2023 Convention Yearbook.indd

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

Welcome back to the greatest grocery show on earth! As Chairman of the Alabama Grocers Association, I would like to officially welcome you and your families to beautiful Sandestin for our 32nd Annual Show! This year Jack Carlile and his committee have again

Tuesday morning there is breakfast, and the registration desk opens at 7:00 a.m. Exhibitors begin setting up their booths as we all start to gather in Azalea II & III for the Tuesday morning Business Session where we will hear part two of John Durham’s Economic Report for the Grocery Industry, a Mental Health Presentation from our friend Jacqueline DeMarco, and an Electric Vehicles Presentation from LaQuisha Buggs of Alabama Power. We will also have an update on legislative issues during this session. Tuesday after the Business Session, we will have our wholesaler and retailer networking hour before the Exhibit Hall opens to all attendees. Please take notice of this year’s new layout in the Exhibit Hall, improved to enhance everyone’s visit. This year the Best Bagger Competition returns at 6 p.m. Tuesday evening before the Chairman’s Banquet and Casino Night. Well, that is it for the 2023 Annual Show lineup. I hope you and your family/group enjoy our events and have gained some useful knowledge while you are here that can be used to give you an advantage in your business. I am very thankful to be a small part of the greatest industry in the world!

Harold Garrett Gateway Foods

put together an excellent lineup of speakers and entertainers that I am sure you will enjoy.

Before I get into what is in store for this year’s Annual Show, I would like to express my appreciation and gratitude to our Convention Committee Chairman Jack Carlile, Ellie Taylor, Stephanie Crabtree and Tori O’Neal, our association staff, for all the time and effort they have put into making sure we all have a very educational and relaxing time while we are here. Looking at the schedule for this year, I once again see a fantastic lineup of “spot on” speakers and entertainers. Monday morning there is breakfast, the registration desk opens at 7:00 a.m., and exhibitors begin their booth set up, as we all start to gather in Azalea II & III for the Monday morning Business Session. This year’s speakers will not disappoint. Beginning with one of the giants in our industry, President and CEO of The Food Industry Association, Leslie Sarasin, will be talking to us about trends in our business. The Grocery Trends Update will be followed by part one of an Economic Report for the Grocery Industry from John Dunham and an Active Shooter Awareness Seminar from Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department’s Sergeant Terrill Hogeland. Monday night we will have the Welcome Dinner, Silent Auction, and entertainment from the Compozitionz Band!

Be safe on the journey home.

God bless you, your family, and the AGA.

Sincerely, Harold Garrett Harold Garrett Chairman Alabama Grocers Association

2023 Annual Show Yearbook | Page 5