Buffalo, New York-based wholesale distributor Tripifoods Inc. is the 2018 recipient of the New York Association of Convenience Stores (NYACS) John MacDougall Leadership Award. NYACS, in partnership with the John and Elaine MacDougall Foundation, created the award in 2017 to honor John MacDougall, the late NYACS co-founder and CEO of Nice N Easy Grocery Shoppes. […]
Category: Association News
The Future Of Retail Is Want-Driven Vs. Need-Based
First of all, brick-and-mortar stores are “never, ever going away.” But what they need to become may make some people uncomfortable. That is according to Michael Rogosa, global research director at Planet Retail RNG, who spoke to ROFDA members about the long-term future of retail during the group’s spring conference. He said that as brick-and-mortar […]
IDDBA 18 Expo Draws More Than 10,000 Attendees
Nearly 900 exhibiting companies and more than 10,000 people attended the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association’s (IDDBA) annual show this year, held June 10-12 at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, in New Orleans. The sold-out expo consisted of 2,089 booths and offered educational experiences ranging from actionable merchandising ideas and new products to presentations […]
Indiana Grown Makes Life‑Changing Connections For Producers
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest Austin and Kristen Witt have been growing blackberries on their District 6 Farm in Jasonville, Indiana, since 2015. It isn’t easy to grow blackberries in the state, but for the Witts, it was a lot easier than selling them. “This is all new to us,” said Austin Witt. “I didn’t even know […]
No New SNAP Work Requirements In ‘Bipartisan’ Senate Farm Bill
The Senate Agriculture Committee on Friday released its version of the Farm Bill, which is expected to receive bipartisan support. Notably missing from the Senate bill are provisions from the House’s version that would have introduced new work requirements to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Industry reactions to the House bill were mixed, […]
Specialty Food Association Honors Two With Lifetime Achievement Awards
This year, the Specialty Food Association (SFA) is recognizing two industry legends with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Chef Paul Prudhomme and distributor Seymour Binstein will be celebrated for their roles in helping to build specialty food into a $140 billion industry. “The mission of Specialty Food Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award is to celebrate those whose careers […]
Rhode Island Tractor Trailer Tolling Begins Monday
The first two sets of 14 planned tolls in Rhode Island will begin collecting from large commercial vehicles on Monday, June 11, opening up a new funding stream for bridge and road repairs. About $450 million per year is expected to be generated once all the toll booths are constructed. Steve Arthurs, Rhode Island Food […]
Former Gulf Oil Leader Sabia Chosen To Chair Fuels Institute
Ron Sabia, former president of Gulf Oil in Wellesley Hill, Massachusetts, was elected 2018-19 chairman of the Fuels Institute, a nonprofit research-oriented think tank that evaluates market issues related to vehicles and their fuels. It was founded by NACS in 2013. Sabia succeeds Jay Ricker, chairman of Ricker’s in Anderson, Indiana, who stepped down as chairman […]
California Perspective: Relationship-Building Plays Important Role In The Political Process
by Ron Fong/president and CEO, California Grocers Association Success in government relations often is rooted in the connections developed with legislators over the years. While politics, and lobbying specifically, is by its nature an adversarial pursuit, good government relations separate the conflict from the person you conflict with. Legislation comes and goes, but legislators stay […]
New Jersey Food Council Trade Relations Conference Draws 200 Industry Leaders
About 200 leaders from New Jersey’s food retail and distribution businesses recently gathered in Atlantic City to discuss the latest market trends and innovations during the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) 2018 Trade Relations Conference. Dan Croce, SVP of Acme Markets, gave the feature presentation. Speaking on the “State of the Food Industry,” Croce discussed industry […]
New York Food Industry Alliance Names Durant President And CEO
Following a four-month national search, the Food Industry Alliance of New York State (FIA) has selected Michael Durant as its new president and CEO. He succeeds Michael Rosen, who announced his retirement after 32 years with FIA. “As the FIA president, Michael brings a wealth of experience on association management, lobbying and government affairs. He has […]
Industry Veteran Lutz To Join PMA In June As West Region VP
Produce industry veteran Steve Lutz will join the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) as regional VP–U.S. and Canada West in June. In this newly created senior-level position, Lutz will be responsible for expanding PMA’s West Coast presence. He will engage with members in the region to help them make the most of PMA to grow their […]
Registration Open Now For July Texas Retailers Forum
The Texas Retailers Association (TRA) will host its 2018 Texas Retailers Forum July 22 to 23 in Corpus Christi, Texas, at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel. “Your support and attendance at the Texas Retailers Forum is critical to its success,” says the TRA. “The 2017 Texas Retailers Forum had nearly 100 percent satisfaction rate from our […]
PFMA Toasts CEO McCorkle’s Longtime Service
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA), a statewide retail food trade association, recently celebrated 65 years of service and its longtime President and CEO David McCorkle during its annual conference, May 8-9 at the Omni Bedford Springs Resort, Bedford, Pennsylvania. Five former PFMA chairmen shared the association’s 65 years of accomplishments with the audience and […]
Giant Eagle’s Voni Woods Wins IFMA Silver Plate In Retail/Specialty
Giant Eagle’s Yvonne “Voni” Woods received a Silver Plate from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association on May 19 at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Show in Chicago. Woods recently was named VP of customer experience for Giant Eagle, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based grocer that operates nearly 400 stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland. IFMA’s annual Gold […]
Bimbo Bakeries Sales Director To Receive NJFC Max Stone Award
Craig Coyle, senior sales director for Bimbo Bakeries USA, will be honored with the Max Stone Trade Relations Award during the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) 2018 Trade Relations Conference on Wednesday, May 16, at Harrah’s Resort & Casino in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The Max Stone Award is named in honor of the longtime […]
NEPC Dinner Sees Record Attendance, Speakers Forecast Strong Peach Season
The New England Produce Council (NEPC) reported record attendance at a dinner meeting held at Fenway Park in Boston. The event was sponsored by Sunny Valley International Inc., a supplier of fresh fruits and vegetables to the North American market since 1986. Special event speakers included representatives of South Carolina and New Jersey peach growers […]
NGA: Store-Level SNAP Data Should Remain Private
Food stamp sales data is now public information. That’s according to a ruling by a three-judge panel of the Eight Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul, Minnesota, in Argus Leader Media vs United States Department of Agriculture. The decision “paves the way for the United States Department of Agriculture to release more than a […]
Survey: Parents Unsure How Much Calcium Children Need
The Dairy Alliance (formerly the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association) surveyed more than 1,000 parents in the Southeast to learn about their family’s milk, yogurt and cheese consumption habits to understand the most pervasive myths about dairy in honor of May’s National Osteoporosis Awareness Month. Allison+Partners Research + Insights surveyed adults in Alabama, Louisiana, North […]
Fruit Flavors Take Top Honors At Innovative Ice Cream Contest
Several fruity flavors of ice cream—either newly introduced or yet to be released—captured the attention of judges at the International Dairy Foods Association‘s (IDFA) annual Innovative Ice Cream Flavor Competition in Fort Myers, Florida, with the favorites earning first-place finishes in all three categories. Signature Reserve Brazilian Guava Cheesecake ice cream, Spicy Mango Raspberry Fiesta […]
