The hometown of the world's biggest retailer was, fittingly, the site of our best-attended, non-trade show event ever. Some 300 store brand executives, more than double last year's turnout, converged on Bentonville to participate in PLMA's 2026 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference.

They crafted their own agenda from breakout sessions on numerous tracks along with several plenary presentations. They learned how PLMA has stepped into a bigger role, moving from setting principles to setting strategy, with a sharper value proposition and a global vision to back it up. An evolving association with year-round impact through customized education, insights and thought leadership.

Keynoter Scott Morris, Walmart's SVP of Private Brands, Food, Consumables and Manufacturing, told a standing room only audience, "Today’s shoppers are more engaged than ever before. We give them powerful choices they can trade into, not down. We give them the value and quality they're asking for and we’re getting credit for that. We don’t rest on those laurels."

Inspiring words for all of us. Save the date for the 2027 Annual Meeting & Leadership Conference in Cincinnati, April 6-8.