The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) will hold its 2026 Annual Conference from May 12-13 at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford, Pennsylvania. The two-day event brings together retailers, wholesalers, manufacturers, convenience store operators and solution providers for education, networking and industry discussion. “PFMA’s Annual Conference is an opportunity for the industry to come […]
Category: Association News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Featured News, National, News
Main Street Competition Coalition Expands Into Permanent Advocacy Organization
The Main Street Competition Coalition (MSCC) is formalizing its structure as a permanent advocacy organization, expanding its mission beyond Robinson-Patman Act enforcement to challenge market power abuses across grocery, pharmacy and agriculture. The coalition – founded by the National Grocers Association (NGA) and the National Community Pharmacists Association – describes itself as the first business-backed […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, C&S Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, News, Northeast
PFMA Adds C&S Wholesale Grocers Exec To Board Of Directors
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has appointed Joy Sgro, VP and general manager at C&S Wholesale Grocers, to its board of directors. Sgro brings more than 40 years of experience in food and beverage wholesale distribution, merchandising and independent grocer support. “Supporting independent grocers has been the focus of my career, and I appreciate […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Featured News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Ohio Grocers Navigate Consolidation, Rising Costs, Changing Consumer
Ohio enters 2026 as one of the nation’s most economically competitive states, though a mix of national headwinds and shifting federal policy creates uncertainty in the year ahead. The state’s gross domestic product reached $979 billion in the third quarter of 2025 – the highest on record, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Featured News, National, News
IFPA Releases 2026 U.S. Policy Agenda To Advance Industry Priorities
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) has released its 2026 U.S. Public Policy Agenda, a six-pillar framework covering workforce, nutrition access, producer economics, trade, supply chain infrastructure and food safety. The agenda arrives amid heightened legislative and regulatory activity in Washington. “Every one of these priorities is grounded in what our members tell us they […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National, Snacks Brands
NCA Announces Senior Leadership Promotions
National Confectioners Association (NCA) President and CEO John Downs has announced a series of senior leadership promotions across the organization. Brian McKeon has been promoted to EVP of public policy and regulatory affairs, while Christopher Gindlesperger has been named EVP of public affairs and communications. Both will take on expanded roles in advancing NCA’s agenda […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, National
NGA Foundation Offers Free Grant Writing Support For Independents
The National Grocers Association Foundation (NGAF) has announced a new initiative offering free, grant writing support to NGA members applying for funding through America’s Healthy Food Financing Initiative Food Access and Retail Expansion Fund, known as the HFFI FARE Fund. The service, delivered through the foundation’s Grocer Solutions Center, is designed to help independent grocers […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, Finance News, News, Northeast
PFMA Announces 2026 PA DECA Scholar
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has named Rishabh Jain of Downingtown STEM Academy as its 2026 PA DECA Scholar. Jain, a senior, compiled four years of competitive achievement, chapter leadership and community entrepreneurship in DECA. At the Pennsylvania State Career Development Conference, he placed first in entrepreneurship events. He followed that with a fourth-place […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News
IFPA To Spotlight Younger Consumer Trends Tn 2026 State Of Retail Session
The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) will present The Pulse of Retail: IFPA’s 2026 State of Retail at The Retail Conference & Golf Tournament April 27-29 in Phoenix, delivering a forward-looking analysis of the trade shifts and consumer trends shaping the future of fresh. Designed as a fast-paced, insight-driven session, The Pulse of Retail will provide […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Featured News, National, News
WGA Names Maurer President, Zambo Vice Chair
Women Grocers of America (WGA) has appointed Kristie Maurer, owner of Maurer’s Urban Market, as its new president, and Donna Zambo, EVP and chief information and marketing officer at Allegiance Retail Services, as vice chair. The two succeed outgoing President Kristin Popp and Vice Chair Heidi Huff, whose tenure expanded WGA’s national presence and strengthened […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, National, News, Nonfood Items
