Imagine for a moment seeing some neighbors shopping for groceries. Their cart is filled with all the products they need to prepare meals for their family during the coming week. Up at the check stand, they unload their cart and the checker rings them up. Then they present a payment card that promised to cover […]
Category: Association News
Posted inAssociation News, National
Food Trends For Fall and Winter
What trends should independent grocers be leveraging in Q4 to maximize sales and customer satisfaction? Fresh is always a winner, but there are plenty of other bright areas this season, ripe for opportunity throughout the store to give independents an edge with consumers planning their fall and winter menus. NGA hosted a recent webinar in […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, National
IGA’s Ross To Deliver Keynote At PLMA Show
IGA Inc. President and CEO John Ross will be the keynote speaker at PLMA’s 2023 Annual Private Label Trade Show Nov. 12-14 in Chicago. Ross will speak at the Nov. 13 keynote breakfast, “Economics, Global Retailing and the Opportunity for Private Label Growth.” He is responsible for domestic and global operations for IGA, the world’s […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Partners With IACC To Help Independent Grocers
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has partnered with the Italy America Chamber of Commerce (IACC) to access new products and resources to benefit independent grocers across the U.S. The IACC is a private, not-for-profit membership organization that brings together businesses and advances the interests of its members through contacts and interaction with Italian government agencies, […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Southeast
Foothills IGA’s Former Owners Receive ‘Spirit of IGA’ Award
The Independent Grocers Alliance has honored Jeff and Sandy Downing, former owners of Foothills IGA in Marble Hill, Georgia, with the “Spirit of IGA” Award in recognition of their store’s customer service, high-quality food and community engagement over the past 21 years. The award also recognizes the contributions of the Downings, who are enjoying retirement […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, Independent Store News, National
Retailer Perspective On The Economic Outlook For Independent Grocers
Record inflation has been putting pressure on independent grocers as well as their customers, stretching folks’ spending power and retailers’ ability to deliver value. There are signs that things are easing up, but is anyone feeling it yet? The National Grocers Association hosted a recent webinar exploring current economic conditions driving the marketplace, what independent […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, West
Livestock Changes Looming In California
California’s Proposition 12, which prohibits the sale of uncooked meat or eggs from producers that don’t comply with new state requirements, has been finalized after years of uncertainty, unclear wording and lawsuits. What’s next? Well, according to California Grocers Association President Ron Fong, there’s likely “going to be a shortage in the marketplace.” “The [California […]
Posted inAssociation News, Albertsons, National
NGA: Merger Rules Update Should Address Economic Discrimination
The National Grocers Association (NGA) supports the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission’s move to rewrite guidelines to curb mergers that enhance anti-competitive buyer power but asks that the final guidelines go further. According to the NGA, the rules should address the theories of harm that occur when enhanced buyer power is transformed into […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Registration Now Open For 2024 NGA Show
Attendee registration is open for the 2024 NGA Show, the largest annual gathering of grocery retailers and wholesalers, food retail industry executives, manufacturers and suppliers. The 2024 NGA show will be held March 10-12 at Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. Registration is available here. The three-day show brings together independent retailers, wholesalers, industry executives, […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Main Street Competition Coalition Celebrates Bipartisan Bill
The House Small Business Committee took a first step toward restoring fair competition throughout the economy by unanimously green-lighting the Main Street Competes Act (H.R. 5424), and the Main Street Competition Coalition is calling on Congress to quickly pass the bipartisan bill. The bill, introduced by U.S. Reps. Hillary Scholten (MI-03) and Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO-03), would give the […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Store Tours Prove Effective In Showing Congress How Policies Hit Home
by Max Wengroff / NGA Manager of Government Relations and Membership From the anticompetitive tactics of power buyers to rising costs and credit card fees, independent grocers are facing myriad difficulties that impact their operations. To address this, the National Grocers Association worked with members of Congress and NGA member companies to set up store […]
Posted inAssociation News, Center Store, National
IGA, Nestlé Purina PetCare To Expand Reinvention Program
The Independent Grocers Alliance has continued its strategic partnership with Nestlé Purina PetCare to expand the pet category reinvention program across IGA’s 1,900 U.S. retail members and their wholesalers. This collaboration will enhance the shopping experience for pet owners and provide additional touchpoints for retailers to engage and educate their shoppers in the pet care […]
Posted inAssociation News, Bravo Supermarkets, National
Celebrity Chef Carla Hall To Keynote 2024 NGA Show
The National Grocers Association has announced that celebrity chef Carla Hall will be the keynote speaker for the 2024 NGA Show, to be held March 10-12 at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. The opening keynote session is sponsored by The Kraft Heinz Co. The annual trade show and conference is being produced […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Southwest
Arkansas Ends Fiscal Year With $1B Surplus
Arkansas ended its fiscal year 2023 with the second largest surplus in its history, according to a July 7 revenue summary from the Arkansas House of Representatives. Results from collections and distributions for FY 2023 reached $7.185 billion. The FY 2023 Revenue Report stated that this was $1.161 billion in excess of full funding level […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
5 Questions For Tim Lowe
The president of North Carolina-based supermarket chain Lowes Foods 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. […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGAF Expands SEMTAC Team To Advance SNAP Efforts
In a boost to its ability to help grocery retailers navigate the SNAP online approval process, the National Grocers Association Foundation (NGAF) has added two employees to its SNAP EBT Modernization Technical Assistance Center (SEMTAC). Dawn Tullis is joining SEMTAC as a project coordinator, while Kari Wolkwitz will serve as a project manager. SEMTAC aims […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
At NGA’s Executive Conference, Future Belongs To Independent Grocers
The COVID-19 pandemic threw the nation for a loop, dropping us all into a new world that’s still reeling from record inflation, supply chain pressures, political turmoil and global conflict. Through it all, independent grocers have delivered sustenance, stability and support to their communities. As the post-pandemic landscape unfolds, NGA continues to offer guidance to […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Foundation TA Center Helps Bring Nutrition Incentives To Tops in Western NY
by Josh Anderegg / NGAF TA Center Project Director I was honored to be on hand for the recent rollout of a nutrition incentive pilot program at two Tops Friendly Markets stores in the greater Buffalo, New York, area. The program is the culmination of a nearly three-year effort between the National Grocers Association Foundation […]
Posted inProduce News, Albertsons, Association News, Harris Teeter, National
IFPA Announces Board Of Directors Slate For 2024
The International Fresh Produce Association has announced the slate of new officers and directors for the 2024 IFPA Board of Directors. The volunteer leaders will be confirmed by a ballot shared with membership. This group will begin its board service at the 2023 Global Fresh Produce & Floral Show on Oct. 19-21 in Anaheim, California. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Southeast
Alabama Grocers Education Foundation Awards $50K In Scholarships
The Alabama Grocers Education Foundation has awarded $50,250 in scholarships to employees or children of employees from Alabama Grocers Association member companies for the 2023-24 academic year. These included 36 AGEF funded scholarships, 11 Piggyback Scholarships and five Memorial Scholarships. “To date, the Alabama Grocers Foundation has awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships,” said […]