Bradley Beach, NJ, Release: For Immediate Release.
The Cookware & Bakeware Alliance will convene its 104th Annual Fall Member Meeting Sept. 30–Oct. 2 near Chicago, bringing cookware and bakeware leaders together at a moment when shifting regulations, trade conditions and consumer behavior are reshaping the industry.
This year’s meeting is built around more than presentations. Members will be invited to help determine what the Alliance works on next through committee breakout discussions, an interactive “Voice of the CBA” strategic-planning session and the development of the organization’s 2027 Chart of Work.
The three-day event at the Sheraton Suites Chicago O’Hare begins Wednesday with Alliance leadership activities and an evening reception. Hybrid programming on Thursday and Friday will combine CBA business, committee updates and outside analysis of the market forces affecting manufacturers, suppliers and retailers.
From industry updates to member-directed priorities
The meeting’s “Committees in Action” format gives attendees a close look at work underway across the Alliance. This year, the planning process expands beyond current committee members: all attendees can participate in Friday’s breakout discussions and offer input on priorities for 2027.
That broader participation comes as the industry confronts a growing list of interconnected questions. Companies are monitoring state and federal action on PFAS and other product requirements, navigating tariffs and customs enforcement, responding to a changing retail environment and evaluating how new consumer habits may affect category growth.
The agenda is designed to move from information to action. Thursday’s program includes Alliance and committee reports, followed by Vanessa Peterson of PPG presenting the company’s Color of the Year and a legislative update with Tom Lee of Latham & Watkins and Steve Burns of the Cookware Sustainability Alliance. Their session will examine evolving product and environmental policy, with time for questions from members.
Friday shifts the focus to growth, strategy and the year ahead. Joe Derochowski of Circana will open the day with “Cooking Up Growth: Unlocking Opportunities in Cookware & Bakeware,” exploring changes in eating habits, meal preparation and the consumer purchase journey.
Following the committee breakouts, attendees will take part in “Voice of the CBA,” an interactive session intended to bring member perspectives into the Alliance’s strategic planning. Retail journalist Warren Shoulberg will then examine how emerging store formats, merchandising approaches and omnichannel expectations are changing the home category. Kevin Koch of C.H. Robinson will close the program with an update on trade, tariffs and customs enforcement.
A forum for a changing industry
The Fall Member Meeting also creates time for conversations that do not happen during formal presentations. Receptions, meals and an offsite member event at KINGS in Rosemont are intended to connect peers who may be working through similar regulatory, sourcing, retail and organizational challenges.
Virtual access will extend the Thursday and Friday sessions to members unable to travel, allowing teams to follow the same Alliance updates and featured presentations remotely.
By combining expert briefings with member-led planning, the 2026 Fall Member Meeting will give the industry a current view of the forces shaping cookware and bakeware and give CBA members a direct role in deciding how the Alliance responds in 2027.
About The Cookware & Bakeware Alliance (CBA)
The Cookware and Bakeware Alliance is a vital housewares trade association, delivering critical industry resources as a voice of authority and influence uniting the industry by setting engineering standards for product and consumer safety.
The CBA is recognized as a leader in developing and communicating product safety standards and innovative solutions for the cooking and baking industry. For more information about the Alliance, its upcoming events, and how to become a member, visit https://cookwareandbakeware.org/.