COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. — Innovation, value and future growth are featured topics at the 2011 Grocery Manufacturers Association Executive Conference currently taking place in Colorado Springs. More than 800 industry executives within the consumer packaged goods industry are attending the conference, which is being held Aug. 21-23 at The Broadmoor.

“The theme for this year’s event, ‘Connecting today to grow tomorrow,’ reflects what history has proven: that when our industry works together, we are able to achieve more than we can separately,” said Pamela G. Bailey, president and chief executive officer of the G.M.A. “The Executive Conference is the flagship event for this type of top level collaboration — a gathering of the most influential C.P.G. leaders for trend-spotting and problem solving, all with the goal of ensuring a bright future for our industry, our employees and the consumers we serve.”

Featured speakers at the event include:

Brad Alford, chairman and c.e.o., Nestle USA, Inc.
J.P. Bilbrey, president and c.e.o., The Hershey Co.
David Dillon, chairman and c.e.o., The Kroger Co.
Michael D. Eisner, former c.e.o., Walt Disney Co., and founder, The Tornante Co.
Margaret A. Hamburg, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration
Donald R. Knauss, chairman and c.e.o., The Clorox Co.
Terry J. Lundgren, chairman, president and c.e.o., Macy’s, Inc.
Dave Peacock, president, Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
Jack Sinclair, executive vice-president, Wal-Mart U.S. Food Division, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Michael R. Taylor, deputy commissioner of foods, F.D.A.