FMI – The Food Industry Association applauds the U.S. House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee’s bipartisan passage of the Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act (H.R. 1613). The legislation is sponsored by Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA), Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Deborah Ross (D-NC), Rick Allen (R-GA) and Jake Auchincloss (D-MA). Included as Section 303 […]
Category: National
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, National
NGA Foundation Awards Executive Leadership Development Scholarships
Employees of Northeast grocery cooperative Wakefern Food Corp. have been awarded scholarships to attend the Executive Leadership Development Program, hosted by the NGA Foundation, June 4-8 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Edwin “Nino” Vazquez, district manager with Wakefern’s Price Rite Marketplace banner, received this year’s PepsiCo Diversity in Leadership Scholarship, sponsored by PepsiCo. […]
Posted inAssociation News, Albertsons, National
FMI Recognizes Five Store Manager Award Recipients
FMI – The Food Industry Association has announced the five recipients of the 2023 Store Manager Awards. From 175 nominations, 12 finalists were honored during a virtual awards ceremony hosted by Heather Garlich, SVP for communications, marketing and consumer/community affairs at FMI, and Brian Sappington, president of the retail portfolio, North America at The Coca-Cola […]
Posted inBakery News, Dairy News, Deli News, National
Epic Sales Partners Drives Sales in Bakery, Deli, Dairy Categories
We all know dairy, bakery and deli are perimeter staples. Still, despite the demand for these products, suppliers often face unique obstacles that make it difficult to gain traction in the market. From changing consumer preferences to the dominance of established brands, dairy, bakery and deli suppliers must navigate a complex landscape to succeed. Born […]
Posted inThe Kroger Co., Corporate Store News, National
Kroger Launches New USO Mobile Food Kitchens
The Kroger Co. and United Service Organizations have launched two new Mobile Food Kitchens to support military service members. Through this collaboration, the USO and Kroger provide meals to military personnel, whether they are supporting natural disaster relief, serving in remote locations or at basic training. “Kroger is making a real difference for America’s service members, […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
How Hiring Disabled Individuals Can Enhance Your Business
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Consumers are increasingly looking to spend money with brands and merchants they consider to be socially responsible. Are independent grocers missing something by not taking their DEI programs far enough? NGA hosted a recent webinar in which Lloyd Lewis, president and CEO of Arc Thrift […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, National
Epic Sales Partners Set To Grow Meat Partnerships In 2023
As grocery retailers plan to expand meat offerings in 2023, the focus will be on increased access to fresh and organic offerings. Epic Sales Partners, an independent fresh-food sales agency based in Irving, Texas, helped more than 75 retail chains and 2,000 storefronts access 300 different meat products in 2022. Fresh meat products are a critical […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
April eGrocery Sales Inch Up Versus Year Ago
According to the latest Brick Meets Click/Mercatus Grocery Shopping Survey fielded April 28-29, overall eGrocery sales for April totaled $8.2 billion, up 0.9 percent versus a year ago. Year-over-year performance varied across the three key segments as delivery sales jumped 20 percent, pickup dipped 3 percent and ship-to-home plunged 19 percent. The strong gains for delivery […]
Posted inProduce News, National
Proposal Aims To Increase Produce Consumption For Consumers
Reps. Mark Alford (MO-04) and Jasmine Crockett (TX-30) recently introduced H.R. 3127, the “Supporting All Healthy Options When Purchasing Produce” Act, in the U.S. House of Representatives. The American Frozen Food Institute has welcomed the introduction of the proposed legislation that will help families eat more fruits and vegetables as part of a healthy diet […]
Posted inWholesaler/Distributor News, Executive News, National
JOH Hires Several Executives To New Positions
Billerica, Massachusetts-based JOH has named several people to new positions in the company. JOH has promoted Matt Robillard to the position of director of client management, grocery, frozen and dairy division. He has 23 years of experience in the food industry. Since joining JOH as an account manager in 2018, Robillard has built relationships with his customers and clients. […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Marketing News, National
Catalina Study Shows Price Hikes Despite Overall Inflation Rate
For the first quarter of 2023, prices in several food and personal care categories topped the overall rate of inflation in the U.S. and Europe, according to the Catalina Shopping Basket Index. To compile its latest economic report, Catalina tapped into its Shopper Intelligence Platform to look at the aggregate price increase of 10 common […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
NGA Shares Support Of ‘Save Local Business’ Act
The National Grocers Association has announced its support for the Save Local Business Act. Introduced by Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Rep. James Comer (R-KY), the Save Local Business Act would codify into law the traditional joint employer standard, which conditions employment liability on the clear and predictable standard of “direct, actual and immediate control over […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, National
New Study Shows Americans Will Grill Out Despite Inflation
A recent Harris Poll commissioned by Omaha Steaks found while 40 percent of Americans have cut back on purchases, more than half (55 percent) are unwilling to sacrifice their summer grill-outs. The company surveyed more than 2,000 U.S. adults before summer to better gauge how changing food purchasing habits impact Americans’ attitudes and behaviors around […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
5 Questions For Jackie LaPointe
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs The director of grocery at retail technology company Upside shares her thoughts on the current state of the industry and what the future holds for independent grocers. 1. Challenges of the past year continue to linger into 2023, and despite a gradual easing of inflation, operators […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, National
NGA Foundation Appoints Underwood As SEMTAC Project Director
The National Grocers Association Foundation has appointed Brielle Underwood as its project director for the SNAP EBT Modernization Technical Assistance Center. Underwood comes to the NGA Foundation from The Food Trust in Philadelphia, for which she served as a project manager, overseeing the organization’s farmers market programs and assisting with grant reporting and evaluation. “We […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, National
Cadent, Catalina Expand CTV Advertising Partnership
Cadent and Catalina have signed a new multi-year agreement establishing Cadent as Catalina’s preferred platform for executing linear, addressable and connected TV ad campaigns for consumer packaged goods brands and Catalina as Cadent’s preferred CPG data, audience and measurement provider. Cadent and Catalina will support shared and new customers through this expanded partnership as they grow their business through data-driven linear […]
Posted inAssociation News, Albertsons, National
FMI Names 12 Finalists For Outstanding Store Manager Awards
This year’s awards competition witnessed record-breaking participation FMI – The Food Industry Association has named 12 finalists for its 2023 Store Manager Awards. From a record 175 nominations, these outstanding store managers stood out from the crowd for their ability to generate sales growth, effectively communicate company and store goals and objectives, demonstrate team leadership in their […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, National
Continued Dollar, Unit Pressure In All Three Areas Of Seafood
Fresh seafood prices had just a small uptick in March versus March last year across all three merchandising zones, according to Circana, 210 Analytics and Elanco. Only fresh finfish still had lingering inflation of 5.2 percent when compared to March 2022 pricing levels. Over the latest 52 weeks, seafood prices increased 6.2 percent, which was […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
The Art And Science Of Product Selection
by Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Getting product assortment right is not an easy task, yet it is absolutely critical to retail success. Unlike inventory management and pricing, where there may be considerable data and analytical tools to guide decision making, assortment optimization requires a balance of art with science, especially […]
Posted inAssociation News, National
Beyond The Fruited Plain: A Grocery Perspective On 2023 Farm Bill
Work on a Farm Bill reauthorization is under way, and as this column goes to press, Washington observers anticipate an uptick in activity toward the food and ag package that holds significant impact for independent grocers, especially those in historically underserved parts of the country. Earlier this year, NGA outlined its 2023 Farm Bill priorities […]