Sustainability and store benchmarking can drive operational efficiencies and profit for independent grocers. Infrastructure projects designed to enhance a grocer’s energy efficiency may be eligible for USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants. The Ratio Institute’s benchmarking process can provide insights into existing best sustainability workplace practices and potential practices to employ. A recent […]
Category: Association News
Posted inOrganic Natural, Association News, National
Association Urges Vitamin D Addition To SNAP Farm Bill
In an effort to enhance the nutritional support provided through the Farm Bill’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Organic & Natural Health Association has launched the “All for Vitamin D: Building Stronger Families in a SNAP” campaign. This initiative calls on voters to reach out to their respective members of Congress, especially those on […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, Guest Contributors, National
Exploring How Retail Grocery Can Tap Into Coming Benefits Of AI
Remember when the buzz was all about category management? E-commerce? Block chain? Big data? Well, the new chatter is all about artificial intelligence, or AI. But this time the breakthrough tech is traveling through everything – business, consumers, governments and even artists. Unlike those other transformative technology waves, AI is something we can experience and […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Report: Massachusetts’ Economy Sending Mixed Messages
Massachusetts’ economy appears to be slowing, according to a review of data in May by the MassBenchmarks Board, which also noted a number of growing concerns for 2023, along with some better-than-expected news in payroll, employment and demographics. MassBenchmarks is an initiative of the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Unveils Online Toolkit To Help Independents Accept Healthy Benefit Cards
Healthy benefit cards, offered by some private health insurers and Medicare Advantage plans, provide a convenient way for eligible individuals to purchase groceries and over-the-counter drugs using their healthcare benefit. More than 30 million Americans are now enrolled in Medicare Advantage programs, and at least 5 million participants are currently receiving hundreds of dollars on […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Landcastle Joins NGA As PAC Coordinator
Wengroff promoted to manager of government relations and membership The National Grocers Association, the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, has hired Julia Landcastle as its coordinator of political and government relations. Additionally, NGA has promoted Max Wengroff to manager of government relations and membership. Landcastle recently moved to the Washington, D.C., area after […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, Produce News
How To Get Ready For Organic Certification
The USDA has published a new regulation to “Strengthen Organic Enforcement” (SOE). The SOE states that “more types of businesses in the organic supply chain must be certified organic.” Among the new provisions is the requirement that facilities that “handle” or store organic products, such as distribution centers and warehouses, must be organic certified. USDA […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
5 Questions For Kent Montgomery
The SVP of industry relations and multicultural development at PepsiCo shares his thoughts about the state of the industry for independent grocers and his outlook for the coming months. Challenges of the past year continue to linger into 2023, and despite a gradual easing of inflation, operators as well as consumers are still feeling the […]