OPENING KEYNOTE

The Intelligent Grocer

Keynote Speaker: William L. (Bill) Homa, Senior Vice President & CIO, Hannaford Bros.

Hannaford Bros. senior vice president and CIO Bill Homa will focus on the theme of this year's Summit , "The Intelligent Grocer" in his keynote address.  Homa will examine how Hannaford Bros. is utilizing more and more of its customer insight intelligence to tailor merchandising and create customer experiences that fuel bottom-line growth.

GENERAL SESSION #1

Driving Higher In-Stock Levels through CGO

Speaker: Mark Chandler, VP / Supply Chain Integration, Price Chopper

Price Chopper (The Golub Corporation) is leading the industry in its sophisticated use of automated technology and real-time visibility via its computer-generated ordering system that maintains perpetual inventory of all SKUs in each of its 115 stores. The system, which was implemented two years ago for all warehouse-supplied items, manages Price Chopper's store inventory, shelf capacity, order delivery cycle and future demand. The system generates an automatic order based on forecast that is highly accurate. As a result, the chain has seen tremendous improvement in out-of-stocks across the store where the current OOS rate is well below the industry average of 8%. In this session you will also learn about Price Chopper's current pilot-testing of DSD with key beverage, HBA and specialty food vendors to gain visibility into its true fill rate and to maintain a more consistent assortment management.

Networking Coffee Break

GENERAL SESSION #2

Supermarket Benchmark Study 2007

Speaker: Craig L. Rosenblum, Vice President, Business Development, Willard Bishop Consulting

Supermarket merchants are faced with the most challenging environment in retailing. They are squeezed by big-box and mass-merchant retailers on one end and drug stores and discounters on the other. But many grocers are fighting back and winning. This inaugural study, which will become the industry's definitive supermarket trends study, is based on exclusive research and analysis from RIS and research partner Willard Bishop Consulting. It reveals insights and trends about where the supermarket industry is right now and where it is heading.

GENERAL SESSION #3

Point / Counterpoint: Customized vs. Vanilla POS

Moderator: Greg Buzek, President, IHL Consulting

Panelists: Roman Coba, former Sr. Vice President & CIO, Loblaw Companies; Doug Miller, Director of Store Systems, Food Lion LLC; Pedro Ramos, AVP Loss Prevention, Pathmark Stores Inc.

How much customization or best-of-breed aggregating do you want with your POS? How much do you need? How can you be sure you have struck the right balance for the most critical and expensive IT component in retailing? With so many elements comprising today's supermarket checkout lanes, including software, hardware and peripherals, the choices and combinations can be exhaustive. In this session a panel of retail executives discuss best-practice methods for using test labs, pilot tests and other essential procedures to find the best possible POS.

BREAK FOR GOLF

SPONSOR DINNERS

NETWORKING BREAKFAST with Topic Tables

Day 2 Keynote

What You Need to Know about Tesco's North American Launch

Keynote Speaker: Mike Griswold, Research Director, AMR Research

European grocers have a spotty record of success in expanding to the U.S. market, but Tesco is a different story. The mega-grocer has been fighting a turf war with Wal-Mart in Great Britain for years and, to everyone's surprise, it has been winning. Now, armed with business processes and systems that serve it well in Britain, Tesco is taking aim at the U.S. Find out about Tesco's latest plans - where, when and how - for initiating one of the most eagerly followed retail launches in the U.S.

GENERAL SESSION #4

Turning Intelligence into Bottom Line Results

Moderator: Joe Skorupa, Group Editor-in-chief, RIS

Panelists:  Brett Bonner, Sr. Dir. / R&D and Innovation, The Kroger Company; Bill Burdwood, Director of Asset Procurement, Giant Eagle Inc.; Kenneth Pink, Chief Operating Officer, E. W. James & Sons

Retailing may be the most data intensive industry there is, with enough customer and product sales information to fill massive data warehouses. Turning that intelligence into information that can drive decision-making and actions that impact the bottom line favorably is no easy task. In fact, it is probably both the greatest challenge and the greatest area of untapped potential for driving profits and cutting waste. In this morning's session three grocery executives will discuss how they leverage their data intelligence for positive bottom-line impact using both correct IT infrastructure and internal business processes making breakthrough changes in company performance.

Networking Coffee Break

CLOSING SESSION

Out-Fresh the Competition

Speaker: Jim Clendenen, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Bashas' Inc.

Celebrating its 75^th anniversary this year, Bashas' Family of Stores has grown to more than 160 stores in Arizona, along with a few stores in California and New Mexico. This family-owned grocer operates six unique formats, including: Bashas' Supermarkets, (traditional supermarkets); Bashas' Dine Markets (specializing in the needs of the Navajo Nation); Food City (low price format with ethnic and Hispanic food varieties); AJ's Fine Foods (gourmet-style markets); Ike's Farmer's Market (fresh, healthy and organic products); and Sportsman's Fine Wine & Spirits (wine and spirits from all over the world).  Bashas' Senior Vice-President and Chief Information Office, Jim Clendenen, will explain the strategic review and end-to-end business process the company implemented as part of its "Fresh Initiative." From operational components to key technology initiatives, learn how to plan, execute and maintain "freshness" in every aspect of your business.