In the dynamic world of protein, where consumer preferences shift faster than ever and innovation is crucial, the meat and poultry industries are constantly adapting to meet evolving demands for taste, health, and sustainability. From the foundational role of beef and poultry in global diets to the surging popularity of value-added products, plant-based alternatives, and ethical sourcing, the protein sector is a complex, high-stakes arena. Navigating challenges such as supply chain efficiency, labor retention, food safety, and the ever-present need for compelling marketing strategies requires deep industry knowledge and strong partnerships. For retailers, processors, suppliers, and anyone driving the future of meat and poultry, staying informed, connected, and agile is not just an advantage – it’s absolutely essential for thriving in today’s competitive market. This is precisely why the Annual Meat Conference, USA, co-hosted by the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) and FMI – The Food Industry Association, stands as the premier gathering, the essential forum where the industry’s most influential leaders and innovators converge to shape the future of meat!

Imagine stepping into a vibrant conference environment where insightful discussions on consumer trends meet cutting-edge product showcases, and where senior executives from major retailers engage in strategic dialogues with leading meat processors. This isn’t just a place for business transactions; it’s a high-impact educational platform, a powerful networking hub, and an unparalleled opportunity to gain a holistic view of the meat and poultry landscape. If you’re looking to understand the latest consumer data, optimize your merchandising strategies, explore new product innovations, navigate complex regulatory environments, or simply forge critical relationships that will elevate your business, attending the Annual Meat Conference offers an unrivaled opportunity to learn, connect, and drive significant growth in the protein sector.

The Epicenter of Protein: Venue and Time

The Annual Meat Conference consistently chooses premier resort and convention destinations that foster a blend of high-level educational programming, focused networking, and opportunities for productive business discussions in a comfortable environment.

Where Strategic Growth Unfolds: The Venue The Annual Meat Conference has a track record of selecting well-regarded venues in popular U.S. destinations, offering attendees excellent facilities and a conducive atmosphere for collaboration.

For 2025, the Annual Meat Conference was held at the World Center Marriott in Orlando, Florida, USA. Located at 8701 World Center Drive, Orlando, FL 32821, this expansive resort provides a comprehensive environment with extensive meeting spaces, diverse dining options, and recreational facilities, making it an ideal choice for a multi-day industry conference. Orlando, as a major tourism and convention hub, offers convenient access for national and international attendees.

Looking ahead, the conference has already confirmed its location for upcoming years, demonstrating a commitment to consistency and forward planning:

• March 2-4, 2026: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor/Oxon Hill, Maryland (just outside Washington, D.C.). This venue offers stunning waterfront views and direct access to dining and entertainment.
• March 1-3, 2027: Grapevine/Dallas, Texas. The specific venue within this area will be a top-tier convention hotel or resort.
• February 28 – March 1, 2028: Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor/Oxon Hill, Maryland.

The Prime Time for Insights: The Schedule The Annual Meat Conference is an annual event, consistently held in late February or early March. This strategic timing allows industry leaders to kick off the year with fresh insights, discuss emerging trends from the previous year’s performance (often coinciding with the release of the “Power of Meat” report), and establish crucial partnerships for the months ahead.

For 2025, the Annual Meat Conference took place from March 24-26, 2025.

The conference typically spans three days, with a meticulously designed agenda that balances keynote presentations, educational sessions, a focused exhibit hall, and ample networking opportunities:

• Day 1 (e.g., Monday, March 24, 2025): Often includes opening receptions, early registration, and specialized programs like the Women’s Meat Industry Network Luncheon. The exhibit hall might open for dedicated hours in the afternoon.
• Day 2 (e.g., Tuesday, March 25, 2025): A full day packed with keynote speeches from industry leaders and economic experts, concurrent educational breakout sessions delving into critical topics, and significant exhibit hall hours for product discovery and business meetings.
• Day 3 (e.g., Wednesday, March 26, 2025): Continues with insightful educational content, often including the highly anticipated “Power of Meat” presentation – a landmark consumer research report. The exhibit hall usually has shorter hours on the final day, concluding by early afternoon.

This structure is designed to maximize learning and networking for all participants, from senior executives to emerging leaders.

