New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas H. Fisher visited the Kingsland Avenue Stop & Shop in Clifton Aug. 31 to highlight the store featuring Jersey Fresh in its produce department. Stop & Shop’s 58 New Jersey stores source produce from several local farms from the state. They include Abma’s Farm in Bergen County; Cassaday Farms […]
Category: Association News
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, West
WAFC Announces Leadership Team Changes
The Western Association of Food Chains has announced changes to its leadership team. As Pat Posey takes the helm as COO, several moves took effect Sept. 1. Paul Gianetto, currently serving as the treasurer, was promoted to VP of the WAFC and chairman of the 2023 WAFC Convention. Nancy Lebold, who previously served as secretary, […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Association News, National
Seafood Sole Growth Driver Amid High, Rising Inflation
To document the ever-changing nature of the marketplace, IRI, 210 Analytics and Elanco have partnered to report on the latest trends and analysis relative to seafood sales at retail. These measures have resulted in prolonged unit and volume pressure across most categories and even more so for seafood, whether fresh or frozen. July’s seafood inflation […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, West
UFIA: Inflation In Intermountain West Among Highest In Country
While Utah’s economy remains strong, there are signs it may be slowing with rising interest rates and inflation, according to Dave Davis, president and chief legal officer for the Utah Food Industry Association. The state’s unemployment rate of 2 percent is about 1.5 percent lower than the national average, but Davis said workforce continues to […]
Posted inAssociation News, Midwest
South Dakota Retailers To Host Best Grocery Bagger Competition
The South Dakota Retailers Association is partnering with the state fair to bring the “Best Bagger” competition to the public on Sept. 3. Sponsored by Associated Wholesale Grocers and NW French and Associates, the annual competition features some of the quickest baggers in the grocery business in a fast-paced, head-to-head competition. “This year, we have […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI, NAMI Highlight Mental Health Benefits Of Family Meals
In conjunction with September’s National Family Meals Month, the FMI Foundation celebrates its partnership with the National Alliance on Mental Illness to highlight the mental health benefits of family meals. Family meals provide opportunities to spend time and develop relationships with family and friends, which has been shown to improve mental and physical health. In fact, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Midwest
MGA Holds Annual Best Bagger Contest
The Minnesota Grocers Association held its 34th annual statewide Best Bagger Contest Aug. 27 at MGA’s office in St. Paul, Minnesota. Contestants came from across the state to compete for the title. The eight participants were judged on speed, style, attitude, proper bag-building technique and weight distribution between the bags. Contest attendees witnessed the art […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Driving Profits With Own-Branded Spirits
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs The demand for private-label products is increasing, along with a desire among consumers for products with authenticity. Independent grocers can unite these interests and boost their profits with own-branded spirits. The National Grocers Association hosted a recent webinar that presented a guidebook to the world […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Midwest
MGA’s Shaul Hopes Industry Learns From Supply Chain Reaction
Dan Shaul, executive director of the Missouri Grocers Association, and his members are dealing with many of the same issues that consistently trouble the industry nationwide, with supply chain challenges and labor shortages atop the list. These issues have been exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic and are just symptoms of each other, according to […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Southeast
Retailers In Kentucky Face ‘Slow And Sluggish’ Economy
Supply chain continues to be a challenge for Kentucky grocers, as they are having difficulty getting products to put on the shelves. There also are related issues such as the drought and late planting due to flood, said Steve McClain, director of communications and public affairs for the Kentucky Grocers and Convenience Store Association. “We […]
Posted inProduce News, Association News, National
IFPA Announces 2023 Board Of Directors
The International Fresh Produce Association has announced the slate of new directors for the 2023 IFPA Board of Directors. The volunteer leaders will be confirmed by a ballot shared with membership and their board term will begin at the end of October. The IFPA Board of Directors is led by the officers of the executive […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, National
Briefing Examines What’s Responsible For Rise In Grocery Prices
Why are food costs higher today than two years ago? That was the question addressed Aug. 10 by FMI – The Food Industry Association as it hosted an online briefing, “Peering Inside Food Inflation’s Black Box.” The speakers were Andrew Harig, VP of tax trade, sustainability and policy development for FMI; and Ricky Volpe, associate […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
IRI: Consumers Eat More Meals At Home To Offset Rising Costs
To offset rising food costs, consumers are bargain hunting when grocery shopping, eating more meals at home and cutting back on restaurant visits, reports IRI and The NPD Group, which recently merged to create a leading global technology, analytics and data provider. The nearly $1.5 trillion at- and away-from-home food market is forecast to grow around 8 percent in […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Finds Shoppers Remain Resilient Against Rising Food Prices
FMI – The Food Industry Association has released the fifth edition of the “U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends 2022” series focused on back to school season. It found that 90 percent of shoppers are concerned about some aspect of food accessibility, with 61 percent concerned about rising prices specifically – an increase of eight percentage points since […]
Posted inAssociation News, Guest Contributors, National
Independents Are Increasingly Resilient, Creative And Nimble
The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most challenging business environments that independent community grocers have had to face – and it’s not over yet. The sudden shift in retail spending behavior during the second quarter of 2020 drove record supermarket sales. Grocers moved mountains to keep shelves stocked while contending with operational challenges, […]
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, Midwest
RGA Trumpets Toppling Of Food Sales Tax In Kansas
The Retail Grocers Association of Greater Kansas City is celebrating a victory in the Kansas Legislature – the reduction and eventual elimination of the state’s food sales tax. Since 1960, the state has had one of the highest rates in the country. It currently sits at 6.5 percent, according to Jon McCormick, president and CEO […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA’s Executive Conference Announces Special Events
The National Grocers Association will host a variety of networking events at this year’s NGA Executive Conference and Public Policy Summit, scheduled for Oct. 24-26 in Washington, D.C. On the evening of Oct. 24, NGA will host a 40th anniversary celebration, marking an important milestone in the organization’s history. The event will feature a nod […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Congress Has Been Busy: A Summer Session Recap
by Stephanie Johnson / NGA VP of Government Relations This summer was one of the busiest legislative sessions in Congress in recent memory. It culminated in major legislative achievements for the Biden Administration, a lifeline to the sinking popularity of his presidency and much needed momentum for Democrats up for re-election in November. Congress has […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
FMI Lends Food Industry Perspective To Task Force Report
Tufts University’s Task Force on Hunger, Nutrition and Health released a comprehensive report including recommendations for the Biden administration to consider in addressing food and nutrition insecurity as part of the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health process. Representing the food industry, Leslie G. Sarasin, FMI president and CEO, is a member of the task […]
Posted inMarket Profile, Association News, Southeast
Setback Leaves TGCSA Feeling ‘Liberated To Pursue Other Ideas’
“Whenever we’d proposed any changes…they said, ‘No, we had a deal and this would break the deal.’ Well, now they came along and broke the deal,” said Rob Ikard, president and CEO of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association. Ikard’s remarks were in reference to recent political maneuvering that has eliminated case discounts on […]