SALT LAKE CITY —
The Salt Palace Convention Center buzzed with energy Wednesday morning as it transformed into a hub of retail innovation and vendor enthusiasm for the kickoff of the 2025 Associated Food Stores Annual Food Show. Hundreds of independent grocers and vendors moved through the expansive convention hall with palpable excitement, their conversations and deal-making creating a veritable soundscape of business opportunity. Retailers from across AFS’ nine-state region crowded vendor booths, sampling products, discussing partnerships, and strategizing for the coming year.
Many retailers observed that FoodShow is more like a reunion than a typical trade show, where retailers and vendors not only buy and sell, but catch up with old friends (and make new ones).
The show floor captivated attendees with massive displays from teams like Exclusive Brands, whose elaborate booths drew crowds with interactive demonstrations and eye-catching product presentations with DreamWorks. Local Proud businesses also shined, showcasing the entrepreneurial spirit that defines AFS’s community-focused approach.
With the event’s “Built to Build” theme resonating throughout the convention center, conversations shifted rapidly from new product lines to market trends, with an undercurrent of optimism about the future of the independent grocer.
Vendor representatives reported tremendous engagement, noting that retailers were hungry for innovation to stay relevant.
Along with vendor participation, AFS teams were well represented at the show. Nearly all AFS departments participated and enthusiastically shared the benefits they offer to retail members.
As the final booths were disassembled , the 2025 FoodShow once again ended in success. In a marketplace often dominated by corporate giants, AFS demonstrated its mission to creating an equitable platform where businesses of all sizes can compete, collaborate, and grow. From the smallest local vendor to the most established national brand, every participant was given an equal opportunity to showcase their potential, embodying the true spirit of a free and dynamic marketplace. It was a celebration of entrepreneurship, community, and the enduring strength of independent grocers who continue to be the backbone of local economies across the country.
Watch Team News and StoreLink for highlight videos, meeting recaps., etc. in the coming days.