u201cThe Next 18 Months: Navigating a Competitive, Consumer-Driven Landscapeu201d
Jim Donald, Albertsons co-chair, will be a featured keynote presenter at the fifth annual Organic Produce Summit (OPS), joining retail industry veteran Kevin Coupe for a provocative and engaging conversation about the future of the food industry and the role organic will play for consumers and the retail community.
u201cThe Next 18 Months: Navigating a Competitive, Consumer-Driven Landscapeu201d will feature Donald discussing the future of food retailing as the country rebounds from the COVID-19 pandemic. His keynote highlights a series of informative and insightful educational components of OPS 2021, to be held in person September 15u201316 in Monterey, California.
u201cAs we move forward, the food industry will be a place where survival of the fittestu2014the most innovative, relevant, resonant, and customer-centric retailersu2014will be the law of the land,u201d Donald said. u201cBusinesses can use their own cultures to establish leadership and create an organic and authentic u2018climate of caringu2019 for both employees and shoppers that can transcend even the toughest logistical, infrastructural, technological, and competitive challenges.u201d
Donald joined Albertsons in March 2018 as president and chief operating officer and currently serves as co-chair of the Board of Albertsons Companies, Inc., a leading North American retail food, health, and wellness company. He was previously CEO of Starbucks, Haggen, and Extended Stay Hotels and has been named one of the u201cTop 25 CEOsu201d in the world by Best Practices Institute.
For his part, Donald is offering OPS attendees the chance to be part of the conversation by sending in their questions for his presentationu2014an outstanding opportunity to interact with one of the best minds in retailing.
u201cJim is one of the most dynamic and progressive leaders in the world of retail and can share how evolving customer behavior is challenging retailers to remain relevant and resonant to them,u201d Coupe said. u201cThe changing retail landscape from brick-and-mortar to omnichannel retailingu2014and the practical implications for organic fresh produceu2014is top of mind for everyone. To openly discuss the operational and cultural imperatives that retailers and suppliers need to embrace and how they can be best communicated both internally and externally will benefit all OPS attendees. This is a canu2019t-miss keynote presentation!u201d
Albertsons Companies has stores across 35 states and the District of Columbia under 20 well-known banners, including Albertsons, Safeway, Vons, Jewel-Osco, Shawu2019s, Acme, Tom Thumb, Randalls, United Supermarkets, Pavilions, Star Market, Haggen, and Carrs, as well as New York Cityu2013based meal kit company Plated. The company operates more than 1,700 pharmacies, 23 distribution centers, and 20 manufacturing plants, and has approximately 270,000 employees across the country. Albertsonsu2019 O Organics is one of the nationu2019s largest brands of USDA-certified organic products, with more than 1,000 products available exclusively at Albertsons Companies stores.
OPS is the only event dedicated exclusively to bringing together organic producers with retailer and buying organizations from across the globe. The fifth annual OPS features a trade show floor exhibition that will showcase over 160 of North Americau2019s organic fresh produce growers, shippers, and processors exhibiting their products to hundreds of retailers and buyers. Tours at several of the nationu2019s leading organic producers are also available for qualified retailers and wholesalers at OPS.
Retailer and general registration for OPS 2021 is available at www.organicproducesummit.com. Additional information about the event, including schedule, sponsors, and a complete list of exhibiting companies, is also available on the website.
***
This article was submitted by the Organic Produce Summit.
The Organic Produce Summit was started in 2016 as a live event bringing together growers, shippers, and processors of organic fresh produce and retail buying organizations across North America. The Organic Produce Summit is held annually in Monterey, California.