The Minnesota Grocers Association has presented its 2022 MGA Legislator of the Year award to Sen. Carla Nelson. Each year, the association acknowledges a lawmaker who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the food industry of Minnesota. Nelson was recognized for her work in the last biennium as the chair of the Senate taxes committee. “Sen. Nelson […]
Category: Association News
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Supports FTC Commissioner’s Call For Antitrust Enforcement
The National Grocers Association applauded remarks made by Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya during a speech in Minneapolis on Sept. 22, recommending that the agency resurrect the Robinson-Patman Act. The Robinson-Patman Act was passed in 1936 to protect small businesses from price discrimination in the marketplace. Despite the law’s intention, the FTC has not brought […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Foundation Announces 2022 Scholarship Recipients
The NGA Foundation, the nonprofit of the National Grocers Association, has announced the recipients of its 2022 scholarship program. This year, 18 students planning careers with independent grocers received scholarships, provided by the generosity of the foundation’s donors and affiliate groups. “We are proud to ensure that our industry’s future will be in good hands […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, National
FMI Endorses Legislation To Strengthen Credit Card Competition
FMI – The Food Industry Association applauded Reps. Peter Welch and Lance Gooden for introducing companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to the bipartisan Credit Card Competition Act, sponsored by Sens. Dick Durban and Roger Marshall earlier this year. This bill would require more than one network option on credit cards, giving merchants like food retailers […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Northeast
Outlook In Pennsylvania: Prices Up, Supply Steadying
While Pennsylvania retailers continue to face challenges such as inflation and labor issues, the overall economy in the state is seeing some improvements, according to Alex Baloga, president and CEO, Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association. “There certainly are signs that are positive,” he said. “…Our overall tax receipts came in considerably higher this fiscal year than […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Announces 2023 Keynote Speaker For Convention
The National Grocers Association has announced that blind adventurer Erik Weihenmayer will be the keynote speaker for the 2023 NGA Show to be held Feb. 26-28 at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. The opening session is sponsored by The Kraft Heinz Company, a supporter of NGA and the independent supermarket industry. Weihenmayer […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, National
IRI, NPD Names Vangala As Chief Strategy Officer
IRI and The NPD Group have announced that Malli Vangala has joined the company as chief strategy officer. Vangala joins the company from Microsoft, where he led initiatives for the Microsoft 365 business, and succeeds Wei Lin Wong, who transitions to focus on his role as the president of retail. “We are very pleased to welcome […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Welcomes Agreement To Keep U.S. Rail Networks Open
FMI – The Food Industry Association and Leslie G. Sarasin, its president and CEO, issued the following statement on the negotiations between freight rail networks and rail worker unions to ensure U.S. railroads remain operational and able to deliver critical products. “FMI applauds the agreement reached early this morning between freight rail networks and their employees […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, National
Independent Grocers Urge Congress To Back Credit Card Reform
About 1,000 independent grocers joined in a letter urging Congress to support the Credit Card Reform Act of 2022, legislation that would inject much-needed competition into the market for credit card routing. The legislation is sponsored by Senators Dick Durbin and Roger Marshall and allows merchants to choose between two unaffiliated networks to process credit […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
IRI: Volume Pressure Sharpens As Produce Inflation Climbs
Amid continued disruption, IRI, 210 Analytics and IFPA are bringing the industry the latest trends and analysis in fresh produce. “Inflation has been accelerating since early fall 2021, drought conditions are severe, consumer confidence is low and grocery patterns are switching very rapidly,” said Joe Watson, VP, Retail, Foodservice & Wholesale for IFPA. The four […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Releases Power Of Health, Well-Being In Food Industry Report
FMI – The Food Industry Association has released the “2022 Power of Health and Well-Being in the Food Industry” report, which offers consumer perspectives on health and well-being in the grocery store and an update on industry progress in those areas. The COVID-19 pandemic shifted Americans’ eating habits, with 50 percent of consumers reporting that […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
IRI Gives Insights On Food Inflation, Impact On Shopping Behavior
IRI has released a new report, “August 2022 Price Check: Tracking Retail Food and Beverage Inflation,” with insights about food inflation and its impact on consumer shopping behavior. The insights use the latest point-of-sale data from August and include data covering all U.S. food channels, including e-commerce. Data shows that prices of consumer goods remain […]
Posted inAssociation News, Albertsons, West
AFMA Foundation Awards 128 College Scholarships
The Arizona Food Marketing Alliance has funded 128 college scholarships for the 2022-23 school year, culminating to $207,500 for all students. The winners come from a variety of the AFMA’s member companies and include both employees and their dependents. All students will be attending community colleges, colleges or universities in Arizona. This year, there were […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
5 Questions For Richard Wardwell
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs The president of California-based Superior Grocers shares his thoughts on the current state of the industry and what the future holds for independent grocers. The pandemic, a widespread labor shortage, supply chain issues, high fuel prices and conflict in eastern Europe have created a perfect […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
WGA Launches Executive Female Leaders Network
Women Grocers of America has recently launched an exclusive network to provide ongoing support and enhance the career paths of female leaders within the independent grocery industry. Executive Female Leaders Network is a professional peer group, specifically directors and higher, supported by National Grocers Association, with the intention of creating a community of women and […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, Southeast
Association Prepares For Satsuma Season With Updated Website
“Favorable late spring weather and more groves reaching maturity have contributed to a heavy set of great-looking fruit as we approach the 2022 Satsuma season,” said Kim Jones, owner of Florida Georgia Citrus and current president of Cold Hardy Citrus Association. “We anticipate a record Satsuma crop for 2022.” The Sweet Valley Citrus region spans […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Association News, National
Survey Reports Candy Companies Providing Deeper Transparency
America’s chocolate and candy companies are providing more transparency, choice, and portion guidance options for consumers, according to a report issued Sept. 8 by Partnership for a Healthier America and the National Confectioners Association. The report found that leading chocolate and candy companies – Mars Wrigley, Ferrero, Ferrara Candy Company, Lindt, Ghirardelli Chocolate and Russell Stover Chocolates – met and […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Association News, National
FMI Survey Finds Food Industry Investing In Customer Experience
Despite a challenging year marked by a persisting pandemic, historic inflation, supply chain bottlenecks and labor shortages, the food industry is making investments to meet shoppers’ evolving tastes, according to FMI – The Food Industry Association’s annual research report, The Food Retailing Industry Speaks 2022. The survey finds that food retailers are focusing on investments in new technologies […]
Posted inAssociation News, Midwest
South Dakota Retailers Names Best Bagger In Annual Competition
Elijah Schipper from Fareway Stores in Harrisburg took the top prize Sept. 3 at the annual South Dakota Best Bagger competition hosted by the South Dakota Retailers Association at the state fair. Sponsored by Associated Wholesale Grocers and NW French and Associates, the annual competition featured some of the quickest baggers in the grocery business […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Are You Catering To The Wellness Shopper?
by Dave Wendland / VP, Strategic Relations, Hamacher Resource Group What does wellness mean to you? I like this definition from the McKinley Health Center of the University of Illinois: “Wellness is a state of optimal well-being that is oriented toward maximizing an individual’s potential.” If we then consider the definition of self-care, according to […]