Ron Fong Archives
Posted inAssociation News, Market Profile, News, West

Legislation Impacting Grocers Across California Coming From Many Directions

Ron Fong, president and CEO of the California Grocers Association, has his hands full. Legislation impacting his membership has been wide-ranging and ongoing this year, from immigration and SNAP to self-checkouts and even shopping cart retrieval. As of this publication date, the California legislature had reconvened for two weeks to try and come to a […]

Posted inAssociation News, News, West

CGAEF Hall Of Achievement Honors 3 Leaders

The California Grocers Association Educational Foundation (CGAEF) inducted three industry veterans into its Hall of Achievement on April 10 in Anaheim, California. In addition to honoring the inductees – Pete Van Helden, chairman and CEO of Stater Bros. Markets; Mary Crocker, sales account manager for Alta Dena Dairy; and Willie Crocker, retail director for Bimbo […]

Posted inHealth & Wellness, COVID News, Home Page Slider, West

CA Grocery Stores Enhance Commitment To Health, Safety For All

The California Grocers Association (CGA), in collaboration with Gov. Gavin Newsom and labor leaders, announced statewide safety standards that will help ensure consistent practices in all essential retail stores, including grocery, to enhance protection for employees and shoppers and prevent the spread of Covid-19. Some of the standards were formalized through an Executive Order issued […]

Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, West

Instacart Drives Job Creation, Revenue Growth For Grocery Industry

A new study by Dr. Robert Kulick of NERA Economic Consulting released Feb. 12 reveals the positive economic impact that Instacart has on the broader U.S. retail grocery industry. The study leverages statistical analysis to quantify Instacart’s role—deemed “The Instacart Effect”—in driving significant increases in retail grocery employment and revenue. The study found that by […]

Posted inNonfood Items, Executive News, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, West

Updated: Service Set for Twain Harte Market Owner Parriott

Family and friends of Robert (Bob) Bernard Parriott, owner of Twain Harte Market in Twain Harte, California, will gather at 11 a.m. at the Black Oak Casino Conference Room in Tuolumne on March 8, 2020, to honor the life of a passionate grocer, loving father and grandfather, and devoted husband. Mr. Parriott died in a […]

Posted inWest, Albertsons, Association News, Home Page Slider

C&S Wholesale Grocers’ Miller Elected Chair Of CGA Board Of Directors

Phil Miller, VP of the west region for C&S Wholesale Grocers, was elected the 2019-2020 California Grocers Association (CGA) chair of the board of directors at the association’s annual meeting on Dec. 6 in San Diego, California. As chair, Miller will lead the board’s strategy regarding CGA’s numerous legislative, educational, communications and industry-related programs. The […]

Posted inGelson's, Albertsons, Association News, Executive News, Home Page Slider, Store News, West, Women In The News

Gelson’s Slobom Elected Chair Of CGA Education Foundation Board

Gelson’s Markets Senior Director of Store Operations Jacquie Slobom has been elected chair of the California Grocers Association Education Foundation Board of Trustees. Slobom succeeds Brad Askeland of North State Grocery Inc., who had served as chair for three years. “I am honored to serve as the chair of the CGAEF Board of Trustees,” said […]

Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Home Page Slider, West, Women In The News

California Grocers Association Names Kelly Ash VP, Government Relations

The Sacramento-based California Grocers Association (CGA) has named Kelly Ash as VP of government relations, effective Jan. 3. In this position, Ash will serve as the association’s chief lobbyist and be responsible for managing all aspects of CGA’s advocacy efforts. She will represent CGA member companies on strategic advocacy efforts before the State Legislature, regulatory […]

Posted inPackaging News, California Perspective, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, West

California Perspective: Cups, Plates And Straws, Oh My

by Ronald K. Fong/president & CEO, California Grocers Association There is an expression—“get on the bus or get run over by the bus”—that rings true from time to time in politics. Every so often, when faced with huge policy shifts on the horizon, one is forced to make this very calculation. CGA did this a […]

Posted inPackaging News, California Perspective, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Shelby Content, West

Prop. 65 Warning No Longer Needed For Coffee; Cereal Under Scrutiny

by Ron Fong/president and CEO, California Grocers Association In many respects, California is like an island unto itself when it comes to laws and regulations. For better or worse, our state is home to a number of laws and regulations that exist nowhere else in the nation. Among the most notorious and controversial of them […]

Posted inCalifornia Perspective, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Content, West

California Perspective: State Showed Its Purple In June Polling

by Ron Fong/president and CEO, California Grocers Association Californians went to the polls in June to determine matchups for November’s General Election. Despite California’s reputation as being solidly blue and progressive, this election showed the shades of purple that exist up and down the state. While a vast majority of Californians remain socially very liberal […]

Posted inCalifornia Perspective, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, West

California Perspective: Relationship-Building Plays Important Role In The Political Process

by Ron Fong/president and CEO, California Grocers Association Success in government relations often is rooted in the connections developed with legislators over the years. While politics, and lobbying specifically, is by its nature an adversarial pursuit, good government relations separate the conflict from the person you conflict with. Legislation comes and goes, but legislators stay […]

Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, California Perspective, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Packaging News, Shelby Content, Sustainability News, West

California Perspective: We Can Fight City Hall—And We Should

by Ron Fong/president and CEO, California Grocers Association Local governments across the country have become emboldened to legislate on issues they never considered. Likely due to the action or inaction of federal and state governments, cities and counties feel it is a duty and opportunity to regulate on the bleeding-edge policy. California has always been […]

Posted inAssociation News, Home Page Latest News, West

Former Law Enforcement Officer Honored As CGA Legislator Of The Year

Assemblymember Jim Cooper (D-Elk Grove) was awarded the California Grocers Association (CGA) 2018 Legislator of the Year Award during CGA’s annual Grocers Day at the Capitol event on early this month. Cooper was honored for “being an exemplary public servant and a friend of the grocery industry in California,” said CGA First Vice Chair Kendra […]

Posted inCalifornia Perspective, Association News, Home Page Latest News, Shelby Content, West

California Legislature’s Focus May Again Be Diverted From Anti-Business Bills

by Ron Fong/president and CEO, California Grocers Association California’s political outlook appears even more unpredictable than in years past due to an intersection of events that don’t happen very often. From the election of the first new governor in eight years, to a legislature in flux due to a number of recent resignations resulting from […]