National Summit in Chicago to Spotlight and Scale Solutions Expanding Access to Affordable, Nutritious Food


National Summit in Chicago to Spotlight and Scale Solutions Expanding Access to Affordable,  Nutritious Food 

Applications Open for $100,000 Innovation Award 

Co-hosted by Food Systems for the Future Institute (FSFI), with Chef José Andrés serving as Honorary  Co-Host, and organized in partnership with the Global Food Institute at George Washington University,  the Harvard Food Law and Policy Clinic, The Food Trust, and the University of Illinois Chicago, the 2026  Grocery Retail for All Summit will convene national leaders to advance practical solutions that strengthen  grocery retail and expand access to affordable, nutritious food in underserved communities across the  United States.

“Food is health, dignity, and opportunity - and every community deserves access to it. Across the country,  we already see solutions that work. Now is the moment to connect them, strengthen them, and scale them  with urgency. I’m proud to join as an honorary co-host to help turn what’s possible into what’s real.” — Chef José Andrés

At a time when many communities continue to face grocery store closures, rising costs, and limited access  to healthy food, the Summit will bring together retailers, policymakers, investors, and community leaders  to focus on what is already working, and how to scale it.

Building on the success of its inaugural convening, the 2026 Summit will move from diagnosis to  action, showcasing proven models and equipping participants with tools, partnerships, and strategies to  sustain grocery stores where they are most needed.

“This is not a conference about what’s broken,” said Ambassador Cousin, CEO of FSFI. “It’s a working  session focused on what’s already working, and how we scale those solutions to reach more  communities.”

Introducing the Grocery Retail Resilience & Innovation Award 

As part of the Summit, FSFI is also accepting applications for the Grocery Retail Resilience &  Innovation Award, which will recognize and support leaders, entrepreneurs, and organizations advancing  innovative models that strengthen grocery retail and expand food access.

The Award will provide:

• $50,000 Grand Prize 

• Five $10,000 Awards 

Winners will be recognized at the Summit and gain national visibility among investors, policymakers, and  industry leaders.

The Award reflects FSFI’s commitment to identifying and scaling solutions that are already delivering  impact, from community-owned stores to new distribution, financing, and operating models that improve  affordability and sustainability.

A National Platform for Action 

The Summit is expected to convene 200 leaders across sectors, including:

• Grocery retailers and community-based operators

• Policymakers and public sector leaders

• Philanthropy and impact investors

• Suppliers, distributors, and industry partners

• Health systems stakeholders

The event is made possible through the generous support of sponsors, including Builders Vision, Dion’s  Chicago Dream, Margot L. Pritzker Fund, and PepsiCo Foundation.

 

Complimentary registrations are available upon request for independent, cooperative, and nonprofit  grocery operators. Contact GRS2026@fsfinstitute.net 

For more information about the Summit and Innovation Award, please  

visit: https://www.fsfinstitute.net/2026-grs-overview

With limited seating and growing national interest, the 2026 Grocery Retail for All Summit offers a  unique opportunity to connect with leaders across sectors and contribute to scaling solutions that ensure  every community has access to affordable, nutritious food.

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