FMI – The Food Industry Association welcomed the Federal Reserve Board of Governors’ decision in a 6-1 vote to initiate a proposed rulemaking that would reduce the regulated debit interchange rate and adjust the rate every two years consistent with data. Merchants like grocery stores are required to pay debit interchange fees to process debit card transactions. In […]
Category: Association News
Posted inAssociation News, Frozen Food, National
NFRA Elects 2024 Officers, Directors
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) elected its association officers and members of the board of directors for 2023-24 at its annual board meeting on Oct. 7. Neil Ritchey, VP of consumer brands with InnovAsian Cuisine Enterprises, was elected to serve as chairman of the board. Ritchey has served on the NFRA Board […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Honors Members For Industry Service, Advocacy
The National Grocers Association (NGA) recognized three of its members this week for their commitment, service and political advocacy on behalf of the grocery industry. The awards were presented during the NGA Executive Conference and Public Policy Summit, held Oct. 22-25 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. Mike Stigers, president of Wakefern Food Corp., […]
Posted inAssociation News, Frozen Food, National
New Frozen Foods Research Shows Steady Shopping Behavior
New research in the Power of Frozen in Retail report finds that frozen foods maintain their relevance to grocery shoppers and offer a suite of valuable benefits that meet their mealtime needs. The third edition of the report, released Oct. 24 by the American Frozen Food Institute and FMI – The Food Industry Association, reports that frozen […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Cybersecurity Update For Independent Grocers
October is National Cybersecurity Month, providing independent grocers with a timely opportunity to catch up on the latest advances in cybersecurity. It’s always a good time to assess whether you’re vulnerable to hackers, where the weaknesses are in your systems and what you need to do now to beef up your security measures to protect […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Pennsylvania’s Election Battleground Status Will Capture Nation’s Attention In 2024
Assessing Pennsylvania’s status as a battleground state in the 2024 election, Alex Baloga didn’t mince words. “To say that it’s going to be a wild next year is probably putting it mildly,” said Baloga, who is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association. For the first time in 12 years, the Pennsylvania House […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Convenes Executive Conference And Public Policy Summit
Hundreds of top leaders in the independent grocery industry gathered in the nation’s capital Oct. 23 for three days of future-focused education, strategic planning and networking during the National Grocers Association’s Executive Conference and Public Policy Summit. The event continues through Oct. 25 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C. The Executive Conference and Public Policy […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Feature, National
Panel At IFPA Global Produce And Floral Show Addresses AI
“Technology does not scale linearly. It scales exponentially.” That comment from Patrick Vizzone, executive director of DiMuto, perhaps best sums up the CEO Panel on Oct. 19 at the IFPA Global Produce and Floral Show in Anaheim, California. The panel – Johnny C. Taylor Jr., president and CEO of SHRM; Elliott Grant, CEO of Mineral, […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Names 17 New Directors To Its Board
FMI – The Food Industry Association announced that 17 industry leaders, representing the breadth of the product supplier and retailer/wholesaler communities, have been elected to its board of directors. “FMI is incredibly grateful to have leaders from across the food industry serve on our Board of Directors, who believe whole-heartedly in our mission to feed […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National
NGA Introduces Grocery Guard Outreach Program
In an effort to strengthen its advocacy efforts by establishing precise connections on Capitol Hill, the National Grocers Association has unveiled its Grocery Guard program. The program is a nationwide network of owners and industry leaders who have volunteered to contact a member of Congress when the independent grocery industry needs to relay the importance […]
Posted inAssociation News, Southeast
Alabama Grocers Education Foundation Holds Clay Shoot Fundraiser
The Alabama Grocers Education Foundation held its Annual Fall Clay Shoot on Oct. 12 at Selwood Farms in Alpine, Alabama. The event raised funds for the foundation to provide scholarships to employees and children of employees of Alabama Grocers Association companies. This year, it awarded 52 scholarships valued at more than $50,000. To date, Alabama […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Albertsons, Association News, West
Utah ‘Exceptional’ State For Independent Grocers
Utah was named the No. 1 state for economic outlook for the 16th year in a row by Rich States, Poor States: ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index. According to a statement from the office of Gov. Spencer Cox, this is attributed to “strategic policies, smart fiscal decisions and forward-thinking reserve funds, combined with the hard […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Retailers Celebrate Approval Of Pro-Business Legislation In Missouri
The Missouri Grocers Association and the Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry are celebrating multiple wins following this year’s state legislative session. “[It] will go down as one of the more productive for Missouri job creators,” said Dan Mehan, chamber president and CEO, in a July press release. Gov. Mike Parson signed 31 pieces of […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
NAPAR Rebrands As Produce Distributors Association
Originally founded in 1989, NAPAR (National Association of Perishable Agricultural Receivers) has been rebranded into the Produce Distributors Association. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., it is the first organization of its kind that solely advocates for fresh produce distributors. Initially an east coast-based organization made up of terminal market members, a key goal of the organization is […]
Posted inAssociation News, Amazon Fresh, Guest Contributors, National, Whole Foods
What Grocers Need To Know About Omnichannel For 2024
With year-over-year online channel sales up 17 percent and vastly outpacing in-store growth, understanding omnichannel shopper behavior is vital for retailers of all sizes. As independent grocers, how can you better understand today’s omni shoppers? In a recent webinar hosted by the National Grocers Association, experts from Nielsen IQ offered valuable insights along with a […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
5 Questions For Daniel Nazario
The regional vice president for wholesale at Kellanova 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 pressure. What […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Feature, Meijer, National
Health, Tech Highlight 2023 Global Produce And Floral Show
The greatest challenge for the fresh produce and floral industry continues to be getting people to consume more of its products, according to Cathy Burns, CEO of the International Fresh Produce Association. “If you look at the data, consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables remains well below both the U.S. Dietary Guidelines and the World […]
Posted inPackaging News, Association News, National
Study Touts Corrugated Packaging Industry’s Sustainability Leadership
The corrugated packaging industry has achieved substantial reductions in the environmental impacts of a corrugated cardboard box, according to a new life cycle assessment. The study shows a 50 percent per unit reduction in greenhouse gas emissions between 2006-20, tackling the most urgent and predominant causes of a changing climate. The LCA, conducted for the […]
Posted inGrocery Store Equipment, Association News, Food Lion, Frozen Food, Meijer, National, Sustainability News
EPA’s GreenChill Program Recognizes Achievements In Refrigerant Management
In a ceremony at the FMI – The Food Industry Association’s Energy and Store Development Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Program recognized 12 food retail companies and one manufacturer of advanced refrigeration systems for their achievements. “Participants in the GreenChill Partnership and Store Certification Programs have been leading the industry […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, National
FMI Report: Grocery Shoppers Turning To Private Brands
Grocery shoppers are not only buying private brands more often but are drawn to them by factors that go beyond the affordable prices and overall value with which they are typically associated. Those were among the key takeaways from the second installment of FMI – The Food Industry Association’s 2023 Power of Private Brands series, […]