As independent grocers navigate an ever-evolving retail landscape, policy decisions in Washington loom large over the future of our industry. From leveling the playing field with power buyers to protecting consumer choice and addressing rising operating costs, the National Grocers Association is committed to advocating for policies that ensure a vibrant, competitive grocery marketplace. With […]
Category: Guest Contributors
Posted inFeature, Guest Contributors, Southeast
Florida Leads In Navigating Southeast Latino Grocery Landscape
by Diana Leza Sheehan / founder, principal consultant, PDG Insights In this new series, we explore the opportunity created for retailers by targeting Latino grocery consumers across the United States. In this article, we focus on the Southeast. For context, the Latino population in 2024 reached about 66 million, or about 19.5 percent of the […]
Posted in, Guest Contributors, National, Online Grocery Technology
Unlocking Power Of Retail Media Networks For Independent Retailers
by Mark Baum, chief collaboration officer, SVP, industry affairs, FMI – The Food Industry Association Independent retailers have long enjoyed the loyalty of their customers, offering personalized service and a unique shopping experience. This deep-rooted consumer trust is their greatest asset – and now, retail media networks present an opportunity to transform that loyalty into […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, National
Leadership: Continual Learnings From Cutting Firewood
by Steve Black It was about 25 years ago that I had an awesome idea. We lived in Oklahoma at the time and had always bought our firewood. Mesquite trees were an abundant nuisance to farmers that needed the land cleared to grow crops. Our boys were teenagers, and it made sense to me that […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
Consumer Trends Present New Opportunities To Leverage Fresh, Health, Wellness
Consumer trends in 2025 highlight a growing focus on health and wellness, presenting significant opportunities for independent grocers to adapt and thrive. Shoppers are increasingly prioritizing fresh, nutritious products and personalized solutions, driving a shift in how food retailers approach their offerings. Independent grocers, with their deep community connections and agility in meeting changing preferences, […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, National
New Year, Fresh Start – ‘Hope’ As Positive Attitude Can Help Guide Leaders
by Steve Black A new year always brings a fresh start and renewed motivation and hope. Hope for many areas of our lives to get better. Hope that most of the impacts from COVID-19 are behind us. Hope that the employment situation will calm and turn in the right direction. Hope for our businesses to […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Association News, National
What Presidential Election Means For Independent Grocers In 2025
The past several years have brought a host of policy wins for independent grocers. From progress toward antitrust enforcement and credit card reform to protection of federal nutrition programs, NGA’s advocacy efforts have made historic leaps. While we have been building momentum on these issues, there is still plenty to do. With the results of […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, National
Embracing Traits Of Difference-Makers Can Help Retailers Win Holiday Season
by Steve Black If we’re going to win the holidays in our business, we must have a team full of difference-makers. As we know, December is our busiest month of the year. And this year is one of the shortest time frames – 27 days – between Thanksgiving and Christmas that we’ve had since pre-COVID-19. […]