Beyond the Pharmacy Aisle: Your Complete Guide to NACDS Total Store Expo, USA!

In the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of health and wellness, where the lines between traditional retail, pharmacy services, and consumer packaged goods continue to blur, one event stands as the undisputed pinnacle of industry convergence. This is the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) Total Store Expo, the largest gathering of retailers and suppliers in the health and wellness sector in North America. This isn’t merely a trade show; it’s a meticulously engineered business platform, a strategic ideas forum, and an indispensable networking hub designed to facilitate direct, high-impact interactions across the entire “total store” spectrum. Imagine stepping into an immense exhibition hall, a sprawling city of innovation where every aisle promises a new discovery – from cutting-edge pharmaceutical solutions and advanced pharmacy technology to the latest trends in beauty, personal care, over-the-counter medications, and general merchandise. You’re surrounded by the industry’s most influential decision-makers: CEOs, category managers, pharmacists, supply chain experts, and marketing strategists from leading chain drug stores, supermarkets, mass merchants, and specialty retailers, all seeking the next breakthrough product or partnership. The NACDS Total Store Expo is where billions of dollars in business are transacted, where critical strategies for navigating a complex consumer environment are forged, and where the future of community health and retail is collaboratively shaped. For any company involved in supplying products, services, or technology to the chain drug store channel – or looking to expand into it – attending this expo is not just beneficial; it’s absolutely essential for sustainable growth and competitive advantage.

The retail and pharmacy landscape is undergoing a profound transformation, driven by consumer demand for convenience, personalized health solutions, digital integration, and a seamless shopping experience. Pharmacies are evolving into comprehensive health and wellness destinations, expanding their service offerings and integrating technology to better serve patients and customers. From telehealth solutions and medication adherence programs to sustainable packaging and innovative private label brands, the industry is relentlessly innovating. The NACDS Total Store Expo is the very heart of this evolution. It’s where a small, innovative beauty brand can secure distribution in thousands of stores, where a pharmaceutical company can forge strategic partnerships with retail pharmacy chains, and where technology providers can demonstrate solutions that revolutionize store operations. The sheer scale and strategic format of the event are designed to maximize efficiency for both buyers and sellers, fostering targeted meetings and broad discovery simultaneously. If you’re a supplier aiming to significantly expand your market reach, a retailer seeking the next must-have product or operational solution, or a professional looking to gain a holistic understanding of the intertwined forces shaping modern retail and healthcare, attending the NACDS Total Store Expo offers an immersive, strategic, and profoundly impactful experience that directly fuels business success and positions you at the forefront of the industry.

The Dynamic Hub: Venue and Time

One of the unique characteristics of the NACDS Total Store Expo is that its location varies annually, bringing the industry’s premier event to different major convention cities across the United States. This rotational model allows the event to tap into diverse regional strengths and offer varied experiences for attendees.

Upcoming and Recent Venues:

• NACDS Total Store Expo 2025: Scheduled for August 23-25, 2025, in San Diego, California. The event will take place at the San Diego Convention Center, located at 111 Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA 92101. This world-renowned convention center is known for its waterfront location, modern facilities, and proximity to downtown attractions.
• NACDS Total Store Expo 2024: Was held from August 17-19, 2024, in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
• NACDS Total Store Expo 2023: Was held in San Diego, California, at the San Diego Convention Center.

The choice of these major convention cities ensures:

• Vast Exhibition Space: Top-tier convention centers like the San Diego Convention Center and Boston Convention & Exhibition Center offer millions of square feet, allowing for a massive exhibit hall, numerous meeting rooms, and dedicated networking areas.
• Excellent Accessibility: These cities are major transportation hubs with international airports (e.g., San Diego International Airport – SAN, Boston Logan International Airport – BOS) and robust public transport systems, making travel convenient for attendees from across the globe.
• Diverse Accommodation Options: Each host city boasts a wide range of hotels, from luxury resorts to budget-friendly options, catering to all attendee preferences.

Annual Industry Pulse Check: The Schedule The NACDS Total Store Expo is an annual event, consistently taking place in mid-to-late August. This timing is strategic, allowing retailers to finalize buying decisions and strategic plans for the upcoming fall, holiday, and spring seasons.

• Duration: The Expo typically runs for three intensive days, maximizing opportunities for strategic meetings, product discovery, and educational engagement.
  • Day 1 (e.g., Saturday or Sunday): Often begins with a formal business program featuring keynote speakers and important industry insights, followed by initial exhibit hall access or a grand opening reception. The NACDS Total Store Expo Reception is often held on the first evening, providing a significant networking opportunity.
  • Day 2 (e.g., Sunday or Monday): Features a full day of exhibit hall hours (e.g., 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM) alongside a packed schedule of “Insight Sessions” and “Meet the Market” appointments.
  • Day 3 (e.g., Monday or Tuesday): Continues with exhibit hall access, remaining educational sessions, and concluding meetings, often wrapping up in the early afternoon to accommodate travel.

