Jim Lee, President and Chief Operating Officer, Stater Bros. Markets and Vic Chiono, Vice President Sales, West U.S., Coca-Cola Refreshments, will be inducted into the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement on Thursday, April 11, 2013, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel and Conference Center in Pomona, CA.

Plan To Attend!

Plan now to attend this annual gala industry event. Join your industry peers in recognizing these two worthy inductees for their years of service to the grocery industry and the communities they serve.

To register, and to learn about numerous sponsorship opportunities, click here, or contact Shiloh London, CGA Educational Foundation at (916) 448-3545.

The Foundation’s Hall of Achievement was created in 1993, and recognizes California grocery retailers and suppliers who have contributed substantially to the advancement of the grocery industry.

“This year’s inductees are true icons of our industry,” said CGAEF President Ronald Fong. “Their unwavering dedication to the success of our industry, and their unselfish and devoted commitment to the communities they serve make both individuals worthy recipients of this year’s award.”

Jim Lee – Stater Bros. Markets

Jim joined Stater Bros. Markets as Group Senior Vice President of Retail Operations in 2002, bringing to the Company over 30 years of supermarket experience. Headquartered in San Bernardino, Calif., Stater Bros. is a Fortune 500 company, and the largest privately owned supermarket chain based in Southern California with 167 stores, nearly $3.8 billion in annual sales, and over 18,000 employees.

Jim began his grocery career with Ralphs Grocery Company in 1972 as a clerk’s helper. He was promoted to various positions during his 25 years at the Company including: Store Manager, District Manager, Vice President of Store Operations Administration and Vice President Store Operations, Northern Division and Southern Divisions. His last position with Ralphs was Group Vice President of the Central Division.

Prior to joining Stater Bros., Jim was President and Chief Operating Officer, from 1996 to 2001, of Wild Oats Markets, Inc. based in Boulder, Colorado; which at the time, was the second largest chain of natural foods supermarkets in North America, with annual sales of over $1 billion. During his time with Wild Oats, he helped the company “go public” and oversaw a 600 percent increase in sales.

Vic Chiono, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Vic Chiono is Area Vice President of Sales for Coca-Cola Refreshments, with responsibilities for the Central and West United States. Vic has been in sales and sales marketing for over 36 years, just completing over 26 years within Coca-Cola, holding numerous sales and management positions.

Vic got started in the grocery industry at age 10 sorting bottles and sweeping the parking lots of his father’s Safeway store. He worked through high school and college as a checker and shelf stocker. After graduating from San Jose State University with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Vic started his career by joining Unilever as a sales representative selling food, health, and beauty products to 135 retail stores.

In 1987, after obtaining several management positions within Unilever, Vic joined Coca-Cola where he has enjoyed a successful career selling all Minute Maid, Gold Peak, Simply Beverages, and juice drink products. Most of his sales background has been working with retailers throughout the United States. From 1996 to 1999, he shifted his focus to the Food Service division establishing Minute Maid products as a staple in restaurants, theme parks, and hotel chains.

A group of 12 enthusiastic volunteers from California Grocers Association recently put their time and muscles on loan to United Way certified partner Sacramento Habitat for Humanity.

The organization builds affordable housing for qualified Sacramento low income families, sells these homes at cost and provides no down payment/zero interest mortgages. In addition to the construction process, the organization manages the ReStore which recycles donated items such as gently used appliances, furniture and construction supplies back into the community to help support the organization.The store is open to the public and has treasures for everyone.

Volunteers heard from the staff of both United Way and Habitat for Humanity before working in the ReStore warehouse, keeping busy sorting, organizing, stocking and pricing donations from a recent donation drive.

Volunteers all worked really hard, but ReStore manager Byron kept the troops motivated and having a fun time, making the experience beyond enjoyable for all and allowing for team building to take place.

Thank you to California Grocers Association for stepping up to volunteer in partnership with United Way as well as the individual volunteers who made a huge difference in just one day of hard work. Finally, thank you to Sacramento Habitat for Humanity for hosting the volunteers and providing this opportunity.

(Reprinted from United Way website)

The day in pictures, click here.

