2 • July | August 2026 • abasto.com • Continues on page 4 BY HERNANDO RAMÍREZ-SANTOS T he countdown has begun. On July 16, hundreds of supermar- ket owners, distributors, manufacturers, and retail executives will gather in Secaucus, New Jersey, for the NSA Show 2026, the premier trade event or- ganized by the National Supermarket Association (NSA). With the slogan “Cat- ching the Deals”, the trade show comes at a pivotal moment for the industry. The event coincides with the festive atmosphere su- rrounding the World Cup in North America. It pro- mises to be an intense day of business, innovation, and opportunities for tho- se seeking to grow within the Hispanic market. In an exclusive interview with Abasto, Anthony Peña, president of the NSA, highlighted the trade show’s importance and ex- tended an open invitation to the entire industry. “The show is open to anyone who owns a super- market, a grocery store, or does business in the retail sector. We have innovative products, business oppor- tunities, and a unique dy- namic for connecting ma- nufacturers, distributors, and retailers,” Peña stated. More than just a trade show, the NSA Show em- bodies the mission that has guided the association for NSA Show 2026: The Big Gathering for Independent Retailers Anthony Peña invites the industry to participate in the NSA Show 2026 and highlights the NSA’s role in advocating for independent supermarkets. more than three decades: to strengthen independent supermarkets and defend the interests of those who serve their communities every day. A Growing Organization Founded in 1989, the National Supermarket Association currently re- presents nearly 800 in- dependent supermarkets in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. Most of its members are Hispanic, with a significant presen- ce of Dominican entrepre- neurs who have built fami- ly businesses over decades. Peña assumed the presi- dency of the organization in January 2026, joined by a new board of directors that includes Frank Félix Zapata, Jorge Guillén, and Pedro Goico on the executi- ve team, as well as Anthony Espinal, Arturo Payán, Ja- son Ferreira, Rafael Núñez, Iván Bueno, José Azcona, and Frank Pimentel. As the president exp- lained, the new adminis- tration’s priority is to con- tinue strengthening the institution and upholding its mission to protect inde- SPECIAL INSERT NSA SHOW 2026 pendent supermarkets. “We have a very dynamic group ready to work for its members and for the insti- tution. We plan to execute and move forward without falling behind,” he said. Peña believes that many retailers operate in isolation and need an organization that can provide guidance, education, access to su- ppliers, and connections with financial institutions. “Every employee we have in a store represents a family that depends on that business,” he said.