According to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), the severity of Hurricane Harvey has put one-third of U.S. refineries in jeopardy. Bob Mitchell, president of the Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership, said that Houston-area refineries provide a significant part of the nation’s gasoline, jet aviation fuel and military grade fuel. As of Aug. 29, […]
Category: Association News
NGA Surprises ‘Mentor To Many’ With Spirit Of America Award
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Southwest The National Grocers Association (NGA) surprised Joe Williams with the NGA Spirit of America Award on July 23 at the Texas Retailers Forum in Fort Worth. Williams is the former VP for regulatory and member services of the Texas Retailers Association (TRA). He currently serves as a consultant with the TRA’s Texas […]
Groups Hail Settlement That Blocks NYC’s Premature Menu Labeling
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) all hailed a settlement reached Friday afternoon, Aug. 25, that blocks New York City’s efforts to enforce FDA menu labeling rules before the May 7, 2018, federal compliance deadline. Lyle Beckwith, NACS’ SVP of government […]
GMA Promotes Jobs At Pennsylvania’s Freshpet Kitchens
This week the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) kicked off its national tour, “Grocery Manufacturers Power America: How the Nation’s Largest Manufacturing Sector Drives Communities, Jobs, and Economic Growth,” at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania’s Freshpet Kitchens. GMA said Freshpet is one of the fastest-growing providers of manufacturing jobs in the state’s Lehigh Valley. Congressman Charlie Dent (PA-15) and […]
Sweet Potato Industry Leader Carson Barnes Passes Away
Carson Barnes, a driving force in the North Carolina sweet potato industry, passed away late Saturday evening. He was 82. Barnes began farming in 1960 with three-eighths of an acre of sweet potatoes and eight acres of tobacco. His company, Barnes Farming Corp., has grown to become the largest sweet potato grower and shipper in the country. […]
NGA Hires VP Of Government Relations And Counsel
Christopher Jones, former legislative director and counsel for U.S. Representative Rick Crawford (R-AR), a member of the House Agriculture Committee and Nutrition Subcommittee, is joining the National Grocers Association (NGA). He will serve as VP and counsel for the government relations department at NGA, which represents the independent supermarket industry. Jones will oversee the association’s […]
NYC Menu Labeling Regulations Delayed Until Aug. 25
A court hearing with plaintiffs including the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has delayed the implementation of New York City menu labeling regulations until Aug. 25. On Aug. 16, counsel for the plaintiffs, defendant and federal government met with the judge presiding over NACS’s challenge to New York City’s attempt to enforce its menu […]
FMI Report: Grocers Investing In Customers’ Health & Wellness
Eighty-one percent of the food retailers that responded to a new Food Marketing Institute (FMI) survey currently view supermarket health and wellness programs as a significant business growth opportunity in the years ahead. That figure is up from 70 percent in 2014. The new report, “FMI Retailer Contributions to Health & Wellness 2017,” demonstrates the investment […]
Registration To Open Soon For Corrugator Conference
Registration soon will open for the Fibre Box Association (FBA) Corrugator Conference, to be held Nov. 1-2 in the Charlotte, North Carolina, area. The conference will include a plant tour of Southeastern Packaging Co. in Concord, which has a state-of-the-art BHS corrugator running at 1500 fpm with an integrated defect detection and rejection system. The […]
Organic Trade Association Forms Anti-Fraud Task Force
The recent detection of fraudulent organic grains from Turkey in the U.S. has prompted the Organic Trade Association (OTA) to form a task force to develop a best-practices guide for the private sector in an effort to crack down on future incidents. The OTA said the Global Organic Supply Chain Integrity Task Force is perhaps […]
MGA Recognizes Oleson’s, Lipari With Outstanding Achievement Awards
Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) has named Oleson’s Food Stores in northern Michigan and Lipari Foods, headquartered in Warren, as its 2017 Al Kessel Outstanding Achievement Award winners. “The award is named to honor former MGA Director Albert F. ‘Al’ Kessel Jr., who passed away in 2012,” said MGA President & CEO Linda M. Gobler. “Al […]
Latino Food Industry Association Forms
The Latino Food Industry Association (LFIA) has formed to serve members and educate the public and policymakers on the contributions and economic impact being made by Latino-owned food businesses. “Given the Hispanic market’s $1.5 trillion in annual buying power and the rapid growth of Hispanic-owned businesses in the food and beverage segment, many of our […]
Alabama Grocers Association Hosts 27th Annual Convention
The Alabama Grocers Association recently held its 27th Annual Convention at the Sandestin Beach Resort in Destin, Florida. The association brought members from all facets of the grocery industry together to promote the growth and success of the food industry throughout the state of Alabama. The convention kicked off with the Larry D. Eddleman Sr. Golf […]
Florida Holds First Best Bagger Contest
The Florida Grocers Association (FGA) recently held its first best bagger competition. Eight baggers competed, representing Bravo Supermarkets, Lucky’s Market, Publix, Sedano’s and Winn-Dixie. Kelina Salinas of Lucky’s won the $1,000 grand prize along with an all-expense paid trip to represent Florida and compete for a $10,000 grand prize at the National Grocers Association National […]
NACS Partners With The American Red Cross
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and the American Red Cross are teaming up to advance community giving and disaster relief programs for NACS member companies. NACS is the first retail-focused association to partner with the American Red Cross on such a program. The groups are focusing on developing resources to facilitate donation collection by convenience store […]
NECSEMA In Search Of New Executive Director
Joanne Mendes, executive director of the New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association (NECSEMA), has notified the organization’s board of directors that she plans to retire this fall. Mendes has served as the leader of the group since spring 2016. Mendes helped lead the association during its formation after the Independent Oil Marketers of New England […]
NCA Sweets & Snacks Expo Breaks Records
The 2017 Sweets & Snacks Expo, hosted by the National Confectioners Association, set an all-time attendance record for the second consecutive year as more than 18,000 industry professionals from nearly 90 countries were welcomed to McCormick Place to experience the latest trends and innovations in the candy and snack categories. Exhibitors grew nearly 6 percent, […]
NACS Encourages Members To Help Redraft Menu-Labeling Rules
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) is urging its members to offer their opinions in hopes that they could have an impact on a possible redraft of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) menu-labeling rule. The association is holding a webinar later this week to give its members practical help on how to […]
NJFC Awarded $240K Grant To Train Food Workers
The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), in collaboration with Rutgers University, has been awarded more than $240,000 to support food safety and management leadership training series. The grant, funded by the state Department of Labor and Workforce Development, will pay for one year of training, beginning this month. Areas of training include entry-level food handler […]
MFA To Honor Two Beverage Execs With Persons Of Year Awards
by Mike Berger/editor-Northeast Sometimes the Massachusetts Food Association (MFA) awards Co-Persons of the Year. But it is rare the association awards two people from the same channel, let alone everyday competitors. Yet this year, the MFA will honor Brendan Brazel of Coca-Cola and Eric Farias of PepsiCo as its Persons of the Year during its […]
