FMI – The Food Industry Association participated in a virtual, public meeting hosted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding the Farmers to Families Food Box program. FMI VP of Political Affairs Hannah Walker offered the following comments: “Last spring – as restaurants and schools shut down – many producers found themselves with excess commodities. FMI worked with processors, farmers and regulators finding ways […]
Category: National
Posted inGuest Contributors, Home Page Slider, National
Policy Outlook Offers Opportunities, Challenges For Food Supply Chain
by Lowell Randel / SVP, Government and Legal Affairs, Global Cold Chain Alliance Early in his term, President Joe Biden has taken a series of executive actions and issued policy proposals, several of which will impact the food supply chain. As with any new administration, there have been both opportunities and challenges. It is no surprise that […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Home Page Slider, National, Shelby Originals
Keynote Speaker Riddell Tells AMC Attendees To Expect ‘Seismic Shocks’
by Eric Pereira / staff writer Industry professionals should expect massive disruption, continued uncertainty and an unlikely return to the “old normal,” according to Chris Riddell, keynote speaker at the 2021 Annual Meat Conference. In his Monday address, titled “Business Beyond 2030,” Chris Riddell focused on the greatest disruption of 2020 – the COVID-19 pandemic […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Association News, Home Page Slider, National
Power Of Meat Report: Meat Purchases, Confidence At Record Highs
Americans are buying more beef, pork, poultry and lamb than ever as increased time at home during the pandemic sent meat grocery sales soaring by 20 percent (IRI) from 2019 to 2020. The national analysis released March 23 shows that three out of every four Americans agree meat belongs in healthy, balanced diets (up by […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
PMA Will Be Back In Monterey For Foodservice Conference 2021
Produce Marketing Association will be bringing the industry back together – in person – in Monterey, California, for the Foodservice Conference on July 21 and 22. The yearly event is the time and place where foodservice and produce intersect. This year, as the foodservice industry rebounds from one of the most disruptive times in its […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Home Page Slider, National
IRI Acquires Retail Consumer Insights Provider ISS From Kognitiv
IRI has acquired Intelligent Shopper Solutions, a retail consumer insight provider that enables collaboration between retailers and suppliers, from Kognitiv Corp. As part of the transaction, IRI also entered a partnership agreement with Kognitiv, a B2B technology organization headquartered in Waterloo, Canada. “We are thrilled to welcome ISS to the IRI family as we continue […]
Posted inExecutive News, Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Slider, National, The Kroger Co., Whole Foods
NEW Board Of Directors Welcomes Three New Executives
The Network of Executive Women has named three new members to its board of directors effective early 2021. Joining the NEW Board of Directors are Valerie Jabbar, group VP at Kroger; Mike Theilmann, EVP, chief human resources officer at Albertsons Cos.; and Jennifer Wilson, SVP brand marketing at Lowe’s. “We’re thrilled to welcome Valerie, Mike […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
FMI Rejects Legislation To Overturn Supreme Court Decision
FMI – The Food Industry Association strongly opposes legislation, the Open and Responsive Government Act, introduced by Senators Chuck Grassley, Patrick Leahy and Dianne Feinstein. Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO, offered comment: “In 2019, FMI sought to protect the confidentiality of store-level sales data for retailers who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The […]
Posted inNational, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News
NGA To Address Antitrust Laws, Economic Discrimination With Congress
by Eric Pereira / staff writer Big box retailers and e-commerce giants have reportedly used their influence during the COVID-19 pandemic to further disadvantage independent grocers and the communities they serve. That’s the position of the National Grocers Association, which on Tuesday held a press call to detail the efforts to combat what it referred to […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
Consumer Brands Releases Report On Five Trends For CPG Industry
The Consumer Brands Association has released a new report outlining five trends that will shape the future of the consumer-packaged goods industry. The CPG Post-Pandemic Outlook: Five Trends Emerging from COVID-19 That Will Redefine the Industry estimates demand for consumer-packaged goods will slow from the extreme highs experienced during COVID-19 but stay well above pre-pandemic norms, even as […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
NGA Poses Five Questions For … AWG’s David Smith
NGA’s “Five Questions” is a regular feature that explores the insights of independent grocery operators. This week, David Smith, president and CEO of Associated Wholesale Grocers Inc., shares his thoughts with us. What were the most important lessons of 2020? As grocers, I think the most critical lesson is rooted in independent grocers’ tremendous agility […]
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Industry Vet Sorensen Writing Next Chapter Of Her Career
by Cindy Sorensen / The Grocery Group Ever since I entered the industry in 1983, I’ve always enjoyed reading grocery trade magazines. At the start of my career, I was a sales representative for Nestlé. Every three to four weeks, I visited 65 independent grocery stores in western Wisconsin and the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Reading […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
IGA’s 2021 Five Star Retailers List Reflects New Landscape
It goes without saying that 2020 was an intense year, especially for independent retailers and their teams. Unexpected out-of-stocks, new safety procedures rolling out every week, implementing special shopping hours for at-risk populations – retailers and their teams used their independent flexibility and ingenuity to adapt in ways they could have never imagined even a […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
Independent Grocers Praise Enhancements In American Rescue Plan
The National Grocers Association, the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, applauds the enhancements to national nutrition programs included in the American Rescue Plan signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11. Of particular benefit to the many Americans served by independent community grocers is the provision for $25 million to promote […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, National
NGA Elects New Members To Its Board Of Directors
The National Grocers Association, the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, has elected new members to its board of directors. Nine individuals, by recommendation of the NGA Board nominating committee and subsequent vote by the membership, and one appointed individual will join re-elected board members to serve on the 2021 NGA Board of Directors. […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
For Grocers, There’s No Going Back On E-Commerce
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Last summer, I advised retailers not to underestimate the demand for online grocery shopping. Looks like that’s turning out to be good advice. The numbers are in for January and data indicates that consumers are continuing to embrace e-commerce. In all likelihood, they’ll continue to use […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
Diversity, Inclusion Are Table Stakes For Businesses Seeking Success
by Greg Ferrara / President and CEO, National Grocers Association Diversity and inclusion are more than just buzzwords of the times. They are concepts that, when embraced, can have a positive and profound impact on one’s business. Our nation continues to become increasingly more diverse, and with it the base of consumers upon which independent community […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, National
Is Your Meat Case Stocked With Claims Your Customers Are Looking For?
Sponsored content by Michael Uetz / Managing Principal, Midan Marketing, meat marketing specialists since 2004 The COVID-19 pandemic has put health in the spotlight. During the tumultuous year that was 2020, personal health and the health and well-being of others was repeatedly a concern of consumers.1 When it comes to the meat case, consumers often […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
CEO Update Names FMI’s Sarasin CEO Of The Year
Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI – The Food Industry Association has been named the 2021 Association CEO of the Year by CEO Update. This recognition is awarded annually to the outstanding trade association CEO. “The FMI Board of Directors felt strongly that Leslie should be recognized, and so we as board members collaborated on […]
Posted inMarketing News, Home Page Slider, National
IRI And BCG Release 2020 U.S. CPG Growth Leaders List
IRI and Boston Consulting Group have published their ninth annual CPG study revealing that the total CPG industry grew roughly 10.4 percent in 2020. This significantly outpaced the prior three-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8 percent due to COVID-related shifts in consumer shopping and consumption behavior. The report also predicts how consumer trends […]