As the new year approaches, several legislative proposals stand to impact Maryland residents and businesses. The Griffin Report recently visited with Cailey Locklair, president of the Maryland Retailers Alliance, to find out more about what’s in store for 2025.
Locklair has spent nearly 20 years in state and local politics, advocating on the state budget, labor issues, retail crime and taxes on behalf of the alliance. For her efforts, Locklair – who also heads the Maryland Association of Chain Drug Stores, and the Maryland Food Industry Council – recently received the 2024 J. Thomas Weyant Award from the National Retail Federation.
In addition, Locklair is a past chair of the Council of State Retail Associations and a member of the Leadership Maryland Program Class of 2024.
When reviewing the events of the past year, what stands out the most?
The past eight months have been extraordinarily active on the legislative front locally. Maryland now has almost 20 jurisdictions with separate bag laws, and we have seen a variety of bills impacting the industry introduced. Some passed, including shopping cart legislation, electric vehicle-charging station mandates and even regulations on garbage cans. Legislators at the state level have reached out on issues of concern, including food waste and sell-by and use-by dates. Discussions about beer and wine in food retail are ongoing.
It’s been said Maryland is experiencing retail growth. Do you agree?
Yes and no. It depends on where in the state we are talking about. For example, generally speaking, Maryland’s population continues to slowly grow.
So in areas where there is population growth, we have seen quite a few new grocery stores in those areas. However, in areas of the state losing population and struggling with issues like organized retail crime, we have seen some closures with more currently being considered.
Is the growth attracting a disproportionately number of new retailers selling groceries to the state?
Maryland is a chain-heavy state, but we have many thriving independents as well. That said, we are not seeing rapid expansion of any retailers per se, and the newest chain that came into our market occurred in 2018.
What are independent retailers doing to hold onto their share of market?
Regardless of the type of retail format you operate, in-store experiences and in-store sales remain key to attracting consumers in Maryland and elsewhere.
What key issues are poised to impact grocers in 2025?
With the state’s next legislative session starting in January, the industry can expect to see a slew of legislative proposals from new taxes, another increase to the minimum wage, an extended producer responsibility study results and other mandates impacting food retailers.
What role will the Maryland Retailers Alliance play?
Each year, an increasing number of mandates and cost increases are introduced at the legislative level so being involved and lending our voice is critical to mitigating some very damming laws.
Congratulations on being recognized by NRF this year for your two decades of advocacy contributions. Were you surprised?
I was extremely surprised and humbled to be recognized. My colleagues in our industry have been invaluable to the work we do and I’m lucky to call many of them friends.
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