The role of the retail dietitian is continuously evolving and the next decade will bring expanded opportunities for driving health and wellbeing at retail. This three-day virtual conference will prepare RDs to thrive in this new era, building their expertise and confidence, advancing their retail careers, expanding programs and services.
The Retail Dietitians Business Alliance is committed to offering a premier virtual conference specifically targeted to the professional needs of retail dietitians. From business-tailored presentations to colleague networking to access to key food companies, this three-day event offers multiple ways to advance your career and health and wellbeing initiatives at your retailer. The agenda below is preliminary and will be updated as additional presentations and session timing are confirmed.
All times are in Eastern Standard Time (EST)
2020 proved to be a challenging year for retail dietitians as the pandemic shifted many priorities and the ways in which they had to communicate with shoppers - so what's next? Future proofing is all about anticipating what is likely to happen in the future and managing those events. This session will explore the future trends in grocery, e-commerce, emerging food categories and media and offer specifics on just how retail dietitians can use those to build their careers and power within their organizations.
The FDA plans to publish a proposed definition of healthy this year along with conducting consumer research to gain insights. Though details are not known at this time, FDA has stated in the past that they want to promote foods such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, fruits and vegetables and higher intakes of nutrients such as fiber and potassium and lower levels of sugar, salt and saturated fat. So why is defining healthy of importance to the retail dietitian? Simply put, the definition will set the stage for government’s approach to Front-of-Pack (FOP) labeling and influence retail programs moving forward. Additionally, a definition that is vague or not based on sound science may also create confusion in the marketplace for consumers and health professionals alike. Join our ‘healthy’ discussion moderated by Sarah Ludmer, Senior Director of Kellogg North America Wellbeing and Regulatory with panel experts Beth Johnson, MS, RD, principle, CEO and founder of Food Directions and Krystal Register, MS, RDN, LDN, Director of Health & Well-being, FMI, as they explore this intriguing topic.
An unintended consequence of the pandemic is increasing obesity rates, creating an opportunity for retail RDs to offer programs that effectively meet this consumer need. During this session, two retail RDs who are also board certified weight management experts will share their individual virtual success secrets from two different retail brand’s programs. They share a common goal: encouraging RD’s to take the lead and create their own weight management series to meet a growing need while providing practical and healthy weight management strategies, that foster an environment of support and positivity.
This session will offer new ideas and actionable steps for supermarket RDs to develop their career and expand their reach in stores and in the community. RDs will learn media and spokesperson skills that are crucial to effectively communicating health messages to consumers and local audiences, along with practical tips for pitching story ideas to media, looking and sounding professional on camera, and working with healthy food brands. RDs will take home tangible tools to further hone their skills, education opportunities on timely topics like plant protein, and access to Wonderful’s team of RDs for more information and support.
This session will focus on the opportunity to fundamentally rethink protein at retail. The meat industry must foster an evolution of the meat case to better align with the revolution occurring around it. We will discuss trends, data, and actions that can be used to influence consumer behavior at retail. Presented by Kiersten Hafer, Consumer & Strategic Insights, National Pork Board.
The Biden stimulus has provided much relief for many Americans as the US continues to recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Are the near term and long term implications of the stimulus on US consumers, specifically as it relates to the economy and the grocery retail? What are the pros and cons of the stimulus, and what are the potential risks that should be considered for retail dieticians as they advise their clients and consumers in general?
Intrapreneurship is a relatively recent concept that focuses on employees of a company that have many of the attributes of entrepreneurs. An intrapreneur (sometimes called a corporate entrepreneur) is an employee within a company that takes risks in an effort to solve a given problem, a key resource for companies that adapt and reinvent themselves to remain relevant in turbulent and dynamic business environments.
Dietetic professionals operate under a defined code of ethics, which requires use of science-based information and unbiased guidance. During this session, hear from a panel of retail dietitians on how they balance professional ethics with product and brand promotion. Panelists include Molly Hembree, MS, RD, LD, Retail Dietitian Coordinator at Kroger Health, Judy Chodirker, RD, MHSc, Loblaws in Canada, Yvette Waters, MS, RDN, CISSN, Nutritionist and Brand Influencer at Raley’s. Panel moderated by Judy Dodd, MS, RDN, LDN, former President of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The role of the retail dietitian is continuously evolving and the next decade will bring expanded opportunities for driving health and wellbeing at retail. This session will address how RDs can best prepare themselves to thrive professionally in the next area of healthy living at retail.
The demand for gluten-free has been on a steady rise. What's behind the increase in gluten-free seeking consumers? How can retail RDs help these shoppers make informed choices? What does a gluten-free certification mark really mean on product packages and why does it matter? Education and food safety experts from the Gluten Intolerance Group, a non-profit organization that is on a mission to make life easier for everyone living gluten-free, will share key insights into the gluten-free shopper, resources for you and your customers, and details on what is behind the certification mark that appears on over 60,000 products.
Lights, camera, action! Award winning television professional and registered dietitian nutritionist Carolyn O’Neil, MS, RDN shares tips and tricks for improving on camera skills for virtual presentations. Learn expert techniques to help you and your food look even better on virtual video platforms.
Successful vendor partnerships are essential to strengthen and advance the work of retail health and well-being programs. These partnerships, however, must be negotiated, nurtured and evaluated to ensure the collaboration provides ongoing value. In this session, participants will learn the keys to establishing meaningful connections with vendors, negotiating roles and responsibilities, tips for strengthening partner relationships and how to evaluate success. We will also hear from a long-time vendor partner of RDBA regarding the importance of working with retail dietitians and what constitutes a successful collaboration.
