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Benjamin Bond

VP Strategy & Business Development, Simbe Robotics

Benjamin Bond is VP of Strategy & Business Development at Simbe, helping hone the company's strategic direction and drive the adoption of AI and robotics in retail. Recognized as a leading strategist, Bond has guided global retailers through complex transformation journeys during his tenure at top consultancies, including Kearney and Accenture. Bond believes that one of retailers' next critical evolutions will be unlocking untapped in-store data to drive operational excellence. 

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Kim Gray

Chief Merchandising Officer, Schnuck Markets, Inc.

Kim Gray is the Chief Merchant for Schnuck Markets, Inc., where she leads category management, merchandising, and pricing strategies for sustainable, customer-focused growth. With over two decades of Fresh and Center Store experience, she has a passion for developing talent and programs that service the needs of customers. 

Prior to joining Schnucks, Kim’s career spanned multiple brands at Ahold Delhaize, including Food Lion and Hannaford, with a focus on innovative category and merchandising strategies, omni-channel transformation, and team development. 

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Tom Henry

Data & Information Officer, Schnuck Markets, Inc.

Tom Henry is the Chief Data and Information Officer at Schnuck Markets, Inc. where he leads Schnucks' Data and Information Technology organization and is also a member of the company's Strategy Team. Schnucks' high-performing Data and IT teams create and maintain a world-class technology ecosystem, delivering innovative solutions that empower teammates to achieve strategic goals and to live the company's mission to nourish people's lives. Tom brings an innovative approach to not only data and analytics, but also in creating unique customer experiences and operating efficiencies.

Prior to joining Schnucks in 2019, Tom served as Chief Data Officer at Express Scripts where he led the company’s enterprise analytics strategy to embed accurate, timely, and actionable business insights into the decision-making processes.

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John MacDonald

Chief Marketing Officer, The GIANT Company

John MacDonald is chief marketing officer at The GIANT Company. Known locally as GIANT and MARTIN'S, the company has been delivering value, freshness and kindness to local neighborhoods across Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia for more than 100 years.

MacDonald leads a team of more than 50 and has responsibility for all aspects of marketing and corporate strategy including consumer insights, innovation, brand strategy, circular, design, loyalty, communications, digital, and shopper marketing.​

A veteran of the retail and healthcare industries with more than 30 years of experience, MacDonald first joined The GIANT Company in 2012 as director of marketing. Before his tenure with the company, MacDonald held a variety of roles at Ahold Financial Services and served as the vice president of marketing at Giant Food. Before returning to The GIANT Company, MacDonald served as chief marketing officer for FreshDirect.​​

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Leslie G. Sarasin

President and CEO, FMI

Leslie G. Sarasin is the president and chief executive officer of  FMI, the food industry association, which represents more than 1,500 member companies in the United States and around the world. Under Sarasin's leadership, FMI has become a forward focused and member centered organization committed to help supermarkets excel in their role of feeding families and enriching lives. Her synergistic style and determined spirit of collaboration has infused FMI with a renewed commitment to help its members address the critical industry issues of the day - food safety and the emerging importance of health and wellness. Prior to coming to FMI, Sarasin was president and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute.
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Ted Schnuck

Chief Operating Officer, Schnuck Markets, Inc.

Ted Schnuck is the Chief Operating Officer for Schnuck Markets, Inc. where he leads long-term strategic initiatives and oversees daily operational execution of business priorities. He has functional responsibility for Store Operations, Merchandising, Supply Chain, Marketing, and Communications. In this role, he is a member of the Strategy Team, comprised of the company’s senior executives. 

Ted joined the family-owned business in 2015 and has worked across core company functions, including supply chain, marketing, business development, store operations, and fresh merchandising. 

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Jennifer Shawgo

Senior Director of Technology Strategy & Programs, FMI

Jennifer Shawgo is Senior Director of Technology Strategy & Programs at FMI, The Food Industry Association. With more than 25 years of experience spanning grocery distribution, grocery technology startups, and food policy work, she is known for translating fast-moving shifts in AI adoption, digital commerce, and retail media into practical strategies grounded in responsible innovation and operational reality. Her work centers on change management and adoption, helping organizations align technology investments with how people actually work to deliver measurable, lasting impact. She holds a B.S. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from the University of San Francisco and completed executive education in change leadership and executive leadership through Cornell University.

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