January 28, 2026 - March 27, 2026

 FMI is a nonprofit trade association conducting programs in research, education, industry relations and public affairs on behalf of food retailers and wholesalers around the world.
  
The E+SD Conference provides trends, innovations, and tactical solutions to help retailers design, build, and maintain stores that are more energy-efficient, effective, and that meet changing consumer needs and desires. 
  
Target Audience:
 The E+SD Conference draws hundreds of retail and wholesale professionals each year; in 2025, nearly 825 attendees participated. The audience primarily includes supermarket retailers, wholesalers, and solution providers responsible for store planning and design, construction and engineering, maintenance, refrigeration, sustainability, energy management, utility cost control, and equipment purchasing.

Retailer and wholesaler professionals are the primary focus of the education program.
  
Education Program Overview:
The E+SD Conference features approximately six general sessions and a series of concurrent breakout sessions organized across four core tracks:

• Refrigeration
• Energy
• Store Development & Design
• Sustainability

Sessions are 60 minutes in length and focus on practical, real-world applications related to store design, construction, energy and refrigeration systems, sustainability, facilities management, and regulatory considerations.

Presentation Format & Content Guidance:
 Education sessions may be delivered in a variety of formats. Research shows that adult learners benefit most from sessions that encourage active participation, connect new concepts to real‑world experience, and emphasize practical application. Presenters are encouraged to propose formats that include these elements, particularly case studies that feature both practitioner and service‑provider perspectives. Session proposals that include confirmed speakers from retailers or wholesalers are typically the most successful in the E+SD selection process.

All content must remain educational in nature and avoid commercialism or product promotion.

A list of retailer‑requested topics is available for download within the proposal submission portal.

Proposal Submission Requirements:
All proposals must be submitted through FMI’s online submission system, which opens January 28, 2026. The deadline for submission is March 27, 2026.

Each proposal must include:

• Full contact details for the primary submitter
• Presenter biography(ies)
• Contact information for all confirmed presenters
• Three to four learning objectives
• Selected topic and proposed presentation format
• Session summary and full content description

Speaker Participation Expectations:
Selected speakers are expected to register for the conference and assume responsibility for their own travel and lodging expenses. Speakers with hardship-related concerns may contact FMI to discuss potential accommodations.
  

Questions: 
Rebecca Daniels, Director of Education, FMI, rdaniels@fmi.org 202-220-0670