Author Archives: Greg Ferrara

For many independent grocers, the NGA Show is a beacon. It’s a signal that spring is almost here, after an exhausting holiday selling season and many dreary weeks of winter. The show is a chance to work on your business, and it’s also an opportunity to recharge and get inspired by the many expert-driven educational […]

With an election on the horizon in which the White House and control of Congress are on the line, 2024 is shaping up to be an interesting year. Pending legislation and regulatory changes in the coming year are sure to influence business operations, supply chain management and consumer expectations – and indeed, they’re influencing NGA’s […]

I’ve said many times that the events hosted by the National Grocers Association are opportunities to take time away from your business – as busy as I know you all to be – in order to spend some time working on your business. But perhaps it’s also an opportunity to step outside your comfort zone […]

Independent grocers are more in tune than most businesses with the communities they serve. Grocers see folks every week – sometimes every day – to help them with their families’ needs. Grocers engage, communicate and commiserate, offering ideas and solutions amid challenging economic times. So, it may come as a surprise that, according to recent […]

Imagine for a moment seeing some neighbors shopping for groceries. Their cart is filled with all the products they need to prepare meals for their family during the coming week. Up at the check stand, they unload their cart and the checker rings them up. Then they present a payment card that promised to cover […]

The COVID-19 pandemic threw the nation for a loop, dropping us all into a new world that’s still reeling from record inflation, supply chain pressures, political turmoil and global conflict. Through it all, independent grocers have delivered sustenance, stability and support to their communities. As the post-pandemic landscape unfolds, NGA continues to offer guidance to […]

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, is a public-private program that works as it was designed – to help feed the food insecure.  And in many rural and urban areas, where independent community grocers often are the only convenient source of fresh groceries and other essential goods, SNAP has been an effective […]

The support upon which something rests. Justification or reason. An underlying basis or principle. These are among the dictionary definitions of “foundation.” And they’re all appropriate descriptions for the NGA Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the National Grocers Association that supports recruiting, retention and leadership development efforts for the future of the independent community grocer. […]

It’s no secret that being an independent community grocer is hard work. Grocers aren’t strangers to long days on the job, fulfilling their commitment to ensure customers are not just satisfied but surprised and delighted every time they visit. As such, opportunities to spend time away from the store can be few and far between. […]

Independent community grocers are everywhere – in all 50 states, in every legislative district. They are at the heart of every community, from rural to urban. Business is very much local for independent grocers. Yet so much of what influences that business happens in Washington, D.C. The past year in Washington has been busy and […]

NGA is committed to nurturing the independent grocery industry’s next generation of leadership. Under the direction of the NGA Foundation, our career-development initiatives start with college-age people, include store-level associates and management and extend up through the executive level. By the time of this publication, we will have announced the winner of our annual Student […]

Cultivating a new generation of leaders is key to the ongoing success of any business, and independent community grocers are certainly no exception. Innovative thinking and diverse perspectives that reflect a multifaceted consumer base are necessary to meet and exceed the dynamic expectations of the communities we serve. NGA is committed to career-enhancement initiatives through […]

Winston Churchill once said, “A politician needs the ability to foretell what is going to happen tomorrow, next week, next month and next year. And to have the ability afterwards to explain why it didn’t happen.” The same could very well be said of grocery market analysts. Who could have predicted a global pandemic, war […]

The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s is one of the busiest times for grocers. The late fall and winter holidays bring a rush of shoppers eager to please family and friends at their seasonal gatherings. The traditional hectic holiday pace would be a whirlwind for grocers without the added pressures of inflation and supply […]

By the time most of you read this, the midterm elections will be over, most (if not all) races will be determined and the balance of power in Congress may be shifting.  Regardless of the midterm results and how the partisan winds shift, those in the U.S. House and Senate need to be aware of […]

As NGA’s president and CEO, I’ve had the opportunity to travel the country to visit our members, tour their stores and learn firsthand about the challenges the grocers face in serving their communities. NGA makes a point of saying it’s an association of independent community grocers. We talk quite a lot about the independent part […]