Nov 30, 2020
Chelsea Matzen, Project Manager If you are a retailer interested in nutrition incentive programs, the next few months may be the best time to find a grantee with whom to partner. On Nov. 4, 2020, the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture announced the 2020 Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP)…
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Nov 25, 2020
Jim Dudlicek, NGA Director of Communications and External Affairs Consumers may have had to drastically alter how they celebrate Thanksgiving in deference to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, but by all accounts, grocery retailers are deftly meeting the needs of folks cooking the holiday meal at home, regardless of the size of the guest list. In…
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Nov 25, 2020
By Robert Yeakel, NGA Director of Government Relations Congress headed home over the weekend for the Thanksgiving recess, but inside the beltway the biggest game in town is speculation surrounding Joe Biden’s presumptive cabinet picks. From ex-Obama officials to public policy professionals and even some Democratic primary foes, everyone is anxious to see who Biden…
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Nov 23, 2020
By Patrick Jones, Project Assistant, National Grocers Association Technical Assistance Center At this point you have likely heard a good deal about nutrition incentive (NI) programs. You know that, at heart, they seek to incentivize people to make better nutrition and health decisions. But what are the different types of nutrition incentive programs? We’re going…
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Nov 23, 2020
Jim Dudlicek, Director of Communications and External Affairs Special occasions are going to be very different this year, presenting an opportunity for independent grocers to deliver in-demand meal solutions while leveraging consumers’ increasing acceptance of e-commerce. With service deli sales taking a hit due to the pandemic, grocers can offer catering services out of their…
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Nov 19, 2020
By Jim Dudlicek, NGA Director of Communications and External Affairs Pandemic culture is rife with jokes about folks exercising less and eating more as they snack their way through sheltering in place. But the surge in snacking is no joke, as a new study from Mondelēz International demonstrates, and opens opportunities for grocery retailers to…
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Nov 13, 2020
By Terence Huie, NGA Manager of Grassroots and PAC The tumultuous 2020 election cycle is not over yet. Following an extended period of vote counting, neither party won the Senate majority. Although polling pointed to a Democratic victory, Republicans performed better than expected. Several incumbent GOP senators defied gravity to win back their seats. Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Steve…
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Nov 11, 2020
By Greg Ferrara, NGA President and CEO NGA talks a lot about the front-line associates who have devoted long hours and supreme effort to help independent supermarkets serve the needs of their communities, and we are justifiably proud of our Supermarket Superheroes. Also earning our pride, thanks and deep appreciation are the superheroes of America’s…
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Nov 10, 2020
Jim Dudlicek, NGA Director of Communications and External Affairs Our industry must be ready and responsive on the rare occasions a product recall or withdrawal is needed to protect consumers, and brand and retailer reputations. Creating a recall-ready community helps protect consumers, brands and retailers by ensuring that grocers and their suppliers are ready and…
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Oct 28, 2020
Tim O’Connor, E-Payment and Regulatory Expert Many Americans struggle to eat as healthy as they can. This is no different for low-income individuals receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, though they may be deterred by their limited buying power. To help overcome this challenge, Congress sought a solution that would increase the purchase of…
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Oct 26, 2020
Jim Dudlicek, NGA Director of Communications and External Affairs The ongoing effects of the pandemic on the marketplace, including an expected winter covid surge, will certainly bring a departure in the way consumers celebrate the fall and winter holidays. With fewer and smaller gatherings changing the protein needs for most consumers, how can current supply…
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Oct 20, 2020
Jim Dudlicek, NGA Director of Communications and External Affairs With the explosive growth in online grocery resulting from COVID-19, grocers have been rethinking their e-commerce strategies to accommodate this surge in business. Third-party platforms are a handy way execute an omnichannel strategy, but should they be a standalone solution? Having an e-commerce solution under your…
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Oct 15, 2020
By Jim Dudlicek, NGA Director of Communications and External Affairs As consumers leave their homes and shop for groceries, they’re doing so with heightened safety expectations. Shoppers expect and demand that the grocery stores they’re visiting have put their safety first, and that they’re delivering an experience that doesn’t put them at risk. The same…
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Oct 14, 2020
By Patrick Jones, Project Assistant, National Grocers Association Technical Assistance Center Retailers may have many questions about the Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grant process: When should I reach out to a local grantee about participating in a nutrition incentive program? How often do non-profits receive funding? What is their application process like? Is…
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Oct 12, 2020
By Tatyana Levy, CFO, FMS Solutions COVID-19 has created an interesting environment for the independent grocer and the world. Independents have done an excellent job serving their communities and insuring a safe environment for their employees and customers alike. As we look forward to a vaccine and a return to normal, retailers may think the…
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Oct 8, 2020
By Robert Yeakel, NGA Director of Government Relations On Monday, NGA leadership met with the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to discuss challenges confronted by the independent supermarket sector in fighting on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. NGA highlighted a variety of current issues that grocery retail has faced and…
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Oct 7, 2020
Jim Dudlicek, Director of Communications and External Affairs While the world of food retailing saw unprecedented levels of change during the first half of 2020, the financial and operational performance in 2019 served as an essential building block for responding to the incredible spikes in traffic, sales and engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to…
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Oct 2, 2020
By Molly Pfaffenroth, NGA Director of Government Relations On Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Congressional hearings are a fantastic opportunity for individuals within various industries to testify on the record to policymakers about their experiences in the field or issue areas being examined. NGA is fortunate to have had several members serve as witnesses in…
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Sep 25, 2020
By: Jonathan Downey, NGA SVP of Industry Relations Last week, NGA held its sold-out Executive Conference, NGA’s first-ever virtual education and networking event for c-suite retail grocery leaders. We were excited to connect, collaborate and engage with more than 425 attendees. The education lineup included speakers from the arenas of grocery retailing and wholesaling, CPG,…
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Sep 24, 2020
By Robert Yeakel, Director of Government Relations With just forty days until Election Day, the stakes have already been high for both Republicans and Democrats throughout this tumultuous 2020. Both sides have made this election a referendum on the direction of the nation, but many questions remain. Can President Trump secure a second term with…
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