More than 200 people, including restaurant operators, managers and servers, rallied at the Rhode Island State House on March 19 to testify against a bill that would eliminate the tipped wage. Organized by the Rhode Island Hospitality Association (RIHA), association members told the Rhode Island Committee on Labor that passage of this bill would negatively […]
Tag: legislation
Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective
GMA’s Foley Joins Government Relations Team At NGA
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has hired Matthew Foley as its senior manager of government relations. “Matt joins us with government and industry affairs experience and has a strong understanding of food policy and member relations,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA’s VP of public affairs. “NGA is pleased to strengthen our government relations team and further […]
Posted in, C-Store News, National
AWMA Launches New State Government Affairs Initiative
The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) has launched a new initiative to provide members with information and the ability to take action on state governmental developments that affect their businesses and the convenience distribution industry. Anne Holloway, VP of government affairs, says the initiative has two key components: • The appointment of Dirk Smith as […]
Posted in, Midwest, Women In The News
MGA Presents Its 2015 Legislator Of The Year Award
The Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) presented its 2015 MGA Legislator of the Year Award to Rep. Jenifer Loon (R-Eden Prairie) at the annual MGA Legislative and Food PAC Dinner on Jan. 27 at the St. Paul Hotel in St. Paul. Each year the Minnesota Grocers Association recognizes a lawmaker who demonstrates a commitment to the […]
Posted in, Industry News, National, Store News
Industry Expresses Disappointment As Supreme Court Dismisses Swipe Fees Petition
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday denied a petition by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), National Association of Convenience Stores, National Retail Federation, Boscov’s Department Store, National Restaurant Association and Miller Oil Co. that challenged the Federal Reserve’s rule on debit card swipe fees. The court’s rejection of this case ignores its impact on U.S. […]
Posted in, Suppliers, West
Oregon’s GMO Labeling Measure Goes To Recount
Votes on Measure 92, the November ballot measure in Oregon to label genetically engineered foods, are being recounted. Reports indicate that the measure was defeated by 812 votes—or approximately five-hundredths of 1 percent (0.054 percent). Oregon law requires a recount if there is less than a 0.2 percent margin of difference. The recount began Tuesday […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Southeast, Store News
Some Tennessee Grocery Stores May Have To Wait An Extra Year To Sell Wine
Tennesseans overwhelmingly voted for wine in grocery stores during the election earlier this month, with a referendum passing in every single community that put it on the ballot. Under the law as it’s written now, wine cannot be sold in grocery stores until July 2016 but, for stores within 500 feet of an existing liquor […]
Posted in, National, Store News
FMI Board Calls On Congress To Act On Marketplace Fairness Legislation
Forty-six members of the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) board of directors, representing the entire breadth of the food wholesale and retail industry, have called on the U.S. Congress to complete work on e-fairness legislation this year. The letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) says, “We urge […]
Posted in, Southwest, Suppliers
Colorado Voters Overwhelmingly Reject Food Labeling Measure
Colorado voters overwhelmingly defeated Proposition 105 this week by a more than two-to-one margin. The labeling proposal would have mandated a food labeling system for Colorado that currently does not exist in any other state. A broad coalition of Colorado farmers, ranchers, businesses, taxpayers and consumers joined together from across the state to oppose the measure. “This […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Southeast, Store News
Tenn. Group Is Optimistic Wine Measure Will Be Overwhelmingly Approved
Red White and Food campaign manager Susie Alcorn says the group is “cautiously optimistic that wine in retail food stores will be approved in all 78 eligible municipalities” in Tennessee, based on partial reported results. At least one municipality in the state—McKenzie—has officially passed the referendum and, based on unconfirmed reports, it appears the measure […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Suppliers, West
Oregon’s GMO Labeling Initiative Remains Too Close To Call
Measure 92, Oregon’s mandatory GMO-labeling initiative, remained too close to call Wednesday morning. KGW.com reports that, with 100 percent of precincts reporting, the Secretary of State’s office showed the measure failing by about 51 to 49 percent. However, the Yes on 92 campaign said it likely would be a few days before the race is […]
Posted in, California Perspective, Industry News, Store News, West
Calif. Governor Signs Landmark Carryout Bag Legislation
After years of work, California grocers scored a major victory Tuesday with Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature on Senate Bill 270—a measure that creates a consistent, statewide standard for regulation of carryout bags. More than 120 local jurisdictions have enacted their own regulatory schemes, many with slight variations. The patchwork has become confusing for grocery retailers […]
Posted in, California Perspective, Store News, West
CGA’s Fong Pleased With Strategic Conference 2014
Ron Fong, president and CEO of the California Grocers Association (CGA), spoke with The Shelby Report’s VP-West, Bob Reeves, during the CGA Strategic Conference Sept. 21-23. It was the conference’s third year in Palm Springs, and “I think it’s the best one this year,” Fong said. “A little over 850 attendees, which is better than […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
NGA Presents U.S. Senators With Champion Of Independent Grocers Award
The National Grocers Association (NGA) recently presented U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, John Boozman of Arkansas and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky with its Champion of Independent Grocers Award. The award is given to lawmakers who have worked to advance pro-growth policies and workable solutions for independent grocers and wholesalers. “Together, independent, community-focused retailers and […]
Posted in, National, West
L.A. Mayor Seeks Hourly Minimum Wage Increase
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said this week that he would be pushing a major proposal for a citywide increase in the hourly minimum wage, according to the California Grocers Association (CGA). For the past few weeks his office has been in contact with Los Angles area business groups to circulate his plan. The proposal […]
Posted in, National, West
Calif. Plastic Bag Ban Passes Major Hurdle, Heads To Assembly Floor
A bill that would ban single-use plastic bags and place a 10-cent charge on recyclable paper bags passed the California Assembly Appropriations Committee with resounding support last week and now heads to the Assembly floor for consideration. Senate Bill 270, authored by Sen. Alex Padilla, Sen. Kevin de Leon and Sen. Ricardo Lara, is supported […]
Posted in, Organic Natural, West
Whole Foods Endorses Oregon’s GMO Labeling Campaign
Whole Foods Market is backing Oregon’s Measure 92, requiring mandatory labeling of raw and packaged foods containing Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) by Jan. 1, 2016. More than 155,000 Oregonians signed a petition to put Measure 92 on the ballot this November. “At Whole Foods Market, we believe consumers have a fundamental right to know what’s […]
Posted in, National
NGA, Feeding America Laud Passage By House Of Food Donation Giving Incentives
The National Grocers Association (NGA) and Feeding America both are commending the House of Representatives for passage of House Resolution 4719, the Fighting Hunger Incentive Act of 2014. The resolution includes legislation that would renew and expand tax incentives for donated food. “We applaud the House for passage of HR 4719,” said Greg Ferrara, VP […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
NGA Honors Rep. Todd Young With Champion Of Independent Grocers Award
The National Grocers Association (NGA) this week presented U.S. Rep. Todd Young of Indiana with its inaugural Champion of Independent Grocers Award in recognition of his efforts to advance pro-growth policies and workable solutions for independent grocers and wholesalers. “NGA appreciates Congressman Young’s leadership on HR 2575, the Save American Workers Act, which seeks to […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Industry News, Southeast
Tennessee’s Red White And Food Launches Wine Petition Campaign
Red White and Food, the nonprofit organization that supports allowing wine sales in Tennessee’s retail food stores, launched its statewide petition campaign this week at a news conference held at the Green Hills Kroger in Nashville, one of five news conferences held around the state to announce the campaign. Melissa Eads, a Red White and […]