San Luis Obispo County Gains New Grocer And More Jobs

50,052 residents of a California community have increased access to healthy foods and 140 jobs closer to home, as $1.7 million in unique financing allows a new business to invest in San Luis Obispo County. One of the first loans disbursed by California FreshWorks Fund, LLC provides El Rancho Marketplace the means to open a new grocery store serving Pismo Beach, Grover Beach, Arroyo Grande, Oceano, and Shell Beach.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121212/DC28559 )

“Not only is El Rancho Marketplace a family owned business buying fresh, local produce,” commented Scott Sporte, Chief Lending Officer at NCB Capital Impact that manages the California FreshWorks Fund. “It is also stabilizing a local shopping area by replacing a grocery store that closed earlier in the year—displacing workers and forcing residents to travel farther to buy fresh food.”

The FreshWorks Fund provided El Rancho the flexible financing it needed to purchase equipment and inventory for its new $3.6 million store. The result is a 39,000-plus square-foot market featuring well-priced staple foods, natural goods and an in-house deli that makes many items from scratch. Local growers and food producers, with whom El Rancho Marketplace has fostered strong relationships, will also benefit from the new store with El Rancho’s strong commitment to local suppliers.

“While the steadfast commitment of numerous organizations in the California FreshWorks partnership make success stories like this possible, we know it’s the passion and hard work of local grocers that is critical to making health happen in communities across California,” said Robert K. Ross, M.D., President and CEO of The California Endowment, a lead partner in the California FreshWorks Fund. “The funding of El Rancho Marketplace will provide the local community with access to fresh produce and nutritious food options, which in turn promotes healthy eating, helping to reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.”

California FreshWorks Fund, LLC is a loan pool that combines commercial and philanthropic capital to provide flexible financing for new and expanding grocery stores. The loan pool is just one of the many financing tools of the California FreshWorks Fund, a grant and loan fund that has invested more than $18 million in California healthy food projects in the last 12 months, with more than $200 million in lending and grants to follow in the next few years. Last year, Chase committed $32.5 million to help create the fund and is the FreshWorks Fund LLC’s lead bank.

“Chase is proud to be part of the growing movement to bring a greater variety of healthy food choices into underserved communities,” said Matthew Reilein, senior vice president of Chase Community Development Banking. “It is exciting to see the tangible result of this innovative fund, which is giving residents access to fresh good and creating more local jobs for the five-city community.”

El Rancho is a family-owned, independent grocer that has operated a store in Solvang for over 40 years. Founded by a German immigrant butcher, El Rancho Marketplace has developed a strong reputation for quality fresh meats and local produce. This new Pismo Beach store is El Rancho’s second supermarket serving California’s central coast, and is made possible with financing from the California FreshWorks Fund.

“FreshWorks has been instrumental in making this dream possible, and we are thrilled with opportunity that they have given us,” said Alfred Holzheu, an owner of El Rancho Marketplace. “Already, between full and part time employees, we have hired almost 140 employees. Plus, we are establishing relationships with local farmers and ranchers, including the students at Cal Poly,” he added.

California FreshWorks Fund partners include: The California Endowment, NCB Capital Impact, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, Met Life, Citibank, Opportunity Finance Network, Charles Schwab Bank, W.K. Kellogg Foundation Dignity Health (formerly Catholic Healthcare West), Calvert Foundation, Kaiser Permanente Unified Grocers, California Grocers Association, Emerging Markets Inc., PolicyLink, U.S. Bank, and Community Health Councils.

About NCB Capital Impact
NCB Capital Impact helps people and communities reach their highest potential at every stage of life. As a national, non-profit community development financial institution, Capital Impact provides financial services and technical assistance to help make high-quality housing, health care, healthy foods, and education more accessible and attainable, and eldercare more dignified and respectful. Capital Impact has used its depth of experience, cooperative approach, and diverse network of alliances to generate over $1.7 billion in critical investments that create a high quality of life for low income people and communities. www.ncbcapitalimpact.org.

