SoCal Grocery Run - September 2026

We're back with another distributor-style Grocery Run this fall! Join us for the biggest Grocery Run yet! We expect 70 sampling brands, 50+ buyers, and over 200 in attendance at this event. You will NOT want to miss this one – it's going to be beyond epic!

This Grocery Run is a very unique opportunity to connect with the top Southern California distributors, retailers, and buyers - all under one roof!

Last year we had guests from: Erewhon, Whole Foods Market, Bristol Farms, Gelson's, Sprouts, Mother's Market, Lazy Acres, Ralph's, Lassen's, Jimbo's, Superior Grocers, Northgate Market, UNFI, KeHE, Sunset Distributing, and more!

Thank you to HiTouch Libations for hosting this event; you're going to love their Santa Ana warehouse!

Reminder: a ticket to this event only grants admission.
To be considered for table sampling, you must

Featured guests:

• Czar Daniolco - CEO @ HiTouch Libations
• Chuck Casano - Founder @ HiTouch Libations
• Mason Webb - Foraging Manager @ Sprouts Farmers Market
• Paola Rivera - Asst. Director of Grocery @ Mother’s Market
• Patrick Wyman - Local Purchasing Coordinator @ Whole Foods Market
• Shawnt Karakozian - Vice President @ Provenance
• Jonathan Hung - Managing Partner @ Entrepreneur Ventures
• Jared Jacobs - Managing Partner @ CAVU Consumer Partners
• Mounir Ghabrial - Investor @ CAVU Consumer Partners
• Samantha Martinez - Brand Associate @ CAVU Consumer Partners
• Josie Porcaro - Customer Success Facilitator Relations @ Foundation Foods
• Louis D'Angelo - CEO, Founder @ Foundation Foods
• Ayman Baha - Associate @ Entrepreneur Ventures
• Lauren Arribas - Consumer Investor @ Greycroft
• Josh Dau - Investor @ Willow Growth Partners
• Ellie Wanninger - Investor @ Willow Growth Partners
• Lucia Balan - Operations & Research Analyst @ Greycroft
• Matt Reis - Grocery Category Manager @ Gelson's
• Richard Gillmore - VP Center Store @ Gelson's
• Eddie Rojas - Grocery Category Manager @ Gelson's
• Nick Sokolovskiy - Director of Merchandising Operations @ Gelson's
• Sam Vasquez - Director of Center Store Category Management @ Gelson's
• Gretchen Johnson - Category Manager @ Gelson's
• Kristin Alas - Category Manager @ Gelson's
• Colin Thompson - Category Manager @ Gelsons
• Elie Ayrouth - Publisher, Partner @ FoodBeast
• Cher Cech - Grocery Sales Manager, Pavilions @ Albertson’s
• Eric Winston - Director Grocery & Dairy @ Lazy Acres
• Michael Gregory - Dairy Deli & Grocery Category Manager @ Lazy Acres
• Brian Hall - Grocery Merchandiser, Schematics Coordinator, Category Buyer @ Lazy Acres

Here are the amazing brands sampling:

Coming soon!

Interested in sampling at this event and getting direct access to all of Southern California's buyers? Apply here!

HiTouch Libations is Southern California's Premier Direct Store Distributor servicing all SoPac Whole Foods Locations and all of the best local Natural Food Supermarkets (Mothers Market, Lassens, Jimbos Naturally, Bristol Farms, etc). We specialize in perishable fresh foods that require high service levels, and strive to exceed both our retailer and brand partner expectations. We service all of our retailers multiple times a week to ensure that our brands are properly merchandised, stocked and constantly flowing. Our eco-friendly refrigerated fleet of Mercedes Sprinter Vans ensure that your customers are always getting the freshest product possible. We are a truly employee-owned company that takes pride in helping brands grow and keeping our retail partners smiling.

Sponsors:

If you're a service provider / non-CPG brand interested in sponsoring & participating in this event, please email [email protected]

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