The National Confectioners Association and Candy & Snack TODAY magazine have named recipients of the 2021 Confectionery Leadership Awards: Maureen Keenan, category manager – seasonal candy, CVS Pharmacy; and Peter Kempton Jr., category manager – center store, TravelCenters of America. This year, the Confectionery Leadership Awards will be presented remotely during NCA’s virtual State of the Industry Conference on […]
Category: National
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
Independent Grocers Applaud Efforts To Expand SNAP Online Purchasing
The National Grocers Association applauds Congress for efforts to make Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program online purchasing more accessible to independent community grocers. This week, U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth (both D-IL) reintroduced the Expanding SNAP Options Act, and the House Agriculture Committee advanced its budget reconciliation bill. Both pieces of legislation provide significant […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, National
NGA Pushes Back Against $15 Federal Minimum Wage
The National Grocers Association has written a letter to the House Education and Labor Committee opposing the $15 minimum wage proposal included in its budget reconciliation package. “NGA strongly opposes increasing the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour because it would harm small businesses and reduce food access in disadvantaged communities,” the association wrote […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
Suppliers To Convenience Retailing Industry Confident About 2021
Convenience stores suppliers saw their sales in the channel grow in 2020, with nearly twice as many reporting an increase than a decrease (50 percent vs. 28 percent, respectively), according to the results in a new NACS survey of supplier members. The NACS supplier member survey results mirror what NACS retailer members reported in a […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
How to Monetize Your Receipts To Drive Sales: Webinar Key Takeaways
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Consumers have come to expect customization and personalization in their retail experience – products, deals and offers tailored just for them as a way to secure their loyalty to your banner. For many independent community grocers, the technology to make this happen seems out of reach. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
NGA Now Accepting Nominations For Annual Awards
By Eric Payne / NGA Manager of Communications With 2020 behind us, it’s time to start looking forward to what’s coming up this year, as NGA has several events scheduled for independents both in person and virtually. Last year showed the country how vital essential Supermarket Superheroes are, and it’s time to recognize that extraordinary […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, Home Page Slider, National
RBS Signs CEO Action For Diversity & Inclusion Commitment
Retail Business Services President Roger Wheeler has joined the CEO Action for Diversity & Inclusion, the largest CEO-driven business commitment to advance diversity and inclusion within the workplace. In signing the commitment, Wheeler joins the growing coalition of more than 1,500 CEOs pledging to cultivate workplace environments where diverse experiences and perspectives are welcomed and […]
Posted inAssociation News, Albertsons, Home Page Slider, National
PLMA Releases Salute To Excellence Award Winners
Among the most popular original programming features for PLMA Live’s Private Label Week has been the release of retail winners for PLMA’s Salute to Excellence awards. These are presented in recognition of the best new private label products of 2020 in nearly 70 food and nonfood categories. The announcements are featured in an exclusive series […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
Applications Open For United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program
The application period has opened for Class 26 of the United Fresh Produce Industry Leadership Program. Since its inception in 1995, more than 250 produce industry professionals have graduated from this exclusive program. Founding sponsor is Corteva Agriscience. “This year, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this one-of-a-kind program, I invite our alumni and […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
United’s Re-Fresh Experience Now Available On-Demand
The United re-Fresh Experience concluded its 10th session recently, wrapping up the live experiences in January and is now available on-demand. “The United re-Fresh Experience was exceptional,” said Craig Fields, director, account management of northwest for RPE. “More than 30 of our employees participated in sessions that met their specific functions within the company. The […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Home Page Slider, National
Meat And Poultry Workers COVID-19 Case Rates Lower Than Average
New analysis of independent data show that reported new COVID-19 infection rates among meat and poultry workers are 60 percent lower than in the general U.S. population and two-thirds lower than case rates in the sector in May 2020. According to data from the Food and Environment Reporting Network (FERN), the meat and poultry sector was reported […]
Posted inProduce News, Home Page Slider, National
Pure Flavor Receives International Taste Award for New Cloud 9 Tomato
Greenhouse vegetable grower Pure Flavor is launching its Cloud 9 Bite-Sized Fruity Tomatoes. After extensive product trials and consumer taste testing, many are heralding the new tomato variety as an everyday snack game changer. “We taste hundreds of tomatoes every year searching for something special – unique colors, shapes, sizes, but most importantly flavor. From […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
NACS Releases New Category Definitions, Numbering Guide
NACS has released the new NACS Category Definitions & Numbering Guide – Version 8.0 that reflects current market conditions. The new category definitions take effect in 2022 and mark the first major update since 2010. Category definitions provide a common language for retailers, suppliers and manufacturers to establish a framework for discussions about benchmarking and market performance […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Albertsons, Amazon Fresh, National, The Kroger Co., Whole Foods
Innovations Driving Growth For Grocers Amid Crisis
Grocery is thriving, but sustained success will require tech and a fresh plan By Stefan Kalb / Shelf Engine In 2020, major grocery chains including Walmart, Target, Albertsons and Kroger saw steady revenue increases, with roughly 10 percent year-over-year growth. Not surprisingly, online revenue jumped even more dramatically – exceeding 240 percent for some grocers. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
NGAF And PepsiCo Offer Executive Leadership Program Scholarship
The National Grocers Association Foundation is seeking applications for a new scholarship program that will cover the cost for a woman or minority candidate to attend the foundation’s annual Executive Leadership Development Program at Cornell University. NGAF partnered with PepsiCo to create the Leadership Endowment following the completion of the 2020 Head Start program, which […]
Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Slider, National
FMI And Saint Joseph’s Reveals Recruitment Strategies For Gen Z
FMI–The Food Industry Association and Saint Joseph’s University have released Workforce Attractiveness in the Food Industry: How to Recruit Gen Z, the first in a three-part Gerald E. Peck Fellowship research series that explores workforce attractiveness in the food retail industry. Presented at FMI’s Midwinter Executive Conference by Ernest Baskin, Ph.D., Gerald E. Peck Fellow and assistant professor of food marketing in […]
Posted inROFDA Reports, Home Page Slider, National, Shelby Originals
Labor, Product Shortages And Uncertainty Among Top Concerns for ROFDA
Members also assess e-commerce, other trends likely to stick around by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer With 2021 in full swing, ROFDA Chairman David Bullard said the association’s membership has expressed three major concerns. “One is the labor problem. Finding enough quality workers with a good work ethic gets harder and harder to do. Labor challenges […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Latest News, National, Shelby Originals
Independents Nationwide Eye Another Strong Year In 2021
IGA offers initiatives, help to keep pace with the trends by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Phil Blackburn owns four IGA grocery stores in eastern Washington, two of which are general market and the others Hispanic-oriented. In 2021, he expects another good year for independent grocers. “We’re still holding with a lot larger basket size, so […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Home Page Slider, National, Shelby Originals
NGA To Independent Supermarkets: Tell Your Story, Emphasize Local
Consumers likely will keep associating them with safety by Mary Margaret Stewart, staff writer Greg Ferrara sees 2021 as “the year of opportunity for independents.” Because while 2020 brought disruption to businesses across the nation in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic, grocery came out stronger on the other side. “Our industry overall responded incredibly well, […]
Posted inShelby Originals, Home Page Slider, National
Column: Taking A Peek Past Pandemic – Predictions For 2021, Beyond
by John Ross, president and CEO of IGA Your inboxes likely are filled with looks back at 2020 and reflections on all the craziness that ensued. Instead, I want to look forward to 2021 and the years ahead in our industry. Using insights from our stores in China, which has been dealing with the coronavirus […]