The Carolinas Food Industry Council (CFIC) welcomed 1,400 grocery industry representatives to its 21st Annual CFIC Convention, held July 20-23 at the Hilton Myrtle Beach Resort.
The three-day event provided educational seminars, industry updates and networking for retailers and suppliers from across the Carolinas.
Attendees included hundreds of suppliers who met with leaders from the region’s largest grocery chains and independent grocers to explore new products, marketing innovations and future strategies.
More than 800 one-on-one retailer meetings were conducted, offering platinum, gold and crystal sponsors exclusive opportunities to engage with retail decision-makers.
Programming and recognitions
Keynote presentations addressed emerging trends and economic forecasts.
Scott Moses, partner at Solomon Partners, led a grocery industry panel with executives Tim Lowe, Alex Lee Retail; Geoff Waldau, Food Lion; Larry Wilson, Carlie C’s IGA; and Dave Yandow, Harris Teeter, in a discussion on the grocery industry in the Carolinas.
Economist Brian Beaulieu of ITR Economics returned for his third year to deliver an economic outlook.
During the annual awards ceremony, CFIC President Gene Faller honored Pepsi Bottling Ventures as the 2025 Outstanding Supplier of the Year, accepted by VP of Retail Trade Development Randy Quirk.
Garner Foods received the second annual Outstanding Local Supplier of the Year award, presented to President and CEO Matt McCollum.
The CFIC Board also announced $100,000 in scholarships for 40 students through the Retail Consumer Alliance Foundation; $50,000 awarded to Feeding the Carolinas; and a special $50,000 contribution to MANNA Food Bank to aid recovery efforts following Hurricane Helene.
[RELATED: Still Much Work To Do As Western NC Continues Helene Recovery]
Leadership and industry updates
Executives from the Southeast’s largest grocery chains, including Food City, Food Lion, Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods and MDI, shared insights into upcoming initiatives and promotional strategies.
Breakout sessions covered key topics such as global food growth trends by Lipari Foods’ Nick Lenzi and focusing on consumer trends by Erkin Peksoz of Circana.
At the Annual Meeting, Larry Wilson, SVP of Carlie C’s IGA, was elected CFIC president for 2025-26. Additional officers and directors were also installed, continuing CFIC’s mission to support and strengthen the grocery industry in North and South Carolina.
Elected officers
- First VP Dave Yandow, Harris Teeter;
- Second VP Nancy Kimbrough, Bestway Grocery;
- Third VP Sam Walton, W. Lee Flowers;
- Treasurer Lynn Willard, Lowcountry Grocers;
- Chaplain Allen Jackson, Piggly Wiggly Pinetops;
- Ex Officio Gene Faller, Food Lion; and
- Lindsey Kueffner, serving her 14th year as CFIC Executive Director.
Elected directors
- Adam Barnhardt, MDI;
- Jeet Brahmbhatt, Fresh Foods LLC;
- Brian Dozier, Montgomery Foods;
- Greg Floyd, Piggly Wiggly;
- Jeff Gregory, The Butcher’s Market;
- Paul Han, Super G Mart;
- Robert Ingle II, Ingles Markets;
- Omar Jorge, Compare Foods;
- Travis Kinlaw, Kinlaw’s Supermarket;
- Tim Lowe, Lowes Foods;
- James Messer, Piggly Wiggly North Carolina;
- John Owens, C&S Wholesale Grocers;
- David Smith, Piggly Wiggly;
- Clark Stephens, Quality Foods;
- Preston Taylor, Piggly Wiggly;
- John Triplett, B&T Foods;
- William Wilder Jr., Piggly Wiggly; and
- Jim Wright, Floco Foods.
CFIC Convention
The convention opened with a family welcome dinner featuring Mexican and Italian buffets, a buffalo wing bar courtesy of Garner Foods, Rao’s pizza and Mayfield ice cream sundaes.
Attendees enjoyed games, including cornhole and family-friendly activities. Daily breakfasts and lunches highlighted sponsors’ products, with fresh produce from the agriculture departments of North Carolina and South Carolina and a salad bar provided by Harris Teeter. Monday’s lunch also featured beef brisket and pulled pork prepared onsite by McCormick & Stubbs.
Monday night’s Innovation Showcase featured sample offerings from Anheuser-Busch, B&G Foods, Chilly Water, Ethica Wines & Talking Rain, Freixenet-Mionetto, Garner Foods, Icelandic Glacial Water, Pete & Gerry’s Organic Eggs. Whiskey Neat Duo provided the music.
On the night of July 22, platinum sponsors and retailers gathered for an exclusive, invitation-only reception before the closing dinner.
The dinner served as the finale to the convention, a celebration of personal and professional connections in a relaxed, social atmosphere.
Attendees enjoyed entertainment from The Vistas while mingling, dining, dancing and placing final bids on silent auction items. Kinder’s & Villari Foods and Louisiana Fish Fry treated guests to samples of their signature products.
Throughout the event, attendees also enjoyed the CFIC Café, featuring complimentary meals, snacks and product samples. They received Sponsor Sample Sacks at check-in.
