This April, grocers join CGA in Sacramento to lend us their voices for one of the most important industry advocacy days of the year, Grocers Day at the Capitol.

Our morning began with heavy-hitting speakers from the Capitol community. Chair of the Moderate Democratic Caucus Asm. Blanca Rubio spoke with us about upcoming priorities for the business-friendly caucus. Topping the caucus’ current priority list is a plan to strengthen its scale and presence at the Capitol by recruiting new members for the 2024 election season, Asm. Rubio shared.

Capitol Correspondent for KCRA 3 and President of the Capitol Correspondent Association Ashley Zavala, who has received praise for her forthright and thorough reporting of elected officials, sat down with us to discuss the media’s role in maintaining checks and balances with lawmakers. Ashley shared her insights on the ways grocers can work with the media strategically to tell our industry’s story and hold the legislature accountable.

The bread and butter of CGA’s advocacy day is our afternoon meetings with lawmakers. During these meetings, grocers shared their firsthand experiences operating stores in California and discussed the real-life impacts of proposed legislation. This year, our focus spanned from amending harmful retail theft legislation, to opposing store closure and worker retention bills that would create barriers for grocers of all sizes hoping to expand in California.

On behalf of the Association, we would like to thank all of the grocers and food industry leaders who spent the day advocating with us for California’s grocery community. We would also like to thank our sponsors for contributing to the success of our event.

Check out photos from the event below.

Register for the 2023 Hall of Achievement Dinner

The CGA Educational Foundation will induct Mimi Song, Superior Grocers, and Bob Garibaldi, United Natural Foods, Inc., into the Hall of Achievement at this year’s awards gala. We’re thrilled to recognize the career achievements and industry contributions of these dedicated grocery executives. 

With more than 40 years of experience in the supermarket industry, Mimi has dedicated her career to making Superior Grocers a recognizable leader and innovator in the Southern California marketplace.  A longtime proponent of education, Mimi established the Superior Foundation which has raised more than $3 million over 20 years to support local schools, youth organizations, and non-profits to benefit children and their families 

Bob has devoted more than 30 years of service to the industry. Before the organization merged with CGA in 2014, Bob was a board member for the California Independent Grocers Association (CIGA). A graduate of UCLA, Bob continued his own educational journey in 2004 through the USC Marshall School of Business Food Industry Executive program. 

Join us on April 27, 2023 in Anaheim to celebrate alongside friends and colleagues all while raising funds for the College Scholarship and Tuition Reimbursement programs to support our industry’s next generation. 

Hall of Achievement Registration