The National Grocers Association named Kristi Magnuson Nelson, president of Grand Forks, North Dakota-based Hugo’s Family Marketplace, as the 2026 recipient of the Thomas K. Zaucha Entrepreneurial Excellence Award. One of the most prestigious honors in the independent grocery industry, the award honors the legacy of Zaucha, NGA’s first president and CEO, whose career was […]
Category: Association News
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, National, News
NFRA Penguin Pitch Spotlights Emerging Frozen, Refrigerated Brands
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association’s (NFRA) Penguin Pitch: Emerging Brand Contest is returning for its third year, recognizing innovative frozen and refrigerated food brands redefining their categories through product development, creative packaging and strategic market execution. Launched Jan. 1, Penguin Pitch provides emerging brands with an opportunity to gain visibility among retailers, distributors […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
IGA Debuts Community Development Program To Address Food Desert Crisis
The Independent Grocers Alliance has launched IGA Community Development, a new initiative designed to expand access to fresh, affordable food in underserved urban and rural communities across the U.S. The new area of focus for IGA involves matching funding from communities, nonprofits and other developmental entities with independent retailers. This allows those retailers to open […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
NGA Shares 2026 Creative Choice Award Winners
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has shared the winners of the 2026 Creative Choice Awards, recognizing top marketing and merchandising programs in the independent grocery industry. The awards, supported by Cheez-It and Unilever, will be presented during The NGA Show, which runs Feb. 1-3 at the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. A Unilever […]
Posted inFrozen Food, Association News, National, News
NFRA Announces Second Class Of First Penguin Leadership Program
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has announced the 30 participants for its 2026 First Penguin Leadership Program. The year-long offering aims to address a growing industry need for structured, cross-sector leadership development that builds strategic perspective, strengthens collaboration and accelerates readiness among rising talent in dairy and frozen foods. It recognizes those […]
Posted inNews, Association News, National
ReposiTrak, NGA Expand Partnership With Scan-Based Trading Endorsement
Salt Lake City-based ReposiTrak has expanded its partnership with the National Grocers Association (NGA), which selected the company as its endorsed partner for traceability, compliance management and scan-based trading. The announcement builds on NGA’s 2022 decision to name ReposiTrak as its exclusive traceability and supplier compliance partner. The new endorsement adds scan-based trading solutions to […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Market Profile, Midwest, News
Minnesota Retailers Face Mounting Pressures Despite Strength Of Independent Network
Minnesota maintains one of the nation’s strongest independent grocery networks, but increased government mandates driving up costs, stagnant population growth and a shrinking workforce are creating significant headwinds for retailers across the state, according to Patrick Garofalo, president of the Minnesota Grocers Association. “There’s a lot of pressure on those individual stores,” he said. “We’re […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National, News
NGA Urges FTC, DOJ To Address Buyer Power Raising Food Prices
The National Grocers Association sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Jan. 20, urging both agencies to use current antitrust authorities to address market manipulation by dominant grocery retail power buyers, especially Walmart. NGA warned that unchecked buyer power is raising rivals’ costs, accelerating consolidation and […]