The Southeast Produce Council (SEPC) has added “Auction for Irma: A Benefit for Hurricane Irma Relief” to its Southern Innovations agenda this year. The fall conference will again benefit its traditional charities—Society of St. Andrew and a chosen local charity—through member donations as well. “Our hearts go out to all who have been affected by […]
Category: Association News
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Midwest
Michigan Grocers, Retailers Associations To Join Forces On Jan. 1
The Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) and the Michigan Retailers Association (MRA) are combining operations effective Jan. 1, 2018. Michigan Grocers will become a division of the Michigan Retailers Association. With the change, MGA President and CEO Linda M. Gobler, who has been an advocate for the retail food industry for 32 years, will retire but […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Produce News
United Fresh, Western Growers Provide Produce Recall Insurance
The United Fresh Produce Association and Western Growers (WG) have entered into a formal marketing agreement to jointly promote the Western Growers Shield, an insurance program specifically designed to protect food companies from recall liability. “This program represents an innovative solution to a critical bottom line issue facing our members,” said Tom Stenzel, United Fresh […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Association News, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, National
Beef Promotion & Research Board Searching For A New CEO
The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion & Research Board (CBB) has launched a national search to fill the position of CEO after accepting the resignation of current CEO Polly Ruhland in late August. CBB’s primary function is to oversee and administrate the national beef checkoff through the management of programs that are proposed and carried out by various […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Home Page Latest News, National
Batenic Stepping Down As IGA President & CEO, Successor Named
Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA) announced Sept. 18 that John Ross, current president of Inmar Promotion Network, will become president and CEO of IGA Inc., succeeding current IGA Chairman, President and CEO Mark Batenic, in mid-October. Ross will work closely during the transition with Batenic, who will remain chairman of the board until his retirement on […]
Posted inEquipment & Technology, Amazon Fresh, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Whole Foods
Consumers Continue To Choose Physical Over Digital For Groceries
Consumers have a variety of options when it comes to buying groceries, and they continue to choose physical grocery stores to make their purchases. That’s according to the International Council of Shopping Centers’ (ICSC) recently released “The State of Grocery Shopping” survey, which found that 99 percent of adults buy some or all of their […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, National, Suppliers
GMA Presents Mariano And Powell With Its Highest Honor
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) has presented its highest honor, the Hall of Achievement Award, to Bob Mariano of Roundy’s Inc. and Ken Powell of General Mills. The awards were presented Saturday at the GMA Leadership Forum at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The Hall of Achievement Award recognizes the service and extraordinary […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News, Center Store, Snacks Brands
Ag Secretary Perdue Tours Lindt Facility In New Hampshire
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently met with National Confectioners Association officials and executives from Lindt USA at Lindt’s headquarters in Stratham, New Hampshire. The visit was an opportunity for Secretary Perdue to tour the manufacturing facility of a major employer in the state of New Hampshire and experience firsthand the economic impact that […]
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Senator Jeff Flake To Keynote United Fresh Washington Conference
Arizona Senator Jeff Flake will serve as the opening keynote breakfast speaker at the annual United Fresh Washington Conference, Tuesday, Sept. 19. At a time of heightened political uncertainty in Washington, D.C., Senator Flake has become an outspoken voice on the need for compromise, civility and commitment to conservative values in our national government, says […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News
CFA To Host Inaugural Grocers Symposium Sept. 26
Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association (CFA), has announced the association’s first Grocery Symposium, coming up Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the Farmington Marriott Hotel, 15 Farm Springs Road in Farmington, Connecticut. Pesce said the symposium is designed for Connecticut grocery retailers and corporate decision-makers. The event is free but the session is limited to […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News, Industry News, Supply Chain News
Hurricane Harvey Threatens One-Third Of U.S. Refineries
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, […]
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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 […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News, Home Page Latest News
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 […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News, Center Store, Home Page Latest News
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 […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, Produce News, Southeast, Suppliers
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. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, National
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 […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News, Food Service News
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 […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News
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 […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, Packaging News, Sustainability News
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 […]
Posted inNortheast, Association News
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 […]