FMI—The Food Industry Association honored six industry leaders with its 2020 Executive Leadership Awards at its Midwinter Executive Conference. The six were recognized for elevating the food industry through their investments in talent, the customer and for transforming the business environment. “The food industry is a people business; in our operations, there are three necessary […]
Category: Association News
Hass Avocado Board Offers New Category Market Development Tool
A new Avocado Category Market Development Tool just released by the Hass Avocado Board is designed to help retailers and industry stakeholders identify, quantify and prioritize potential market-level opportunities for 45 markets. Each market has a unique profile, which varies significantly by population, category development and other measures using a multi-metric model approach to reviewing […]
Wegmans’ Sofia To Become New NJFC Board Chairman
The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) will begin 2020 with its Annual Membership Meeting Reception on Jan. 30 at 5:30 p.m. at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township, New Jersey. Members of the NJFC and attendees will nominate and elect new officers and the board of directors along with a networking reception with the state’s […]
Beer Institute Appoints Senior Director Of Health Policy, Regulatory Affairs
The Beer Institute—a national trade association representing brewers, beer importers and industry suppliers—named Bill Young as senior director of health policy and regulatory affairs, bringing more than 25 years of experience working in the beer industry to the Beer Institute team. “I’m blessed to have this opportunity to continue my career with the Beer Institute. […]
Ben & Jerry’s Stops Calling Cows ‘Happy’ On Packaging After Lawsuit
On Jan. 16, Organic Consumers Association (OCA) issued the following statement upon learning that Ben & Jerry’s will no longer claim on product packaging that its ice cream comes from “happy cows:” “The removal of misleading ‘happy cow’ claims is a victory for consumers and an indication that Ben & Jerry’s can’t back up those […]
NCA Expands Advocacy And Communications Staff With New Hires
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) appointed two new staff members to new roles designed to bolster advocacy and communications activities. The association says these new hires will expand the organization’s capability to tell the confectionery industry’s narrative and highlight member companies’ economic contributions with audiences ranging from members of Congress to consumer influencers and other […]
FMI Rebrands Itself As The Food Industry Association
FMI has launched a renewed brand identity as FMI – The Food Industry Association, reflecting its strategy to more broadly represent the food marketplace and embrace a more interconnected supply chain. FMI, which was formerly the Food Marketing Institute, recently expanded its membership. “FMI provides the most productive forum for connecting and holding constructive dialogue […]
SOUTHEAST: Slaybaugh To Lead Newly Formed Virginia Food Industry Association
The Virginia Food Industry Association (VFIA) has been formed to serve as an advocate for retail and wholesale food industries in the commonwealth of Virginia. With members representing more than 55,000 people statewide at more than 530 retail locations, the new association says it will provide resources and public affairs support to the food industry […]
Convenience Store Retailers Say Sales Increased In 2019
Convenience retailers say their sales increased in 2019, according to U.S. convenience store owners surveyed by National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), the trade association that represents the convenience and fuel retailing industry. Three in four retailers (74 percent) said that in-store sales increased in 2019, compared to only 7 percent who said that sales […]
NGA, FMI Disappointed About Exclusion Of Fix To Retail Glitch
Legislation to fund the federal government beyond December 20 came to a conclusion on Dec. 17 when the U.S. House of Representatives voted on a set of tax provisions in the Omnibus Appropriations package and missed a chance to fix a technical error in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, also known as “the retail glitch.” […]
Opinion: Congress Should Pass USMCA This Year
Alex Baloga, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, issued the following statement about the importance of ratifying the United States Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) and how it can affect Pennsylvania. In July, I wrote a letter to Pennsylvania’s Democratic members of the House on behalf of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) and our […]
NGA Urges Congressional Leadership To Fix The Retail Glitch This Year
On Dec. 12, the National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, sent a letter urging congressional leadership to include the “Restoring Investment in Improvements Act” in any end-of-year spending package. The bill resolves the “retail glitch,” a drafting error in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) that causes interior remodels to independent grocery […]
Food Retailers Expand Grocery Health, Wellness Programs
FMI released the 2019 Retailer Contributions to Health and Wellness report Dec. 11, finding grocery stores are expanding the health and wellness programs they offer to shoppers. The majority (90 percent) of survey respondents report having an established health and wellness program and about half (49 percent) have programs for both employees and customers. This […]
C&S Wholesale Grocers’ Miller Elected Chair Of CGA Board Of Directors
Phil Miller, VP of the west region for C&S Wholesale Grocers, was elected the 2019-2020 California Grocers Association (CGA) chair of the board of directors at the association’s annual meeting on Dec. 6 in San Diego, California. As chair, Miller will lead the board’s strategy regarding CGA’s numerous legislative, educational, communications and industry-related programs. The […]
White Promoted To Director Of The NGA Foundation
Maggie White has been promoted to the position of director of the NGA Foundation. White previously served as manager of donor relations and development for the foundation. “For the past two years, Maggie has led numerous efforts within the NGA Foundation and is well prepared to take on this expanded role leading our Foundation. Her […]
Spinx Co. Founder, Wife Honored On National Philanthropy Day
The Spinx Co. founder Stewart Spinks and his wife Martha were recently awarded “Individual Philanthropist of the Year” on National Philanthropy Day. The Spinkses were given the honor by the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), an association dedicated to generating philanthropic support for a wide variety of charitable institutions. Since 1986, Nov. 15 has been […]
NGA Appoints Kirtland, Raya To Board, Presents Industry Service Award To Jones
The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, has appointed Amy Kirtland EVP of independents, fresh and exclusive brands at KeHE Distributors, and Lori Raya, chief merchandising and marketing officer at SpartanNash, to fill vacancies on its board of directors. Kirtland serves KeHE’s customers in the areas of grocery independents […]
Wagner And Pederson Appointed To GMA Leadership Team
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is adding Roberta Wagner and Spencer Pederson to its growing leadership team as the organization prepares to relaunch as the Consumer Brands Association in January 2020. Roberta Wagner will join GMA as the VP of regulatory and technical affairs on Dec. 2. Wagner spent 33 years in public service, most […]
UPDATED: ROFDA To Join Forces With NGA Jan. 1
The Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) organization will merge under the National Grocers Association (NGA) umbrella, effective Jan. 1, 2020. The announcement was made this morning at the NGA and ROFDA co-located fall conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. ROFDA’s current share groups and buying programs will continue to operate under this new […]
WAFC Elects Four New Executives To Board Of Directors
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has added four industry executives to its board. “We are excited to welcome these four talented executives to the WAFC board of directors. We look forward to their contributions as we expand WAFC education initiatives for the benefit of our food industry associates,” said Sarah Wehling, WAFC president […]
