Register for the Independent Grocers Golf Tournament

As the weather warms up, it’s the perfect time for independent grocers to get out on the greens and connect with peers during a fun day of golf! Registration is now open for CGA’s annual Independent Grocers Golf Tournament on June 8, 2022 at Foxtail Golf Club in Rohnert Park.

Hit the links with the independent grocery community for the opportunity to network and build professional relationships all while enjoying some healthy competition. Following a welcome breakfast, players will tee off at 10 a.m. and finish off the day with an awards reception and raffle.

Multiple sponsorship opportunities are available including hole sponsorships, golf awards, and the participation gift. Secure your spot today! To learn more about becoming a sponsor, email Beth Wright or call (916) 448-3545.

Register online or download your registration form below.

Guests learn and serve at Symposium

After a year spent navigating ever-changing circumstances effecting our industry’s business, employees, and customers, the 2022 Independent Operators Symposium arrived at just the right time. Grocers returned from this year’s event refreshed and refocused for the year of business ahead.

In addition to networking and collaborating with one another, independent operators attended educational sessions led by speakers Rich Bracken on “Transformative Leadership Through Emotional Intelligence” and Mike Maddock on “Balancing Imagination and Execution” to get their creative juices flowing.

Finally, guests visited Kuhamana Farms, a 31-acre sustainable farming operation and food hub, to explore the connection between food, community, and culture. After touring the grounds and enjoying a three-course meal from the farm’s harvest, guests contributed their time and labor to assemble food boxes that will directly benefit the farm’s community support programs.

Thank you to our independent operators for a memorable Symposium! Check out photos from the event in the gallery below.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Honoring Kendra Doyel and Mickie Sharp-Villanueva

After two long years, CGA Educational Foundation’s famed Hall of Achievement Dinner is back! Each year at the HOA Dinner, CGAEF recognizes industry leaders who have contributed substantially to the benefit and advancement of the grocery industry and to their local communities.  

We made the difficult decision to halt our celebration for the past two years due to the risks posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, however, it is our pleasure to resume our dinner in-person to induct Kendra Doyel (Ralphs Grocery Company) and Mickie Sharp-Villanueva (the Performance Group) into the CGAEF Hall of Achievement and honor their outstanding careers with friends, family, and industry peers.  

Join our prestigious celebration on Thursday, April 21 from 5:00 pm-8:30 pm at the Marriott Torrance Redondo Beach. Proceeds from the event help fund the Foundation’s college scholarship, tuition reimbursement, and industry education programs. Learn more about the event here.  

Registration for the Hall of Achievement dinner is open online or through the registration form. 

The California Grocers Association (CGA) has promoted Doug Scholz to the position Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, effective immediately.

In this newly created position, Scholz will manage the Association’s day-to-day operations, reporting directly to CGA CEO and President Ron Fong. As part of his new role, Scholz will also transition into additional oversight of CGA’s finance, administrative, and human resource departments.

“Since Doug joined CGA, he has demonstrated his leadership capabilities time and time again,” Fong said. “He has been a steward of the CGA culture and has brought innovative approaches to each part of the Association’s business that he has touched.”

Scholz joined CGA in 2010 as Senior Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnerships. He was subsequently promoted to Vice President of Business Development and Marketing and Senior Vice President of Business Development and Marketing. Through these roles, he actively managed the Association’s marketing, membership, sales, events, and communications departments.

“Doug’s story at CGA is a story of growth — for both the Association and himself,” Fong continued. “In the COO role, he’ll gain even greater latitude to impact the organization, enhance the way it serves California’s grocery community, and further develop CGA’s personnel.”

Prior to joining CGA, Scholz was Director of Partner Marketing for the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau. His previous employment includes Director of Sales and Premium Seating for Maloof Sports and Entertainment, Sales and Strategic Partnerships Manager for Viacom International, Paramount Parks Division and Conference Marketing and Sales Manager for Viacom International.

Renee Amen, Controller, Super A Foods, was elected the 2021-2022 California Grocers Association (CGA) Chair of the Board of Directors at the Association’s Annual Meeting on Dec. 8, 2021.