The Expo’s format is meticulously designed for high-impact business:

• “Meet the Market” Program: This highly valued program consists of prearranged, 10-minute, one-on-one appointments between exhibiting suppliers and retail buyers. NACDS carefully curates these matches based on product categories and retailer needs, making it an incredibly efficient way to initiate business discussions. Exhibitors move between retailer tables, maximizing their exposure.
• Exhibit Hall: A vast and dynamic space where companies showcase their products, services, and technologies in larger booths, allowing for broader product demonstrations and deeper discussions.
• Business Program & Insight Sessions: Featuring renowned experts and industry leaders, these sessions cover critical topics such as market trends, consumer behavior, healthcare policy, digital innovation, supply chain resilience, and category management. Some sessions offer continuing education (CE) credits for pharmacists.
• Networking Events: Daily continental breakfasts, exhibit hall lunches, and evening receptions provide ample opportunities for informal networking, fostering valuable relationships beyond the formal meeting structure.

This comprehensive and strategically timed event ensures that attendees can efficiently conduct business, gain vital industry knowledge, and strengthen partnerships across the entire spectrum of chain drug store retail.

The Aisle of Innovation: Key Product Categories

The “Total Store” in NACDS Total Store Expo is not just a name; it’s a commitment to covering every single product and service category found within a modern chain drug store, supermarket pharmacy, or mass merchant with a pharmacy. This comprehensive scope ensures that buyers can source everything from a new pharmaceutical product to the latest in general merchandise. Key product and service categories you can expect to explore include:

• Pharmacy Products & Services:
  • Pharmaceuticals: Prescription medications (generics, branded), specialty pharmaceuticals.
  • Pharmacy Operations Equipment & Services: Automated dispensing systems, pharmacy management software, robotics, prescription fulfillment solutions, adherence programs, patient engagement platforms, compounding supplies.
  • Clinical Services: Technologies and services supporting immunizations, point-of-care testing, medication therapy management (MTM), and other expanded pharmacist-provided services.
• Over-The-Counter (OTC) & Health Care:
  • OTC Medications: Pain relief, cold & flu, allergy, digestive health, cough & sore throat, first aid, vitamins, minerals, and supplements (VMS).
  • Home Health Care: Durable medical equipment (DME), mobility aids, bathroom safety, health monitors (blood pressure, glucose), wound care, adult incontinence products.
  • Diagnostics: At-home testing kits, monitoring devices.
• Personal Care & Beauty (Health & Beauty Care – HBC):
  • Skincare: Facial care, body lotions, sun protection, specialty dermatological products.
  • Hair Care: Shampoos, conditioners, styling products, hair color.
  • Oral Care: Toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash, dental floss.
  • Cosmetics & Fragrances: Makeup, perfumes, colognes.
  • Deodorants & Antiperspirants.
  • Shaving & Grooming.
  • Bath & Body.
• Consumables & General Merchandise (Front-End Categories):
  • Food & Beverages: Snacks, candy, packaged goods, beverages, healthy options.
  • Baby Care: Diapers, wipes, formula, baby food, toiletries, infant accessories.
  • Household Products / Non-Edible Consumables: Cleaning supplies, paper products, laundry care, pet care items.
  • Seasonal Merchandise: Holiday decorations, seasonal items, outdoor living products.
  • General Merchandise: Small electronics, toys, stationery, greeting cards, batteries, light bulbs.
  • Photo: Photo printing services, photo-related products.
• Store & Pharmacy Technology:
  • Retail Media Networks: Solutions for in-store and online advertising.
  • Digital Solutions: E-commerce platforms, mobile apps, loyalty programs, digital signage.
  • Asset Protection / Loss Prevention: Security systems, anti-theft solutions.
  • Supply Chain & Logistics: Inventory management, warehousing, distribution solutions, cold chain management.
  • Data Analytics & Business Intelligence: Software and services for understanding consumer behavior and optimizing operations.
  • Point-of-Sale (POS) Systems.
• Merchandising & Store Fixtures:
  • Shelf displays, signage, planogram solutions, and store design services.

This exhaustive list truly underscores why the NACDS Total Store Expo is indispensable for any supplier aiming to do business with chain drug stores and related retailers, and for retailers seeking comprehensive solutions across their entire business.

The Powerhouse Gathering: Visitor and Exhibitor Count

The NACDS Total Store Expo is renowned for its scale and the quality of its attendees, consistently drawing key decision-makers from across the retail and supplier landscape.

