When and Where?
Saturday, August 15, 2026
9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center
— Formerly the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center —
Meet the Market – Retailers
Meet the Market is a special program designed to introduce the latest innovative products, technology and services at the NACDS Total Store Expo. Participating Exhibitors present their company and products to Retailers through a series of 10-minute appointments arranged by NACDS.
Who Attends?
Individuals registered for the NACDS Total Store Expo as “Chain/Retailer” should email aklapmust@nacds.org for more information and eligibility requirements.
Retail Companies
Buyers/category managers and other product decision-makers from drug stores, supermarkets, club stores, mass merchants, convenience, dollar and specialty retail.
Exhibitors
Any manufacturer or service provider that is new to NACDS conferences or presenting a new product, service, or technology at the NACDS Total Store Expo is eligible to participate.
Program Requirements
Buyers or executives from each retail company agreeing to participate will be seated at his/her own table and will receive an appointment schedule for the program, running from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 15, 2026.
Program Registration
Retail participants interested in participating in the Meet the Market program should contact Andrew Klapmust at (703) 837-4628 or email aklapmust@nacds.org, preferably prior to registering for the conference.
How Does It Work?
- Retail companies may designate buyers to engage in this program.
- NACDS will create a schedule of ten-minute appointments in advance of the conference for retail participants based on the category information provided on their conference registration.
- During the Meet the Market event, each participating buyer is seated at an assigned table and the presenting exhibitors circulate to their appointments according to the preset schedules.
- Senior retail executives or representatives without schedules may accompany their participating buyers during Meet the Market.
Establish business connections with speed and efficiency
Over 5,600 meetings took place in 2025.