About The California Endowment
The California Endowment is a private, statewide health foundation, which was established in 1996 to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. Headquartered in downtown Los Angeles. The Endowment has regional offices in Sacramento, Oakland, Fresno and San Diego, with program staff working throughout the state. The Endowment challenges the conventional wisdom that medical settings and individual choices are solely responsible for people’s health. The Endowment believes that health happens in neighborhoods, schools, and with prevention. For more information, visit The Endowment’s homepage at www.calendow.org
Reprinted from PR Newswire (Dec. 12, 2012)

SACRAMENTO, CA (Nov. 30, 2012) – Kevin Davis, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bristol Farms, was elected the 2012-2013 California Grocers Association Chairman of the Board of Directors at its Annual Meeting on Nov. 30, 2012.

As Chairman, Davis will lead the Association’s strategy over the numerous legislative, educational and industry related programs. CGA is comprised of more than 400 retail companies operating more than 6,000 stores in California and Nevada. The chair serves for one year. He succeeds Immediate Past Chair Jonathan Mayes, Senior Vice President of Public Affairs, Government Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility and Philanthropy for Safeway Inc.,

“Kevin is a dynamic, knowledgeable grocery executive who brings to the table years of experience in the food industry,” said CGA President and CEO Ronald K. Fong. “He has proven to be a valuable resource for the Association. He has a keen understanding of how the grocery industry works.”

In addition to Davis, the following individuals were elected to the 2012-2013 CGA Board of Directors Executive Committee: First Vice Chair, Mary Kasper, Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market; Second Vice Chair, John Quinn, Food 4 Less (Stockton)/Times Supermarkets; Treasurer, Kevin Konkel, Raley’s; Secretary, Joe Falvey, Unified Grocers, Inc.; and Immediate Past Chair, Jonathan Mayes, Safeway Inc.

This year’s Chairman’s appointments to the Executive Committee include: Dave Jones, Kellogg Company, Mike Read, WinCo Foods, Inc.; and Dora Wong, Coca-Cola Refreshments.

Directors elected for their first full three-year term include: Renee Amen, Super A Foods; Teresa Anaya, Northgate Gonzalez Markets; Joe Angulo, Bodega Latina dba El Super; Eric Nadworny, Save Mart Supermarkets; Kendra Doyel, Ralphs Grocery Co.; Eric Lindberg, Jr., Grocery Outlet; Hee-Sook Nelson, Gelson’s Markets; Naresh Solanki, Bestway Markets; John Swindell, Food 4 Less/Kroger; Paul Turcotte, Pepsi Beverages Company; Jon Alden, Jelly Belly Candy Co.; Denny Belcastro, Hillshire Brands Company; and Bob Richardson, The Clorox Company.

“This is the largest ‘freshmen’ class in quite some time,” said Fong. “It demonstrates the strength of CGA and the confidence our industry has in the Association.”

Former Chairman of the Board Jim Amen, Super A Foods, Inc., was nominated an Honorary Board Member.

The California Grocers Association presented its Government Relations Advocacy Awards to two individual members and three member companies in recognition of their significant support of the Association’s government relations program.

“The foundation of our Association is government relations,” said CGA President/CEO Ronald Fong. “These individuals and companies went the extra mile this past year in supporting the many CGA advocacy programs through their active participation.”

This year’s recipients received their awards during the Association’s annual Government Relations Committee meeting on November 7, 2012. They included:

2012 Advocate of the Year (Individual)

• Kendra Doyel, Ralphs Grocery Company, Compton

2012 Advocate of the Year (Company)

• Gelson’s Markets, Encino, CA
• El Super, Paramount, CA
• Save Mart Supermarkets, Modesto, CA

2012 Supplier Advocate of the Year

• Robert Phillips, Coca-Cola Refreshments

Fong said CGA is fortunate to have strong membership advocacy support. For the Association to succeed with its government relations’ agenda both at the state and local level, membership needs to engage in the issues, he added.

California Grocers Association President/CEO Ron Fong’s response to the defeat of Proposition 37. CGA, along with the grocery industry, strongly opposed the initiative:

“We are very pleased with the outcome of Proposition 37 and thank California voters for seeing through this deceptive measure. California grocers agree that consumers should have access to information, but the form of that information is critically important.”

“Any food labeling requirements should be consistently applied regardless of where food is purchased, should meet national standards, and should come in a form that helps achieve compliance not enrich trial lawyers at the expense of higher food costs. Proposition 37 simply failed to meet that standard. That being said, CGA has already begun discussions with our diverse membership to identify solutions we can bring to the table to help consumers better access information they may want.”

