K-State students advance at National Grocers Association Showcase Competition
Kansas State University College of Business Administration students recently returned to the National Grocers Association, or NGA, Showcase Competition in Las Vegas — marking the third year in a row the university has sent a team to compete. This year’s field included 14 universities, and the K-State team advanced to the second round, placing among the top six teams overall.
Each team was tasked with responding to a real-world scenario. This year’s scenario focused on developing strategies to harness sales through social media, and teams were tasked with identifying trends, developing staffing recommendations, establishing processes and impact measures, and recommending example promotions.
The competition unfolded over two days. Round 1 took place Monday afternoon, with all 14 schools presenting. The top six teams moved on to Round 2 later Monday afternoon, and two finalists advanced to the championship round held Tuesday morning.
Competing under pressure
Representing K-State were Jason Culp, Shawnee; Luke Meis, Wahoo, Nebraska; and Lou Blackman and Caleb Conyers, Wichita. With support from their faculty advisor, Brandon Savage, the students spent months preparing a solution and then delivering it in a fast-paced, high-stakes setting.
For the students, one of the most meaningful parts of the experience was the chance to learn alongside peers from across the country.
Culp said his favorite part of the trip was “being able to connect with students from universities across the country who are studying similar majors,” explaining that it was valuable to compare what different programs emphasize and share ideas about career paths.
The national event created a unique networking opportunity with grocery professionals. Meis, a junior in professional strategic selling, described the NGA Show as a chance to meet students and industry leaders, noting that he appreciated hearing “how students from other universities approach case competitions and career development opportunities.” Meis also spoke with several national account managers and found their advice especially useful as he looks ahead to a career in sales.
Throughout the competition, students repeatedly emphasized how much the experience improved their ability to communicate a recommendation clearly, confidently and in a way that fits the audience in the room.
Meis said the process helped him recognize “the importance of knowing when to communicate at a high, big picture level and when to slow down and explain details and complex ideas clearly.”
Blackman echoed this sentiment from the presentation-prep side, noting that even with months to prepare, “there were still minor adjustments and corrections that happened even the day of our presentation.”
He said the experience reinforced “the art of preparing and perfecting a presentation for key stakeholders,” mirroring the kind of pressure students can expect in professional settings.
Lessons from the grocery front lines
Students left the NGA competition with concrete takeaways about the evolving grocery landscape. Jason said one of his biggest learnings was “how important social media marketing has become, especially in the grocery industry,” adding that seeing “how a single viral video can create real value for a company was eye-opening.”
Conyers shared a similar perspective, describing the importance of social media for awareness and as a tool to influence shopper behavior. The competition strengthened Conyers' ability to “communicate high-stakes recommendations to industry experts, defend ideas through data and logic, and answer challenging questions confidently.”
The students were candid in reflecting on how to improve next year. Conyers noted that making the plan more “investment-friendly” with stronger ROI clarity, clearer pilots a more vivid customer experience, and sharper Q&A preparation could move the team even closer to top-tier performance — insights that will help shape how K-State approaches future competitions.
“We’re grateful to the Rural Grocery Initiative for investing in experiences that connect students directly with the challenges and opportunities grocers face every day,” said Brandon Savage, instructor in the Department of Management and faculty advisor to the team. “This kind of high-pressure, high-feedback environment accelerates students’ growth — and ultimately strengthens the pipeline of future leaders who care about the grocery industry and rural food access.”
— Submitted by Brandon Savage