Nine students from Niagara University’s Holzschuh College of Business Administration learned more about the independent grocery industry and networked with retailers, wholesalers, executives, manufacturers, and service providers at the 2025 National Grocer’s Association Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, Feb. 23-25, 2025. More than 3,500 industry professionals attended the event.
During the three-day conference, the students attended several educational workshops and sessions, learning valuable insights on industry trends, emerging issues, and best practices, and explored the Expo Floor, where more than 300 exhibitors showcased innovative technologies and solutions.
“I attended several insightful lectures, one of which focused on the evolution of weekly marketing strategies and how brands are adapting to connect with consumers in a digital-first world,” said senior marketing major Clara Barr. “This session provided me with a fresh perspective on Omni Channel marketing and reinforced the importance of creating seamless customer experiences across all platforms.”
A highlight of the conference was the student case competition. Niagara’s team was one of 11 from across the country who tackled an issue currently impacting the independent grocery industry. This year’s competition focused on the real-world sustainability challenges faced by Clark’s Market, an 11-store independent in the Rocky Mountain region The students were challenged to develop innovative strategies focusing on two key areas: reducing food waste and optimizing product merchandising to prioritize sustainable, eco-friendly choices.
Barr, along with senior marketing majors Landyn Desmarais and Taylor Mielke, and junior supply chain management major Brett Verrall, presented the case for the Niagara team, which also included marketing seniors Rhys Mandaville, Taylor Ferguson, and Zachary Sweeney, finance senior Dominic Goodenow, and social media and digital analytics senior Jessica Hartman.
“Participating and presenting at the case competition taught me practical skills, such as slide deck preparation, effective writing, and public speaking,” said Desmarais, president of Niagara University’s Marketing Association. “I learned how to foster collaboration, allocate tasks to meet student strengths, and maintain deadlines.”
“Being a part of this amazing team was such a great learning experience,” added Goodenow. “Not only did this project require hard skills, such as PowerPoint and Excel, it also required soft skills, such as teamwork, communication, and problem solving. I would recommend this project as it provides a great hands-on experience, builds business skills, and gives you a glimpse into the business world.”
“Participating in the NGA case competition is an excellent way for students to gain exposure to the grocery business,” said Stacey Woock, faculty fellow in marketing, who accompanied the students along with John Zimmerman, Robert B. Wegman external director of food and supply chain at Niagara. “From preparing our case solution to walking the showroom floor, students learned about the latest cutting-edge technology, marketing strategies, and CPG goals that many grocers are engaging in. This year, we were able to take the whole team, thanks to support from Bill Chiodo and the Food Industry Center of Excellence advisory board, giving the students valuable networking opportunities and a lifetime worth of knowledge.”