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, […]
Category: Association News
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 […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Shares Agenda For Executive Conference, Public Policy Summit
A forward-looking education agenda driven by top industry leaders is the centerpiece of this year’s National Grocers Association Executive Conference and Public Policy Summit, the annual gathering of executives from the independent grocery industry. The summit, scheduled for Oct. 22-25 at the Grand Hyatt in Washington, D.C., offers retail, wholesale and supplier executives and their […]
Posted inAssociation News, Northeast
NJFC Awards $97K In Food Industry Scholarships
The New Jersey Food Council’s Educational Development Scholarship Foundation held a virtual reception with the winners of $97,500 in scholarships to further these students’ dreams, goals and career aspirations. “We host this reception to celebrate the achievements and recognize the hard work of individuals who will pave the way for the future of business and […]
Posted inAssociation News, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, National
FMI Announces 2023 Community Uplift Award Recipients
FMI – The Food Industry Association has announced recipients of the 2023 Community Uplift Awards. Out of 18 nominations, three community uplift programs were selected by a panel of judges as recipients for their standout efforts in addressing food insecurity and neighborhood health needs and programs that influence social impact. The 2023 Community Uplift Award recipients include The Giant Co., Hy-Vee Inc. and Brookshire Grocery […]
Posted inAssociation News, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Independent Grocers Are Mighty Contenders In Evolving Grocery Landscape
by Christopher Greco / President and CEO, Storewise Recent narratives about the supermarket industry are painting an unnecessarily pessimistic picture of the future for supermarkets. The industry is changing, and smaller stores have seen a marginal dip in market share. But that’s only half of the story, and not the most exciting half. Instead of […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
Scholarships Send Family-Owned Produce Firms To D.C.
The International Fresh Produce Association has announced the recipients of the Frieda Rapoport Caplan Family Business Scholarship Program. The scholarship provides airfare, hotel and registration for representatives from family-owned businesses to attend the IFPA Washington Conference for the first time. This year’s winners are: Billy Itule, senior management, Willy Itule Produce Inc. in Phoenix; Amanda […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Minimum Wage, Tax Refunds Top Of Retailer’s Minds In New York
Retailers in New York are about to see their labor costs increase thanks to new legislation that will result in a gradual minimum wage increase statewide. Mike Durant, president and CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York, said the recently concluded state assembly session stirred “heated debate” over the measure. As it stands, the […]
Posted inAssociation News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National
FMI Report: Parents Buying Groceries Online More Often
The most recent survey of grocery shoppers’ spending habits and attitudes by FMI – The Food Industry Association found that parents are using online grocery shopping more than most consumers. According to FMI’s “Back to School” report, 42 percent of parents noted a year-over-year increase in frequency for buying groceries online. As a group, they […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Workforce Top Issue Facing Employers In Iowa As Economy Improves
A second-quarter Economic Outlook Survey by the Iowa Business Council reports a “strong confidence” in the state’s economy. This represents an increase in optimism across all areas measured by the IBC compared to results from the previous quarter. The report measures member expectations for sales, capital spending and employment for the next six months. The […]