What’s new for the California Grocers Association in 2019? A lot.

CGA has updated its brand, redesigned its website and e-newsletter and in the Spring will move to its new headquarters.

“With the purchase of our new headquarters in downtown Sacramento, we thought it was time to update the Association brand and several of its communication tools,” said Ron Fong, CGA President and CEO.

CGA’s logo has been simplified to highlight its three key missions — government advocacy, communications and industry relations, and its familiar acronym — CGA, with the letter G (Grocers) rising slightly above the other letters.

“We wanted the logo to remain true to representing the Association’s mission to serve, represent and educate its members and to advocate on their behalf,” said Fong. “We also believed it was time to simplify our look to better emphasize our strengths.”

The new logo, with its updated color palette, will be splashed across the Association’s entire suite of print, digital and marketing programs.

Under the direction of Nate Rose, Digital Communications Director, the Association’s redesigned website and newsletter will focus on a streamlined, easy-to-navigate look. The Association’s weekly email newsletter, Checkout, also reflects this same focus on simplicity and ease-of-use, along with content customization.

The Association will occupy its new office at 1005 12th Street, Suite 200, in early March and officially open by May. CGA purchased the 20,544 square foot three-level historic building in 2015.

“Purchasing our own building was a sound investment for the Association,” Fong said. “We wanted to celebrate this important milestone with branding that was equally bold.”

Joe Falvey and Jim Van Gorkom are the newest inductees into the CGA Educational Foundation’s Hall of Achievement

Two grocery industry executives with deep leadership roots in both the California Grocers Association and the CGA Educational Foundation were inducted into the Foundation’s prestigious Hall of Achievement on March 28, 2019 in San Ramon, Calif.

Hundreds of industry peers, friends and family attended the gala event to honor Joe Falvey, President, Professional Services, UNFI/SUPERVALU, and Jim Van Gorkom, Senior Vice President, NuCal Foods, Inc.

The Hall of Achievement recognizes grocery leaders for their tremendous contributions to not only the industry, but their local communities as well. Proceeds from the event help fund the Foundation’s college scholarship and tuition reimbursement programs.

“We are honored to induct two very worthy Hall of Achievement recipients,” said CGA/CGAEF President Ron Fong. “Their contributions to our industry and their communities is well-documented.”

Both award recipients have long histories of involvement with the Educational Foundation, the Association and other allied organizations.

Falvey served on the CGA Board of Directors and as CGA Chair in 2015. He also served on the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. Van Gorkom currently serves on the CGA Board and from 2011-2016 served as Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. In addition, he also served as Illuminator Headlite (chair), a vendor-based organization that supports the Association’s annual Strategic Conference.

“Jim was a tremendous Board chair,” said Shiloh London Costello, Foundation Executive Director. “Both inductees played pivotal roles in assisting the Foundation through an important transitional period.”

Succeeding Van Gorkom as Foundation Chair was Brad Askeland, North State Grocery, Inc., who in his presentation applauded the inductees’ commitment to the grocery industry.

“These two individuals have always had the best interest of the Foundation in mind and their legacy will always be one held in the highest regard by their peers and colleagues,” he said.

Askeland was later joined by Board Trustee Jacquie Slobom, Gelson’s Markets, and both introduced the night’s first inductee, Jim Van Gorkom. Joe Falvey was then introduced by his daughters, Shauna and Brooke Falvey.

Following the awards presentation, both recipients participated in the Gala’s traditional Honorees Interview, hosted by the Foundation’s Shiloh London Costello and Ron Fong.

In addition to the induction ceremony, attendees listened to an emotional presentation from Clay McFarland, Grocery Outlet Senior Director Sales and Merchandising for Southern California. McFarland recounted his grocery career that began at age 16.

Realizing the career advantage of a college degree, McFarland steadfastly worked towards his bachelor’s degree, while being employed full time and raising a family. In 2013, after years of night school, McFarland’s dream was realized. But he didn’t stop there.

“I graduated with my bachelor’s degree and still had a yearning for higher education,” he told attendees, adding his desire to pursue a graduate degree became a reality in 2017.