As Chair, Amen will oversee CGA’s many legislative, educational, and industry-related programs. CGA is comprised of more than 350 retail companies, operating more than 6,000 stores in California and Nevada. The chair serves for one year. Amen succeeds Hee-Sook Nelson, Gelson’s Markets.

“It’s wonderful to see Renee continue her family legacy as a steward of California’s grocery community,” said CGA President and CEO Ron Fong. “She is deeply committed to this industry and it’s advocacy efforts, and I know Renee will serve as a strong voice for our independent grocery community especially.”

She is the third member of the Amen family to lead the Association’s Board of Directors. Her father, Lou Amen, served as Board Chair in 1986 while her brother, Jim Amen, was CGA Board Chair in 2010.

In addition to Amen, the following individuals were elected to the 2021-2022 CGA Board of Directors Executive Committee: First Vice Chair, Dennis Darling, Foods Etc.; Second Vice Chair, Lynn Melillo, Bristol Farms; Treasurer, Hal Levitt, The Save Mart Companies; Secretary, Steve Dietz, UNFI; and Immediate Past Chair, Hee-Sook Nelson, Gelson’s Markets.

Directors elected to their first full three-year team include: Joe Angulo, Bodega Latina Inc.; Jonson Chen, 99 Ranch; Jon Giannini, Nutricion Fundamental; Brandon Lombardi, Sprouts Farmers Markets; Andrew Nodes, Instacart; Bethany Pautsch, Tyson Foods, Inc.; Eric Pearlman, C&S Wholesale Grocers; and Donna Simpson, Certified Federal Credit Union.

Directors elected to their second three-year term include: Pamela Burke, Grocery Outlet; Saj Kahn, Nugget Markets; Scott Silverman, KeHE Distributors LLC; Jeanne-ette Boshoff-Ryan, Molson Coors, Nancy Krystal, Jelly Belly Candy Co.; and Jeff Severns, PepsiCo.

Chair appointments to the Executive Committee include: Denny Belcastro, Kimberly-Clark Corp.; Hillen Lee, Procter & Gamble; and Michel LeClerc, North State Grocery Company. Former CGA Chair Phil Miller, Core-Mark International, Inc., was elected an honorary board member.

In 2016, Governor Brown signed AB 1383 which sets methane emissions reduction targets for California. The targets include a 50% reduction of organic waste disposal by 2020 and 75% by 2025. This law requires food generators, like grocery stores, food distributors, and wholesale vendors, to donate the maximum amount of edible food, starting 2022, to food recovery organizations, like food banks.

With SB 1383 regulations taking effect in 2022, it’s time to build out your compliance roadmap. Our webinar with CalRecycle focuses on how the law impacts the grocery industry. Access the webinar and presentation here.

The Association is excited to announce three headlining speakers for CGA Strategic Conference 2021, with more to come.

The Conference’s educational program offers a variety of learning formats from energizing keynote presentations to expert-led discussion groups. Daily sessions that feature thought-leading, veterans and unexpected voices, will help you discover how to take advantage of emerging opportunities in technology, new product trends, and the latest approaches to retailing and marketing.

Now let’s meet the speakers!

Bruce Kirkby: Acclaimed Explorer, Writer & Photographer

Bruce Kirkby lives life on the edge. His travels have taken him from the world’s highest mountains to the wildest rivers and driest deserts. He draws on these experiences to provide real-world, practical lessons on resilience, risk management and change leadership, helping individuals and organizations confront fears, embrace change and find lasting success.

During the CGA Strategic Conference “Opening Experience,” Bruce will explain the joy of grit, and how our teams can rise above the grind to find purpose and resilience to manifest a better future.

Bonin Bough: Marketing Guru, Investor & Author

Bonin Bough is one of the foremost marketing executives in the world, the host of CNBC’s Cleveland Hustles, and the author of Txt Me (646) 759-1837. As one of the youngest c-suite executives at a Fortune 50 Company, he has worked for billion-dollar CPG brands before starting Bonin Ventures – a growth accelerator that helps businesses of all shapes and sizes achieve revenue growth faster than they ever believed possible.