Sacramento – California voters rejected Proposition 37, the flawed and misguided food labeling measure. The No on 37 campaign, a coalition of family farmers, doctors, scientists, researchers, Nobel Prize winners, retailers, food companies, business groups, taxpayer groups and community groups, said Californians saw through Prop. 37 and rejected the measure.

From the beginning, No on 37 allies argued that Prop. 37 was more than just a simple labeling measure, pointing out that it was misleading, costly and unnecessary based on the science of genetically engineered foods.

“California voters clearly saw through Prop 37 and rejected higher food costs, more lawsuits and more bureaucracy,” said Henry I. Miller, M.D., a fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution and the founding director of the FDA’s Office of Biotechnology (1989-1993). “Food labeling policy should be based on logic and science, not fear. Leading scientific organizations have all agreed that foods containing genetically engineered ingredients are safe and are not materially different from their traditional counterparts. We’re glad the voters rejected this misleading, costly and unnecessary measure.”

Nearly every daily newspaper in California urged a “No” vote on Prop. 37. In fact, more than 40 California newspapers recommended No on 37.

“Grocery retailers would have been hit the hardest by passage of Prop. 37, through more lawsuits, more bureaucracy and higher costs,” said Ronald Fong, president and CEO of the California Grocers Association. “These costs would have been passed on to consumers in the form of higher grocery bills.”

“California family farmers can breathe a little easier today,” said Jamie Johansson, an Oroville farmer who grows olives to make olive oil. Mr. Johansson is also second vice president of the California Farm Bureau Federation. “Prop. 37 would have imposed costly new regulations on California family farmers that no other state requires, putting us at a competitive disadvantage. Thankfully voters understood this and rejected Prop. 37 and voted instead to protect family farmers.”

About Prop. 37

Proposition 37 would have banned the sale of tens of thousands of perfectly-safe, common grocery products only in California unless they are specially repackaged, relabeled or remade with higher cost ingredients. Prop 37 was a deceptive, deeply flawed food labeling scheme that would have added more government bureaucracy and taxpayer costs, created new frivolous lawsuits, and increased food costs by billions — without providing any health or safety benefits. That’s why Prop 37 was opposed by a broad coalition of family farmers, scientists, doctors, business, labor, taxpayers and consumers.

2012 CGAEF Hall of Achievement Dinner

Bruce Everette, Executive Vice President, Retail Operations, Safeway Inc., and Dave Jones, Vice President, Industry Initiatives, The Kellogg Company, were inducted into the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement on Thursday, October 18, 2012, at the San Ramon Marriott Hotel in San Ramon, CA.

More than 450 friends, family and industry peers attended the Foundation’s annual event. Proceeds from the dinner fund the Foundation’s College Scholarship and Tuition Reimbursement programs.

Enjoy the Dinner in photos below.

On September 18, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law a major overhaul of California’s $17 billion workers’ compensation insurance program. In response, CGA President Ron Fong issued the following:

“CGA is significantly concerned that absent corrective action, our member companies will begin to see the same double-digit increases in workers compensation premiums that plagued California a decade ago. We are pleased to support Governor Brown’s efforts this year to help address employers’ need for premium stability while also balancing the need of injured workers to receive fair compensation. We look forward to continuing to work with the Governor and his Administration in the coming years to ensure promised savings and efficiencies are realized.”

The California Grocers Association joined allied companies, associations and state agencies in encouraging Californians to be prepared in the event of a natural or man-made disaster during a one-day Preparedness Fair at the State Capitol on Tuesday, September 19.

CGA staff provided handouts on emergency preparedness and food safety action items individuals can use following a disaster.

“Our goal was to provide suggestions on how best to prepare for an emergency and the steps to take to ensure food safety in the aftermath of such an event,” said Dave Heylen, CGA.

The Fair was sponsored by the California Emergency Management Agency and is one of several events statewide held in September – National Preparedness Month. The goal is to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies their home, businesses and communities.

Click here for information on the event, including simple suggestions to be better prepared for a disaster.