Groceryshop 2026, the leading event for the everyday retail ecosystem, brought together more than 4,000 retail leaders at Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Sept. 22-24. The expanding “Meetup” program featured more than 30,000 co-matched business meetings.
Three themes dominated the event: AI becoming the consumer’s first stop in their shopping journey; value being redefined by stretched budgets and GLP-1 medications; and retail media shifting from an advertising channel to a core part of the retail ecosystem.
Rocquan Lucas, vice president of content at Groceryshop, said: “What we heard at Groceryshop 2026 is that the average grocery shopping cart is about to change more in the next few years than it has in decades as shoppers lean on AI assistants to support their meal planning and cart building, become more selective with their purchases, and, with the rise of GLP-1 adoption, shift what and how much they consume.
“That puts real pressure on grocers and brands to make their product data machine-readable and deliver the right product and assortment for an evolving consumer.”
AI might be doing the behind-the-scenes work, but on the show floor, tangible—and delicious—was still driving engagement. Here’s what caught our eye.
Epic Trade Show Floor Entrances
Groceryshop has always greeted attendees with memorable entrance moments, and the level of creativity at this year’s iteration was no exception. The first entrance focused on all things groceries, with fruits and veggies actually serving as swag squishies. The second entrance (our featured photo) was all about bubbles, with an oversized washing machine stealing the spotlight.
Branded On-Floor Lounges
Investment in meeting and event space off the show floor continues to climb. It’s not often that you see a wedding chapel bought out as it was during Groceryshop. Unpacked Lounge by AD Retail Media was one example of how a thoughtful brand lounge can be an impactful part of a brand’s trade show strategy, driving brand recognition and giving attendees a reason to stay.
Event Attendee Attention Callouts
With attention spans plummeting, exhibitors are distilling unique selling propositions and highlighting them in short, digestible ways. Guac, an AI-powered replenishment platform, highlighted the 38 percent reduction in food waste on a flip sign. Bazaarvoice, a network of consumer voices, made it easy to identify its products on elevated buttons against the white background of the booth. In a world of stimuli overload, simple can be powerful.
Branded Bicycle Deliveries
Fetch, a tech and rewards company, expanded engagement down every aisle with a branded bicycle that circulated around the show floor with a trunk full of free snacks. Attendees could also earn a Fetch point and win a reward at the booth.
F&B Tech Engagements
Instacart invited attendees to taste its new Foodstorm ordering technology at “The Growth Bar,” where they could order a matcha or coffee on a touchscreen and pick it up at the bar, like in a real cafe. A variety of flavors added to the delicious moment. (Partner: MoonLab Productions)
Takeaways on Demand
AI-generated takeaways are becoming table stakes, but it’s still nice when they’re easily accessible and not buried in the app. Powered by Snapsight, takeaways were available in six languages and posters with QR codes were placed at the entrances to the stages.
Sweetening up the Survey Process
The Hyve Group, Groceryshop’s owner, continues to invest in measurement to deliver the most relevant events. Attendees had multiple opportunities to provide feedback—from real-time surveys during sessions, to post-show surveys via email, to in-the-moment insight—all while queuing for that trending matcha.
Have a story idea? Want us to cover your booth? Reach out to EM’s editor-at-large Anna Huddleston.
