NFRA Convention 2026

The NFRA Convention is the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association's annual members' convention, held at the Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Maryland. It gathers more than 2,000 retailers, manufacturers, sales agents and supply-chain partners who conduct over 7,500 pre-scheduled one-on-one business meetings across three days, supplemented by breakfast speakers, luncheons and a networking reception. It is a dealmaking and matchmaking forum rather than an exhibition floor.

Frozen and refrigerated product is temperature-controlled by definition, so the category, volume and sourcing decisions struck here set the demand and service expectations that flow down to reefer carriers, cold storage operators and 3PLs. Logistics providers and suppliers use the appointment format to win business directly from the manufacturers and retailers who own the freight. For a cold chain professional it is where the frozen and dairy demand side and its distribution partners actually transact.

The room is senior commercial staff: retail category buyers and merchandisers, frozen and dairy manufacturer sales leadership, broker and sales-agent principals, and supply-chain, logistics and cold-storage suppliers. Seniority skews to decision-makers able to commit to deals on site. Company types span grocery and retail chains, frozen and refrigerated food manufacturers, brokerage firms, and distribution and logistics providers.