Jan 31, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek, NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Independent community grocers account for a third of all grocery sales in the United States. As a supplier, have you unlocked the opportunities of doing business with them? The National Grocers Association and RangeMe are teaming up to provide emerging brands increased access to the independent…
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Jan 30, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Existing regulations from USDA-FSIS require that all facilities that grind beef, including retail establishments like supermarkets, maintain records regarding the source materials. Records must also indicate cleaning and sanitation practices. Although this rule has been around for more than seven years, FSIS still finds retailers…
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Jan 11, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / Director, Communications and External Affairs You can tell by all the TV ads for fitness center memberships – it’s that time again when folks are making their new year’s resolutions, with an eye toward improving their lives. And it looks like independent grocers are right in the path of where resolutions…
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Jan 3, 2023
Are you ready to join one of the most energizing and inspiring executive development programs in the grocery industry? The first meeting of the Executive Female Leaders Network (EXFL) offered a robust content platform focusing on leadership development, industry trends and peer networking. But it was much more than that – it was a truly…
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Dec 22, 2022
By Jill Hollingsworth, VP, Food Safety and Retail Industry Relations, Ecolab Source: FoodSafety.gov Feasting with family and friends is part of many holiday celebrations. Follow these tips to help prevent food poisoning, or foodborne illness, during the holidays. Keep foods separated. Keep meat, chicken, turkey, seafood, and eggs separate from all other foods while shopping at the…
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Dec 14, 2022
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs As a follow-up to a previous webinar about the arrival of FSMA 204, which officially took effect in November, NGA hosted recent a discussion to review the basics about the regulation and what you’ll need to do to comply, and offer solutions to making traceability…
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Dec 8, 2022
By Jill Hollingsworth, VP, Food Safety and Retail Industry Relations, Ecolab Maybe you have heard the acronyms FSMS and AMC, but do you know what they stand for and why they are important to retailers? According to the FDA, they may be the most important things you can do to ensure regulatory compliance. Here is…
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Nov 23, 2022
By Jill Hollingsworth, VP Food Safety and Retail Industry Relations, Ecolab On October 25, 2022, attorney William (Bill) Marler addressed the NGA Executive Conference attendees. A prominent and well-known foodborne illness attorney, Bill has represented thousands of individuals impacted by foodborne illness. Bill and his law firm, Marler Clark, have won more than $800 million…
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Nov 15, 2022
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Busy consumers rely upon their local grocer to offer solutions for their mealtime needs. Whether that’s a wholesome family meal on a hectic weeknight, a handy lunch for brown bag or briefcase, or a last-minute special occasion, the supermarket needs to be a solution provider.…
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Nov 14, 2022
By Jim Dudlicek / Director, Communications and External Affairs There’s admittedly not a lot to cheer about economy-wise at the moment. Fuel prices are still high, with talk of a diesel shortage. The Fed hiked interest rates again. And just in time for Thanksgiving, we’re hearing that turkeys are in short supply due to avian…
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Nov 9, 2022
By NGA Government Relations Team If you woke up this morning shocked that a Republican red wave didn’t materialize, you are not alone. A bad night for Democrats seemed inevitable due to record inflation, a looming recession, a deeply unpopular President, strong polling for Republicans, and a historic record of midterm election defeats for the…
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Nov 2, 2022
By Chris Jones, SVP Government Relations and Counsel For independent grocers across the United States, it is vital to take notice of the options available through various grants and loans offered by all levels of government, non-profit foundations and universities. One such example are the investments being made through the USDA to facilitate in supporting…
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Oct 17, 2022
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director of Communications and External Affairs Caring for the family is an all-encompassing task, often extending to multiple generations in the ever-evolving American household. Consumers facing this responsibility look to their neighborhood grocer for guidance on meals, medicine and other life comforts. How can independent grocers better prepare themselves to…
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Oct 14, 2022
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs What can grocers expect to see in Washington and how will the election results affect how independents do business? In a recent webinar, Chris Jones, NGA senior vice president of government relations and counsel, and Executive Assistant Max Wengroff reviewed the primary season and explained…
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Oct 12, 2022
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Our hearts go out to everyone, from homeowners to business owners, who have sustained losses in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Work on recovery is under way, and there’s still much to do before everyone can be made whole again. As survivors count their blessings,…
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Oct 12, 2022
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Food safety and transparency are paramount in the grocery industry. To that end, Section 204 of the FDA’s Food Safety and Modernization Act, requiring retailers and wholesalers to comply with traceability procedures, will soon take effect. To raise awareness about FSMA 204, NGA hosted a…
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Oct 6, 2022
By Megan Moyer, Cooperate Marketing Manager at Hamacher Resource Group Being an owner-operator of an independent grocery store requires you wear several hats, including human resources, accounting, buying and merchandising. Managing or overseeing all of these things can leave you with little creativity left to problem solve or come up with new ideas to reinvigorate…
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Oct 5, 2022
By Jim Dudlicek, NGA Director of Communications Independent retailers are a key partner on the path to ending hunger and supporting heathy diets. Retailers are community economic hubs that support community revitalization and growth. Our members care deeply about their communities and as such have worked hard to increase access to healthy food options for…
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Oct 3, 2022
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs September was National Food Safety Education Month, and what better way to celebrate than with an FDA checkup. NGA hosted a recent webinar in which John Marcello, senior advisor in FDA’s Office of State Cooperative Programs (OSCP), offered a joint regulatory-industry perspective on retail modernization…
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Sep 27, 2022
Antitrust Enforcement and Credit Card Swipe Fees Discussed During Meetings From rising costs and continued supply chain disruptions to the anticompetitive tactics of power buyers, independent grocers are currently facing a variety of challenges that impact their day-to-day operations and how they serve their communities. With this in mind, NGA worked with Congressional offices and…
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