If you missed PFMA’s 2026 Fall Legislative Conference in Hershey, you missed a lot. For two days, PFMA members filled Hershey Country Club for conversations about pricing, elections, federal policy, illicit trade and the issues already shaping decisions across Pennsylvania’s Food and Beverage Industry.
There was plenty of policy. There was also time to catch up with colleagues, meet new people, grab a drink and have the kind of conversations that are hard to replicate over email or Teams.
“Some of the best conversations happen when you get people from different parts of the industry in the same room,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of PFMA. “Our members get to hear directly from experts working on these issues, ask questions and then continue those conversations throughout the conference. That connection is a big part of why we come together every fall.”
The conference kicked off Tuesday with PFMA’s Board Meeting before wholesalers from across the Commonwealth gathered for a dedicated Wholesalers Meeting. This year, the group welcomed Brian Weinhaus, Director of PMI’s Illicit Trade Prevention Section, for a discussion on illicit trade and the challenges it creates for wholesalers and the broader supply chain. Then came one of the conference’s biggest conversations.
The Facts About Pricing brought together Kathy Hayden and Ellen Smith of Inmar Intelligence, Andy Harig of FMI and Jessica Jacoby Lemos of UNFI to tackle a subject that has increasingly moved from the checkout lane into legislative chambers and news headlines. The panel dug into dynamic pricing, surveillance pricing and the technology behind modern pricing strategies. With plenty of myths circulating around the topic, the conversation gave attendees a chance to hear directly from people working in the space and better understand what is actually happening in the industry.
After an afternoon of policy, Tuesday night shifted gears. Members headed to the Picard Grand Pavilion for cocktails, dinner and the presentation of the Lisa Dell’Alba Food Industry Trailblazer Award to Michael Gould, President of Core-Mark Scranton OpCo. The award recognized Gould’s leadership, contributions to the industry and longstanding commitment to Pennsylvania’s Food and Beverage Industry. It also gave attendees a chance to spend the evening together outside the meeting room, something no conference agenda can quite capture.
The reception and dinner also gave members time to step away from the panels and catch up with colleagues from across the industry. Conversations carried from the cocktail reception into dinner, with retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and partners trading ideas, comparing notes and reconnecting with people they do not always get to see in the same room.
Wednesday morning brought Pennsylvania politics front and center. Christopher Nicholas of Eagle Consulting Group, and Brittany Crampsie of Brit Crampsie Communications, took the stage for the State Election Update, breaking down Pennsylvania’s 2026 election cycle and what the results could mean for the industry.
With Election Day just weeks away, there was no shortage of material to discuss. The conference closed by looking toward Washington. Stephanie Johnson of the National Grocers Association, Andy Harig of FMI and Nick Johns of the Consumer Brands Association joined the Federal Policy Update to walk members through developments affecting retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and consumer brands.
By the time the final panel wrapped, attendees had covered issues stretching from the store level to Washington DC. Somewhere between the panels, breakfast, cocktails and hallway conversations, plenty of business cards changed hands too.
Beyond the sessions, the conference gave members time to connect with colleagues from across the Food and Beverage Industry, continue conversations from the panels and strengthen relationships across the PFMA community.
If you were in Hershey, thanks for being part of it. If you missed it, there’s always the next one!
PFMA will head to Valley Forge Casino Resort May 18-19 for the 2027
PFMA Annual Conference.
Consider this your save the date! ■