I’ve been asked a lot lately about the Albertsons/Kroger merger and what it means for our industry. Every time I think, “What is the deal thesis behind the merger? What can they do together they can’t already do separately?” For example, would combining them save a bunch of costs? They won’t need two CFOs or […]
Category: Association News
Posted inAssociation News, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Winning The Pizza Battle Can Be Easy As Pie For Independent Grocers
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs “The pizza battle is on, and grocery stores are winning.” So declares Dana Baggett, client strategy director in the restaurant division at market researcher Vericast, whose recent study of consumers’ pizza preferences suggests inflation is pushing folks to swap their takeout apps for their grocer’s […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
2023 Independent Grocers Financial Survey Open To Participation
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Independent grocers are invited to participate in the 2023 Independent Grocers Financial Survey. A joint effort of FMS Solutions and the National Grocers Association for more than 15 years, the study has become a critical benchmarking tool for independent grocers. “The information you provide for […]
Posted inAssociation News, Midwest
NGA Hosts Congressional Tour At SpartanNash Store In Michigan
The National Grocers Association hosted U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) April 13 for a NGA congressional store tour at SpartanNash’s D&W Fresh Market in Grand Rapids, Michigan. This opportunity was part of the NGA’s congressional store tour program connecting members of Congress to independent community grocers in their districts. The visit provided an overview of […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Report Reveals Fewer Shoppers Cutting Back On Purchases
A survey of grocery shoppers’ spending habits and attitudes by FMI – The Food Industry Association, conducted by The Hartman Group, reveals that while shoppers remain concerned about rising food prices, consumers are less likely to cut back on their number of purchases. Among shoppers who are concerned about rising food prices, only 32 percent of shoppers […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Small State’s Aging Population Puts Pinch On Thin Labor Pool
Connecticut is facing a problem not wholly unique but one that is prominent within the small state – an aging population. And according to Wayne Pesce, Connecticut Food Association president, it is slowly making the workforce pool much shallower. “This demographic shift is impacting the labor force and consumer demand for goods and services,” Pesce […]
Posted inAssociation News, Southeast
Alabama Grocers Education Foundation Hosts Annual Golf Outing
The Alabama Grocers Education Foundation hosted its annual golf outing April 13 at Inverness Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama. The event raised more than $41,000 for the foundation to provide scholarships to employees and children of employees of Alabama Grocers Association member companies. To date, AGEF has awarded more than $1.4 million dollars in scholarships […]
Posted inAssociation News, Lipari Foods, National
Keeping Independents On-Trend And Competitive
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs I was fortunate to be a guest at this year’s Lipari Foods show late last month in suburban Detroit, where organizers estimate more than 7,000 people came through the doors to visit over 750 booths sampling more than 15,000 items in every food category. If […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
VRGA Wary Of Paid Family, Medical Leave Proposal
The Vermont State Legislature convened Jan. 4 and has reached its halfway point. According to the February newsletter from the Vermont Retail & Grocers Association, legislators had said addressing the state’s housing shortage was a top priority. Eight weeks in, little progress had been made. As various committees were engaged in work during the first […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National
FMI Promotes Graber To Associate General Counsel
FMI – The Food Industry Association has promoted Dana Graber to associate general counsel and senior director, legal and regulatory affairs. “Anyone who has had the opportunity to work alongside Dana knows that she is an indispensable member of the FMI team,” said Stephanie Harris, chief regulatory officer and general counsel. “She is a talented attorney who […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
What You Should Know About New FDA Food Code
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director of Communications and External Affairs The FDA Food Code is actually not a regulation – each regulatory jurisdiction must determine if they will adopt the new 2022 Food Code. To review key changes in order to see, before they become law, how these amendments could impact independent grocers’ store […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Experts Optimistic That Inflation Will Decrease Over Course Of Year
Major influencers include severe weather events, trucking and labor issues FMI – the Food Industry Association hosted a briefing March 15, “Impact of Inflation on Grocery Shopper Buying Habits: Looking Inside Inflation’s Black Box,” to cover what lies ahead for food prices in 2023. The briefing looked at how higher prices have impacted shopper buying […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Southeast
Isom IGA Rebuilds, Reopens Store In Kentucky
The Isom IGA store held a grand reopening celebration April 5 at 29 Isom Dr. in Isom, Kentucky. Among the many special guests, Independent Grocers Alliance CEO John Ross attended. A 12-hour deluge beginning July 27, 2022 in eastern Kentucky brought 7-10 inches of rain overnight and raised the North Fork Kentucky River about 11 feet […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
New Hampshire Industry Remains Strong Despite Challenges
New Hampshire ended the halfway point of the 2023 fiscal year $200 million ahead of estimates and $40 million more than the previous year. According to Kevin Daigle, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Grocers Association, Gov. Chris Sununu recently unveiled his proposed budget that will look to continue cutting and/or eliminating taxes and […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Reviews Are In: 2023 NGA Show Is A Hit On And Off Expo Floor
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs From first-timers to veterans, exhibitors and attendees offered rave reviews of the 2023 NGA Show, the biggest show hosted by the National Grocers Association since 2017. Chatter about the crowds, the content, the energy and excitement accelerated from word of mouth to tangible testimonials shared […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Time To Remind Policymakers What Independent Grocers Mean Back Home
Independent community grocers are everywhere – in all 50 states, in every legislative district. They are at the heart of every community, from rural to urban. Business is very much local for independent grocers. Yet so much of what influences that business happens in Washington, D.C. The past year in Washington has been busy and […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Unveils TV Commercial To Call Out Power Buyers
The National Grocers Association has unveiled a new TV commercial that shines a spotlight on the unfair and discriminatory tactics of dominant food retailers that harm the ability of Main Street businesses to compete and serve communities throughout the U.S. “For decades, dominant firms in the grocery marketplace have leveraged their buying power to demand special treatment […]
Posted inExecutive News, Association News, National
Ron Sarasin, Husband Of FMI President And CEO, Dies At Age 88
FMI – The Food Industry Association has announced the death of Ronald Arthur Sarasin, the husband of Leslie Sarasin, the organization’s president and CEO. He died March 27 at age 88. Following a lengthy career in public service, Mr. Sarasin served as the chief lobbyist for the National Restaurant Association and as president and CEO of […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
International Supermarket Management Class Returns In-Person
Registration is open for the annual International Supermarket Management Class taking place May 1-5 at The Coca-Cola Company headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosted by the IGA Coca-Cola Institute, the event is making a return to in-person classes for the first time since 2019 due to COVID-19 safety precautions. Attendees will join industry experts for this […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
Association Aims To Address Minimum Wage Legislation In 2023
Executive director: ‘We are trying to give businesses a little bit of flexibility’ Nebraska has a new governor for 2023, and “everybody feels optimistic,” said Ansley Fellers, executive director of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association. While the state has a mostly business-friendly climate, Fellers said she believes Gov. Jim Pillen and the state legislature will […]