Annual Meat Conference 2026: Meat retail leaders unite in Maryland
More than 2,500 meat industry professionals come together for three days of education, innovation and networking.
Courtesy Annual Meat Conference
The Annual Meat Conference is set for March 2-4, 2026, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Md. Each year, the AMC brings together every corner of the meat and poultry supply chain with influential decision-makers in food retail. For 2026, more than 2,500 meat industry professionals unite for three days of education, innovation and networking.
Day one
The 2026 conference kicks off with the Women’s Meat Industry Network Luncheon, which is fully sold out. At the luncheon hosted by WMIN, attendees can network and participate in discussions on how to advance women’s careers in the meat sector.
From 1:15-2:30 p.m. March 2, 210 Analytics President Anne-Marie Roerink will once again present the popular Power of Meat, the meat industry’s most trusted and influential annual consumer insights report.
The day concludes with an educational session on the hottest culinary and flavor trends, followed by a session exploring scientific understanding of meat as a complete, bioavailable protein and its role in human nutrition.
Day two
March 3 begins with two sets of concurrent breakout educational sessions:
8-9 a.m.
- A Q&A on the Power of Meat
- Exploring pork's value story at retail
- Leveraging AI for retail and wholesale excellence
9:30-10:15 a.m.
- Extended Producer Responsibility in meat and poultry
- From carcass to case: Lamb trends, cuts and consumer connection
- Communicating value: Best practices in educating consumers and driving beef sales
Before the exhibit hall opens at 11:45 a.m., one last educational session explores how meat makes its way from pasture to the shopping cart.
The AMC exhibit hall, open until 5 p.m. only on March 3, brings together more than 140 exhibitors showcasing the latest in meat retail, from premium products to technology-driven solutions.
Day three
The 2026 Annual Meat Conference wraps up March 4 with a full day of educational sessions. The morning begins at 8 a.m. with the Market Outlook for Meat and Poultry, presented by CattleFax CEO Randy Blach, Numerator Chief Economist Leo Feler, Christine McCracken, protein analyst, executive director for Rabobank and Lee Schulz, chief economist for Ever.Ag.
Attendees can then choose to attend one of two sessions at 9:30-10:45 a.m.:
- Exploring the grind category — consumer trends, category structure and winning strategies
- Market Outlook Deep Dive
AMC wraps up with one final educational session, offering a forward-looking conversation on how the meat industry is working together to reinforce value, drive shopper engagement and elevate the industry’s role in the modern retail landscape.
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