Last updated on December 12th, 2024
Groceryshop 2024 drew more than 4,000 senior executives from more than 50 countries for a three-day conference last month in Las Vegas that showcased revolutionary developments in retail technology, consumer engagement strategies and the future of grocery.
More than 160 speakers from top retailers, consumer brands and technology companies gathered to share best practices and insights on the most pressing industry topics, including digital transformation, the impact of generative artificial intelligence, retail media networks and building sustainable operational resilience.
Conference highlights
Several industry leaders made announcements during their keynote presentations, including:
- Frans Muller, president and CEO of Ahold Delhaize, shared how the grocer is planning to invest in private-label and omnichannel offerings, retail media opportunities and personalized deals. Grocers will act as community pillars where retailers build trust with consumers as they continue to seek out the best value, convenience and quality.
- Instacart President and CEO Fidji Simo showcased how the company transformed from a grocery delivery app into a data-driven grocery technology company, highlighting the potential for generative AI and the critical importance of retail media networks for engaging consumers. She also unveiled the latest iteration of the company’s Caper Carts, which incorporates gamified quests, location-based coupons and aisle-aware advertising formats to enhance the in-store shopping experience.
- Sam’s Club CEO Chris Nicholas unveiled the company’s first fully digital club in Grapevine, Texas. He outlined how the company is looking to upend the perception of the warehouse club model by reducing friction and improving the overall customer experience via its ‘Scan and Go’ technology.
- Kroger’s CMO Stuart Aitken outlined the importance of leveraging data to personalize the customer experience across platforms to deliver greater value, including customizing promotions based on purchasing patterns. In addition, he announced that the grocer had partnered with Disney to offer a streaming services bundle that includes Hulu, ESPN+ and Disney+ as part of the company’s Boost by Kroger Plus subscription.
New innovations and activations
The Store of Tomorrow, an immersive activation that allowed attendees to interact with the next generation of in-store grocery technologies made its debut at Groceryshop 2024. Solution providers such as Walmart Commerce Technologies, Caper and Foodstorm by Instacart, Brain Corp, Guac, Diebold Nixdorf, GS1 and Transcend Retail Solutions showcased the latest innovations in grocery technology, including smart carts, advanced inventory management systems and the latest in AI applications.
In addition, Groceryshop also hosted its third annual Shark Reef Startup competition. Twelve tech startups presented solutions for solving key retail challenges, competing for Judges’ Choice and Audience Choice awards. Following an initial round of presentations and a second five-minute question-and-answer session with the judges, two companies prevailed.
Cimulate, a platform that leverages generative AI to “cimulate” consumer behavior was awarded the Judges’ Choice award, while Augmodo (Spatial AI and Augmented Reality (AR) for real-time inventory management) received the Audience Choice award.
“Groceryshop 2024 was an incredible success, with industry leaders and startups unveiling new innovations that are poised to transform the grocery and CPG landscape,” said Adam Houston, SVP and event director.
“From new and exciting use cases for the deployment of generative AI to advancements in inventory management, this year’s event underscored the relentless pace of change in our industry. The future of grocery retail is here, and Groceryshop continues to be at the forefront of shaping and redefining its evolution.”
Groceryfest
The event’s signature celebration, Groceryfest, featured a performance by artist Ja Rule and a drone show presented by the Ibotta Performance Network, featuring hundreds of synchronized drones creating 3D animations.
Groceryshop will return to Mandalay Bay Convention Center next year from Sept. 28-Oct. 1.