From Farm to Plate: Key Product and Service Categories

While the Annual Meat Conference is more of a conference with a focused exhibit area rather than a sprawling trade show like some others, the exhibit hall is highly curated to feature products and services directly relevant to the retail meat and poultry industry. The “product categories” primarily encompass finished goods and the solutions that support their journey to the consumer. Key areas of focus typically include:

• Fresh Meat & Poultry Products:
  • Beef (fresh cuts, ground beef, specialty beef)
  • Pork (fresh cuts, ground pork, bacon, sausage)
  • Poultry (chicken, turkey, duck – whole and cut portions)
  • Lamb & Veal
  • Game Meats (less common, but occasionally featured)
  • Organic, grass-fed, pasture-raised, and other specialty certifications.
• Processed & Value-Added Meat Products:
  • Marinated meats, pre-seasoned cuts, pre-packaged meal solutions.
  • Cooked and ready-to-eat meats (deli meats, roasts, fully cooked entrees).
  • Sausages, hot dogs, cold cuts, bacon varieties.
  • Meat snacks (jerky, meat sticks).
• Plant-Based & Alternative Proteins:
  • Growing segment featuring plant-based meat alternatives, cell-cultivated meat developments, and blends.
• Packaging Solutions:
  • Sustainable packaging (recyclable, compostable, reduced plastic)
  • Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) for extended shelf life
  • Case-ready packaging, vacuum packaging
  • Labels, branding, and design services for meat products.
• Equipment & Technology for Retail:
  • Display cases and refrigeration units for meat departments.
  • Weighing, labeling, and pricing systems for in-store use.
  • Slicing and grinding equipment for retail butchers.
  • Meat department tools and sanitation equipment.
  • Digital signage and merchandising solutions.
• Food Safety & Quality Assurance:
  • Testing services, sanitation programs, traceability solutions.
  • Consulting for HACCP, USDA compliance, and other food safety standards.
• Marketing, Merchandising & Consumer Insights:
  • Market research firms specializing in meat consumption trends.
  • Marketing agencies for meat brands and retailers.
  • Category management software and services.
  • Solutions for in-store promotion and shopper engagement.
• Sustainability Solutions:
  • Programs and services related to animal welfare, environmental impact reduction, and sustainable sourcing.
• Logistics & Supply Chain:
  • Refrigerated transport, cold chain management, distribution solutions.

The exhibit hall allows attendees to see, smell, and taste new products, directly engage with suppliers, and learn about the latest innovations designed to increase efficiency and profitability in meat retail.

The Meat of the Matter: Visitor Count and Demographics

The Annual Meat Conference is a highly focused and valuable event, known for bringing together a significant and influential contingent of professionals specifically dedicated to the retail meat and poultry industry.

• Visitor Count: The conference consistently draws over 2,400 to 2,500+ meat and poultry professionals. This attendance level is ideal for fostering meaningful peer-to-peer networking and direct business discussions without being overwhelmingly large. The 2025 event notably saw “another record attendance year with more than 2,500 attendees.”
• Exhibitors: While not a massive exposition in terms of number of booths, the show features over 140 exhibiting companies. These are typically key players and innovators showcasing the latest in meat and poultry products, as well as products and services essential for retailers to enhance their bottom line.
• Attendee Demographics: The audience at the Annual Meat Conference is highly targeted, representing the full spectrum of the meat and poultry retail supply chain:
  • Retailers (Meat Department Managers, Buyers, Merchandisers): From national chains, regional supermarkets, independent grocers, and specialty food retailers. This is a primary target audience for exhibitors, representing significant buying power.
  • Processors & Packers: Executives and sales teams from beef, pork, and poultry processing companies.
  • Wholesalers & Distributors: Facilitating the flow of products from processors to retailers and foodservice.
  • Suppliers: Companies providing ingredients, packaging, equipment, technology, and services to meat processors and retailers.
  • Marketing & Sales Professionals: Focused on driving consumer demand and market share.
  • Food Safety & Quality Assurance Professionals: Ensuring product integrity and compliance.
  • Research & Development Specialists: Exploring new product formulations and processing techniques.
  • Industry Association Leadership: Including representatives from NAMI and FMI.

The conference is particularly strong in its appeal to the retail segment, making it a critical hub for understanding consumer behavior and merchandising strategies.

The Prime Cut of Benefits: Perks of Attending

Attending the Annual Meat Conference offers a unique and highly concentrated set of benefits tailored to professionals in the meat and poultry industry, making it an invaluable investment in professional development and business growth.

