A good general manager needs to be prepared for every store situation. Whether your delivery truck is nowhere to be found, you can’t seem to move that one pesky product off the shelves, or you’re dealing with demanding customers, being a general manager means having a wide array of skills in your toolbelt. That’s why at the 2025 INFRA Annual Conference, you can tailor your education sessions based on which skills you want to hone, from merchandising to people management. We’ve selected our best of the bunch below – check it out!
Large Store Share Group: Securing a Seat at the Table
When: July 21, 4:00 – 5:30
Where: Meeting Room 4-5
Speakers: John Gengel (INFRA) & Andy Huth (INFRA)
How can large stores leverage INFRA’s collective purchasing power to drive strong industry influence? In this share group, we’ll discuss how to amplify our voices, secure better pricing and exclusive products, and enhance strategic partnerships. Join us for a lively, productive discussion on strengthening our collective impact and achieving your business goals with INFRA’s support.
Navigating DEI for Food Retailers in a Shifting Landscape
When: July 22, 10:15 am to 11:15 am
Where: Meeting Room 2-3
Speaker: Allanah Hines (Allanah H. Consulting)
In today's politically charged environment, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives have become both a business imperative and a lightning rod for controversy. Independent natural food retailers operate at a unique intersection of community engagement, financial sustainability, and brand integrity -- making the implementation of DEI efforts both a strategic opportunity and a potential risk. How can food retailers ensure that their DEI commitments drive real impact while protecting their brand from reputational or financial fallout?
This session will take an unfiltered look at the edges of DEI in the food retail sector today. We will explore the risks and challenges -- such as consumer and political backlash, performative activism, and supplier hesitations -- while also uncovering the undeniable business advantages of a well-executed DEI strategy. From supplier diversity and inclusive hiring practices to marketing strategies that reflect community values, we will discuss how food retailers can integrate DEI in ways that are both authentic and profitable.
Empowering Teams through Transparency: Collaborative Data Sharing by INFRA Retailers
When: July 22, 4:15 – 5:15
Where: Meeting Room 2-3
Speakers: John Gengel (INFRA), Jim Olson (SPINS), Steven Kovach (INFRA)
Join us for an engaging and insightful peer-sharing session where INFRA Members discuss their journey with data transparency. In this panel, you'll hear firsthand how fellow retailers are successfully sharing key business data with their teams—what they share, why they share it, and the big-picture goals they're aiming to achieve. Discover how transparency can drive stronger team collaboration, boost accountability, and enhance decision-making across your organization. Whether you're looking to increase employee engagement, improve performance, or build a more empowered culture, this conversation will offer practical takeaways and inspiring ideas to help you leverage data for long-term success. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from your peers and elevate your business!
By attending these education sessions, you’re sure to walk away with a tip or two to keep your store moving and adapting. Whether it’s as simple as learning how to curate the perfect hot bar menu or as big as learning to better support your employees, we’ve got you covered. We can’t wait to see you in St. Paul this July!
View the full schedule here.