Retailer Owned Food Distributors and Associates (ROFDA) has been around for more than 60 years, but the group has never been one to sit idle.
From growing membership and expanding their conference to adjusting bylaws, ROFDA leaders continue to demonstrate they have independent grocers’ best interests at heart.
“Our end goal is helping independent retailers compete and be successful. Our mission is to make sure they are going to be OK and that they can fight the competition on a level playing field,” said Jeff Pedersen, president and CEO of the organization. “So, with that in mind, our board decided one way we could do that is by opening membership up to all wholesalers, not just co-ops.”
For Pedersen, it’s all about getting the right people to participate in ROFDA.
“We see that being defined as any wholesaler who is focused on the independent retailer and those who are making sure these retailers are able to effectively compete every day,” he explained.
Michael Violette, president and CEO of Associated Grocers of New England and chairman of ROFDA’s board of directors, noted that expanding membership has been one of the top goals the group has been working toward.
“Historically, being a cooperative has been a membership requirement for organizations to join ROFDA,” he said. “However, the grocery industry has changed significantly since ROFDA’s inception, with increased consolidation and competition from big box retailers. Expanding our membership to include non-cooperative wholesalers is essential for broadening our network’s influence and fostering greater collaboration.”
Violette went on to note that independent wholesalers and retailers, regardless of whether they’re organized as cooperatives, face the same pressures – rising costs, shrinking margins and the need for advanced technology and marketing strategies to stay competitive.
“By welcoming non-cooperative wholesalers into ROFDA, we expand the scale of our efforts and ensure that more independent operators can benefit from shared knowledge, resources and the collective strength of the group,” he said.
Expanded retailer presence
In recent years, ROFDA has expanded retailer involvement in the organization and its conferences. Pedersen said having more retailers present at the meetings has had many positive benefits.
“When retailers participate at our conferences, it’s like that EF Hutton commercial – everyone is focused on what the retailers have to say,” he said. “This is really the priority. This is what gets us up and charge the hill every day. We need to understand their issues and then try to solve for the things they may be struggling with.”
Inviting retailers to the conferences has been a positive, agreed Ray Sprinkle, president and CEO of URM Stores Inc. and a member of ROFDA’s board of directors.
“The things they share with us are invaluable,” he said. “At the same time, it’s been a learning curve for us as we continue to expand retailer involvement in our conference. We want to make sure we are effectively utilizing their time and giving them the opportunity to expand their knowledge.”
For Pedersen, Sprinkle and the entire ROFDA board, every change they make comes down to how they can better serve the independent retailer.
“We are looking to add members that have that same philosophy – and that is, how we can ensure the independent retailer’s success,” Sprinkle said.
Another goal is maintaining ROFDA’s relevance.
“Ensuring ROFDA remains relevant in the grocery industry is perhaps the most critical goal of all,” Violette said. “With eight wholesalers serving over 7,000 independent retailers and generating approximately $35 billion in sales, we have a substantial market presence. As is similar within any industry, maintaining relevance means continuously adapting to new trends, technologies and challenges.”
By focusing on their aggregated influence and collective resources, Violette said ROFDA not only secures its position but also ensures it can continue to provide members with the tools, support and opportunities they need to succeed.
[RELATED: ROFDA President, CEO Pedersen Stepping Down]
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