WAFC 2026 Convention, San Antonio Texas, May 2-6, 2026
"The WAFC Convention is where innovation meets collaboration. It's where leadership takes root, knowledge expands, and lifelong inndustry relationships are bulit. Education stands at the heart of WAFC's mission. This convention proudly supports initatives to attract, retain, and develop high-potential talent across the food industry." - Kevin Lovell, WAFC 2026 President Chairman, Safeway
Scott and Kelly Drew, Illuminator Golf Tournament
Cherie and Ken Phipps
Greg Mcniff, with Rebecca and Greg Calvin, Stater Bros
La Banderita, Western Foods Distribuing, Nohemi Baez, BDM
Bob Reeves with Courtney Adams, Birdzi
Illuminator Headlite, Lori Brown, NuCal Foods
Syed Taufeek Shah, Lola's Fine Sauces, Monster Energy Girls, Marko Turkalj, Bashas
Doug Schamenauer, Don Lig, Chris Quinlan, Winland Foods, Next On Shelf exhibitor
Jean Koffinke, Scott Peyman, Craize, Next on Shelf exhibitor
Colin Casey, Smash Kitchen, Next on Shelf exhibitor
Ryan Adams, CEO Gelsons, touring the Next on Shelf exhibitors
Shanon Argyros, James Harris, Positive Energy
A view of some of the silent auction items
Stefanie Grosse, Joe Henderson, Dana Hendry, Bruce Langer
Bruce langer with Levi Wingo, Raley's
Tyler Reneghan, Eagle Eye
Tyler Reneghan
Tyler Reneghan
Tim Short, David Fernbacher, Designer Greetings.
Meet and Greet
Illuminator Town Hall
Panel: Subriana Pierce, Sheryl Salazar, Albertsons; Hee Sook Alden, CFCU, Lupita Tolento, Northgate, Ryan Adams,Gelsons
Kathy Talamante, C.A. Fortune
Mike Ridenour, UNFI
Sonya Sunny, Taufeek Shah, Lola's Fine Sauces
Matthew & Ashlee Lorio, with her twin sister Amanda Christianson, Cheryl Kennick, City of Hope
Veronica & Felix Rendon,
Bob Reeves with Marko Turkalj, Bashas
Bob Reeves with Marko Turkalj, Bashas
April editions of The Shelby Report
Monster Energy 250th Anniversary cans
Joe Perez, Waste Stream Management, Moderator for all the town hall meetings
Joe Perez, Moderator for all the town hall meetings
Jen Warner, President Raley's
Raley's team, town hall
Michael Teel, Chairman and acting CEO of the Raley's Companies
Michael Teel, Raley's
Ryan Adams, Rick Williams, Gelson's
Dave Dimond, Milton's Bakeries with Mari Fassett, Marimix Crunch Baked
David Hinojosa, CEO HGG with Bob Reeves
Wendy Rodriguez with Trent Posey, Western food Distributors
Jack Pestello, President Merchandising, Albertsons
Teresa Whitney, GVP, Corporate Merchandising, Fresh, Albertsons
Teresa Whitney, Albertsons Town Hall
Teresa Whitney, Albertsons Town Hall
Demetri Pantazes, GVP. Corporate Merchandising Center Store, Albertsons
Demetri Pantazes
Chris Lanoue, GVP Merchandising Operations
Chris Lanoue, Albertsons Town Hall
Julian Mintz, VP Sales Albertsons Media Collective. Town Hall
Julian Mintz, Town Hall
Julian Mintz, Albertsons Town Hall
Mike & Renee Stigers, Wakefern, Dave and Mari Jones, Demand Chain AI
Sandra Masselli, Shipt, Tyler Renaghan, Eagle Eye, Britt Wilson Shipt
Nibble Ranch
BBQ at Nibble Ranch
Bob Mossler, Greg Godbout, Peter Boivin, Trevor Johnson, Chris Herpich, Renee Skower, RRD
Weston Clark and wife from Drumroll, Next on Shelf Contestant
Kids love a rodeo
Long Horn Steer to be photgraphed with
Mark & Naomi Merthe, Next on Shelf exhibitor La Republica Superfoods
Ben Jakes, Adam Goodliss, Alix Parners with Nancy Lebold, WAFC Director Emeritus
Barrel Races, Rodeo
Barrel Races
Bull Riding, Nibble Ranch
Bull rides are short!
