Two panels, two very different rooms, but one message. At the CPG Convergence Conference, hosted June 25 by the Navigator Lighthouse Foundation and Mission Matters at Verizon’s 5G Labs in Playa Vista, California, a panel of brand strategists and a panel of investors took the stage hours apart. They never coordinated, but they arrived at […]
Category: Association News
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, News, Northeast
EBT Chip Cards, Other PFMA Priorities Get PA State Funding
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association said several of its legislative priorities were included in the 2026-27 Pennsylvania state budget, which was passed on Sunday, July 19. The budget authorizes the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services to transition electronic benefit transfer cards from magnetic stripe to encrypted chip technology by the start of 2028. The change […]
Posted inAssociation News, News, Online Grocery Technology
BRdata Powers ROFDA Data Cloud, Unlocking Unified Data And Insights For Grocers
BRdata will power the new ROFDA Data Cloud, aggregating point-of-sale data across the ROFDA network to unlock chain-level deals for grocery retailers.
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National, News
IFPA Calls For Stronger Traceability As Cyclospora Outbreak Grows
IFPA is calling for end-to-end traceability and stronger FDA food safety programs as the 2026 Cyclospora outbreak grows and a lettuce recall reaches retail shelves.
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Association News, Featured News, National, News
All ROFDA Wholesalers Now Have Joint FMI Membership
Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates members Affiliated Foods, AG Northeast, Certco and Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Company have joined the FMI – The Food Industry Association. With these additions, all of ROFDA’s current wholesaler members now are FMI members. Associated Food Stores, Associated Grocers Baton Rouge, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Brookshire Bros. and URM Stores […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, Independent Store News, National, News
NGA Asks NJ Gov. To Amend Fair Price Protection Act Before Signing
The National Grocers Association is urging New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill to make “targeted, common-sense changes” to the Fair Price Protection Act (A4085) before signing it into law. In a July 17 letter to Sherrill, NGA outlined revisions it says would preserve the bill’s consumer transparency goals while avoiding unintended consequences for independent grocers. The […]
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, News, Southeast
AGA Annual Show Featured ‘Stars, Stripes and Celebration’ Theme
The Alabama Grocers Association held its 2026 Annual Show July 6-9 in Destin, Florida, featuring education, bagger competitions and the Spirit of Alabama Award.
Posted inNews, Association News, National, Produce News
IFPA’s 20 Retail Produce Manager Award Winners Span U.S.
Honorees represent a range of retailers nationwide, all credited with connecting consumers to fresh fruits and vegetables.
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Featured News, National, News, Specialty
SFA President To Step Down In March; Search For Successor Begins
Bill Lynch will remain president until March, supporting the board and staff to ensure continuity during the transition.
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, National, News
NGA Backs House Passage Of Penny-Rounding Legislation
The Common Cents Act provides retailers with clear legal authority and protections to round cash transactions.
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Featured News, News
Hatcher, Harris Fill Newly Expanded Roles For FMI
FMI – The Food Industry Association has appointed two senior executives to newly expanded leadership roles that will strengthen advocacy, innovation and member engagement. The July 14 announcement called the roles “foundational” to FMI’s mission. Jennifer Hatcher has been appointed chief innovation, strategy and membership officer. After serving FMI for more than 25 years as […]
Posted inAssociation News, National, News
FMI: June CPI Shows Steady Food-At-Home Inflation
FMI – The Food Industry Association has commented on the June Consumer Price Index numbers from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which show a 0.2 percent increase in food-at-home prices for June and a 2.7 percent increase over the last 12 months, the same 12-month rate as in May. “June’s relatively steady food inflation […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, Featured News, News, West
Stater Bros.’ Calvin Named Exec In Residence For USC Program
Rebecca Calvin, the grocer’s EVP and chief marketing officer, also chairs the WAFC Board of Directors.
Posted inAssociation News, Featured News, News, Northeast
NJFC Taps 2 For Board As Sitar Steps Down After 50 Years Of Service
Len Sitar, a single-store ShopRite owner in the Wakefern family, joined the panel in 1977, serving as its president in 1992.
Posted inAssociation News, News, Northeast
Season 10 Of PFMA’s Shelf Confidence Premieres July 30
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association is launching Season 10 of Shelf Confidence, the association’s podcast focused on trends, innovation and issues shaping the food and beverage industry. The new season premieres Thursday, July 30, with new episodes released Thursday mornings on PFMA’s social media channels, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, the PFMA website and all major […]
Posted inNews, Association News, Featured News, Southeast
Ikard: TN Grocers Relieved Healthy SNAP Waiver Halted
They had been preparing to implement changes to eligibility beginning July 31 that would have excluded some purchases.
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Association News, Featured News, Grocery Research, National, News
Report: Store Brands Hit 23.8% Unit Market Share As National Brands Lag
Store brands continued to strengthen their position in the marketplace during the first half of 2026, outperforming national brands in unit sales, according to the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA). Over the six months ending June 14, store brand unit sales increased 0.2 percent while national brand unit sales declined 0.5 percent – a spread […]
Posted inAssociation News, News, Northeast
PFMA Opens Registration For 2026 Fall Legislative Conference
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association has opened registration for its 2026 PFMA Fall Legislative Conference, scheduled for Oct. 13-14 at Hershey Country Club in Hershey, Pennsylvania. The annual conference brings Pennsylvania’s food and beverage industry together for two days focused on government relations, advocacy, industry issues and member connections. “PFMA’s Fall Legislative Conference gives our […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, Featured News, National, News
FMI Report: Food Industry Investing In Tech To Enhance In-Store Experience
Despite macroeconomic challenges, the food industry is leading in new technology implementation, offering more consumer-friendly in-store experiences and providing more options to help Americans reach their health goals, according to The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2026 report released by FMI – The Food Industry Association. “Consumers are increasingly sensitive to both the cost of food […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, C-Store News, National, News
White House Staffer McMullan Joins NACS As VP, Government Relations
Pace McMullan, most recently deputy assistant to the president and deputy director of the White House Office of Legislative Affairs for the Senate, has joined the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) as VP of government relations. McMullan brings more than a decade of experience in legislative affairs on Capitol Hill to the role. “Bringing […]