May 15, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Millennials and Generation Z’s are supplanting Gen X’ers and Boomers as the top spending consumers. So, it should be of great concern when young people say they’re afraid they won’t be able to pay for groceries, despite indications that food inflation is gradually easing. According…
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May 12, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs Having exclusive, unique products on your shelves that address the latest trends or specific demands of the shoppers in your community can give independent grocers a leg up on the competition. NGA hosted a recent webinar featuring a live demonstration of how independent grocers can…
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May 8, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / Director, Communications and External Affairs Consumers are increasingly looking to spend money with brands and merchants they consider to be socially responsible. Are independent grocers missing something by not taking their DEI programs far enough? NGA hosted a recent webinar in which Lloyd Lewis, president and CEO of Arc Thrift Stores,…
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Apr 26, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / Director, Communications and External Affairs Getting product assortment right is not an easy task, yet it is absolutely critical to retail success. Unlike inventory management and pricing, where there may be considerable data and analytical tools to guide decision making, assortment optimization requires a balance of art with science, especially for…
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Apr 20, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / Director, Communications and External Affairs “The pizza battle is on, and grocery stores are winning.” So declares Dana Baggett, client strategy director in the restaurant division at market researcher Vericast, whose recent study of consumers’ pizza preferences suggests inflation is pushing folks to swap their takeout apps for their grocer’s frozen…
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Apr 10, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / Director, Communications and External Affairs I was fortunate to be a guest at this year’s Lipari Foods show late last month in suburban Detroit, where organizers estimate more than 7,000 people came through the doors to visit over 750 booths sampling more than 15,000 items in every food category. If you…
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Apr 5, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director of Communications and External Affairs The FDA Food Code is actually not a regulation – each regulatory jurisdiction must determine if they will adopt the new 2022 Food Code. To review key changes in order to see, before they become law, how these amendments could impact independent grocers’ store…
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Mar 24, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / NGA Director, Communications and External Affairs From first-timers to veterans, exhibitors and attendees offered rave reviews of the 2023 NGA Show, the biggest show hosted by the National Grocers Association since 2017. Chatter about the crowds, the content, the energy and excitement accelerated from word of mouth to tangible testimonials shared…
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Mar 21, 2023
By Jill Hollingsworth, VP, Food Safety and Retail Industry Relations, Ecolab What is the FDA Food Code? It is the Food and Drug Association’s (FDA’s) best advice (based on scientific recommendations) for a uniform system that address the safety and protection of food offered at retail and in food service. The Food Code as provided by…
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Feb 7, 2023
By Jim Dudlicek / Director, Communications and External Affairs “Every experience makes you grow.” – Anonymous That’s applicable for independent grocers on multiple levels. The experience you deliver in your stores can be the difference between a one-time shopper and a lifetime customer. That experience can help you grow as a business, and it can…
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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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