Arlington, VA – Today, the National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, issued the below statement from Greg Ferrara, NGA EVP of Advocacy, Public Relations, and Member Services regarding the FY2019 Budget proposal that was recently released:
“Often considered the backbone of their community, America’s independent supermarket operators have long been indispensable partners in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food delivery system, serving millions of low-income households, including families with children, the elderly, and disabled. SNAP is one of the most efficient federal social safety net programs because retailers are the linchpin of a successful public-private partnership. Fierce competition in the food retail industry drives consumer prices down, therefore benefiting those on a limited food budget more than anyone. NGA is extremely concerned with the President’s budget proposal, as it abandons the proven free-market model on the ill-advised assumption that the government can purchase and provide food more efficiently than its current private sector partners.”
