More than 300 processors, retailers, suppliers, buyers, and industry partners gathered in Edmonton on June 4–5 for AFPA’s 2026 Industry Summit—a two-day celebration of connection, innovation, and growth that included the Golf Classic, Annual General Meeting, Retail Forum, and Alberta Food & Beverage Awards.

The Summit showcased the strength, resilience, and momentum of Alberta’s food and beverage industry. From farm to store to table, Alberta’s food system contributes more than $28 billion to the provincial economy and supports over 83,000 jobs. As Alberta’s largest manufacturing sector, food and beverage manufacturing is a cornerstone of that success, driving value-added agriculture, job creation, investment, and economic growth in communities across the province.

Backed by a growing network of members, partners, and industry leaders, AFPA continues to build momentum across the sector—creating opportunities, strengthening connections, and helping Alberta food and beverage companies reach new heights.

Thank you to everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, exhibited, submitted products, and supported the Summit.

AFPA Golf Classic: Getting Into the Swing of Things

The 2026 AFPA Golf Classic kicked off the Summit at RedTail Landing Golf Club, bringing together more than 100 golfers for one of AFPA’s most anticipated networking events of the year.

Golfers were welcomed with swag bags filled with Made in Alberta products before heading onto the course for a day of networking, friendly competition, and creative sponsor activations.

Contests, prizes, on-course experiences, and the Hit it to Win It charity challenge in support of NorthernStar Mother’s Milk Bank ensured there was something happening from the first tee to the final putt.

A sincere thank you to our sponsors, volunteers, activation partners, prize donors, and golfers for helping make the AFPA Golf Classic one of the industry’s premier networking events. Days like these remind us that some of the best business conversations happen outside the boardroom.

From the always-popular SaniMarc Golf Cannon and BrokerLink’s Risk It Dice Challenge to Hollen Industries’ chipping contest, a Made in Alberta Pit Stop featuring Top Grass hot dogs, and Second Harvest’s 1 in 2 Shot Challenge highlighting food waste and food insecurity, there was no shortage of opportunities to connect, compete, and discover Alberta-made products.

AFPA AGM: Celebrating Growth and Looking Ahead

Day two began with AFPA’s Annual General Meeting, where members reflected on another year of growth for both the association and Alberta’s food and beverage industry. The AGM highlighted not only the strength of AFPA’s growing network, but also the increasing collaboration taking place across the industry as Alberta companies continue to expand their reach at home and abroad.

Today, AFPA proudly supports more than 260 food and beverage processors and an additional 500 associate companies through its programs and partnerships, creating a network of more than 760 businesses across the province.

Together, these companies represent the innovation, entrepreneurship, and manufacturing excellence driving Alberta’s value-added food sector forward. Through initiatives such as Made in Alberta and the SCALE Industry Advancement Program, AFPA helps companies increase visibility, connect with buyers, access new markets, secure retail opportunities, and build capacity for long-term growth.

AFPA welcomed back Chris Tomita of Quality Fast Foods to the Board of Directors and celebrated the continued strength of Alberta’s food and beverage manufacturing sector.

Retail Forum & Exhibitor Showcase: Insights, Connections and Opportunities

Friday’s Retail Forum and Exhibitor Showcase brought together processors, retailers, buyers, industry experts, and service providers for an afternoon of insights into what buyers are looking for  and what it takes to get your products on the shelf – and to keep them there.

With buyers and decision-makers from Sobeys, Costco, Community Natural Foods, Freson Bros., and the foodservice sector in attendance, exhibitors and participants had direct access to the people influencing purchasing and merchandising decisions across Alberta.

The Forum featured insights from some of Canada’s leading retail and business experts. Peter Chapman of SKUFood challenged attendees to rethink buyer expectations and retail strategy, while Sobeys’ Cori Norman shared valuable perspectives on consumer trends, grocery retail, and opportunities for emerging brands. The Retail Leadership Panel offered a look at how products move from pitch meetings to store shelves, bringing together perspectives from senior leadership to boots-on-the-ground store operations, and from large national retailers to independent and specialty grocers. Attendees gained practical advice on building buyer relationships, merchandising, store execution, and scaling for growth. Hollen Industries and Oil City Press highlighted retail-ready packaging, shelf-edge, and display strategies that help brands stand out at shelf, while closing keynote speaker Nada Lena Nasserdeen challenged attendees to strengthen the leadership, communication, and relationship-building skills needed for long-term success.

Alberta Food & Beverage Awards: Celebrating the Best of Alberta

The Summit concluded with the Alberta Food & Beverage Awards, where the industry’s creativity, innovation, and excellence took centre stage.

The Awards Gala brought together processors, retailers, sponsors, judges, and industry partners from across the province to recognize finalists and winners across 16 distinct food and beverage categories.

From emerging brands to established industry leaders, this year’s finalists showcased the exceptional talent, product quality, and entrepreneurial spirit found throughout Alberta’s food and beverage sector. Most importantly, it was inspiring to see so many Made in Alberta companies gathered together in one room to celebrate one another’s success.

Congratulations to all of this year’s finalists and winners. Your commitment to innovation, quality, and excellence continues to strengthen Alberta’s food and beverage industry and raise the profile of Alberta-made products.

Click HERE to view our 2026 Alberta Food & Beverage Awards winners and finalists

Thank you to our judges, sponsors, presenters, volunteers, and industry partners who helped make this year’s Summit and Awards such a success. Most of all, thank you to the companies that attended, exhibited, entered products, and shared their stories. Your participation is what makes these events meaningful and helps showcase the strength of Alberta’s food and beverage industry.

Planning is already underway for next year’s events, with details to be announced this fall. We encourage every Alberta food and beverage company to get involved, attend, and submit their products.

If you weren’t there—or didn’t enter a product this year—we encourage you to be part of it in 2027.  These are the rooms, fairways, and conversations where connections are made, partnerships are built, and opportunities take shape.