• Unparalleled Consumer Insights (The Power of Meat): A cornerstone of the conference is the release and deep dive into the “Power of Meat” report, a comprehensive annual analysis of consumer meat purchasing habits and attitudes. This research is invaluable for understanding market trends, predicting future demand, and tailoring merchandising strategies.
• Targeted Networking Opportunities: Connect directly with meat department buyers and merchandisers from leading retail chains, as well as senior executives from meat processing companies. The focused size of the conference facilitates more meaningful one-on-one interactions than larger trade shows.
• High-Level Educational Content: The agenda is packed with expert-led sessions covering critical topics such as:
  • Consumer Trends: Understanding millennial and Gen Z purchasing behaviors, interest in nutrition and health claims, and the demand for convenience.
  • Sustainability: Responsible sourcing, environmental impact, and animal welfare.
  • Technology: The impact of AI, automation, and data analytics on meat operations and retail.
  • Operational Excellence: Best practices in merchandising, labor management, and supply chain efficiency.
  • Food Safety & Regulatory Updates: Staying current with compliance and best practices.
• Product & Innovation Showcase: Explore a curated exhibit hall featuring the latest new meat and poultry products, innovative packaging solutions, and essential services that can enhance retail operations and profitability. Attendees get to see, smell, and taste diverse offerings.
• Strategic Collaboration: The conference fosters a collaborative environment where trading partners can discuss joint business planning, address shared challenges, and explore opportunities for growth.
• Direct Access to Industry Leaders: Hear from and engage with top executives from NAMI, FMI, and leading meat and poultry companies, gaining insights into industry direction and strategic priorities.
• Problem-Solving & Best Practices: Learn from case studies, panel discussions, and peer exchanges about how others are tackling common challenges in areas like labor, supply chain, and changing consumer demands.
• Professional Growth: For meat department managers and other aspiring leaders, the conference offers a robust educational experience that enhances knowledge, builds skills, and provides exposure to industry best practices.
• Community Building: Being part of this “meat retail family” allows attendees to build lasting relationships and a supportive network within a tight-knit industry.

Your Conference Home: Nearby Hotels and Convenient Accommodation

For the Annual Meat Conference, which often takes place at large resort and convention centers like the Gaylord National or World Center Marriott, the most convenient accommodation option is typically the host hotel itself.

For 2026, the conference will be at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor/Oxon Hill, Maryland. Staying at the Gaylord National offers unparalleled convenience, as all conference sessions, the exhibit hall, and most networking events are located within the resort complex. These large resorts are designed to be self-contained environments, providing extensive dining options, recreational facilities, and business services.

While staying at the host hotel is highly recommended for the full immersive experience and ease of access, if the official block sells out or if alternative arrangements are preferred, other hotels in the National Harbor area would be options. These could include:

• The Westin National Harbor: Within walking distance of the Gaylord National.
• AC Hotel National Harbor Washington, D.C. Area: Also within walking distance.

For future conferences in Grapevine/Dallas (2027), similar large convention hotels or resorts would be the primary choice, often with official room blocks.

It is always highly recommended to book your hotel accommodation through the official NAMI/FMI housing links as early as possible. Given the popularity of the conference and the specific needs of these large events, official room blocks offer discounted rates and ensure you are staying with fellow attendees.

The Investment in Your Protein Future: Understanding the Cost to Attend

Attending the Annual Meat Conference represents a strategic investment, reflecting the high-value content, targeted networking, and critical insights it provides for the meat and poultry retail industry. The pricing structure is typically tiered based on membership status and attendee type.

Based on past pricing and typical executive conference costs for 2025 and 2026:

• FMI Retailer/Wholesaler Member (Full Conference): Often receives a significantly discounted rate, potentially ranging from $800 – $1,050 USD for early bird registration.
• Exhibitor (Full Conference): Similar to the retailer/wholesaler member rate, around $800 – $1,050 USD.
• Non-Exhibiting Member (FMI or Meat Institute, Full Conference): A higher rate, potentially in the range of $1,500 – $1,900 USD.
• Non-Member Retailer Only (Full Conference): Often aligned with the non-exhibiting member rate, around $1,500 – $1,900 USD.
• Non-Member (General, Full Conference): The highest rate, potentially ranging from $2,000 – $2,700 USD.
• Exhibitor – Exhibit Hall Access ONLY: A lower rate for those only accessing the show floor, potentially around $500 USD.
• Non-Industry Spouse/Companion: A reduced rate for accompanying persons, typically around $350 USD, covering access to social events.

These fees cover access to the designated event components, including educational sessions, keynotes, and the exhibit hall. Early bird registration offers significant savings, so registering well in advance is highly advisable. Attendees should also budget for personal travel and accommodation expenses. For companies looking to drive growth and stay ahead in the competitive meat and poultry sector, the return on this investment in terms of market insights and invaluable connections is considered substantial.

Carve Out Your Success: Your Industry Journey Begins Here!

The Annual Meat Conference is more than just a gathering; it’s the definitive annual event for professionals shaping the future of meat and poultry. It’s where the industry’s most critical research is unveiled, where innovative products hit the market, and where the indispensable connections that drive profitability and sustainability are forged. Whether you are a retail buyer seeking the next big product, a processor looking to optimize your operations, a marketer aiming to understand consumer psychology, or a leader strategizing for future growth, attending this conference is a pivotal investment that will empower your decisions, expand your network, and ensure you remain at the forefront of this vital and dynamic industry. Don’t just sell meat; lead the industry!

To learn more about the Annual Meat Conference and book your tickets, visit: meatconference.com