Sep 5, 2017
With We Card Awareness Month here, it’s a great time to train or re-train store associates and raise awareness about federal, state, and local regulations on tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vaping products. NGA sits on the board of directors for The We Card Program, Inc., a national non-profit organization whose important mission — which grocers support…
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Sep 5, 2017
While President Trump and Congressional Republicans might be pursuing an aggressive legislative agenda, including a renewed focus on tax reform, there’s still the annual appropriations and budget processes that they must get through first. The Congressional Budget Act of 1974 outlines a standard framework to guide that process, but the federal government rarely follows that…
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Sep 1, 2017
NGA Surprises ‘Mentor To Many’ With Spirit Of America Award The National Grocers Association (NGA) surprised Joe Williams with the NGA Spirit of America Award on July 23 at the Texas Retailers Forum in Fort Worth. Williams is the former VP for regulatory and member services of the Texas Retailers Association (TRA). He currently serves…
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Aug 29, 2017
The Texas Retailers Association (TRA) is putting out a call for help – and we’re amplifying their message. The state association has been working alongside local authorities to distribute food and other items to areas impacted by Hurricane Harvey. In fact, two of their members are even helping with on-the-group rescue efforts. Despite all the…
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Aug 29, 2017
As part of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) commitment to help businesses within the food supply chain comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act, the agency recently announced the release of a Food Safety Plan Builder. The new feature is a software tool designed to help owners and operators of food facilities create…
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Aug 28, 2017
For residents in the path of Hurricane Harvey, the threat of power outages and flooding can compromise the safety of stored food. The Category 4 hurricane has brought life-threatening storm surges, rainfall, and wind hazards to portions of the Texas coast. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) recommends that…
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Aug 25, 2017
NGA Foundation Awards Scholarships To Grocery Industry’s Rising Stars The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, has awarded up to $73,000 in scholarship funding through the NGA Foundation to 16 students pursuing a career in the grocery industry for the 2017-2018 academic year. Learn more via The Shelby…
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Aug 23, 2017
Workforce development – or finding, hiring, and training the right people – is an important and growing need for the independent supermarket industry. Preparing today’s students for the challenges of tomorrow is a crucial part of the work NGA helps to support to ensure independent grocers remain ahead of a rapidly-changing marketplace. In fact, the…
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Aug 21, 2017
There’s no doubt that this is a game-changing time for the independent supermarket industry. Between Amazon entering the grocery space and a boom of e-commerce activity, even the best supermarket operators are sprinting to keep up. Luckily, independent grocers are no stranger to a rapidly-changing marketplace. In fact, it’s often what allows independent supermarkets…
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Aug 18, 2017
Grocery Outlet Raises $1 Million For Local Food Banks Grocery Outlet Bargain Market’s 7th Annual Independence from Hunger® (IFH) campaign has raised more than $1 million to provide over 500,000 meals to families in need. Throughout the month of July, Grocery Outlet customers, employees and store independent owner-operators across six states contributed food and…
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Aug 16, 2017
By: David Orgel, principal, David Orgel Consulting LLC. Independent retailers are raising their games with strategies from fresh to local, but they need to effectively communicate these efforts and educate shoppers. That was the message from speakers in an NGA webinar last week that focused on insights about consumers of independent retailers. “You are the…
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Aug 15, 2017
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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Aug 11, 2017
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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Aug 8, 2017
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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Aug 8, 2017
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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Aug 4, 2017
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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Aug 1, 2017
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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Jul 28, 2017
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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Jul 27, 2017
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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Jul 25, 2017
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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