Frodi Hammer
Frodi Hammer, VP & Founder of A2i Technology
A2i by OPIS, A Dow Jones Company
As the VP and Founder of A2i Technologies at A2i by OPIS, a Dow Jones company, Frodi Hammer is a pioneer in implementing artificial intelligence within the retail industry. He serves as the chief architect and driving force behind PriceCast, a revolutionary self-learning algorithm designed for fuel price optimization. A2i by OPIS is an advanced AI firm that specializes in customer-centric fuel pricing.
Earlier in his career, Frodi was a Ph.D. researcher in AI at the University of Southern Denmark. His academic research, which earned recognition at various international conferences, was foundational to creating PriceCast's unique, customer-focused algorithm. By merging sophisticated artificial intelligence with rigorous compliance standards, PriceCast empowers fuel retailers to navigate intricate markets with confidence. It replaces obsolete, rule-based mechanisms with predictive, customer-centric pricing models that enables fuel retailers to meet their strategic objectives ethically, transparently, and successfully.
John Hadnett
Israel Getzel, Retail Network Manager
The Maxol Group
John Hadnett is a senior retail professional with over 25 years of experience in the retail and forecourt industry. In his role as Retail Network Manager with Maxol, John provides strategic leadership and direction across the company’s extensive company-owned and licensed retail network.
With a strong focus on commercial performance, operational excellence and customer experience, John leads initiatives designed to improve retail performance and drive the continued growth and development of the network. His responsibilities span retail operations, network standards, fuel pricing strategy, car wash performance, retail projects and performance improvement programmes.
John works closely with internal teams, retail partners and external stakeholders to deliver strategic retail initiatives and champion best practice across the network. His extensive industry experience has given him a strong understanding of the evolving retail landscape and the practical challenges and opportunities facing modern retailers.
Passionate about delivering sustainable performance while maintaining strong brand standards, John brings a wealth of practical knowledge and leadership experience to the conference.
Tyler Grubbs
Tyler Grubbs, VP of Retail and Digital Technologies
RaceTrac, Inc.
Tyler Grubbs is currently serving as the VP of Retail and Digital Technologies where he has accountability for all the technology across the convenience store locations for the RaceTrac, RaceWay & Gulf brands. Additionally, he his teams lead efforts around web, mobile and loyalty applications across these brands. Tyler is a process focused leader with a pension for finding creative solutions to complex problems across the business through building & developing high performing teams. He has spent most of his career at RaceTrac, Inc. serving in multiple roles over the last 14 years across departments like: Project Management, Finance, Analytics & Food Programs. He holds a degrees from Georgia Institute of Technology in Finance as well as an MBA from Emory University with a concentration in Management Consulting & Analytics. Tyler was recently recognized as a 40 Under 40 by CSDecisions, RIS Top Retail Mover & Shaker, and Emerging Leader by Atlanta Technology Professionals.
Robert Grimes
Robert Grimes, CEO
IFBTA
Robert (“Rob”) Grimes is the Founder & CEO of the IFBTA (the Food and Beverage Technology
Association) and is the Host of the Accelerate podcast on the Foodable Network.
The IFBTA was launched at FSTEC (Foodservice Technology Conference and Showcase) 2014 which was founded by Rob in 1996 and is a non-profit professional association promoting and advancing technology and innovation for the global food and beverage industries.
Prior to establishing the IFBTA, Rob also founded ConStrata Technology Consulting and its predecessor companies, which have been providing information technology consulting services for the globalhospitality, foodservice and retail industries and is headquartered in Potomac, Maryland since 1994.
In addition to Accelerate, Rob is a regular technology contributor to many industry and technology publications in the U.S. and abroad as well as co-authored and contributed to a number of books. He has spoken at over 1,000 industry shows, conferences and events around the world. He is a Conti Professor in the Program of Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management (“HR&IM”) at Penn State University
and also serves on the Industry Advisory Boards of the Hospitality Programs at the University of Delaware, University of South Florida, and the University of Nevada Las Vegas.