Nibble Ranch
Nibble Ranch
Victoria Corbin, City of Hope
Fireworks at Nibble Ranch
Nibble Ranch
Jessica & Mark Olejnik, ASR Group C&H
Shannon and Tina line dancing
Teaching line dane moves
Pat Posey with Ryan Adams, Gelson's
Line Dancing to live band
Willie & Mary Crocker
Marcy Grace
Cynthia and Jim McCoy with BFF Sue Klug
Rebecca Calvin, VP on the WAFC board
Rebecca Calvin making introductions
Greg Calvin
Mike Johnson, Vice President Operations, Fred Meyer
Mike Johnson, Fred Meyer, Secretary, WAFC
Kids arrive for Pledge of Allegiance
Rebecca Calvin, SVP & CMO Stater Bros markets
Rebecca Calvin, Stater Bros, VP WAFC
Marcy Grace, Singer Songwriter Hands Down, the best rendition of the National Anthem
Marcy Grace, named the 2025 Emerging Songwriter of the Year by the Texas Internet Radio Music Awards, nominated for Best New Female Artist.
Kevin Lovell, SVP Operations Albertsons/Safeway, President Chairman WAFC
Kevin Lovell, Chairman President WAFC
Kevin Lovell, Chairman President WAFC
Lori Brown, Headlit for the Illuminators
Lori Brown, Nu Cal Foods and Headlite of Illuminators
Lori Brown, NuCal Foods, Headlite Illuminators
Levi Wingo, Raley's
Levi Wingo, Raley's
USC Capstone Team "Future Horizons"
Chris Drew, Pepsico, Isaac McCowen, Albertsons, Sydney Ruggleri, Wakefern, Ian Beach, Stater bros
Justin Wren, Key note speaker
Justin Wren, founder of Fight for the Forgotten
Wren, Two time national champion Wrestler, UFC vereran
Gino Llerena, Rafail Pineda, Mission Foods
Mission Foods showing off their 250th anniversary packaging
Stater Bros Town Hall
Northgate Town Hall
Northgate Mkt Town Hall Q&A
Jeremy Zavoral, Kyle Canova, Bumble Bee Seafood
David Hinojosa, HGG Town Hall
David Hinojosa, Q&A at Town Hall
Flor Montes de Oca, Yasmine Tesone,, Johana Dugarte, LavAzza Coffee
Courtney Adams with Bob Reeves
Kyle Svete, Roger Haddy, Illuminator Bar Lites
Kyle and Roger with Lori Brown,
Tammy & Eric Slabaugh, NuCal Foods
Kyle Svete, Christine Lewis, Lisa Juarez, Roger Haddy, First Year Hilites.
Scott Drew with his grandbaby
Allison & Manard Lagasse, Topco Associates
Adam Caldecott, Good Food Holdings, Bristol Farms with Cynthia McCloud
Wendy Coldesina, VP General Merchandise Mgr Costco Wholesale
Wendy Coldesina, Treasurer WAFC
Juan Bendana, Key Note Speaker
Juan Bandana
John Sellers, Steve Netherton, Vallarta Supermarkets
Team Ripple Effect-Capstone Presentation
Becca Morgan, Niagara Bottling
Brian Miller, Certified Federal Credit Union
Taylor Escamilla, King Sooper
The Ripple Effect team
Kevin Lovell, Albertsons/Safeway
Jerry Rice Hall of Fame wide receiver
Jerry Rice widely regarded as the best wide receiver to ever play the game.
Jerry Rice, played with Joe Montana and Steve Young, San Francisco 49 ers.
Jerry's Super Bowl Ring
Aimee Wiegmann, Swiftly with Bob Reeves
Nibble Ranch Rodeo
Christianson Memorial Golf Tournament: Marko Turkalj, Sonya Sunny, Taufeek Shah, Bob Reeves