The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), along with the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the National Grocers Association (NGA), hailed legislation introduced last week in the U.S. Senate, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act. According to the groups, the FDA’s current rules, set to take effect Dec. 1, 2016, do not recognize how convenience […]
Tag: legislation
Posted in, Northeast
New York Denies NRA Request To Delay Sodium Rule
The New York City Department of Health will not delay the implementation date of a new sodium regulation set to take effect Dec. 1. In a letter written earlier this month, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) asked the DOH to delay the start date for one year. The health department denied the request, saying it […]
Posted in, Northeast
New Recycling Plan In Bay State Modeled After Delaware’s, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… According to the Massachusetts Food Association (MFA), a Massachusetts legislative committee recently held a hearing to hear comments on an act to improve comprehensive recycling. This legislation seeks to phase out the state’s forced bottle deposit law, eliminating the costly recycling procedure for just those containers while creating a funding […]
Posted in, Northeast
MFA Leader: D.C. ‘Gridlock’ Leads To Local Initiatives And Need To Stay Ahead Of The Issues
Chris Flynn, president of the Massachusetts Food Association (MFA), speaking to the Refrigerated Foods Association’s national convention in Boston recently, says federal gridlock has opened the floodgates for local and state initiatives on the issues of plastic bags, plastic water bottles, minimum wage and GMO legislation. Flynn says the threat of local initiatives is real […]
Posted in, Northeast
Pennsylvania Considers Raising Tobacco Age, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… Pennsylvania may join Hawaii in requiring the minimum age for tobacco use to be 21 years old. The current age for tobacco product purchases in the state is 18. Hawaii’s law, which takes effect Jan. 1, is the first statewide measure to set the minimum age for tobacco purchases at […]
Posted in, Northeast
Operators Come Out In Force Against Boston Alcohol Tax Plan
The Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA) recently joined with operators to testify against a city of Boston proposal that would add a 1 to 2 percent tax on all alcohol transactions within the city. The hearing was the second this year on the proposal. Boston City council members heard directly from both large and small operators about the […]
Posted in, Northeast
Restaurants To Benefit With Latest Senate Healthcare Vote
Restaurants have scored a major victory as the U.S. Senate followed the House’s lead and passed the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act. The National Restaurant Association (NRA) advocated for the new legislation, which will preserve the ability of restaurants and other businesses with 50-100 employees to buy health insurance plans on the more affordable large-group […]
Posted in, Northeast
Cumberland Farms Leader Joins White House’s Worker Voice Summit
Ari Haseotes, president and CEO of Cumberland Farms, was selected by the Obama administration to represent the company at the White House Summit on Worker Voice this week. Haseotes participated in a panel discussion entitled “High Road Employer Strategies: Win/Win Solutions” as part of the day-long event Oct.7. According to Cecilia Munoz, assistant to President […]
Posted in, Northeast
Health Groups Support Bill To Raise Tobacco Sales Age To 21, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… Several public health organizations hailed the legislation—introduced Sept. 30 by U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colorado) and their co-sponsors—that would prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under the age of 21 nationwide. The groups claim that the Tobacco to 21 Act will reduce tobacco […]
Posted in, Hugo's Family Marketplace, Independent Store News, National, The Independent Perspective, Women In The News
WGA Presents U.S. Sen. Heitkamp With Inaugural Legislator Of The Year Award
The Women Grocers of America (WGA) has presented U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota with its inaugural Legislator of the Year Award in recognition of her work to support the independent supermarket industry and sustained commitment to women entrepreneurs. WGA, an affiliate program of the National Grocers Association (NGA), was formed to advance women […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Market Profile, Midwest
A Big Battle With The Wisconsin State Legislature Is Brewing
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor A huge battle is brewing in Wisconsin, and what is spurring it on revolves around a new entrant into the state: Meijer. The Michigan-based retailer has opened two stores in Wisconsin and plans to open more. It stands accused of breaking the state’s Unfair Sales Act, or minimum markup law, by […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast
Georgia Independent Retailer Seminars Sept. 29 And 30
The Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA) will host two free independent retailer seminars next week. Attendees can learn about new wage and hour regulations, as well as the state WIC program. Labor attorney Carla Gunnin of the Jackson Lewis law firm will join in the conversation. The South Georgia seminar will be held from 10 […]
Posted in, Northeast
New Bay State E-Cigarette Regulations To Take Effect Sept. 25
New regulations prohibiting the sale of electronic smoking devices to minors and placing other restrictions on promotions and sales will go into effect Sept. 25 after Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey recently filed the finalized rules. The sale of electronic cigarettes and other smoking devices will be prohibited to anyone under the age of 18, […]
Posted in, Northeast
AFFI Applauds Legislation To Expand School Snack Program
American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) President and CEO Kraig Naasz expressed support for bipartisan legislation recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives that will enable elementary schools to serve a full range of healthy fruit and vegetable snacks. Introduced by Reps. Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine) and Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon), the “Fruit and Vegetable Access for Children […]
Posted in, Northeast
NACS Issues Menu-Labeling Compliance Assistance, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… Following up on the federal Food and Drug Administration’s announcement on its final menu-labeling rule, the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) is providing its members with a summary of the final rule and a general understanding of their obligations by the December 2016 compliance deadline. The FDA’s menu-labeling rule […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest, Store News
NGA, OGA Member Hosts Congressman As A Store Employee For The Day
Congressman Bill Johnson (Ohio-6) this week visited Columbiana Foods Giant Eagle, which operates three supermarkets in Youngstown, Calcutta and East Liverpool, Ohio, and is a member store of the National Grocers Association (NGA) and the Ohio Grocers Association (OGA). Ron Graff Jr., VP of operations for Columbiana Foods, his wife Jennifer Graff, Bob and Pam […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National, Store News, Suppliers
Food Retail Industry Readies For Implementation Of New Food Safety Rules
The food retail industry is readying for the implementation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new food safety rules. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI), in fact, is recognizing the FDA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s food safety system with the Sept. 10 release of two rules pursuant to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA): Preventive Controls for Human and Animal […]
Posted in, Northeast
New York Gov. Cuomo Pushes For $15 Minimum Wage
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, joined by U.S. VP Joe Biden, rallied Sept. 10 for fair pay for New York’s workers and announced a push to make New York the first state in the nation to adopt a $15 per hour minimum wage. This announcement came on the same day that New York Acting State Labor […]
Posted in, Northeast
NECSA Adds New Beverage Summit To October Annual Meeting, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… The New England Convenience Store Association (NECSA) has added a beverage summit to its Oct. 22 annual meeting and dinner agenda. The program, to be held prior to the evening agenda, is open for 12 available vendor brands. The vendors will be in front of 12 retail buyers. There is […]
Posted in, Northeast
Ben & Jerry’s Supports Vermont Law On Disclosing GMOs
Ben & Jerry’s has joined other Vermont businesses and consumer groups in defending Vermont’s new labeling requirements for genetically engineered (GE) foods—one of the first such labeling laws in the country—despite a a federal court challenge brought by the food industry. The groups have submitted a legal brief supporting the disclosure of GE ingredients so […]