Washington, D.C. — The National Grocers Association (NGA), the nation’s leading association representing independent community grocers and wholesale distributors, recognized Alvaro Bedoya this week with its prestigious Spirit of America Award.
“I’m proud to recognize former Federal Trade Commissioner Alvaro Bedoya with this award to recognize not only someone who has shaped policy that has benefited independent grocers throughout the country, but has made history through his service and advocacy,” said Christopher Jones, NGA chief government relations officer and SVP. “Thanks to his courage, his persistence, and his belief that every business, big and small, deserves a fair shot, Robinson-Patman enforcement returned for the first time in decades. That would not have happened without Alvaro Bedoya.”
In 2022, Commissioner Bedoya visited Buche Food Stores in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, as part of an effort to see how a lack of antitrust enforcement has been harming independent grocers and their consumers for decades.
His leadership and openness to hearing the stories of those impacted by a lack of antitrust enforcement helped bring renewed attention to the need for a more competitive marketplace. RF Buche sent his congratulations to Bedoya in a video played before the award presentation.
The Spirit of America Award was initiated in 1982 to honor individuals who have provided leadership in the areas of community service and government relations on behalf of the food distribution industry.
The award is NGA’s way of recognizing individuals who have worked to help establish a free and independent food distribution system. NGA presents the award to recognize key industry and community leaders for their active involvement and participation in community and public affairs.
Over the years, the NGA Spirit of America award has come a prominent and memorable acknowledgment of the dedication of over 550 recipients, including past Presidents George Bush and Gerald Ford, former Vice President Dan Quayle, former Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff, General Colin Powell and former Speaker of the House Tom Foley.
The Executive Conference and Public Policy Summit is NGA’s annual event for decision-makers and leadership teams to gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace through in-depth forecasts on the future of the industry, outlooks of emerging economic and business trends, and opportunities to strengthen relationships with trading partners throughout the supply chain.
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About NGA
NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.
