The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) will hold its 2026 Annual Conference on May 12-13 at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania.
The two-day event brings together retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, convenience store operators and solution providers for education, networking and industry discussion.
“PFMA’s Annual Conference is an opportunity for the industry to come together, share insights, and focus on the challenges and opportunities ahead,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of PFMA. “We look forward to welcoming our members and partners to Bedford this May.”
The program features two educational sessions. The first, “Prevention and Intervention: How Businesses in the Food Supply Chain Can Drive Change in the Fight Against Human Trafficking,” will be presented by Heather Fry, director of industry training at Truckers Against Trafficking. The session focuses on how food and beverage businesses can recognize risks and take meaningful action.
The second session, “The Modern Cooler: Why Hemp-Infused Drinks Can Be the Next Retail Essential,” will feature Christopher Lackner, founder and president of the Hemp Beverage Alliance, Diana Eberlein, chair of the Coalition of Adult Beverage Alternatives, and Pennsylvania State Representative Steve Malagari. The panel will examine one of the fastest-growing categories in retail and its implications for store shelves.
The conference will also include a PFMA Wholesaler Meeting, a mini trade show connecting attendees with vendors and service providers and networking opportunities throughout the event.
Registration is open through May 5. Hotel accommodations at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort are available through the PFMA room block, with a reservation cutoff of April 13 at noon. Registration details are available at pfma.org/2026AC.
PFMA represents more than 600 convenience stores, supermarkets, independent grocers, wholesalers and consumer product vendors operating more than 3,000 stores and employing more than 300,000 Pennsylvanians.
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