Q&A: Where Innovation Comes to Life at the 2026 Annual Meat Conference

A retailer-led conversation on how AMC 2026 brings protein strategy, practical education, and exhibit hall innovation together to help meat stand out in a crowded category.

By Rick Stein, Vice President, Fresh Foods, FMI

Rick Stein, FMI: Crystal, you have a front-row seat to change as a retailer. When you look ahead to Annual Meat Conference (AMC) 2026, where do you expect innovation to show up most clearly?

Crystal Ackerman, Vice President, Meat & Seafood, Sprouts Farmers Market: Innovation at AMC shows up in two places at once. The program shapes how retailers think, and the AMC Exhibit Hall shows how that thinking turns into execution. Retailers are navigating margin pressure, evolving shopper expectations around quality, value, and supply complexity. AMC brings those realities into focus, then explores solutions in real time.

Q: How do you see the education and the AMC Exhibit Hall reinforcing each other?

Crystal: The strongest innovation happens when strategy and execution connect. Sessions at AMC dig into protein demand, shopper trust, sustainability, and operational pressure. Then you step onto the AMC Exhibit Hall floor and see firsthand how suppliers are responding directly to those challenges. Packaging formats, value-added offerings, automation, traceability, and merchandising ideas align quickly with what you just heard in the room.

Q: Protein remains at the center of consumer conversations. In an increasingly crowded category, how can meat stand out, and how can AMC help a retailer navigate that?

Crystal: Meat stands out when it is positioned clearly and confidently. Shoppers still see meat as a core protein, but the messaging has to be intentional. AMC helps retailers sharpen that clarity. You hear peers talk about value, nutrition, and quality. You also see how suppliers are supporting those messages through innovation and execution. AMC gives retailers both the language and the tools to protect meat’s role in the basket.

Q: AMC also hosts a popular session each year focused on trends and cuts. What should attendees expect from the session “Lamb: From Carcass to Case. Trends, Cuts, and Consumer Connection”?

Crystal: That session is an excellent example of AMC’s practical approach. Lamb is a premium protein that is often underutilized, especially by newer merchants. The session breaks down lamb in a very accessible way, from understanding the most relevant cuts to seeing how culinary trends can translate into in-store merchandising and sales. It is especially valuable for early-career professionals and first-time attendees who want to build confidence and apply ideas quickly.

Q: Retailers often say they want ideas they can use. Where does AMC deliver on that?

Crystal: Practical relevance. Retailers are not looking for theory. They want to understand what is working, what is not, and what is ready to scale. AMC creates space for honest conversations and real examples. Then the AMC Exhibit Hall lets you pressure-test those ideas with partners who are already investing in solutions.

Q: Any advice for approaching AMC 2026?

Crystal: Come with a plan. Use the program to clarify your priorities, then explore the AMC Exhibit Hall with purpose. The value shows up when those two experiences work together. Last but not least, expect to meet new people, sample great food, learn more about our industry, and strengthen your network!

Join AMC 2026 on March 2-4, 2026, at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor.

Register today