traditional. “We felt we could drive more traffic on the second day by moving the exhibit to the morning,” NGA President and CEO Peter Larkin explained.
Video: Larkin Catalogs NGA’s Washington Wish List

Erskine Bowles (left) and Alan Simpson (center), co-chairmen of The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform, discuss the nation’s fiscal issues with NGA CEO Peter Larkin after they gave the keynote address to open the NGA Show.
Read more: Keynoters: Independents Can Eliminate Partisanship

NGA Show keynoters Alan Simpson (left) and Erskine Bowles (right) pose with NGA Chairman Joe Sheridan.
Video: Sheridan: ‘Always a Need for Entrepreneurs’

Baggers compete in the Best Bagger Championship at the NGA Show. The winner was Andrew Borracchini of Metropolitan Markets at Admiral, Seattle.
Read more: Seattle Bagger Wins NGA Prize

The Women Grocers of America sponsored a 5K Fun Run/Walk to raise money for the Mary Macey Scholarship Fund, which provides educational and professional opportunities for individuals in the food industry.
Read more: WGA Hosts First-Ever 5K Fun Run/Walk

Monday’s General Session addressed “Growth Opportunities for Independents: Four Major Trends,” and featured (from left) moderator Thom Blischok, and panelists Rich Niemann (Niemann's Foods), Grant LaMontage (Clorox), Eileen Thanner (Coke), Natan Tabak (Wakefern) and Tom Furphy (Consumer Equity Partners).
Read more: Leverage Technologies Now to Secure Future: NGA Speaker

Tuesday’s Super Breakfast Session focused on “The Meat Department of the Future.” Bob Buonomano (left), president of Wyndham IGA, and Steve Hermann, VP of Paul’s Supermarket, were among the panelists.
Read more: Ignore Price in Favor of Marketing the Meat Department: NGA Speaker

One of the many workshop sessions was devoted to “Capitalizing on the Local Trends,” which included panelists (from left) Carl Day, owner of Day’s Markets; Mike Beal, VP and CFO of Hen House Four B Corp. and Price Chopper; and Mike Needler Jr., president of Fresh Encounters.
Read more: Selling Local Is Good for Business, Retailers Say

The Creative Choice Awards went to Mollie Stone’s Markets, Harmons Markets and The Fresh Grocer.
Read more: NGA Announces Creative Choice Awards

NGA’s Joe Sheridan and Peter Larkin presented a plaque to Lisa Walsh, VP of strategic transformation and customer management, PepsiCo, in recognition of PepsiCo's long-standing support for NGA's Executive Leadership Development Program (ELDP) at Cornell University.
Video: ‘Important to Develop Future Leaders,’ says PepsiCo’s Walsh

The NGA’s prestigious Clarence G. Adamy Great American Award was presented to Kevin Doris, chairman and CEO Gerland's Markets, Houston. From left: Peter Larkin, Doris, Tom Wenning and Greg Ferrara.
Read more: Kevin Doris Wins NGA’s Adamy Award

Australian group Human Nature paid tribute to the Motown sound as it entertained those gathered for the Chairman’s Gala Tuesday evening.

The NGA Show was held at The Mirage Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. NGA will return next Feb. 9-12 for the 2014 show.