Artificial intelligence, retail media networks, and the growing influence of GLP-1 medications on consumer purchasing behavior will take center stage at Groceryshop 2026, as retail executives, consumer packaged goods (CPG) leaders, and technology innovators gather to discuss the future of commerce. The event's agenda reflects how AI-powered shopping, digital advertising, and health-driven consumption patterns are rapidly reshaping retail strategies worldwide.

Groceryshop 2026 is set to bring together more than 4,000 retail professionals from over 50 countries in Las Vegas this September, highlighting how artificial intelligence, retail media, and evolving consumer behavior are transforming the global retail ecosystem.

The annual event, scheduled for September 22–24 at Mandalay Bay, will feature more than 150 industry speakers representing major retailers, consumer brands, technology companies, and commerce platforms. Executives from Instacart, Kroger, DoorDash, Unilever Wellbeing, Sam's Club, Mercado Libre, Dollar General, Diageo, BJ's Wholesale Club, and Once Upon a Farm are expected to share strategies for navigating one of the retail industry's most significant periods of disruption.

Unlike traditional retail conferences focused on future predictions, Groceryshop 2026 emphasizes operational insights from companies actively deploying AI technologies, retail media platforms, and omnichannel commerce initiatives at scale.

One of the dominant themes this year is AI-powered shopping. As conversational AI, intelligent product recommendations, and autonomous shopping assistants become more sophisticated, retailers are rethinking how consumers discover products and make purchasing decisions.

A keynote featuring Chris Rogers, CEO of Instacart, will explore how artificial intelligence is improving digital grocery experiences while creating new growth opportunities through retail media and commerce technology. Another featured session will bring together Andy Fang, Co-Founder of DoorDash, and Yael Cosset, Chief Digital Officer of Kroger, to discuss conversational and personalized shopping experiences powered by AI.

AI is also expected to influence one of retail's fastest-growing advertising segments: retail media networks. Retailers increasingly leverage first-party shopper data to provide advertisers with measurable digital advertising opportunities across websites, mobile applications, and physical stores.

A dedicated session on in-store retail media will feature executives from Albertsons Media Collective and CVS Media Exchange, examining how retailers are expanding advertising beyond digital channels into connected in-store experiences while demonstrating measurable sales impact.

Another major focus will be the growing commercial implications of GLP-1 medications, which are changing consumer food purchasing habits. Originally developed to treat diabetes and increasingly prescribed for weight management, GLP-1 therapies are influencing grocery demand by encouraging consumers to prioritize higher-protein, nutrient-dense, and portion-controlled food choices.

Retail executives from Target, Chobani, and Roxberry Naturals will discuss how changing dietary preferences are reshaping merchandising strategies, private-label development, and product assortment decisions. As consumer health priorities evolve, grocery retailers are increasingly using customer analytics and AI-powered demand forecasting to optimize inventory and promotional strategies.

The conference will also examine the convergence of brand marketing and performance marketing, particularly as retail media becomes a core advertising channel. Marketing executives from Mars Pet Nutrition, Liquid Death, and Philips will share how organizations are integrating brand-building initiatives with measurable performance outcomes using omnichannel marketing and retail media analytics.

For enterprise marketers, these discussions highlight an important industry shift. Retail media is no longer viewed solely as a shopper marketing channel but as a strategic component of broader digital marketing ecosystems that combine customer data, AI-powered targeting, and closed-loop measurement.

According to Gartner, retail organizations continue increasing investments in AI-driven customer engagement, personalization, and digital commerce platforms as they seek to improve customer experiences and operational efficiency. McKinsey & Company similarly reports that AI-enabled retail organizations are achieving stronger personalization, more accurate demand forecasting, and improved inventory optimization through advanced analytics.

The competitive landscape reflects these priorities. Companies including Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Walmart, and Adobe continue investing in AI-powered commerce, retail media infrastructure, customer analytics, and digital advertising technologies that support increasingly personalized shopping experiences.

Beyond conference sessions, Groceryshop continues to emphasize business networking. Organizers reported facilitating more than 30,000 business meetings through its Meetup program during last year's event, underscoring the growing importance of partnerships across retail, technology, investment, and startup communities.

This year's event also forms part of Shoptalk Innovation Week, allowing attendees to participate in both Groceryshop and Shoptalk Fall through a unified event experience designed to foster collaboration across the broader retail technology ecosystem.

For enterprise marketing and commerce leaders, Groceryshop 2026 reflects the industry's transition toward AI-native retail operations. As consumer expectations continue evolving, success increasingly depends on combining AI-powered customer intelligence, retail media monetization, health-driven merchandising strategies, and omnichannel engagement into unified commerce platforms capable of delivering personalized shopping experiences at scale.

Market Landscape

Retailers and CPG brands are accelerating investments in AI-powered commerce, retail media networks, customer analytics, and omnichannel marketing. Gartner, IDC, and McKinsey identify AI personalization, first-party data strategies, and retail media as major growth areas as organizations respond to changing consumer behavior and increasing competition. Health-driven purchasing trends, including the impact of GLP-1 medications, are also reshaping merchandising, demand forecasting, and product innovation across the retail industry.

Strategic Outlook

Groceryshop 2026 highlights the convergence of artificial intelligence, retail media, and evolving consumer health preferences. As retailers modernize digital commerce platforms and expand AI capabilities, enterprise marketing teams will increasingly rely on integrated customer data, predictive analytics, and retail media ecosystems to deliver personalized shopping experiences and measurable business outcomes.

Top Insights

• Groceryshop 2026 will bring together more than 4,000 retail professionals to discuss AI-powered commerce, retail media, and evolving consumer behavior.
• AI-driven shopping assistants and conversational commerce are becoming central to personalized retail experiences and omnichannel customer engagement.
• Retail media networks continue evolving into strategic advertising platforms that combine first-party data, AI targeting, and closed-loop measurement.
• GLP-1 medications are influencing grocery purchasing behavior, encouraging retailers to rethink merchandising, product assortment, and inventory planning.
• Enterprise retailers are increasingly integrating AI, customer analytics, and digital commerce technologies to improve operational efficiency and long-term growth.

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