• Visitor Count: While exact, verified attendance figures are often proprietary, the NACDS Total Store Expo is recognized as the largest gathering of retailers and suppliers in the health and wellness industry. It attracts thousands of highly influential attendees each year. The “Why Attend” information highlights that it is attended by industry decision-makers, including:
  • CEOs, Presidents, and Owners of chain drug stores and retail pharmacy organizations.
  • Senior executives in pharmacy operations, consumer product goods (CPG) merchandising, digital strategy, automation technology, supply chain logistics, operations, purchasing, marketing, retail media networks, and loss prevention.
  • Pharmacy executives, directors, and managers (in purchasing, operations, technology, and marketing).
  • CPG divisional merchandise managers, category managers, and buyers across all product categories.
  • Category analysts, planogram managers, and marketing specialists. The strength of this attendance lies not just in quantity but in the quality of the participants – direct decision-makers with buying power.
• Exhibitor Count: The Expo boasts a substantial and diverse exhibitor base, showcasing the breadth of products and services available to the retail pharmacy channel. While specific overall numbers for the current year may still be developing, the event typically features hundreds of exhibiting companies. The 2024 exhibitor list, for instance, included a vast array of companies from A to Z, encompassing pharmaceutical manufacturers, major CPG brands, technology providers, and more. Exhibitors include:
  • Manufacturers of pharmaceutical products (branded and generic).
  • Leading CPG companies across health & beauty care, OTC, food, and general merchandise.
  • Innovators in pharmacy and retail technology.
  • Suppliers of store fixtures and merchandising solutions.
  • Service providers in areas like supply chain, asset protection, and marketing. The exhibitor list consistently includes major players and emerging innovators, providing retailers with a comprehensive sourcing experience. The “Meet the Market” program further amplifies exhibitor visibility by facilitating structured appointments with key buyers.

This powerful combination of high-level retail attendees and a broad spectrum of relevant exhibitors makes the NACDS Total Store Expo an unparalleled platform for business development and industry advancement.

Your Business Advantage: Benefits and Perks of Attending

Attending the NACDS Total Store Expo offers an unparalleled strategic advantage for both retailers and suppliers, directly impacting their business growth and market position:

• Unrivaled Business Development: This is the event for high-impact business meetings. The “Meet the Market” program, with its prearranged, efficient 10-minute appointments, allows exhibitors to meet directly with numerous retail buyers and decision-makers in a focused setting. This is complemented by broader engagement on the exhibit hall floor.
• Comprehensive Sourcing & Discovery: Retailers can discover new and innovative products, technologies, and services across all store categories – from pharmaceuticals and OTCs to beauty, general merchandise, and digital solutions. It’s a complete “total store” sourcing experience.
• Direct Access to Decision-Makers: The Expo attracts the most influential leaders and buyers from chain drug stores, supermarkets, and mass merchants with pharmacies. This means you’re not just meeting sales reps, but the very individuals who make purchasing and strategic decisions.
• Trend Spotting & Market Insights: Gain critical insights into the evolving marketplace. The formal business program and “Insight Sessions” feature renowned experts covering consumer trends, healthcare policy, economic outlooks, and digital transformation, equipping you with the knowledge to navigate an unpredictable environment.
• Enhanced Collaboration: It’s an ideal forum to strengthen existing relationships with trading partners and explore new collaborative opportunities. Discuss joint business plans, share product launch strategies, and address challenging issues face-to-face.
• Competitive Edge: Stay abreast of emerging technologies, new merchandising programs, and innovative services that can differentiate your offerings and improve your operational efficiency.
• Professional Development: For retail pharmacy teams, the educational programs often offer CE credits for pharmacists, covering the latest in pharmacy operations, clinical issues, and patient care.
• Networking Opportunities: Beyond structured meetings, daily continental breakfasts, exhibit hall lunches, and evening receptions provide invaluable informal networking opportunities to connect with peers and industry leaders.
• Showcasing Innovation: For exhibitors, it’s the ultimate platform to showcase your latest innovations, gain direct feedback, and secure distribution for new products or services. The “Product Showcases” on the exhibit floor highlight cutting-edge offerings.
• Travel Subsidy Potential: For qualified retailers participating in the “Meet the Market” program, there may even be eligibility for a travel subsidy, making attendance even more accessible.

The NACDS Total Store Expo is more than just a gathering; it’s a strategic imperative for any entity looking to grow and succeed within the dynamic and interconnected world of chain drug retail and health and wellness.

Your Temporary Home: Nearby Hotels and Convenient Accommodation

As the NACDS Total Store Expo rotates its host city annually, the selection of nearby hotels will change accordingly. However, the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS) consistently partners with official hotels to ensure convenience and often negotiated rates for attendees.

