Many store owners and team members from Associated Food Stores (AFS) and Associated Retail Operations attended the Utah Food Industry Association’s (UFIA) annual conference at the Davis Conference Center in Layton, Utah, last month.
During the conference, Monte Peterson, chairman of the board for Peterson’s Market, was honored with induction into UFIA’s Hall of Fame. In recognition of this achievement, UFIA produced a video about Monte, his family, and the business they built, which can be viewed on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Ly-nx_rLlHE.
Dave Davis, President and Chief Legal Officer for UFIA, kicked off the event with an update on the association’s operations over the past year. He began by expressing gratitude to the members for their ongoing support and reported on legislative activities, including tracking over 60 bills that impacted the grocery industry. Davis highlighted the association’s advocacy efforts on behalf of local food providers and retailers.
A key focus of the address was the challenges facing pharmacies, urging members to stay “laser-focused” on these issues. He also encouraged members to connect with others who could benefit from joining the association. Notably, Brandon Peterson from Peterson’s Market was named chair of UFIA’s executive committee, marking the first time a father and son – Monte and Brandon – have both chaired the UFIA board.
The conference featured a keynote address by Kevin Paul Scott, who delivered a presentation titled “Cultivating a Culture of Inspiration.” Scott encouraged attendees to lead and inspire their teams by fostering a culture of constant improvement, drawing on Chick-fil-A founder S. Truett Cathy’s philosophy: “If we get better, our customers will demand we get bigger.”
Kasey Lobaugh, Chief Consumer Industry Futurist and Senior Principal at Deloitte Consulting, also spoke to UFIA members. He outlined six forces shaping the future of the consumer industry, emphasizing the technological, demographic, and other changes that will impact the grocery industry in the years ahead.
The conference concluded with the state-level best bagger competition, where participants from across the state competed in an energetic and spirited event.
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