The National Grocers Association has named Kristin Popp, president of Women Grocers of America (WGA) and EVP of Woodman’s Food Markets, as the 2026 WGA Woman of the Year. Popp was honored during The NGA Show in Las Vegas. Established by the WGA Board of Directors in 1996, award recognizes women who exemplify leadership, passion […]
Category: Association News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Midwest, News
Walt Churchill’s Market Receives NGA’s Peter J. Larkin Award
The National Grocers Association (NGA) presented the Peter J. Larkin Award for Community Service to Ohio-based Walt Churchill’s Market during the opening session of The NGA Show in Las Vegas on Feb. 1. The award honors independent grocers that exemplify exceptional dedication to community engagement and service. For more than 100 years, Walt Churchill’s Market […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, News, Nonfood Items
Inspired Home Show 2026 Set For March 10-12 In Chicago
The Inspired Home Show 2026 will take place March 10-12 at Chicago’s McCormick Place, bringing together more than 2,000 brands and 300,000 products for North America’s largest home and housewares industry event. The show, organized annually by the Rosemont, Illinois-based International Housewares Association (IHA), will feature key retailers and brands from around the globe. Major […]
Posted inAssociation News, Independent Store News, National, News
NGA Recognizes Creative Choice Awards Winners At 2026 Show
The National Grocers Association honored the winners of its annual Creative Choice Awards at The NGA Show on Feb. 1 in Las Vegas, recognizing outstanding marketing and merchandising programs from independent grocery retailers across the country. Houchens Food Group received two national awards this year. The Bowling Green, Kentucky-based, 100-percent employee-owned company received the Unilever […]
Posted inAssociation News, Finance News, Independent Store News, National, News
NGA Honors Hugo’s Magnuson Nelson With Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award
The National Grocers Association named Kristi Magnuson Nelson, president of Grand Forks, North Dakota-based Hugo’s Family Marketplace, as the 2026 recipient of the Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. One of the most prestigious honors in the independent grocery industry, the award honors the legacy of Zaucha, NGA’s first president and CEO, whose career was […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, National, News
NFRA Penguin Pitch Spotlights Emerging Frozen, Refrigerated Brands
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association’s (NFRA) Penguin Pitch: Emerging Brand Contest is returning for its third year, recognizing innovative frozen and refrigerated food brands redefining their categories through product development, creative packaging and strategic market execution. Launched Jan. 1, Penguin Pitch provides emerging brands with an opportunity to gain visibility among retailers, distributors […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
IGA Debuts Community Development Program To Address Food Desert Crisis
The Independent Grocers Alliance has launched IGA Community Development, a new initiative designed to expand access to fresh, affordable food in underserved urban and rural communities across the U.S. The new area of focus for IGA involves matching funding from communities, nonprofits and other developmental entities with independent retailers. This allows those retailers to open […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
NGA Shares 2026 Creative Choice Award Winners
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has shared the winners of the 2026 Creative Choice Awards, recognizing top marketing and merchandising programs in the independent grocery industry. The awards, supported by Cheez-It and Unilever, will be presented during The NGA Show, which runs Feb. 1-3 at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. A Unilever […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, National, News
NFRA Announces Second Class Of First Penguin Leadership Program
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has announced the 30 participants for its 2026 First Penguin Leadership Program. The year-long offering aims to address a growing industry need for structured, cross-sector leadership development that builds strategic perspective, strengthens collaboration and accelerates readiness among rising talent in dairy and frozen foods. It recognizes those […]
Posted inNews, Association News, National
ReposiTrak, NGA Expand Partnership With Scan-Based Trading Endorsement
Salt Lake City-based ReposiTrak has expanded its partnership with the National Grocers Association (NGA), which selected the company as its endorsed partner for traceability, compliance management and scan-based trading. The announcement builds on NGA’s 2022 decision to name ReposiTrak as its exclusive traceability and supplier compliance partner. The new endorsement adds scan-based trading solutions to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Minnesota Retailers Face Mounting Pressures Despite Strength Of Independent Network
