Bradley Beach, NJ, Release: For Immediate Release.
The Cookware & Bakeware Alliance’s Fall Member Meeting returns this year with an expanded three-day format, a packed speaker lineup, and new networking opportunities designed to bring members deeper into the association’s committee work and strategic priorities.
In What’s Cooking with the CBA August update, managing director Fran Attilio described the 2026 Fall Meeting as a concentrated “run-up” to the association’s biggest seasonal gathering. It runs Wednesday, Sept. 30 through Friday, Oct. 2 at the Sheridan Suites Chicago O’Hare, with programming built around “Committees in Action,” industry trend forecasting, and timely policy and trade updates.
A three-day agenda: committees first, then member programming
Unlike many past fall meetings that ran two days, Attilio said this year’s event will span three days to “pack it with networking opportunities, speakers and engagement.” Day 1 begins with Committees in Action sessions on Wednesday afternoon alongside a board meeting, then moves into full-member programming Thursday and Friday.
Members who attend in person are also welcome to join the Committees in Action meetings, even if they do not currently serve on a committee. Participation is welcome to encourage broader participation and new voices in committee planning and next-year “chart of work” development.
The meeting’s mid-point highlight is a new offsite networking event Thursday night at Kings in Rosemont, which Attilio characterized as “bowling, billiards and bars.” It adds a fresh twist to the CBA’s traditional in-hotel reception programming.
Speakers: trends, retail, legislation and tariffs
On Thursday, the program turns to the kind of outside expertise members consistently ask for: forward-looking market context, practical retail intelligence, and the regulatory and trade issues that keep changing in the cookware and bakeware industry.
First, Vanessa Peterson of PPG returns with the always-popular “Color of the Year” session. This isn’t just a style forecast. It’s a business tool for product, packaging, and marketing teams trying to stay aligned with where consumer preferences are heading. The session is expected to connect trend direction to real decisions that show up on shelf and online.
The meeting then moves into one of its most consequential updates: legislation and compliance. The CBA’s long-time partners Tom Lee (Latham & Watkins LLP) and Steve Burns (The Cookware Sustainability Alliance)** lead a live, Q&A-friendly Legislation Update focused on what’s coming and what’s already in motion. The update is expected to cover PFAS and lead, along with topics members are tracking closely, including EPR, AI, and microplastics. Attilio says “these issues aren’t going away, and they keep evolving. The goal is to make sure members have the information they need as requirements shift.”
Friday’s agenda leans into commercial strategy, starting with data. Circana returns with Joe Derochowski and the Circana team to present “Cooking Up Growth: Unlocking Opportunities in Cookware & Bakeware.” Circana presented at the Spring Member Meeting and was the highest-rated presentation of the event. The Fall program is positioned to go beyond “latest trends” into what’s truly changing consumer behavior and the retail environment around meal prep, shopping journeys, and category growth.
From there, the program shifts from “what the data says” to “how the store is changing.” Veteran retail journalist Warren Shoulberg presents “The Stores of the Future in Housewares and Home are Already Here,” a deep dive into how retailers are reinventing the home category. The session looks at changes in formats, merchandising, omnichannel expectations, and community-building strategies that are already affecting how products are discovered and purchased.
The afternoon continues with an organizational growth lens. Milissa Rick and Samantha Kraemer of Regal Holdings present “Building the Foundation: Positioning Legacy Organizations for Future Growth.” Their session focuses on how established brands modernize without losing what makes them trusted, using stakeholder engagement, consumer insights, brand architecture, and digital experience strategy to build a foundation for the next chapter.
Finally, the meeting closes with a timely look at global trade. **Kevin Koch of C.H. Robinson** delivers a trade briefing focused on tariffs and government updates. There is “no crystal ball” on this topic, and what’s true today may change by the time attendees arrive. That volatility is exactly why a current, expert update can be valuable as members plan procurement and pricing decisions heading into the next season.
Registration details and deadline
Registration closes September 8.
CBA members are encouraged to attend in person whenever possible, especially to take full advantage of the networking events, committee conversations, and in-room discussion.
If travel isn’t possible, virtual tickets are available so you can still participate in the Oct. 1–2 sessions and share the programming with your broader team.
If you’re not a member, but considering joining, the CBA encourages prospective members to see what membership is all about. You may register for a virtual non-member ticket to experience the meeting content and learn more about the Alliance. If you apply for membership by October 9th, 2026, this ticket price will be deducted from first year dues.
You may follow this link to purchase your tickets: https://cookwareandbakeware.org/fall-meeting
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/.