Retail Strategy
February 10, 2026
Specialty food retailers gain a competitive edge at Annual Meat Conference (AMC) through fresh consumer insights, premium product discovery and direct access to top suppliers. From the live Power of Meat reveal to trend-forward education and hands-on innovation, AMC delivers the tools and connections specialty retailers need to grow their meat departments.
Specialty food retailers thrive by staying ahead of consumer expectations—whether that means offering premium cuts, global flavors, clean-label products, or health-forward options. AMC is built for retailers who want to sharpen their competitive edge with data-backed insights, strong supplier relationships, and exposure to the newest trends shaping meat retail. If you focus on quality, craftsmanship, and a differentiated customer experience, AMC offers unmatched value. Here are five reasons specialty retailers should make the trip.
1. Get Exclusive Access to the Power of Meat
For specialty markets, understanding what today’s meat shopper wants is essential. The Power of Meat delivers the industry’s deepest consumer insights—capturing shifts in premium purchases, sustainability preferences, clean-label expectations, global flavor trends, and more. Specialty retailers benefit from hearing the results live, where context and Q&A help turn data into strategy. You’ll walk away with actionable insight into premium product performance, shopper motivations, and the evolving role of specialty meats.
2. Discover Premium and Artisan Product Innovations
The AMC Exhibit Hall features more than 140 exhibitors, including suppliers offering specialty, small-batch, global, and eco-forward products that align with your shopper base. Whether you’re sourcing Wagyu, charcuterie, global flavors, organic and clean-label options, or innovative packaging, the Exhibit Hall gives you direct access to partners who can help refine and elevate your assortment. Tastings and live demos let you evaluate quality firsthand—critical when premium is your promise.
3. Strengthen Supplier Partnerships and Build New Ones
Specialty retailers rely on tight collaboration with producers, distributors, and artisan suppliers. AMC fosters a concentrated environment where meaningful conversations occur quickly. From discussing sourcing challenges to exploring exclusive cuts, packaging upgrades, or co-branding opportunities, you’ll find partners who understand the unique needs of specialty retail—from sustainability expectations to storytelling to authenticity.
4. Learn from Sessions Tailored to Emerging Trends
AMC’s education program dives into the issues that matter most to specialty retailers: global flavors, sustainability, transparency, organic certifications, premium consumer trends, and merchandising strategies that elevate the meat department. You’ll leave with new ways to position your department, grow margins, and differentiate your store from conventional competitors.
5. Bring Back Ideas Your Customers Will Notice Immediately
From trending cuts and health-forward meats to packaging innovations and flavor inspiration, specialty retailers return from AMC with new ideas ready for the shelf. Whether you’re optimizing charcuterie, expanding global offerings, or strengthening your clean-label positioning, AMC helps you curate a meat assortment that drives loyalty—and reflects the values of today’s discerning specialty shopper.
