2026 Program

Registration

WMIN Networking Luncheon

(Advanced Registration and Ticket Required)

Kick off AMC by joining us for lunch sponsored by the Women’s Meat Industry Network (WMIN). Meet other attendees and participate in discussions on how to advance women’s careers in the meat sector.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

The Power of Meat 2026

The Power of Meat remains the meat industry’s most trusted and influential annual consumer insights report. Join Anne-Marie Roerink of 210 Analytics for this must-attend, peer-recommended session that takes an in-depth look at current meat perceptions and shopper realities.

Learn what resonated with shoppers in 2025, what didn’t, and how to turn those insights into strategic wins for 2026 and beyond. Anne-Marie will offer a sharp, data-backed perspective.

Consistently one of the top-rated sessions at AMC, The Power of Meat is your opportunity to stay ahead of evolving consumer expectations and ensure your business is positioned for success in the year ahead.

Networking Break

Culinary Trends: Navigating Flavor, Innovation, and Retail Education

Explore the dynamic landscape of culinary trends in this forward-looking session, designed to ground participants in what’s true today and anticipate the next five years. We’ll dive into global flavor movements, the growing influence of culinary innovation in retail, and examine how grocery and supermarket channels often follow these trends.

The session will also address strategies for retailer education—empowering consumers to cook more at home, especially in the context of rising food costs. Join us for actionable ideas, expert perspectives, and practical strategies to help you and your organization stay ahead in the ever-changing culinary landscape.

Networking Break

Protein Prescription: What Science Really Says about Meat and Health

As interest in high-protein diets continues to grow, consumers are asking more questions about the quality, source, and role of protein in their health. This session explores the latest scientific understanding of meat as a complete, bioavailable protein and its essential role in human nutrition—across all stages of life.

From infant development to aging populations, protein needs evolve—and meat continues to offer unmatched benefits in supporting growth, muscle maintenance, cognitive function, and overall wellness. The session will also examine how food systems, global nutrition data, and labeling practices are shaping the conversation around meat in the marketplace.

Welcome Reception

Registration

Breakfast

Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Power of Meat: Q&A Café

Didn’t get enough of The Power of Meat 2026 during the main stage session? Grab your coffee and join us for a deeper dive in this relaxed, interactive Q&A with Anne-Marie Roerink, author and presenter of the Power of Meat report.
Bring your questions—big or small—and hear real-time answers and additional context behind the trends, challenges, and opportunities explored in the full report. Anne-Marie will be joined by special guests who’ll offer their own unique perspectives on how the data comes to life across the meat supply chain.

This informal follow-up is a favorite among attendees looking to engage directly, unpack the insights, and walk away with even more actionable takeaways. It may be called “Morning Coffee,” but the discussion is always energized!

The Time is Now: Pork’s Value Story at Retail

Join us for an insightful session designed to equip industry professionals with the latest strategies and perspectives on pork’s evolving role in retail.

This session will address what retailers expect from pork products and explore the training needs of both new and returning attendees. Discover the “wow” factors that can surprise and delight customers and learn how innovative thinking is shaping the future of pork and broader protein trends. We’ll dive into consumer perceptions of pork cuts and carcasses, discuss the growing prevalence of case-ready pork, and examine how cut sizes and preparation methods influence consumer choices—whether it’s fitting into crockpots or air fryers. The session will highlight pork’s quality, cooking methods, and value proposition, emphasizing its affordability and versatility.

Smart Meat: Leveraging AI for Retail and Wholesale Excellence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the meat industry, offering retailers and wholesalers new ways to create value, streamline operations, and empower employees.

This session explores how integrating AI into your store can enhance decision-making, improve efficiency, and foster a culture of innovation. Attendees will discover practical strategies to decrease apprehension and encourage acceptance of AI among staff, ensuring that technology becomes a trusted partner rather than a source of uncertainty.

Networking Break

Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Labels, Legislation, and Livestock: What's Next for Meat?

From shifting consumer expectations to a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape, the meat industry is facing change on multiple fronts. This session will explore key issues shaping the future of meat production and sales—including developments in product labeling, new and emerging legislation, and advances in animal health and disease management.

We’ll touch on timely topics such as sustainability mandates, date labeling updates, animal disease threats, and the growing role of science and technology in meat production. Whether you’re focused on compliance, communication, or operations, this session will provide a high-level overview of the trends and challenges that matter most to the future of meat.

From Chuck Roll to Consumer: Maximizing Value in Meat Merchandising

Designed for new conference attendees and young professionals, this session delivers a dynamic, hands-on introduction to the world of beef merchandising and retail. Led by industry experts, this session explores the fundamentals of beef cuts, fabrication, and merchandising, with a special focus on the Chuck Roll and how to maximize profitability in today’s market. Attendees will gain historical perspectives, learn to identify consumer trends, and discover how to add value with unique and underutilized cuts.