For NACDS Total Store Expo 2025 in San Diego, CA: When the Expo is hosted at the San Diego Convention Center, attendees will find a wealth of hotels directly adjacent to or within easy walking distance of the venue. These typically include:

• Marriott Marquis San Diego Marina: Often a primary host hotel, directly connected to the Convention Center.
• Manchester Grand Hyatt: Another major hotel located very close to the Convention Center, offering extensive amenities and bay views.
• Hilton San Diego Gaslamp Quarter: Located in the vibrant Gaslamp Quarter, a short walk from the Convention Center.
• Omni San Diego Hotel: Directly connected to Petco Park, also a short walk to the Convention Center.
• The Pendry San Diego: A luxury option in the Gaslamp Quarter, offering a sophisticated experience.
• Many other hotels throughout the Gaslamp Quarter and downtown San Diego will also be within walking distance or a very short ride.

General Accommodation Advice for Any Host City:

• Utilize Official Hotel Blocks: NACDS typically designates official hotels and provides links for booking. These often come with negotiated rates, preferred cancellation policies, and access to complimentary shuttle services (if the hotel isn’t directly walkable to the convention center).
• Book Early: Given the large attendance and the timing of the Expo, hotel rooms in the host city, especially those closest to the convention center, can fill up rapidly. Booking several months in advance is highly recommended.
• Consider Location & Convenience: Prioritize hotels that offer easy access to the convention center, whether via walking, shuttle, or public transport, to maximize your time at the Expo.
• Explore Options: While official hotels are convenient, consider other hotels in the downtown core or surrounding neighborhoods that fit your budget and preferences.

Always refer to the official NACDS Total Store Expo website’s “Hotels & Travel” section for the most current and accurate information on official hotels, booking links, and travel discounts for the specific year’s event.

The Investment in Partnership: Understanding the Cost to Attend

Attending the NACDS Total Store Expo is a strategic investment in business growth and industry engagement. As the premier B2B event for the chain drug store channel, specific registration fees apply, which support the high-value programming, extensive exhibit hall, and unique networking opportunities.

• Retailer Registration:
  • For qualified retail attendees (buyers, category managers, senior executives from chain drug stores, supermarkets, and mass merchants with pharmacies), registration is typically FREE. This is a significant benefit, emphasizing NACDS’s commitment to facilitating connections between retailers and suppliers.
  • Furthermore, retailers participating in the highly efficient “Meet the Market” program may even be eligible for a travel subsidy, subject to NACDS approval and limitations.
  • There is often no limit to the number of personnel from a retail company who can attend, encouraging full team participation.
• Exhibitor / Supplier Registration:
  • For exhibiting companies, the primary cost is the booth fee, which varies significantly based on booth size and whether the company is an NACDS member or non-member. For instance, a 10’x10′ inline booth for a non-member could be over $10,000 USD, while a member might pay around $6,400 USD. Island booths are significantly more expensive.
  • Exhibiting companies typically receive a certain number of complimentary registration badges based on their booth size (e.g., one complimentary badge per 100 square feet of booth space).
  • Additional registration badges for exhibitors or their representatives beyond the complimentary allotment come at a cost, which can be substantial (e.g., around $1,800 USD for members, and $2,850 USD for non-members, as seen in past years).
  • Participation in the “Meet the Market” program is typically free for exhibitors once they have purchased a booth.
• Non-Exhibiting Supplier/Associate/Broker Registration:
  • Companies or individuals who are suppliers/brokers but are not exhibiting at the show can sometimes register as “Associate/Broker.” This typically comes with a higher registration fee (e.g., $3,000 USD for members, $4,000+ USD for non-members, or similar), and usually does not include “Meet the Market” program access. This category is for those primarily attending for networking and insights without a formal booth presence.
• Key Consideration: NACDS Total Store Expo is a trade-only event. All attendees, especially non-retailers, must meet strict qualification criteria and provide verifiable business credentials to register. This ensures a focused and professional environment.

The investment for suppliers and non-exhibiting associates is justified by the unparalleled access to decision-makers and the concentrated business opportunities available at this premier industry event. Retailers, benefiting from free admission, gain immense value in sourcing and strategic planning. Remember to budget for your travel, accommodation, and dining expenses in the host city.

Charting Your Retail Course: Your Journey to NACDS Total Store Expo Begins Here!

The NACDS Total Store Expo is the essential annual gathering for the entire ecosystem of the chain drug store and retail health and wellness industry. It’s where strategic conversations unfold, where groundbreaking products are launched, and where the partnerships that drive future growth are solidified. Whether you are a retailer seeking the next big thing for your shelves, or a supplier aiming to expand your reach into thousands of retail outlets, this is the definitive event to attend. Don’t just watch the market evolve; come to the NACDS Total Store Expo and actively shape its future.

To learn more about the upcoming NACDS Total Store Expo, register as a qualified attendee, explore the comprehensive exhibitor and session listings, and plan your invaluable participation, visit: nacds.org/tse