Minnesota maintains one of the nation’s strongest independent grocery networks, but increased government mandates driving up costs, stagnant population growth and a shrinking workforce are creating significant headwinds for retailers across the state, according to Patrick Garofalo, president of the Minnesota Grocers Association. “There’s a lot of pressure on those individual stores,” he said. “We’re […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
NGA Urges FTC, DOJ To Address Buyer Power Raising Food Prices
The National Grocers Association sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Jan. 20, urging both agencies to use current antitrust authorities to address market manipulation by dominant grocery retail power buyers, especially Walmart. NGA warned that unchecked buyer power is raising rivals’ costs, accelerating consolidation and […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, News
FMI Appoints 4 New Directors To Board During Midwinter Conference
FMI – The Food Industry Association appointed four new directors to its board of directors Jan. 23 during the organization’s annual Midwinter Executive Conference in Chula Vista, California. The appointees are Jason Buechel of Amazon.com Inc.; John Foraker of Once Upon A Farm; Mark Griffin of B&R Stores Inc.; and Lauren Redman of Newport Avenue […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, National, News
Swish Wins Fifth Annual FMItech Pitch Competition
Swish was crowned the winner of the fifth annual FMItech Pitch Competition Jan. 22 during the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference in Chula Vista, California. The technology company powers targeted, automated programmatic sampling by placing full-size products into consumers’ online orders. Twenty-two contestants submitted nominations, which were evaluated by a panel of judges from the food […]
Posted inAssociation News, Finance News, Market Profile, News, West
Hawaii Grocery Industry Adapts During Uncertain Times, Mounting Challenges
The grocery industry in Hawaii is facing mounting challenges as food insecurity remains high and transportation costs continue to climb. Approximately 30 percent of Hawaii’s residents report some level of food insecurity, according to Alexis Chapman, director of operations for the Hawaii Food Industry Association in Honolulu. The situation is even more dire in certain […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National, News
FMI Honors 7 Leaders With 2026 Executive Leadership Awards
FMI – The Food Industry Association recognized seven industry leaders with its 2026 Executive Leadership Awards on Jan. 21 at the Midwinter Executive Conference in Chula Vista, California. The recipients represent Alex Lee, Inc.; Longo Brothers Fruit Markets Inc.; Market of Choice Inc.; Wakefern Food Corp.; The Clorox Company; Stater Bros. Markets; and Knowlan’s Super […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Association News, Merchandising News, News, Northeast
MRA: Pricing Ban Would Raise Costs For Maryland Shoppers
The Maryland Retailers Alliance (MRA) is opposing legislation that would prohibit “surveillance pricing,” calling it based on misconceptions about how pricing actually works in grocery stores and retail more broadly. Retailers do not set prices based on consumer personal data, identity or purchasing history, the trade association said Jan. 22. Grocery shelf prices are the […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
NGA Backs Congressional Push For Antitrust Enforcement
The National Grocers Association is backing a bipartisan congressional effort to investigate discriminatory pricing practices that disadvantage independent grocers. Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD), and Rep. Mike Rulli (R-OH) this week sent letters to the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission urging enforcement action. The letters call for investigation […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, Executive News, National, News
3 Industry Leaders To Join 2026 Frozen Food Hall Of Fame
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) have revealed the three industry leaders who will be inducted into the 2026 Frozen Food Hall of Fame. The inductees are Paul DiGenova, general manager of commodities with Nortera; Richard Marks, former chairman of the board of directors […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, Finance News, National, News
U.S. Private Label Sales Hit Record $282.8B In 2025
U.S. store brand sales reached a record $282.8 billion in 2025, climbing 3.3 percent compared to 1.2 percent growth for national brands, according to year-end Circana Unify+ data released Jan. 20 by the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA). The $9 billion increase marks store brands’ continued momentum in capturing market share across all retail channels. […]