Supplier Partner/Program Sponsor
Supporting Suppliers
In today’s competitive marketplace, the most successful retailers know that retail marketing is being driven by technology and foodservice.
Reasons to Join
Member-driven program
Education and Insights
Peer Contacts
Networking
Market Tours
A year-long opportunity to engage! One registration provides multiple opportunities, highlighted below!
Price, Value and Trips!
Consumers wallets are squeezed, retailer costs are up, fuel margins are down and overall trips to convenience outlets are still suffering from pre-pandemic visit levels. This is not a new scenario to convenience operators, but one that requires marketing and operations tenacity to combat.
1. In-person programming: Retail Marketing & Foodservice Development
We will visit and interact with our peers at Family Express in Indiana. We will have pertinent educational presentations, market tours, and plenty of networking time.
2. Virtual Check-in
We will hold a virtual check-in later in the year in November. This program will include a presentation and time for virtual interaction.
3. Informal Meet-ups
Based upon past attendees’ input, many of our members will be attending select industry events.
We will work to create some type of networking function for our group at these events, allowing further sharing and relationship development.
PLAN to interact with the SIGMA Retail Marketing / Foodservice Share Group multiple times in 2025!
Registration ensures you will receive on-going specific program details!
Additionally, we know schedules change and life happens. If you register, and something comes up, we can pull you from a specific program. We will cap our registration. We have found that a moderate-sized group fosters better interaction. Thus, don’t delay, register!
Our Conferences
Event Details
Dates:
Location:
Hotel information:
In today’s competitive marketplace, the most successful retailers know that retail marketing is being driven by technology and foodservice.
For the 7th year, SIGMA is pleased to offer a share group designed specifically for our membership, providing off-the-record insights, commentary, and networking. This share group focuses on aspects of retail marketing and foodservice, providing unmatched interaction with peers.
Questions, call Kay Segal at 602-690-8501 or email Kay at [email protected]
HOTEL INFO
Holiday Inn Express & Suites Valparaiso
219.464.9395
Housing cut-off March 24, 2025
Click Here to Make a Hotel Reservation
*Enter your desired dates and the group rate will populate
About us
America’s Leading Fuel Marketers is the national trade association representing fuel marketers & convenience store chain retailers in the United States & Canada.
A member of the SIGMA staff will reply as soon as possible.
Registration Rates
| Entire Year-long Program Registration Rate
Includes virtual and in-person programming as well as coordination of informal meet-ups |
|
| SIGMA Marketer Member Rate | $399 |
| Non-Member Marketer Rate (limited openings, must be approved) | $1,599 |
| SIGMA Supplier Partner Rate | Contact Steven Wheelock [email protected] |
Registrants will receive a confirmation email with additional details. Hotel booking information will be sent separately for each in-person event.
Questions, call Kay Segal at 602-690-8501 or email Kay at [email protected]
In-person meetings: Retail Marketing & Foodservice Development
Thank you Family Express for opening your operations to our group. We look forward to visiting with you and your teams!
Family Express® is recognized in the marketplace for obsessing about customer service. They have developed their reputation around the art of building relationships with customers by utilizing their Living Brand: uniquely friendly employees. In addition, the upscale colonial architecture and enhanced landscaping plans warmly welcome visitors from across Northwest Indiana. Family Express® takes pride in using cutting edge technology throughout its operation to ensure an unsurpassed environment for its customers and associates to visit.
Against the robust backdrop of friendly employees and superior facilities, Family Express has also invested in developing and providing superior foodservice products, from bakery to pizza.
DATES: April 14-16, 2025
- Market Tour
- Family Express Leadership Information Sharing
- Family Express Bakery and Distribution Tour
- Product Innovation Development
- Maximizing Margin and Price Elasticity
- Food Marketing
AGENDA OVERVIEW
Monday, April 14th: Meeting begins at Family Express offices at 2:30 pm CST
Tuesday, April 15th: Meeting at Family Express Offices/Family Express Bakery and Distribution Tour
Wednesday, April 16: Market tour ends at 1:30 pm CST
Special Guest Speakers:
David Portalatin, SVP & Industry Advisor, Food and Foodservice, Circana
David Portalatin is author of Circana’s Annual Report on Eating Patterns in America, a compilation of the food and
foodservice research the company conducts. As an industry advisor, he provides data and deep industry expertise on how U.S. consumers eat and drink, as well as their attitudes and motivations, diet and nutrition, snacking, personal characteristics, and usage of restaurants and other foodservice outlets.
Working closely with food manufacturers and retailers and foodservice distributors, manufacturers, and operators,
Portalatin shares strategic business insights about current and future eating patterns and the state of the U.S.
foodservice industry.
Portalatin’s diverse professional background and expertise give him an in-depth understanding of consumer behavior and foodservice industry dynamics. Previously, he was the company’s analyst in the convenience retailing, automotive aftermarket, and motor fuels industries. Portlalatin held various positions in foodservice wholesale distribution and convenience retailing before joining NPD (now Circana) in 1999.
He is a frequent featured speaker at food and foodservice industry events, corporate conferences, and executive
meetings. He also serves as a media resource; his comments have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and other nationally recognized media outlets.
Kelley Fechner, Vice President, Customer Experience, Datassential
Kelley Fechner brings over 30 years of foodservice insights, with the last eight of them with Datassential. She has worked on initiatives spanning the entire menu, from beverages to proteins to desserts working with c-stores to QSR to Fine Dine. Kelley also spent three years working in Australia supporting the Asia Pacific Region. This lends to her experience supporting global insights and new product development.
Datassential Background
Datassential is a global food and beverage intelligence platform. By embracing billions of data points and AI, Datassential offers a suite of innovative solutions that empower hundreds of companies in the food & beverage ecosystem to more effectively develop, market, and sell their products.
Questions, call Kay Segal at 602-690-8501 or email Kay at [email protected]
Meet-ups!
Based upon a survey, some members will be attending the following broader industry events, in addition to NACS. We will work to create some type of networking function for our group at these events like a happy hour or dinner, allowing further sharing and relationship development.
NAFEM: North American Association – Food Equipment Manufacturers
February 26-28, 2025, Atlanta
SIGMA Group Meet Up on February 26
NRA: National Restaurant Association
May 17-20, 2025, Chicago
SIGMA Group Meet Up on May 18
IDDBA – International Daily, Deli & Bakery Association
June 1-3, New Orleans
SIGMA Group Meet Up on June 2
Questions, call Kay Segal at 602-690-8501 or email Kay at [email protected]
Virtual Check-in
We will hold a virtual check-in later in the year, currently scheduled for November 2025. Include this program in your registration detail to ensure you receive updates about the date and agenda.
- One License / Multiple Attendees
- The virtual program provides for an entire company registration, allowing multiple people from your organization to attend the virtual session
- One key person needs to register your company
- Once the company is registered, we will ask for additional attendee names and emails for others in the company who may want to attend the mid-year virtual session
Questions, call Kay Segal at 602-690-8501 or email Kay at [email protected]