The ECRM Winter Sessions took place from February 15 to 19, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency DFW in Dallas, Texas, focusing on food and beverage category growth through curated meetings and store tours. Over 6,100 pre-scheduled interactions connected suppliers with major retailers, emphasizing functional wellness, healthy snacks, and premium pantry items. The event highlighted trends aligned with 2027 planning cycles, including personalization and sustainability.
The ECRM Winter Sessions served as a key platform for the food and beverage industry, bridging suppliers and buyers without relying on traditional trade show formats. Held over three intense days within the five-day event, the sessions featured precision-scheduled meetings that matched procurement directors, institutional buyers, and foodservice executives with relevant suppliers. This data-driven approach has been a standard since 2002, accelerating product development from concept to shelf.
A highlight was the “Retail Rodeo” store tour on February 17, where participants visited Texas retailers including H-E-B Alliance Market in Fort Worth, Central Market in Southlake, and Tom Thumb in Grapevine. These stops demonstrated real-time trends in packaging, private labels, and promotions for back-to-school, holidays, and 2027 resets.
In beverages, innovation centered on functional wellness and performance products. Brands like Karviva, Neutonic, Melting Forest Functional Mushrooms, Moxy Drink Company, Bulkhead Energy, Redcon1, Underdog Energy, Proud Source Water, and Bones Coffee Company presented adaptogen drinks, sustainable hydration options, and ready-to-drink coffee with transparent sourcing. Dylan Schuett of Underdog Energy noted, “The ECRM Dallas session was highly productive for Underdog Energy. We made strides in connecting with retail partners interested in the functional energy space for 2027. The energy in the room was fantastic, and we are excited about the opportunities moving forward.” Dr. Angela Zeng of Karviva added that buyers seek authentic, science-backed options.
Snacks emphasized “healthy indulgence” with clean-label profiles, featuring Argires Snacks, Fine Snacks (PeakaPop), Nomad Snacks, Wise Foods, Teddy’s Tallow Chips, and Love Corn for high-protein, plant-based formats. Pantry and baking categories showed premiumization through heritage ingredients, with Lehi Roller Mills, Rodelle Kitchen, Farm2Flour, Kennedy Rice Mill, and Leonard Mountain highlighting local sourcing and specialized processes.
Major retailers including Walmart, Target, 7-Eleven, ALDI, Whole Foods Market, Publix, H-E-B, Albertsons, Meijer, Hy-Vee, Amazon Fresh, Costco, and Dollar General participated, underscoring cross-channel opportunities. The sessions reinforced disciplined positioning and promotional readiness amid evolving consumer demands for health-optimized products.