“Desire was essential in this reality, but most importantly was the support of my employer and scholarship funding that I have been fortunate to receive from the CGA Educational Foundation,” he said. McFarland received two Foundation scholarships and multiple tuition reimbursements and is now less than nine months away from completing his MBA.

As the Foundation’s primary fundraiser, attendees also had the opportunity to participate in a Live Auction and the Foundation’s annual Fund a Need program.

“The industry’s support of the Foundation’s annual Hall of Achievement is nothing short of incredible,” Fong said, adding special recognition to the evening’s platinum and gold sponsors. “So many deserving college students and CGA member employees have been able to realize their education dream through the tremendous generosity of our members.”

The Hall of Achievement Dinner is the Foundation’s signature annual fundraising event. Created in 1992, the dinner recognizes retailers and suppliers who have contributed substantially to the advancement of the grocery industry. Along with other programs, the event funds several Foundation college scholarships.

The arrival of a second child creates a whole new look at grocery shopping

Before my son was born, I was petrified of everything. How our life would change, how I would change, and that this whole making a new human thing was a terrible, terrible mistake.

My husband, on the other hand, was cool as a cucumber. He knew that our kid was going to be amazing, and we could be amazing parents, and all was right with the world. And of course, he knew that our kid would eat what we eat; we wouldn’t raise one of those brats that demand a special meal every night.

We’re a couple of weeks away from baby No. 2 making her appearance, and this go-around our roles are reversed. He’s scared of re-entering the realm of the utterly exhausted, while I know it will be chaos for me, chaos has become a comfortable status quo that is worth its weight in hugs and giggles.

To be honest, part of my newly-found sense of chill is that my standards are now much, much lower. The likelihood that I’ll stay up late to clean, dice, steam and puree all of her baby food from scratch as I did for her brother is pretty slim.

I’ve learned that applesauce from a pouch is infinitely more coveted than apples picked at a local orchard that have been stewed and mashed at home, and that organic food is to be purchased strategically. Dairy, the dirty dozen, and some well-established favorites are about all the organic items I will fit into my $500 a month grocery budget.

Almost everything else will end up in my (ever expanding) dog or my vacuum anyway. And of course, I know that chicken nuggets shaped like dinosaurs are a food group in and of themselves.

I once heard the CEO of a children’s store chain talk about how the vast majority of their revenue comes from first-time parents. When subsequent kids come along parents spend far, far less, either because they already have what they need or because they know that kids don’t need much at all.

I’m no expert, but I’d say when it comes to feeding small children the opposite is true. As pro parents this go around we are no longer under the misconception that toddlers will happily gobble up tofu stir-fries or shakshuka for dinner.

Most of our grocery budget is spent with the nourishment and cooperation of tiny humans in mind. The rest of us…well, we’re just learning to appreciate a good dinosaur-shaped budget.

In case you missed it, a recent article from The Beach Reporter explored the ramifications of a ban of polystyrene use for meat trays in the City of Manhattan Beach.

From the article:

But the city may be caught on a meat hook when it comes to polystyrene.

Local officials are seeking to ban foam meat trays, a move environmentalists overwhelmingly support.

But there may be unforeseen outcomes, such as more trash and the discontinuation of certain products offered in Manhattan Beach, according to grocery industry experts.

City officials postponed a decision on the meat tray ban, citing concerns from CGA’s local government expert, Tim James.

Quoted in the article, James pointed to the lack of process and outreach conducted by Manhattan Beach:

The city hasn’t done the outreach to understand this and that’s why we ask them for a significant delay to walk them through these conversations. Last night there was a lot of misinformation presented and so we feel they are not making a decision based on accurate, real-world information, hence the request for the delay.

CGA is also cited in the report as James explained the drawbacks of pushing grocery retailers into alternatives that are not feasible.

An outright ban on polystyrene would push grocers to use compostable food packaging which just becomes trash because Manhattan Beach cannot properly dispose of it. You’re just trading out one piece of trash for another with zero environmental benefit.

The Council next met to discuss the issue on March 6, where CGA was able to secure an delayed timeline for implementation of Jan. 1, 2020 — along with the ability to apply for an additional one-year waiver.

Read the full story.