The National Grocers Association held a first meeting June 8 to discuss solutions for providing access to healthy benefit cards in high-need communities served by independent grocers. The association convened 30 stakeholders from across the healthy benefit card industry, including health insurance companies, payment networks, point-of-sale system providers and independent community grocers. Healthy benefit programs, […]
Category: Association News
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
FMI Leader Lays Out Six Imperatives Facing The Food Industry Today
By Janet Jones Kendall, FMI Smartbrief After the pandemic forced years of shortened vision and focus on constantly changing issues within the food and other industries, it is now time for leaders to focus on bigger-picture issues facing the industry today, said FMI — The Food Industry Association — President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin in a State […]
Posted inAssociation News, Midwest, National
NGA To Hold Upcoming Store Operations Summit In Kansas City, MO
Grocery leaders focused on store operations are planning to attend the Store Operations Summit, the latest event in the National Grocers Association’s Engage Series, taking place July 24-26 at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown in Kansas City, Missouri. Registration is open for the summit, designed for store leaders who are focused on store operations and […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Touts Legislation For Permanent Ban On EBT Processing Fees
The National Grocers Association has shared its support for the Ensuring Fee-Free Benefit Transactions Act, a bill promoted by Congresswoman Shontel Brown (D-OH) that would prohibit processing fees on benefit cards provided to SNAP participants. “Independent community grocers are essential partners in SNAP, providing access to nutritious and affordable foods for American families in need. […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Salutes 2023 ELDP Graduates
The National Grocers Association Foundation has completed its 2023 Executive Leadership Development Program, a four-day session that included a mix of interactive leadership instruction and personalized coaching presented by respected academics and industry leaders. The program, held June 4-8 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and sponsored by PepsiCo, welcomed 43 participants from a […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
5 Questions For Carlos Castro
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs The president and CEO of Todos Neighborhood Market in Woodbridge, Virginia, 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 […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
New IDDBA President Addresses Industry Concerns At 2023 Show
Attracting and retaining employees, addressing customer wants and needs and working in partnership to advance the industry were topics addressed by new IDDBA President David Haaf, who spoke at the organization’s recent show in Anaheim, California. First impressions are critical in recruiting top talent, according to Haaf. “Some of our country’s Fortune 500 companies having […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
Inflation, Recession, Obsession – How Retailers Can Navigate An Unpredictable Market
Were you a math kid or a reading kid? Right brain or left? As retailers, manufacturers, wholesalers and technology partners, we clearly need a hearty dose of right brain creativity to be successful in the grocery business. Just as important, we also need some good math chops. We wouldn’t survive long if we couldn’t count […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Advocates For Competition, SNAP During Fly-In
On June 7, the National Grocers Association concluded its second Fly-In for Fair Competition, an event whose main policy focus is enforcing and strengthening the Robinson-Patman Act, a 1930s’ era law that prohibits price discrimination against smaller retailers. Independent grocers engaged with congressional offices about the importance of acting now to end dominant food retailers’ […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Welcomes Introduction Of Credit Card Competition Act
The National Grocers Association voiced its support June 8 for the Credit Card Competition Act introduced by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), Rep. Lance Gooden (R-TX) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) that would bring much needed competition to the credit card marketplace after years of excessive swipe fees that harm small businesses […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, National
Study Finds Grocers Ready To Jumpstart Innovation With Suppliers
More than 80 percent of respondents to a recent FMI survey of industry executives for its report, “The Power of Private Brands 2023: Innovation that Drives Winning Private Brands,” said they plan to increase private brand investments moderately or significantly in the next two years. At the same time, the analysis suggests just 10 percent of […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Midwest
RF Buche Receives NGA Spirit Of America Award
The National Grocers Association has presented RF Buche with its Spirit of America Award, recognizing his commitment to the independent grocery industry and his work in his community. Buche, a fourth-generation grocer and president of South Dakota-based GF Buche Co., received the award during NGA’s Fly-In for Fair Competition, held June 6-7 in Washington, D.C. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, National
What’s In Store Live Focuses On Innovation And Technology
What’s trending in dairy, deli and bakery? That was the topic of the What’s In Store Live presentation June 4 during the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association’s 2023 Show in Anaheim, California. IDDBA’s Whitney Atkins, VP of marketing, and Heather Prach, VP of education, spoke on how current trends will shape the future of the […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
What Grocers Need To Know About Copyright
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA director of communications and external affairs Progressive grocery retailers actively engage their communities in many ways, including advertising, social media, and their weekly circular, whether it’s print or digital. As creators and users of these materials, grocers have a responsibility to consider copyright when making or using creative expressions, such […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
Never Too Busy To Make Time For Boosting Store Operations
It’s no secret that being an independent community grocer is hard work. Grocers aren’t strangers to long days on the job, fulfilling their commitment to ensure customers are not just satisfied but surprised and delighted every time they visit. As such, opportunities to spend time away from the store can be few and far between. […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Independent Grocers Gather For NGA’s Fly-In For Fair Competition
The National Grocers Association held its second annual Fly-In for Fair Competition June 6-7 in Washington D.C. The fly-in began with advocacy training to prepare NGA members for their Congressional meetings on June 7. Training was conducted by the Congressional Management Foundation, an advocacy training organization in Washington D.C., and showed NGA members how to get the […]
Posted inBakery News, Association News, National
FMI Shares ‘Power Of Bakery,’ Emphasizes Health And Well-Being
Health and well-being are at the forefront of many consumers’ minds, and that includes how they look at bakery items. FMI VP Rick Stein presented The Power of Bakery report Sunday during the IDDBA Show in Anaheim, California. “I think it’s interesting, as we start asking customers about their eating approaches, most customers said they […]
Posted inFeature, Association News, National
New President: Association More than Show, ‘We’re Here 365 Days’
David Haaf, the new president of the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, said he is pleased with the organization’s show in Anaheim, California. The Shelby Report caught up with him Sunday on the expo floor. “We’re most excited that we have actually hit our 2019 retail registry numbers,” he said. “And 2019 in Orlando was a record […]
Posted inFeature, Association News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, National
Outgoing IDDBA Executive Readies For Retirement After Show
Mike Eardley, president and CEO of the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, is getting ready to wrap up a decades-long career in the food industry. He will be retiring following the IDDBA Show, to be held June 4-6 in Anaheim, California. Eardley recently reflected on his years in the industry and his plans for retirement. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Northeast
NJFC Receives $150K Grant Award For Food Safety, Training
The New Jersey Food Council has been awarded a $149,800 grant from the customized training program in New Jersey’s Department of Labor to support food handlers and provide safety training for supermarkets, grocers and convenience stores. The grant will support the partnership between the NJFC and the Office of Continuing Education at Rutgers University, which […]