President and CEO Ron Fong penned a letter to the editor in the San Francisco Chronicle in defense of retailers who take a risk to invest in and revitalize communities that lack adequate grocery stores. 

After the Trinity Whole Foods store, located in San Francisco’s Tenderloin district, closed in April due to rampant retail theft and safety concerns, the Chronicle published an opinion piece blaming the retailer for taking a chance to reinvigorate the community with a full-service grocery store. In response, Fong’s letter to the editor highlights the severe, everyday impacts of unchecked retail theft on grocers and calls for common-sense retail theft reform on behalf of California’s grocery community. 

Read the full letter to the editor below, or view online here. 

Whole Foods did the right thing by opening at Civic Center. Why closing is also right

Regarding “Whole Foods says its Civic Center location closed over safety concerns. That’s not the whole story” (Opinion, SFChronicle.com, April 25): As president and CEO of the California Grocers Association, the most common question I receive is, “How do I get a grocery store in my neighborhood?”

However, in this opinion article, grocers are blamed for taking a chance to invest in and revitalize a community in need of a grocery store. By this logic, grocers would never take the risk to improve communities that lack adequate grocery stores and food deserts would remain underserved.

When Whole Foods announced it was opening this location in 2018, the move was lauded for putting a full-service grocery store near tens of thousands of residents. But now that the store has closed due to rampant theft and crime, Nuala Bishari and Soleil Ho explain away these issues in favor of a narrative that the company shouldn’t have bet on the neighborhood in the first place.

The authors also argue that the store’s layout was partially to blame for the excessive shoplifting, insinuating that more products behind glass will prevent theft. Unchecked retail theft has increasingly forced grocers to put products under lock and key, and this creates a less-than-ideal store environment for customers.

Unfortunately, this is the everyday reality for grocers in California, which is why the grocery community has called for common-sense and reasonable retail theft reform.

California is feeling the impacts of climate change like never before

Cycles of extreme heat and weather variability, long periods of drought and low snowpack are putting California on the cusp of the worst drought in our state’s history. Today, more than 95% of the state is in “severe drought,” and we simply do not have enough water to meet the needs of California’s homes, businesses, farms and wildlife.

As we prepare for summer, vacations and fun, we must also prepare for record hot weather. While climate change and water supply shortages pose a huge challenge for the entire West, every Californian can take steps to make a difference by taking a summer-ready approach to water use. This is an all-hands-on-deck situation – but we’ve got this.

Now is the time for Californians to step up and conserve water because every drop counts. Small and consistent changes to reduce water use daily will make a big impact in the long run. With 50 percent of home water use in dedicated to outdoor purposes, there are ways to significantly reduce water usage outside. Easy, actionable steps you can take today include:

• Turn off your sprinklers and other irrigation systems when rain is in the weather forecast.
• Prioritize watering your trees when faced with watering restrictions: Remember, trees are an investment. It will take more water, time and money to replace a mature tree lost to drought than to keep one alive.
• Replace grass with drought-resistant landscaping or turf: Water-wise plants and landscaping use little or no water once established.
• Install automatic shut off valves for your outdoor sprinkler systems: Installing a drip irrigation system and a smart controller can save 15 gallons each time you water.
• Plant water-wise plants: Check with your local water agency on the best plants for your climate. It is best to use water-wise, California-native plants where possible.
• Lay mulch around your plants and yard: Laying 2–4 inches of organic mulch around your yard can keep the soil moist and reduce water use.

Learn more about how you can do your part to #SaveOurWater at saveourwater.com.

Association to be led by Executive Leadership Team and Senior Development Team

The California Grocers Association announces a restructure and additions to its management team.  At the start of the new year, the California Grocers Association’s senior management team initiated a process to expand its leadership and develop new potential from within the organization.

In place of the Senior Management Team, which was comprised of CEO and President Ron Fong, in addition to vice president-level staff, the Association will now be led jointly by the Executive Leadership Team and Senior Development Team. 

