Thursday, 25 June 2026 01:45 PM
Conferences
Industry leaders explore how fresh offerings, changing consumer behavior, and innovation are reshaping the grocery store experience
ST. LOUIS, MO / ACCESS Newswire / June 25, 2026 / As Citrus America marks 15 years of helping grocery retailers build successful commercial fresh juicing programs, founder Brian Framson recently moderated a featured leadership panel at the National Grocers Association (NGA) Fresh Summit in St. Louis.
The session, "The Fresh Future: Reimagining the Independent Store Experience," brought together senior grocery executives from Leever's Supermarkets, Niemann Foods, and Wakefern Food Corp., to examine how independent grocers can continue to compete and thrive in an increasingly complex retail environment.
The NGA Fresh Summit is one of the grocery industry's premier gatherings focused on fresh departments, merchandising, store operations, and strategies that drive profitability across produce, deli, bakery, foodservice, meat, and dairy.
Throughout the discussion, panelists explored the evolving role of fresh offerings in creating customer loyalty, strengthening store differentiation, and building sustainable competitive advantages for independent retailers.
"Independent grocers have always succeeded by finding ways to differentiate themselves and create stronger connections with their communities," said Framson. "Fresh remains one of the most powerful opportunities retailers have to create experiences customers can see, taste, and trust."
Among the themes explored during the discussion were changing shopper expectations, innovation in fresh departments, evolving retail formats, and the role technology will play in shaping the grocery store of the future. Up-and-coming topics, such as GLP-1 trends and demographic shifts, were also explored, as were concepts for leveraging independent grocers' strengths.
The conversation focused on how independent grocers can continue to differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive marketplace, particularly as consumer expectations evolve around freshness, transparency, convenience, and quality. Panelists also discussed how innovation, technology, and changing shopping behaviors are influencing the future design and operation of grocery stores, as well as the growing importance of creating signature experiences that larger competitors often struggle to replicate.
The appearance comes during a milestone year for Citrus America. Earlier this year, the company reinforced its ongoing "You Can't Fake Fresh" initiative. The focus on fresh reflects Citrus America's continued commitment to helping retailers create authentic fresh programs and in-store experiences that support customer loyalty, operational excellence, and profitable growth, a concept Citrus America refers to as "Healthy Profits."
Throughout its history, Citrus America has maintained that successful fresh programs require more than equipment alone. The company has long emphasized that lasting success comes from combining quality products with operational discipline, employee training, customer service, technical support, and a long-term commitment to helping operators execute consistently at scale.
For Citrus America, fresh is more than a product category. It is a strategic tool for differentiation. Throughout the NGA Fresh Summit discussion, one theme remained clear: independent grocers continue to have unique opportunities to stand out by creating authentic fresh experiences that customers can see, taste, and trust. As consumer demand for transparency and quality continues to grow, fresh programs can help retailers strengthen loyalty, increase store traffic, and build stronger connections with their communities.
"I'm honored to have been asked to moderate this panel, because it's a highly strategic discussion," Framson says. "What's amazing is that no matter what strategies the different retailers were talking about, they all stated that these initiatives require great employees. At the core of it all, it became apparent to me Strategic HR is their highest priority: how they treat their employees, investing in training programs, and supporting employee satisfaction."
Framson believes one of the greatest opportunities for independent retailers lies in differentiation. In increasingly competitive grocery environments, signature fresh offerings can provide something consumers cannot easily find elsewhere. Rather than relying solely on price competition, retailers can create memorable experiences that shoppers can see, taste, and experience firsthand, helping transform fresh departments from operational necessities into meaningful competitive advantages.
At the heart of Citrus America's approach is what Framson calls T.H.E., which stands for Taste, Hygiene, and Efficiency. Originally developed as a way to simplify what drives successful fresh programs, the framework remains central to the company's philosophy today. Fresh offerings must taste exceptional, inspire trust through hygiene and transparency, and operate efficiently enough to create lasting business value. Without all three, long-term success becomes difficult to sustain.
Since joining the NGA in 2020, Citrus America has remained an active supporter of the association and its mission to strengthen independent grocers through education, innovation, advocacy, and collaboration.
About Citrus America
Citrus America specializes in high-performance commercial juicing solutions and other programs designed to help grocery stores and foodservice operators differentiate their offerings with fresh, high-quality products. With a focus on safety, efficiency, and innovation, Citrus America empowers businesses to create signature fresh programs that drive revenue, increase customer engagement, and enhance brand value.
For more information, visit www.citrusamerica.com.
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SOURCE: Citrus America