by Pat Jones, NGA project assistant Northgate Gonzalez Markets is a family-owned independent grocery chain that has been operating in four California counties (Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange and Riverside) for 41 years and currently operates 41 locations. The stores primarily serve Hispanic and moderate to low-income communities. The family firmly believes that nutrition education […]
Category: Association News
Independent Grocery Is Economic Engine, Churning Forward
by Greg Ferrara / President and CEO, National Grocers Association Anyone familiar with the independent supermarket industry knows that independent community grocers are entrepreneurs within the marketplace, seeking any opportunity to innovate and grow, and now the numbers are in to prove it. NGA commissioned John Dunham & Associates to conduct its latest economic impact study to demonstrate […]
New Study Shows Independent Community Grocers’ Role In The Economy
Independent community grocers play a key role in the nation’s economy with positive impacts across the country via jobs, wages and taxes, according to the latest economic impact study from the National Grocers Association, the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry. Independent community grocers are responsible for more than 1.1 million jobs (up from […]
FMI’s 2021 Midsummer Strategic Conference To Continue Virtually
FMI – The Food Industry Association again will host the Midsummer Strategic Executive Exchange Conference virtually on June 21-25. Midsummer provides a unique opportunity for continued trading partner collaboration to identify, prioritize and address the industry’s most pressing business issues. FMI’s Midsummer 2021 event will be primarily for executives and their teams to discuss key business […]
New Jersey Food Council Names 2021 Education Scholarship Winners
The New Jersey Food Council has named the 2021 scholarship winners from the Educational Development Scholarship Foundation. Since the inception of the scholarship program in 2011, the three NJFC scholarships have grown to 21 NJFC and member company scholarships totaling $62,000. “These scholarships are a rewarding benefit for our members and their families. Every year, […]
Nearly 50 Education Sessions Set For 2021 NGA Show In Las Vegas
Thousands of grocery retail professionals will gather at the Paris Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas for the 2021 NGA Show, from Sept. 19-21, and will have access to subject matter experts that are leading 48 education sessions. The conference program will include eight tracks focused on e-commerce, people development, fresh foods, omnichannel marketing, merchandising, technology, […]
Circle K Europe Wins NACS Technology Award For Pay By Plate Tech
Circle K Europe has won the NACS European Convenience Retail Technology Award, recognizing the global retailer’s Pay by Plate payment technology used for fuel purchases. The award, sponsored by Gilbarco-Veeder Root, was presented on June 1 during the virtual NACS Convenience Summit Europe. Circle K is the first fuel retailer to introduce Pay by Plate […]
NGA Poses Five Questions For … G&C Foods President Rich Chapman
NGA’s “Five Questions” is a regular feature that explores the insights of independent grocery operators. This week, Rich Chapman, president of G&C Foods, shares his thoughts with us. 1. How is 2021 treating independent operators so far? The first quarter of 2021 was strong against 2020, but we don’t believe that the second quarter will compare […]
United Fresh Releases FreshFacts On Retail Q1 2021 Report
United Fresh Produce Association’s first quarter 2021 issue of FreshFacts on Retail is now available. This issue debuts a new horizontal layout for an enhanced digital viewing experience. Among the findings, the issue reports that most department sales remain higher than the past two years, as rising prices drove produce dollars as consumption fell slightly. […]
As Suspicion Of Food Continues To Mount, So Does Importance Of Trust
by John Ross / president and CEO of IGA In the past year, we have seen evidence of what happens when trust is lost. From the sanctity of the church to the integrity of a local election, it seems everything is suspect. And this includes food. Americans today are more cautious about what they eat, and […]
Industry Leader Kantor Joins NACS As General Counsel
Doug Kantor has joined NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) as general counsel. Kantor most recently served as a partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP. In this role, he worked with the NACS government relations team to define effective policy-based solutions to public policy issues ranging from fuels to financial services. Kantor also established and administered […]
WFIA Focused On Unemployment, Hazard Pay Issues For Membership
by Eric Pereira / staff writer Washington was the first state to face COVID-19, and it continues to work toward finding remedies for the effects of the pandemic. For the Washington Food Industry Association, one of the legislative priorities is unemployment. “One of our biggest projects this interim is helping our members with the employment […]
NGA, FMI Members Talk Policy Issues With Congress
‘Significant concerns’ shared during ‘Day in Washington’ by Eric Pereira / staff writer Hundreds of grocers and wholesalers from across the nation recently connected virtually with members of Congress to share some of the day-to-day challenges they’re facing and to advocate for key policy issues impacting the supermarket industry. In a recent recap call, officials […]
FMI Announces 2021 Store Manager Award Finalists
FMI–The Food Industry Association has announced its 2021 Store Manager Award finalists. From a field of 77 nominees, these 10 finalists stand out for their dedication, community commitment and innovation. The awards are presented to outstanding managers who generate sales growth, effectively communicate company and store goals and objectives, demonstrate team leadership in their store/company, provide exceptional customer […]
Retailers Pay Too Much To Accept Debit Cards; Fed To Clarify Law
by Hannah Walker / FMI VP of political affairs In the world of payments of policy, we often have to take the long view and the incremental wins along the way. Right now, we are on the precipice of what could be one of those incremental but very important wins: The Federal Reserve has proposed […]
NGA Poses 5 Questions For … Allegiance Retail Services’ John Derderian
NGA’s “Five Questions” is a regular feature that explores the insights of independent grocery operators. This week, John Derderian, president and COO of Allegiance Retail Services, shares his thoughts with us. How is 2021 treating independent operators so far? Year to date, 2021 has been like a party – the first two months feeling very good, perhaps […]
WAFC Elects 2021-22 Officers And Board Of Directors
The Western Association of Food Chains elected its 2021-22 officers and board of directors on May 1. Officers are: President and Chairman Greg McNiff, president of Stater Bros. Markets in San Bernardino, California; VP Scott Drew, COO of Smart & Final Stores in Commerce, California; Treasurer Pat Posey, VP of non-perishable procurement and merchandising at Bristol […]
Consumer Brands Asks White House To Work With CPG Companies
Amid rising costs hitting consumer packaged goods companies from nearly every direction, the Consumer Brands Association called on the Biden-Harris administration to address mounting pressures by implementing five federal actions. Unforeseen cost increases are affecting manufacturing of the products Americans rely on every day – evidenced by April’s Producer Price Index numbers that were the highest since the Bureau of Labor Statistics […]
NGA Calls For Government Action On Labor Shortage
The National Grocers Association has sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging his administration to advance policies that encourage unemployed Americans to seek work and provide resources to businesses in need of help. “Congress, governors and the administration must focus its efforts on fixing the broken unemployment insurance program to ensure the system does […]
NACS Announces TruAge Digital ID-Verification Solution
A digital identification solution that enhances current age-verification systems at all retail points of sale and protects user privacy has been announced by NACS, the global trade association that represents the convenience and fuel retailing industry, and Conexxus, its standards-setting partner. The new TruAge solution makes the traditional carding experience more convenient and accurate. It addresses age-verification beyond the traditional […]