The session incorporates interactive elements and real-world data, offering insights into carcass variability and culinary trends that can be applied in-store. Participants will have opportunities for hands-on experience, connect session content to the Power of Meat (POM) research, and discuss how foodservice trends can be adapted for retail. The goal is to equip attendees with actionable strategies, merchandising know-how, and the “WOW FACTOR” to engage shoppers and drive sales.

Communicating Value: Best Practices in Educating Consumers and Driving Meat Sales

This session will explore how effectively educating consumers about meat translates into increased retail sales—and why it matters more than ever. Attendees will gain insights into best-in-class strategies used by retailers and marketers to communicate value, particularly to emerging consumer segments like Gen Z.

Networking Break

Meat: The Journey of the OG Protein – From Pasture to Basket

Ever wonder what it really takes to get a steak, chop, or burger into a shopper’s cart? It’s far more than just stocking a shelf — it’s a complex, resilient, and highly collaborative journey that starts with producers and ends with consumer trust.

We’ll explore how getting meat on the shelf differs dramatically from canned or packaged goods, the importance of advocacy in defending meat’s value in modern diets, and why meat remains the OG protein — original, essential, and irreplaceable.

This session will inspire a deeper appreciation for the path meat travels and empower you to be a more effective advocate for the product at the center of every great plate.

Exhibit Hall

The AMC Exhibit Hall brings together over 140 exhibitors alongside a variety of tastings, a Tuesday lunch, and innovative breakthroughs in meat retail.  You can explore trends, network with industry leaders, and find the partners and tools for everything from premium products to technology-driven solutions.

Make a Plan – Search Exhibitors & View Floorplan

Registration

Breakfast

Co-Chair Closing Remarks

2026 Market Outlook for Meat and Poultry

This session delivers a deep dive into the current and future landscape of the meat and poultry industries, drawing on expert analysis and the latest market data. Attendees will gain actionable insights into pricing trends, supply chain dynamics, consumer demand, and regulatory changes affecting beef, pork, and poultry. The session is designed for retailers, suppliers, and industry professionals seeking to navigate economic uncertainty and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Gain the latest intelligence to inform your business decisions, anticipate market shifts, and connect with industry leaders. Whether you’re a retailer, supplier, or analyst, this session equips you with the tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving protein marketplace.

Networking Break

Concurrent Breakout Sessions

Lamb: From Carcass to Case - Trends, Cuts, and Consumer Connection

New to lamb? This high-energy, hands-on session is designed for early-career professionals and first-time AMC attendees eager to better understand this premium yet underutilized protein. Join a dynamic duo—a skilled retail butcher and an on-trend chef—as they break down lamb’s most relevant cuts and demonstrate how culinary trends can drive in-store merchandising and sales.

This session is more than a demo—it’s a guided, interactive experience that connects the meat case to what matters most: the shopper. If you’re ready to elevate your lamb strategy with expert-led storytelling, merchandising insights, and a little “wow factor,” this session is for you.

Grind to Greatness: Winning Strategies in a Critical but Overlooked Category

The grind category—dominated by ground beef but expanding across species—represents one of the most important yet underleveraged areas in the meat case. This session will take a deep dive into consumer trends, category structure, and science-backed strategies to help retailers and producers build a winning grind portfolio.

From choosing the right varieties and species to understanding shopper behavior, import dynamics, and value-added opportunities, you’ll walk away with actionable recommendations on how to stand out in a crowded, commodity-heavy space. Because the importance of grinds is well known—but what to do about it is not.

Market Outlook Deep Dive

The Market Outlook Deep Dive is designed to deliver actionable intelligence and strategic insights for meat and poultry professionals. This year’s session will feature a dynamic format that goes beyond traditional Q&A, offering in-depth analysis, cross-disciplinary perspectives, and practical takeaways.

Join us for a comprehensive deep dive into the meat and poultry market outlook. This session brings together leading experts from regulatory, policy, and market analysis backgrounds to explore current trends, future risks, and strategic opportunities. Attendees will benefit from expanded presentations, interactive discussion, and a closing recap of key themes. The Market Outlook Deep Dive is designed for industry professionals seeking to understand what’s happening and why it matters and how to respond.

Networking Break

Be the Hero of Protein: Positioning Meat as the Original, Complete Choice

Protein remains at the center of consumer conversations—but in an increasingly crowded category, how can meat stand out? This dynamic panel discussion will explore how industry leaders are working together to reinforce meat’s value, drive shopper engagement, and elevate its role in the modern retail landscape.

From innovative marketing strategies to in-store promotions and collaborative messaging efforts, panelists will share insights on how the meat industry can build momentum, close performance gaps, and connect with today’s health-conscious, protein-seeking shopper.

Whether you’re a retailer, packer, or processor, this session will offer fresh ideas and real-world examples to help you confidently lead in the evolving protein conversation.