Inspired Home Show 2026 Draws Buyers From More Than 100 Countries
The Inspired Home Show 2026 wrapped its three-day run at Chicago’s McCormick Place on March 12, bringing together more than 1,000 exhibitors, thousands of brands and attendees from some 100 countries. U.S.-based buyers represented more than 100,000 retail locations and nearly $75 billion in buying power. The show, produced annually by the International Housewares Association […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Featured News, News, Northeast
Wawa’s Edwards Joins PFMA Board Of Directors
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has added Christopher Edwards, director of store operations for Wawa, to its board of directors. Edwards, who brings more than 20 years of hospitality and retail leadership experience to the board, leads Wawa’s store operations across Delaware County through Central Pennsylvania. Since joining Wawa in 2014, he has held […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, Midwest, News
MGA’s 2025 Bag Hunger Campaign Raises 1.9M Meals Statewide
The Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) announced the Silver Plate Award winners of its 2025 Bag Hunger Campaign, which collected 1.9 million meals and $16,500 for neighborhood hunger-relief organizations across the state. Since the program launched in 2008, MGA hunger campaigns have delivered more than 47 million meals to Minnesota families. The campaign engages grocers, vendor […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Association News, Featured News, News, Northeast
Seafood Expo North America Expo Opens In Boston, MA
The 44th edition of the Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, the continent’s largest seafood trade event, opened March 15 at the Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston. The three-day expo runs through March 17, covering 247,915 net square feet of exhibit space with 1,215 exhibitors representing 50 countries. Major retail buyers […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, Executive News, Featured News, National, News
NCSA Names 11 To 2026 Candy Hall Of Fame Class
The National Confectionery Sales Association (NCSA) has announced 11 inductees for the Candy Hall of Fame Class of 2026 and named Michael Rosenberg, president and CEO of PIM Brands Inc., as the recipient of the 2026 Distinguished Service Award. Both honors will be presented during the NCSA’s annual meeting Oct. 22-24 at the Signia by […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Association News, National, News
IHA Names 12 Global Honorees In 2026 Product Design Awards
The International Housewares Association (IHA) named 12 Global Honorees in its 2026 Global Innovation Awards (gia) for Excellence in Product Design during the annual gia Gala at McCormick Place in Chicago. The winners were drawn from five finalists in each of 12 product categories, selected through a two-round judging process. The awards were a part […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, News, West
WAFC’s Retail Management Certification Program Reaches 1K Graduates
The Albertsons Southern California Division has reached 1,000 graduates of the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) Retail Management Certification (RMC) program, marking a decade-plus milestone in associate education for one of the country’s largest grocery divisions. The free program, designed to provide accessible career development for retail associates, has grown into a division-wide initiative […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, Executive News, Featured News, National, News
AFFI Names Van Doren Chief Of Government Affairs
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has hired Lisa Van Doren as chief of government affairs, effective March 16. Van Doren will lead the association’s legislative and regulatory strategy on behalf of the frozen food industry. In the role, Van Doren also will manage congressional and federal agency engagement, oversee coalitions and political activities and […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, Featured News, News, Northeast
NFRA Names 8 Finalists For 2026 Penguin Pitch Emerging Brand Contest
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has named eight finalists for its 2026 Penguin Pitch: Emerging Brand Contest, spotlighting innovation across frozen and refrigerated categories ahead of the organization’s convention. The grand-prize winner will receive a featured showcasing opportunity at Café NFRA during the 2026 NFRA Convention, set for Oct. 17-20 in National […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Association News, Featured News, National, News
12 Finalists Named For 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards
Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America has named 12 finalists for its 2026 Seafood Excellence Awards, selected from 108 entries in its New Product Showcase. Winners will be announced at 3:30 p.m. ET on March 15 in the Wave Makers’ Zone at the Thomas M. Menino Convention and Exhibition Center in Boston, followed by […]