Blog

Ready for some football? Tasty Tailgate and Other Crowd Pleasers

Last night kicked off the NFL football season and college football is well underway! Whether you’re a huge fan, or just love getting the gang together, football season is a time to whip up tasty tailgate treats for friends and family.  Here are just a few of the yummy tailgate recipes from independent supermarkets coast…
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Back to School Meal Makeovers

The following blog post originally ran on the IGA Better Choices website HERE. By: Kim Kirchherr  MS, RDN, LDN, CDE, FAND IGA Health & Wellness Advisor @KimKirchherr Summer flew by and it’s time to get back to the books! Whether prepping for preschool, grade school, high school, or college, a little planning goes a long way. With the…
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In the wake of the Louisiana flooding disaster

As many of you are aware by now, our friends in Louisiana have experienced what the Red Cross is calling the “worst natural disaster to strike the U.S. since Superstorm Sandy.” In an effort to assist those who have been affected by the severe storms and flooding in the state, the Food and Nutrition Service…
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Summer Essential Food Safety Guide for Your Next BBQ

The following blog originally ran on the GMA blog HERE. By: Samantha Cooper, Manager, Food Safety and Quality Assurance and Jeanette Litschewski, Intern, Science Program Management  Nothing smells of summer quite like the scent of a grilled burger and veggies wafting across a picnic table of watermelon slices, red-mouthed Popsicle smiles, and sunburnt noses. Just like SPF…
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Fresh is In

Retailers have seen an uptick in consumer demand for high-quality fresh and local foods. Driven by knowledgeable consumers who are increasingly seeking fresh food choices, independent grocers are among industry leaders in expanding their fresh selections in produce, meat, dairy and bakery items.  According to survey results from the NGA consumer trends study conducted by…
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A look at the Executive Leadership Development Program

By: Maggie Lyons, Senior Director Government Relations, National Grocers Association Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to participate in the Executive Leadership Development Program at Cornell University. Unlike the many NGA events I attend, I was there as a participant rather than to facilitate the program as a member of NGA’s staff, and went through…
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Debit Card Swipe Fee Reform a Step in the Right Direction

Earlier this week, Congressman Neugebauer (TX-19) introduced H.R. 5465, a bill to repeal swipe fee reforms, also known as the Durbin Amendment provision, which passed as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act back in 2010. Repealing the Durbin Amendment, which placed a cap on debit card swipe fees and introduced…
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Technology and Trading Partners

Staying ahead of the curve can mean many things, especially to independent supermarket operators, who have a unique set of challenges and opportunities in the food retail industry. It’s widely accepted that senior retail executives must have broad experience in marketing, finance, and operations – while relying on a strong relationship with wholesalers and manufacturers…
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Mr. Wright Goes to Washington

Yesterday, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to examine the issues retailers face while administering Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Jimmy Wright, owner of Wright’s Market in Opelika, Alabama, testified at this hearing on behalf of NGA and the independent supermarket industry. By way of background, SNAP is one of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s…
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Tax Day

Today is April 15, which typically means Tax Day, but this year Americans got a couple of extra days to file their tax returns due to the Emancipation Day holiday in the District of Columbia. Even with this extension, we still have taxes on our brain – and we’re not the only ones. In a speech…
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CART Lessons from The NGA Show

CART Lessons from The NGA Show The following blog originally ran on the CART blog HERE By: Gary Hawkins, Founder and CEO, CART Wow! Another great NGA Show has just wrapped up in Las Vegas. Have to congratulate NGA on another record setting year for attendance and exhibitors. As has become the norm for NGA, the Show was dynamic and high-energy. So…
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Meat Lessons from the NGA Show

By: Eric Mittenthal, Vice President, Public Affairs, North American Meat Institute   I had the opportunity to attend the NGA Show in Las Vegas earlier this month to share North American Meat Institute resources and materials with retailers from around the country. It was a perfect opportunity for us to hear from National Grocers Association members about their…
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The NGA Show – Where Independents Gather

February always marks a busy month for us at NGA as we prepare for our annual convention, The NGA Show. NGA is excited to once again partner with IGA to bring you two great events—The NGA Show and the IGA WorldWide—all under one roof in Las Vegas.   These events will bring an invaluable opportunity for…
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Learning with NGA

Aligned with NGA’s mission to ensure independent, community-focused retailers and wholesalers the opportunity to succeed and better serve the consumer through its policies, advocacy, programs and services, NGA’s Webinar Wednesday series has become an important platform to educate supermarket operators and their employees. In today’s increasingly competitive and changing marketplace, it is important for independent…
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Independents on Trend 2016

  IdeaXchange: Independents on Trend 2016 The following blog ran on Supermarket News IdeaXChange on December 28, 2015 By: Peter J. Larkin, President and CEO, National Grocers Association  Like almost everything else these days, grocery stores are in the midst of rapid change. While the traditional grocery store is still the center of the food shopping…
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Technology Threads

One of the most important takeaways for me from last month’s NGA Show was understanding the profound impact of technology on the retail grocery business. The education programs, alongside CPG and tech partner exhibits, helped clarify how virtually every detail of the supermarket industry is being touched by new technology solutions.  I see three technology…
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Healthy People 2030

WHAT IS HEALTHY PEOPLE 2030? In August 2020, the Department of Health and Human Services launched Healthy People 2030, the fifth iteration of this initiative.  The plan lays out a set of national goals and measurable objectives to guide policies, programs, and actions for the next 10 years to improve the health and well-being of…
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Key Takeaways: Head Start >Digital eLearning Series

NGA Foundation & Cornell University: Head Start >Digital eLearning Series Each year, through the generosity of PepsiCo, the NGA Foundation holds its Executive Leadership Development Program at Cornell’s campus in Ithaca, NY. This year, like so many of our member companies we had to shift our operations to be able to safely provide quality leadership training…
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7 Steps to Make Your Creative Choice Awards Entry Stand Out

The NGA Creative Choice Awards are the perfect opportunity to showcase your store’s successes on a national stage and inspire creativity in the independent grocery industry. With less than six months until the Creative Choice Awards deadline, there is no time like the present to start working on your Creative Choice Awards campaigns, promotions, and…
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