The Executive Leadership Team includes CGA CEO Ron Fong; Sr. Vice President, Membership, Sales and Marketing, Doug Scholz; and VP, Government Relations, Kelly Ash. As a group, the Executive Leadership Team will focus on furthering the Association’s strategic aims.

The Senior Development Team includes Sr. Director, Events and Sponsorship, Beth Wright; Sr. Director, Communications, Nate Rose; and Director, Administration and Human Resources, Jennifer Gold. All three Senior Development Team members are new to CGA’s leadership structure. Together, and in coordination with the Executive Leadership Team, they will focus on the Association’s internal operations.

“I’m excited to add this new generation of leaders to the management of our association” said CGA CEO Ron Fong. “It’s vital for the future of the Association to continue to grow our internal talent. The three members of the Senior Development Team are association veterans and demonstrate the ability to lead our association’s operations and staff.  Additionally, by separating the strategic leadership from the operational side, the Executive Leadership Team will be better able to work on some of the longer-term initiatives the CGA Board hopes to accomplish in the near future.”

CALIFORNIA’S GROCERY COMMUNITY ASKS CONSUMERS TO PLAN AHEAD FOR THEIR HOLIDAY GROCERY SHOPPING

The holidays might look different this year, but there’s still turkey and ham to carve and your loved ones’ favorite sides to share. 

December is traditionally one of the busiest months for the grocery industry. To help keep shoppers and essential workers safe and healthy during this holiday season, California’s grocery community asks consumers to plan ahead, wear a mask and maintain social distancing when visiting their favorite neighborhood store.

To alleviate shopper congestion during the holidays, many grocery stores have expanded e-commerce partnerships and access, hired additional staff members, added cooler and freezer capacity, and expanded private-label offerings. 

“We want to encourage Californians to shop early, so that we can avoid over-crowding stores in the run-up to the holidays,” Fong continued.

By preparing well in advance and avoiding last-minute trips to the grocery store, we can minimize lines to enter stores and keep our fellow shoppers and essential worker safe. 

Here are CGA’s 10 Holiday Safe Shopping Tips

1. Plan your holiday meals at least two weeks in advance. Buy non-perishable items ahead of time.
2. Consider online options such as delivery or curbside pick-up.
3. Bake in extra time for your visit during the holiday season. Grocery stores will be enforcing state COVID-19 mandates that limit store occupancy.
4. Avoid visiting a store during week of Christmas if possible.
5. Always wear a mask when inside the grocery store as is mandated in California.
6. Keep a distance of two shopping carts between you and your fellow shoppers and grocery store employees. Do not crowd the checkstand.
7. Consider shopping during off-peak hours to avoid store crowding. Do not bring extra people to the store if at all possible.
8. Treat essential grocery employees with kindness. Be patient as they go about their work including additional cleaning protocols and offer a hearty “thank you” when you can.
9. Inspect items with your eyes instead of your hands to limit unnecessary handling of store products.
10. Buy only what you need for your holiday meals. There is enough for all.

In the past month PG&E power shutoffs have quickly become the new normal in California as the energy company works to mitigate wildfire across the state.

Because of the impact on our grocery community, CGA has taken a leading role in becoming a stakeholder for emergency planning solutions, but also in making our industry’s voice heard in the broader public.

On Thursday, October 25, The Wall Street Journal interviewed CGA CEO and President Ron Fong, who shared why grocery stores are among those most impacted by the recent shutdowns.

Grocery stores have been among the most affected during the shutdown because of their perishable inventory. Preliminary numbers indicate that grocers in California lost anywhere from $3,000 to $100,000 a store from the last blackout, said Ronald Fong, chief executive of the California Grocers Association trade group.

While many smaller grocers are planning to buy generators this year, Mr. Fong said it is a strain for them. Generators can cost $100,000 to buy and $20,000 a day to rent.

The Association has also worked to advocate for the industry at the Capitol, penning a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom and PG&E. You can read the letter below.