McLane Company Launches McLane360 and Unveils New Products and Foodservice Innovations at McLane Engage
McLane Company, Inc. brought together convenience retailers, suppliers and industry partners at McLane Engage 2026, a three-day event centered on innovation, collaboration and new opportunities to help convenience retailers strengthen their businesses. The annual gathering provided attendees with a closer look at emerging technologies, new food and beverage products, industry trends and practical business solutions designed to improve retail operations and support long-term growth.
A major highlight of this year’s event was the introduction of McLane360, McLane’s new digital platform created to give customers a more connected and efficient way to manage key aspects of their businesses. The platform combines promotion ordering, delivery tracking information and business insights into a unified digital experience.
By bringing these capabilities together, McLane360 is designed to provide retailers with greater visibility into their operations and access to information that can support faster, more informed business decisions. The platform reflects the growing importance of digital tools in convenience retail, where operators are increasingly looking for technology that can simplify processes, improve efficiency and provide actionable insights.
The launch also underscored McLane’s broader focus on helping customers navigate an increasingly competitive retail environment. Convenience retailers are balancing changing consumer preferences, evolving product categories, labor challenges and the need to deliver faster and more personalized experiences. Digital platforms such as McLane360 can help retailers manage these demands while maintaining greater control over day-to-day operations.
In addition to technology, McLane Engage 2026 placed a strong emphasis on product innovation. Attendees had the opportunity to see and sample new products from across McLane’s portfolio, giving retailers and supplier partners an opportunity to evaluate offerings that could appeal to convenience shoppers.
Among the products showcased at the event were several new foodservice and consumer offerings. Prendisimo introduced its Duo Slice Pizza, while HiBird presented its Dippin’ Sauce 2-ounce Portion-Control Cup and the HiBird Sandwich featuring Mike’s Hot Honey. These products highlight the continued evolution of convenience foodservice, where portability, flavor and ease of consumption remain important considerations for consumers.
Central Eats showcased its PB&J Crunch Sandwich and Grilled Cheese Sandwich, adding familiar comfort-food concepts to the product lineup. Meanwhile, the Roller Grill portfolio featured the Johnsonville® Dr Pepper Brat and Ultimate Cheddar Beer Brat, offering retailers additional options for hot food and roller-grill programs.
McLane’s Consumer Value Products (CVP) portfolio also featured new snack offerings, including Divinely Sweet Birthday Cake Mini Crisp Cookies and Chocolate Chip Mini Crisp Cookies. Such products demonstrate the importance of variety and value as convenience stores continue expanding beyond traditional fuel-and-go offerings.
“McLane Engage is about moving our industry forward, and this year we put new, innovative tools into our partners’ hands,” said Vito Maurici, chief customer experience officer for McLane. “Whether it’s better technology, expanded foodservice offerings or stronger industry relationships, our focus is on helping our customers grow and operate with ease.”
McLane Introduces Supplier Summit
A significant addition to McLane Engage in 2026 was the company’s first Supplier Summit, a dedicated program designed to strengthen relationships between McLane and its supplier partners. The summit focused on collaboration, operational excellence, technology and opportunities for shared growth.
The introduction of the Supplier Summit reflects the increasingly interconnected nature of the convenience retail supply chain. Retailers depend on suppliers not only for products but also for category expertise, innovation, logistics support and data-driven insights. By bringing supplier partners together for dedicated programming, McLane created an environment focused on improving cooperation and identifying opportunities to deliver greater value across the retail ecosystem.
The Supplier Summit concluded with the McLane Supplier Awards, which recognized companies and organizations that have made notable contributions through innovation, operational performance, collaboration and community involvement.
The Operational Excellence Award went to Altria Group Distribution Company for consistently delivering reliable execution and measurable operational improvements. Ferrero received the Category Growth Award for accelerating demand and driving exceptional growth within its categories.
The Philanthropy Award was presented to Tootsie Roll Industries, recognizing the company’s continued support of Children’s Miracle Network and its commitment to community giving. The Coca-Cola Company received the Logistics Partner Award for outstanding collaboration, communication and supply chain partnership.
The Digital Leadership Award went to The Hershey Company, recognizing its efforts to advance digital innovation and use data to strengthen collaboration. Prasek’s Family Smokehouse was honored with the Rising Star Award for innovation, growth and emerging leadership within McLane’s supplier network.
AI and Technology Take Center Stage
Technology and artificial intelligence were also key themes throughout the educational programming at McLane Engage 2026. Keynote speaker Sol Rashidi, recognized as the world’s first Chief AI Officer and a former Amazon executive, addressed the growing role of artificial intelligence in business.
Rashidi focused on moving beyond the excitement and speculation surrounding AI and instead examining how businesses can put the technology to practical use. For convenience retailers, AI has the potential to support a wide range of activities, from analyzing business data and improving operational efficiency to enhancing customer experiences and helping retailers make more informed decisions.
The presentation reinforced the idea that successful AI adoption is likely to depend less on simply implementing new technology and more on identifying specific business challenges where AI can provide measurable value.
Additional educational sessions at the event explored merchandising strategies, data-driven decision-making, customer experience and other trends influencing the convenience retail sector. These sessions gave attendees opportunities to examine changing consumer behavior and consider strategies for responding to an evolving marketplace.
Overall, McLane Engage 2026 demonstrated the company’s commitment to bringing retailers and suppliers together around innovation, collaboration and practical business solutions. From the launch of McLane360 and the introduction of new foodservice products to the first Supplier Summit and expanded focus on artificial intelligence, the event provided a broad view of the technologies, products and partnerships shaping the future of convenience retail.
McLane Engage continues to serve as McLane’s premier annual convenience retail event, connecting customers and suppliers while creating opportunities to discover new products, exchange industry knowledge and explore solutions designed to support business growth. Through its combination of technology, foodservice innovation, education and supplier collaboration, the 2026 event highlighted the company’s ongoing effort to help convenience retailers operate more efficiently and respond to changing customer expectations.
Source Link:https://www.businesswire.com/