Given the incredible growth of frozen seafood sales and growing consumer interest and willingness to cook seafood from frozen (95% would try it if they had recipe ideas), commercial Alaska sockeye harvester Melanie Brown will be demonstrating how easy it is to Cook it Frozen with Alaska Seafood. Join us while Melanie shares her fishing experience and an Alaska salmon recipe. You will also hear from Monica George, head of retail marketing for ASMI, about how frozen provides year-round availability to wild and sustainable seafood from Alaska, cuts waste and makes delicious and healthy eating a slam dunk. After the session, ASMI will send $100 gift cards to the first 25 RDs who send links to their own Alaska Seafood Cook it Frozen demos featured on their social channels.
Research conducted by the Reagan-Udall Foundation for the FDA shows that Americans are looking for consistent information about COVID-19. This session will address the important role retail RDs can play in meeting this consumer need, positioning their retailer as a key community builder.
This session will be focused on career building tips and advice for retail dietitians seeking career advancement opportunities in retail. This session is ideal for dietitians willing to take on challenges or roles outside of traditional dietetics to gain broader retail experience. Elisa shares her career path and lessons learned along the way.
This past year has led even registered dietitians to hit a wall when it comes to finding and preparing new and nutritious mealtime ideas. Join registered dietitian, Cara Harbstreet, for this interactive cook-along to inspire your joy of cooking as she infuses new flavors and food trends into her food demo, while at the same time showing you how to put together a meal for your customers that provides a dining out experience. She will be joined by Coborn’s retail dietitian, Emily Parent, to share tips for how to bring to life a virtual cook-a-long for your customers in retail and how to leverage partners to make the business case successful. You are sure gain culinary insights, tips for hosting virtual events, gain insights for social media activations and be introduced to the versatility of pork in your kitchen. Let's travel together with our tastebuds!
During the pandemic, many types of consumers, including athletes, weekend warriors, and active individuals of all kinds have had to rethink how they retrain their gains. With the shutdown and restrictions of many foodservice establishments, these consumers had to learn to prepare their meals from home. This session will explore how to empower your active consumers to build their performance plate on their own to help them elevate their game and fuel better. Dive into emerging evidence-based research to support your consumers' needs and educate your athletes about the importance of gaining culinary skills to benefit their performance and encourage lifelong healthy habits.
At grocery retail, a key goal is for all community members to find foods that fit their eating habits. This goal is, in part, accomplished by micro-marketing based on individual store or key markets. During this session, hear from retail buyers on how data is driving cross-cultural micro-marketing decisions to offer cultural foods important to local communities.
Back by popular demand, Tony Kucenski, RDBA’s Video Guy, will walk through wide ranging topics including video creation "must knows," inexpensive/free resources, pre-recording vs. LIVE sessions, and a variety of other topics.
Owned brands typically have a higher profit margin for retailers. At the same time, retailers are launching owned brands that align with shopper health and value-based needs. In this discussion group, retail RDs will share how owned brands are integrated into their programs and services.
With the drastic increase in online grocery shopping, retailers are taking action to integrate healthy living solutions into e-commerce. Join this discussion group for robust dialogue and ideation on this topic.
During this discussion, retail RDs will share their most effective methods of marketing retail RD programs and services.
Phil Lempert is the founder & CEO of RDBA. He is an expert analyst on consumer behavior, marketing trends and the changing retail landscape. He will be presenting his 23rd Annual Trend Report at this year’s RDBA Virtual Experience, which will focus on Staying Healthy & Well, eCommerce and Eating at Home.
Annette Maggi, MS, RD, LD, FADA is the Executive Director of the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance. In this role, she manages day-to-day operations with focus on education, membership, and sponsor relations.
Director of Food and Nutrition Policy
Food Directions
MS, RD
Principal & Founder
Food Directions LLC
Managing Partner, CEO
The Food Institute
MS RD LD
MS, RDN
RD, LD
Vice President
HealthMarkets Hy-Vee
MFCS, RD, LD
Health & Wellness Manager
Coborn's Inc.
PhD, MBA
RDN, CSOWM, LDN
Regional Nutrition Specialist
Giant
MHSc, RD
Loblaws
Consumer & Strategic Insights
National Pork Board
RD, CSOWM, LDN
In-Store Nutritionist
Giant
MS, RDN
Manager of Nutrition Communications
The Wonderful Company
MS, RDN, LDN
Director, Health and Well-being
FMI - The Food Industry Association
Ph.D
Regulatory and Standards Manager
Gluten Intolerance Group
Reagan-Udall Foundation
MS, RDN
MS, RD
Nutrition Scientist
General Mills
Commercial Alaska Sockeye Harvester
Business Manager
United Supermarkets
Retail Dietitian Coordinator
Kroger
MS, RDN
Director of Operations
Coborn’s, Inc.
MS, RDN
RDBA Contributing Editor
Retail Dietitians Business Alliance
MS, RDN, LD, CDE
Nutrition & Health Programs
H-E-B Grocery Company
RD, MSM
Marketing & Communications Senior Director
Skogen's Festival Foods
Director of New Media & Executive Producer
Retail Dietitians Business Alliance
MS, RDN, CISSN
Raley's