During this CGA Strategic Conference “General Session,” Bonin will detail how, through a process he calls HACKONOMY, company leaders can build and execute their future vision.

Chris Sanderson: Co-founder, The Future Laboratory Christopher Sanderson is co-founder of The Future Laboratory, one of the world’s most renowned futures consultancies. With a unique blend of trend forecasting, consumer insight, foresight, brand strategy and innovation, Chris inspires and helps future-proof organizations across the globe.

During this CGA Strategic Conference “Keynote Luncheon Address,” Chris will share how the future will be owned by elastic brands — companies that are able to understand how the power dynamic has shifted from brands to consumers.

Learn more at CGAStrategicConference.com!

Due to the Covid-19 Delta variant’s recent surge in California, CGA has reinforced its efforts to ensure conference attendees are safe and at ease as they go about their business in Palm Springs.

This week, the Association inked a partnership with InHouse Physicians, a company specializing in providing health security for businesses and events. With assistance from InHouse Physicians, the CGA Strategic Conference will deploy best-in-class safety measures that add to the numerous health and safety protocols already planned.

To enter conference spaces all attendees will need to complete a Daily Health Screening, including vaccine verification or proof of negative Covid-19 test. CGA staff and convention center employees will also be subject to these same rigorous standards.

Once on the show floor, attendees will wear color-coded lanyards that signal social contact comfort levels.

If you’ve participated in CGA Strategic Conference before, then you’ll surely recognize the numerous logistical tweaks our planning team has put in place. Receptions and networking opportunities will be held in larger spaces, and we’re building out bigger venues for the pre-scheduled business meetings and booths that optimize for social distancing with enhanced sanitization procedures.

Your health is the primary concern for the Association and Palm Springs Convention Center, and we are committed to hosting an informative, productive, and safe conference experience for all attendees. If you would like to further discuss conference safety measures, contact Beth Wright.

The CGA Educational Foundation scholarship program will award 408 college scholarships totaling a record-breaking $809,750 to students across the grocery industry, including the top scholarship recipient Michael Weir, Assistant Store Manager for Smart & Final in Bakersfield.  Weir is a senior at California State University Bakersfield pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.  

“During a time when the education system, generally, has been upended by the pandemic, it’s more important than ever to continue to support the academic journey of the industry’s workforce,“ said CGA Educational Foundation Chair Jacquie Slobom, who is senior director of store operations at Gelson’s Markets and has been Foundation Chair since 2019.

“That the commitment to the scholarship program grew at a time when the industry has been strained by the day-to-day demands placed on the grocery community is outstanding.”

The CGA Educational Foundation’s largest award is the Legends of the Industry scholarship, which was created in 2017. As this year’s recipient, Weir was awarded $10,000 towards his pursuit of a career in the grocery industry. Having started his grocery career and higher education journey in 2012, the Legends of the Industry scholarship marks a significant investment in building a lasting career in the grocery community.

“Michael’s work ethic is an inspiration,” said CGA Educational Foundation Director Brianne Page. “Not only has he maintained a full-time job with Smart & Final, but he’s also a full-time student, a father to two young children, and an active volunteer in his community.”

Weir’s story will be covered in depth in the upcoming Issue 3 of California Grocer magazine. To learn more about the CGA Educational Foundation, visit cgaef.org.

The 2021 CGA Strategic Conference returns to Palm Springs with a focus on Emerging Better Together

Last year, the CGA Strategic Conference left the desert for the desktop, hosting the conference remotely for the first time.

After 18 months of being largely apart, the Association is excited to announce we plan to return to Palm Springs this fall with a thematic focus of “Emerging Better Together.”

The CGA Strategic Conference takes place from September 26-28 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. It will feature the same retailer-supplier meetings attendees have come to expect, along with top-rated speakers focusing on reinvigorating your business in the aftermath of Covid-19.

Most importantly, the Strategic Conference offers the opportunity to reconnect as a grocery community, to shake a hand, plan your strategy, and share a moment with your peers.

Visit the 2021 CGA Strategic Conference Website to learn more.