Jim Dudlicek
A summer internship led to a 20-year career in the CPG industry for Jena Sowers, who then seized the opportunity to more directly help independent grocers serve their communities. Now the CEO of Hendersonville, Tennessee-based Alliance Retail Group, Sowers shares her thoughts on leadership, management [...]
After planning to pursue an engineering career, Kim Eskew saw the opportunities that grocery retail had to offer and turned an entry-level position into a life-long career with Springdale, Ark.-based Harps Food Stores. Now the company’s chairman and CEO, Eskew shared his thoughts on leadership, [...]
A veteran of the grocery industry for more than a quarter century, Kristin Popp previously served as Wisconsin-based Woodman’s Food Markets’ HR director before becoming EVP. In addition to those duties, Popp serves as president of Women Grocers of America, which operates under the NGA [...]
President and CEO of Associated Wholesale Grocers since 2023, Dan Funk joined the Kansas City-based cooperative wholesaler in 2012 and worked his way up the executive leadership team. Funk has worked at every level of the grocery industry over the course of his lifelong career, [...]
One of the most common misconceptions about smart carts is that they only serve as an alternative to self-checkout. But many grocery customers like the ability to keep an eye on their running total, instantly access coupons and loyalty programs, earn discounts and shop independently. [...]
At a time when access to nutritious food is more critical than ever, independent grocers play a pivotal role in serving diverse communities and promoting healthy eating habits. The National Grocers Association Foundation Technical Assistance Center hosted a recent webinar that delved into innovative strategies [...]
NGA’s slogan is “At the heart of the community,” reflecting the important position that independent grocery stores have in so many communities around the country. I’d go out on a limb and suggest a secondary tagline, “Always looking forward,” because a significant part of NGA’s [...]
In an effort to modernize EBT and reduce fraud, multiple states are planning to migrate their EBT cards from magnetic stripes to EMV chip cards. Starting with California and Oklahoma, states are planning to issue chip cards beginning as soon as August 2024. It is [...]
Because meat consumers can essentially shop anywhere and everywhere on their purchase journey, an effective omnichannel strategy is one of the most critical elements in a retailer’s marketing tool kit. NGA hosted a recent webinar that explored key insights from Midan Marketing’s Meat Consumer Segmentation [...]
Initiatives like diversity and inclusion, leadership development, technical assistance and support for the industry’s next generation are important to independent grocers but are often eclipsed by the ongoing day-to-day business of feeding their communities. As the 501(c)3 nonprofit arm of the National Grocers Association, the [...]
Dairy is a destination for daily staples on most shopping trips. But, how are evolving demographics, changing nutritional requirements and the rise of alternative products influencing what winds up in consumers’ baskets? A recent webinar hosted by NGA explored consumption trends for dairy products as [...]
Grocery has one of the highest employee turnover rates of any U.S. industry. A recent study commissioned by the Coca-Cola Retailing Research Council examined the lingering impact of the pandemic and other issues around hiring and retention. In a recent webinar hosted by the National [...]
Nutrition is a space that grocers can own, by knowing how to guide consumers toward food solutions for any health need. A recent webinar hosted by the National Grocers Association and the NGA Foundation explained what “food as medicine” means and explored what grocery retailers [...]
Operational shrink may amount to $210,000 per store per year. The good news is that more than 50 percent of that is controllable. In a recent webinar hosted by NGA, Nick Lenzi, SVP of marketing at Lipari Foods, shared 20 “nickels” – costs savings throughout [...]
Things are heating up in Washington, as a divided Congress works toward a new Farm Bill and reshapes policy amid a hotly contested election year. Things were particularly hot – and sweaty – late last month, when independent grocers converged on Capitol Hill to make [...]
Food safety is a top priority in American agriculture, and the egg and dairy sectors are no exception. Amid reports of the recurrence of avian flu in egg-laying flocks and its appearance in dairy herds, these industries are dedicated to keeping the nation’s food supply [...]
The post-pandemic period is offering independent grocers challenges that operationally may pale in comparison to those of the COVID-19 era but are adding pressure to the bottom line and the way supermarket operators are perceived by consumers. Inflation has driven up the cost of most [...]
Becoming a member of the National Grocers Association makes you a part of a community based on relationships. NGA is a collaborative network built on trust, with each member helping to make each other, and the collective, stronger as one. The association helps to amplify [...]
The fresh perimeter is responsible for most of the sales and growth in the grocery channel. But it’s not enough for independent grocers just to be fresh – you have to do fresh right and in a way that sets you apart from your national [...]
Are independent grocers really independent? Let’s take a look at NGA’s own definition. Independent community grocers are … Entrepreneurs? Check Passionately committed to their customers, their associates and the markets they serve? Check Differentiate in the marketplace based on the needs of the local community, [...]
Ensuring the safety of customers and associates is a primary concern for grocery retailers. From retail theft to active shooters, it’s essential that grocery operators have procedures in place for dealing with potentially harmful scenarios. NGA hosted a recent webinar to help grocers identify and [...]
Have you ever considered how pest movement can impact food safety? We live in a world of movement, and food and food products are no exception, traveling along channels of production, processing, packaging and distribution. Food and ingredients can move thousands of miles from their [...]
The deadline for USDA’s “Strengthening Organic Enforcement” (SOE) final rule is barely a month away. More robust recordkeeping, audits and traceability of organic certifications will be required of more businesses throughout the food supply. The National Grocers Association, as part of its traceability partnership with [...]
Consumers have more choices and information than ever before when it comes to making food purchase decisions that meet their needs and the needs of their families. The retailers who win with these shoppers deliver assortment and service that better meet their needs. Independent retailers [...]
Kansas City barbecue or San Francisco sourdough? This year’s Super Bowl offers an opportunity to feature them both in your store – along with all the other game day favorites as your customers shop in preparation for enjoying the Chiefs-49ers matchup on Sunday, Feb. 11. [...]
The NGA Foundation has announced that Wooster, Ohio-based grocer Buehler’s Fresh Foods is sponsoring two new scholarships available to college students pursuing a career in the grocery industry, bringing to 22 the total number of scholastic awards offered by the foundation. The two new scholarships, [...]
Award-winning sportscaster Lindsay Czarniak, known for her work covering the NFL, NASCAR and the Olympics, will emcee the National Grocers Association’s annual Best Bagger Championship, sponsored by PepsiCo, at the 2024 NGA Show on March 11, at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas. [...]