The National Grocers Association (NGA) Foundation has welcomed a new advisory committee to help promote and expand its assistance to independent grocers in modernizing their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) systems, including implementing SNAP Online and EBT chip card functionality. This initiative, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) […]
Category: Association News
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Corporate Store News, National, News
Grocery Industry Reacts To SNAP Waiver Requests Across The U.S.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Indiana Gov. Mike Braun have submitted Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) waiver requests to the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the aim of banning the purchase of soft drinks and candy with the benefits. State governors can ask for a waiver from certain requirements of the SNAP program. “Banning […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, News, Southwest
Viva Fresh Concludes Sold-Out Anniversary Expo With Record Attendance
The 2025 Viva Fresh Expo marked its 10th anniversary April 11-13 with a sold-out show floor and 2,760 attendees, including 438 buyers, at the Marriott Marquis in downtown Houston. The show opened with a keynote speech from José Hernández, a former migrant farm worker who became a NASA astronaut. More than 100 people waited in […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, National, News
PLMA Re-Elects Board Chair, Welcomes New Directors
The Private Label Manufactures Association (PLMA) re-elected Kristal Sevcik, VP of business development at AmeriQual Group, as chair of its board of directors. Sevcik, who assumed the position in 2024, will serve a second one-year term. The members of the association also accepted the slate proposed by the nominating committee – Jeanine Antiporek of Refresco […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, National, News
AFFI Leads Frozen Food Advocacy At 2025 Government Action Summit
Frozen food business leaders came together April 1-3 for advocacy and Congressional outreach during the American Frozen Food Institute’s (AFFI) Government Action Summit in Washington, D.C. Attendees spoke with their Congressional offices about the benefits of frozen food, addressing how it is a solution in nutrition access. Freezing locks in nutrition and flavor, which helps the […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, News, West
USC Marshall Enhances Fall 2025 Food Industry Executive Program
USC Marshall Executive Education, in collaboration with the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), has revamped its Food Industry Executive Program (FIEP) for fall 2025. The four-day offering is designed to equip food industry executives in retail, manufacturing, grocery and supply chain sectors with advanced leadership strategies, market insights and a competitive edge in an […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Guest Contributors, National, News
NGA Scores Big Legislative Wins For Independent Grocers
At the time of this writing, the first 100 days of the new congressional session are wrapping up, and the National Grocers Association (NGA) has secured major victories that will ease regulatory burdens, promote fair competition and protect independent grocers nationwide. From advocating for antitrust enforcement to blocking costly energy regulations, NGA’s efforts are making […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Grocery Industry – Particularly Independents – Struggling In Ohio
Ohio’s economy in 2024 presented a mixed bag of progress and challenges, setting the stage for a potentially evolving grocery landscape in 2025. The state’s grocery economy experienced a downward trend in 2024, as “SNAP benefits decreased, prices for all things (not just groceries) went up, labor challenges continued and more food deserts were created […]