Blog
Long before Amazon announced the company would be entering the grocery business, the independent supermarket industry has been utilizing – and succeeding in – e-commerce to better serve communities and differentiate themselves from competitors. There’s a good reason for grocers to be online too, with nearly one fifth of all grocery spending – a total…
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SNAC Int’l to Be NGA Show Pavilion Partner SNAC International will be a pavilion partner for the first time at the 2018 NGA Show, scheduled for Feb. 11-14 at the Mirage Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas. The 600-square-foot pavilion on the expo floor will feature manufacturers of a wide range of snacks, from…
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Anyone who’s been to previous NGA Shows can testify that the EXPO floor, which highlights new products and services to nearly 3,500 attendees, is one of the most exciting aspects of the trade show that’s been sold out for five consecutive years. This year won’t be any different either, with SNAC International, the leading…
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Anyone who is grocery shopping these days can’t help but notice that there are a lot more guys browsing supermarket shelves or looking for the perfect bananas – not too green, not too much brown. The fact is, men are increasingly bearing a larger share of the responsibility for food shopping. Recent research done by…
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Grocers Back House Menu-Labeling Bill The National Grocers Association (NGA) and Food Marketing Institute (FMI) have thrown their support behind H.R. 772, dubbed the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2017. The bipartisan legislation was advanced by the House Energy and Commerce Committee today. Learn more via Progressive Grocer. Cosentino’s Price Chopper Bagger Crowned Missouri’s Best …
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By Caitlin Paynich, M.S. This article originally appeared in the University of Findlay’s summer edition of Findlay Magazine. Everyone goes to the grocery store. Picking out produce, grabbing some milk and figuring out what to buy for dinner are routine tasks for most people, but have you ever thought about how groceries are marketed or…
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NGA Gives Spirit of America Award to Joe Williams The National Grocers Association (NGA) presented Joe Williams, former VP for regulatory and member services of the Austin-based Texas Retailers Association, with the NGA Spirit of America Award at the Texas Retailers Forum, which took place Sunday, July 23. Learn more via Progressive Grocer. NGA Promotes Laura…
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By Matt Foley, Senior Manager, Government Relations Despite the many cooks in the kitchen working on the menu labeling regulation, there’s a key ingredient still missing: common sense. The law, which was wrapped up within the Affordable Care Act, was originally intended for national chain restaurants, but later expanded to include supermarkets in the rulemaking…
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As consumers are increasingly browsing supermarket shelves for food that will help them achieve their individual health and wellness goals, supermarkets are introducing a variety of resources to help shoppers, including introducing in-store dietitians to provide one-on-one guidance. Today, nearly 11,000 supermarkets across the country are being served by over 1,000 dietitians and, as usual,…
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Ag Secretary Names New Leadership For FNCS, Including Former NGA Staffers U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has appointed three people to take on leadership roles within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services (FNCS) division. Brandon Lipps will serve as the administrator of the Food and Nutrition Service, and also as…
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By Mike Gleeson Director, Government Affairs As the deadline for overhauling the tax code continues to get pushed back – now to the end of the year – lawmakers are attempting to build momentum for the proposal after returning from the July 4th congressional recess. The House Ways and Means Committee recently held their third…
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How can an independent grocer win in an increasingly crowded e-commerce market? For St. Cloud, Minn .-based Coborn’s, the success formula includes boosting its e-commerce investment, differentiating from competitors, training delivery drivers to engage consumers, and even making friends with customers’ dogs. A recent NGA research piece underscored the importance of boosting e-commerce strategies. This…
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By Taylor Drzewicki Coordinator, PAC and Grassroots Barbecues aren’t the only thing rolling out this summer – Members of Congress are also preparing to depart Washington for the August district work period to head back home and meet with constituents. With independent grocers across every congressional district throughout the country, this is a prime opportunity…
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By Mike Gleeson Director, Government Relations On the campaign trail, President Trump promised he would do what hasn’t been done in over 30 years: overhaul the outdated tax code. His Administration appears to be following through on that promise and recently invited NGA to represent independent grocers before senior staff at the White House during…
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By Laura Strange NGA Vice President, Industry Relations, Communications, and Marketing ELDP 2017 Graduation Class No one knows better than independent grocers how a fiercely competitive environment can make the food retail industry challenging for even the best operator. Ensuring rising stars are prepared for the challenges that come along with managing in this new…
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Earlier this year, NGA announced that it would be aligning its Fall Leadership Meetings, with the NACS Show held in Chicago, IL, on Oct. 17-20. This exciting strategic partnership will bring together the leading small format and independent retailers to explore emerging trends in foodservice, consumer packaged goods, retailer motor fuels, consumer-facing technologies, and operating…
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By: Matt Foley Senior Manager, Government Relations Recently, NGA’s president and CEO, Peter J. Larkin, was invited to meet with Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta to hear about the importance of workforce training and discuss opportunities within the independent supermarket industry. Acosta is a former member of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) who authored more…
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Companies like Blue Apron and Plated might be the biggest brand names for meal kits, but as their popularity continues to increase more food retailers are embracing the innovative product, including the independent supermarket industry. There’s a good reason, too. Meal Kits: A Rising Trend for Consumers and Their Pets Alike Nearly 19 million shoppers…
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More Americans are lighting up the grills to celebrate the Fourth of July and expected to spend $7.1 billion of food cookouts and picnics in 2017, up from $6.8 billion in 2016, according to a study recently released by Prosper Insight & Analytics on behalf of the National Retail Federation. Approximately 66 percent of those…
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Recently, Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) delivered his first major speech on tax reform at the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) 2017 Manufacturing Summit. Despite political division among Republicans and a crowded legislative agenda for Congress, Ryan vowed to overhaul the tax code by the end of the year. Comprehensive tax reform hasn’t been accomplished in…
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