Rising Stars Spring 2026 Meeting

April 15-16, 2026 | Mars Ice Cream Facility | Burr Ridge, IL

Recap

The trip to Mars was an excellent experience and very well received by the group. We appreciate Mars’ hospitality, the time and resources they dedicated to hosting us, and especially the work Rich Oloffson put into organizing such a productive visit. The trip began on Wednesday, April 15, with kickoff presentations, including a session from 7-Eleven. They spoke to the group about best practices for how distributors and retailers can work together more effectively, with a particular focus on how to best interact with 7-Eleven.

Following that, the Mars team led a session on research and development, packaging design, and innovation, giving the group insight into how new products are developed and brought to market. We then toured the plant, which was a major highlight of the trip. It was impressive to see firsthand where products like Snickers and Twix ice cream bars are produced.

This was followed by presentations from Mars’ team on category insights, market trends, and future innovation. We were able to sample several new flavor innovations planned for 2026, as well as some early-stage products for 2027. The day concluded with a group dinner at a great restaurant near the hotel, which gave everyone a chance to continue networking in a more relaxed setting.

On Thursday, April 16, the day started with a presentation on the future of e-commerce. The group then went into the market with the Mars team to tour local stores and see merchandising execution in accounts and formats that many of us do not typically see in our own markets.

Overall, the trip was a tremendous success. Feedback from the group was extremely positive, participation was strong, and attendance was meaningfully higher than last year. The sessions were informative, the plant tour was memorable, and the market visits gave the group valuable perspective. Mars did an outstanding job hosting, and the challenge now will be finding a way to top this experience next year!

Photos

Click here to view Day 2 LinkedIn Post