Rob has served on the Board of the National Restaurant Association and is an active member of the of The Young Presidents Organization (YPO) having served in leadership positions as the Chair of YPO’s
Food & Beverage, Hospitality, Doing Business Globally and Travel Networks. He is a triathlete and 4-time Finisher of Ironman Lake Placid and the Ironman World Championship in Kona in 2005.
Edwin de Graaff
Edwin de Graaff, Global Head of Shop Format & Innovation at Shell Mobility & Convenience
Shell
Edwin is a seasoned executive with over 20 years of experience in Retail and Supply Chain Management. Currently, he serves as the Global Head of Shop Format & Innovation at Shell Mobility & Convenience, where he spearheads strategic initiatives for customer offerings, including the development of retail design of EV-Hub, Shell Café, modular store concepts, and many other projects. He also holds a position as the Director and Board Member of Shell TapUp B.V.
Throughout his career, Edwin has demonstrated exceptional leadership skills, leading teams of over 50 professionals and enhancing Shell's non-fuel retail capabilities. His leadership approach focuses on developing people, fostering a collaborative environment, and empowering his team to achieve their full potential. Edwin's strategic leadership in optimizing supply chain strategies has been instrumental in driving significant improvements and efficiencies.
Edwin's extensive retail expertise includes negotiating multi-billion-dollar deals and overseeing retail procurement globally for the retail supply chain. His leadership in contract negotiations and supplier relationship management has driven significant cost efficiencies and value creation.
Edwin holds executive education credentials from MIT, Wharton, and Kellogg, and has a background in Business Economics and Information Management. A persuasive communicator and thought leader, Edwin frequently represents Shell at industry events, sharing insights on convenience retail, innovation, future outlook, and business practices.
Outside of work, Edwin enjoys golf, hockey, cycling, and spending time with his wife and 3 children. He speaks 4 languages, Dutch, English, German and Spanish.
Varish Goyal
Varish Goyal, CEO
Loop Neighborhood Markets
Varish Goyal is the CEO of Vintners Distributors, Au Energy and Loop Neighborhood Markets, a family of companies that operates 130 stores and supplies fuel to 80 dealers. Varish is a second-generation family member whose father, Nick Goyal, started the company. Varish is a proven operator who as lead his company through multiple rounds of growth. His strategic focus has recently led to the launch of a new lifestyle convenient market brand called Loop, the first of its kind in California.
Varish has been working in the convenience and petroleum retail industry since 2002. His first project was to implement a centralized price book, accounting and back office management system. From there, he leveraged the new IT system to become heavily involved in operations eventually taking the role of operations and price book manager. In 2005, he took over the role of Marketing Manager and Buyer. He is experienced at fueling, marketing, operations, finance, IT, mobile applications for retail, business intelligence and most recently new brand development. He is a member of the NACS Research Committee, Study Group 900 and YPO.
Varish holds a bachelors degree in biomedical engineering from Duke University and earned a MD/MBA degree from Wake Forest University. He is currently married to his wife of 19 years, Mansi, and they have a son, Aayush (19) and a daughter Vunshika (13). His hobbies include reading, tennis, football, snow skiing and anything related to technology.
Rajdeep Golecha
Rajdeep Golecha, CEO
PriceEasy
Raj is a tech entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of PriceEasy.AI and WorldData.AI. His research on pricing and game theory has been selected by the World's Top 100 scientific journals. PriceEasy.AI is used by over 20,000 convenience stores to price and operate intelligently. WorldData.AI bring the world's key external data into one place and is used by thousands of analysts and researchers. Before founding WorldData.AI in 2017, Raj earned his MBA from Michigan State, and spent his early career at data dependent companies like Wolverine and BP.
Frank Gleeson
Frank Gleeson, President and CEO
NACS
Highly experienced international business leader, CEO, Chairman and Board Level Senior Executive. A proven track record in driving outstanding performance for both turnaround and growth strategies within complex and high-paced organizations.
Strategic leader and entrepreneur with a successful background in building and leading top performing teams focused on exceeding goals in the key areas of sales, marketing and sector/product development.