Michael Wasson, COO of Tosca, is the new chairman of the board of directors for the Reusable Packaging Association (RPA) in Tampa, Florida. The RPA board appointed Wasson to the role of chairman following his service to the organization as vice chairman. Wasson first joined the RPA board of directors in 2018 and was appointed […]
Category: Association News
Retired Festival Foods’ Greenfield Honored As 2019 Grocer Of The Year
Marlin Greenfield, recently retired from Skogen’s Festival Foods, has been named 2019 Grocer of the Year by the Wisconsin Grocers Association (WGA). It is the association’s highest honor. A surprise presentation for Greenfield was held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 10, at the Darboy Festival Foods in Appleton. Greenfield was nominated by Mark Maloney of […]
Survey Says Convenience Retailers Optimistic About Summer Sales
The summer months should be good for convenience store operators, according to a recent NACS survey. NACS, based in Alexandria, Virginia, is the trade association that represents the convenience and fuel retailing industry. U.S. convenience store operators surveyed reported most retailers experienced strong sales during the first half of 2019 and warm weather and low […]
Viva Fresh Offers New Industry-Wide Scholarship For Students
Held on April 25, the Viva Fresh Open Golf Tournament launched the Fifth Annual Viva Fresh Expo in San Antonio, Texas. Both the golf tournament and the expo resulted in sold-out crowds, rave reviews and record-breaking attendance. The event also marked a new milestone with the announcement of an annual scholarship program that will be […]
Iowa Grocery Industry Assoc. To Celebrate 120 Years At July Convention
The Iowa Grocery Industry Association (IGIA) is celebrating 120 years of representing the food industry, including supermarkets, convenience stores, suppliers, wholesalers, brokers, manufacturers and distributors. The association will commemorate the occasion with a special anniversary logo and by returning to Cedar Rapids, where it first opened its doors in 1899, to hold its annual Get Connected […]
Governor Signs Legislation Allowing Beer-To-Go Sales In Texas
Gov. Greg Abbott on June 15 signed into law House Bill 1545, which allows beer-to-go sales for craft breweries in the state of Texas. The bill also extends the operations of the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission and reduces regulations on the beer and wine industry. The governor hosted the bill signing at Austin Beerworks and […]
AFS’ Obray: To Quote One Well-Known Entrepreneur, ‘Stasis Is Death’
Bob Obray calls himself an accountant. The SVP and CFO at Associated Foods Stores (AFS) in Salt Lake City also is a student of (other) successful people in business. He shared some of the lessons he’s learned from what they’ve had to say with those attending ROFDA’s Spring Conference in Stowe, Vermont, in May. He […]
Minnesota Grocers Foundation Awards $74,500 In Scholarships
The Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation (MGAF) awarded $25,000 in scholarships to employees or their dependents from Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) member companies for the 2019-20 school year. The Foundation Scholarship program helps students who are related to Minnesota’s food industry by supporting their educational growth. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $800,000 in […]
North Florida Profile: Region’s Economy Offers Opportunities For Growth
by Treva Bennett/staff writer The North Florida economy is strong and getting stronger, as the Sunshine State continues to grow in population, job opportunities and tourism. Jacksonville.com, citing an “Elevate Northeast Florida” report, recently said the Jacksonville area could become the “highest performing economy in the country” over the next five years. The report recommended […]
Second Harvest Central Fla. Gets Large Donation From IDDBA Exhibitors
Each year, at the conclusion of its annual trade show, IDDBA encourages product donations from exhibiting companies in an effort to reduce wasted food and help those in need. As IDDBA 19 was hosted in Orlando, FL, the association collaborated with the city’s Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida to give back to the […]
PFMA Applauds Passage Of Senate Bill Affecting Price Gouging Act
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) in Camp Hill has expressed its approval of the state Senate’s passage of Senate Bill 139, which would modernize the state’s Price Gouging Act to benefit both businesses and consumers. The bipartisan legislation, sponsored by state Sen. Judy Ward, would address price controls during a state of emergency declaration. […]
NAMI Joins 950+ Groups To Urge Swift Passage Of USMCA
The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) on June 11 joined more than 950 organizations representing the U.S. food and agriculture industries to urge members of Congress to swiftly ratify the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). NAMI’s members process the vast majority of U.S. beef, pork, lamb and poultry, as well as manufacture the equipment and ingredients needed […]
NGA Now Accepting Creative Choice Award Entries
The National Grocers Association (NGA) is requesting entries for the annual Creative Choice Awards to recognize the best marketing and merchandising initiatives in the independent grocery industry. Creative Choice award winners will be honored at The NGA Show, Feb. 23-26, 2020, in San Diego. The Creative Choice Awards are sponsored by Kellogg’s and Unilever and […]
IDDBA Reports Recording-Breaking Show Attendance In Orlando
IDDBA 19 , sponsored by the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association, was held June 2-4 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The show had a record-breaking attendance consisting of companies, qualified buyers, merchandisers, executives, manufacturers, brokers, distributors and other industry professionals who gathered to connect and learn. The event offered educational experiences from […]
NEW Executive Forum 2019 To Feature Powerful Keynotes
Obama Foundation Senior Advisor Valerie Jarrett is a featured speaker on Aug. 1 at Network of Executive Women‘s 14th Annual NEW Executive Forum 2019. The conference is an opportunity for more than 300 executive-level leaders from various industries to come together around promoting gender equality. This year’s theme, “Reframe: Our power. On purpose. For progress,” […]
NMPF Urges President To Discard Possible New Tariffs Against Mexico
Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) in Arlington, Virginia, in late May urged President Donald Trump to not institute new tariffs against Mexico, citing additional harm to American dairy farmers. NMPF estimates that producers had lost at least $2.3 billion in revenues through March due to higher tariffs against […]
Stop & Shop Stores Raise $1.64 Million For The USO
The Stop & Shop 2019 Support Our Servicemen and Women campaign raised more than $1.64 million for the United Service Organizations (USO), the most since the company began working with the USO in 2013. From May 10-26, customers had the opportunity to donate $1, $3 or $5 to the nonprofit organization at checkout. The 400 […]
SFA Report: Specialty Food Remains A Fast-Growing Segment
The Specialty Food Association’s (SFA) annual State of the Specialty Food Industry Report reveals that specialty food remains one of the fastest-growing segments of the food business. Fueled by increasing interest from both consumers and retailers, total sales jumped 9.8 percent between 2016 and 2018, reaching $148.7 billion last year. Specialty food sales outpaced the […]
TGCSA, TGEF Name New Members To Their Boards
At their annual meetings on May 9, the members of the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association (TGCSA) and the Tennessee Grocers Education Foundation (TGEF) elected new members to the groups’ Board of Directors and Board of Trustees. New members of the TGCSA Board of Directors are Mickey Blazer, K-VA-T/Food City; Kent Gonzalez, Pepsi Beverage […]
FMI Participates In FDA Public Hearing On Cannabis, Hemp, CBD Items
Food Marketing Institute participated in the Food and Drug Administration’s public hearing May 31 regarding products containing cannabis or cannabis-derived compounds, including hemp and cannabidiol (CBD). The FDA is considering whether and how to create a legal pathway for such products. FMI both conveyed the seriousness of the regulatory ambiguity facing its member companies and […]
