In early November CGA members convened at the historic Reyes Coca Cola bottling facility in Downtown Los Angeles for the Association’s In-person Government Relations Day. This year’s GR Day was an open forum for members to provide perspective and highlight challenges as we strategize together on top grocery issues and priorities for the year ahead.

At the top of the day, CGA’s state and local lobbying team contextualized the 2023 political playing field and set the stage for 2024. This year’s Legislature underwent massive turnover and there’s more to come with one fourth of the Legislature turning over at the end of 2024. Local government will also experience high turnover in the 2024 election, with councilmembers and supervisors facing election and re-election. This crop of new faces will give CGA the opportunity to tell the industry’s on grocery-specific issues.

With crime plaguing grocery stores every day, a retail theft discussion was at the top of the list for GR Day. Together, attendees drew from personal experience to chart next steps to address rampant theft and employee safety concerns. To gain a sense of who may be influencing these conversations in the near future, CGA was joined by 2024 candidates Dr. Angelo Farooq (SD 31), Laura Richardson (SD 35), and Efren Martinez (AD 57) to talk retail theft and public safety and to hear their policy priorities.

Our group also had the opportunity to discuss concerns over retail theft with Sen. Josh Newman (SD 29), Co-Chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. Sen. Newman provided an overview of the caucus’ 2024 priorities including strengthening moderate forces within the Legislature through leadership and committee appointments and taking on retail theft. CGA is actively engaging with the caucus and looks forward to strengthening the relationship.

Next up, CalChamber Policy Advocate Ashley Hoffman joined us for a labor and employment update to review 2023 legislation and help us anticipate potential labor mandates on the horizon.

Attendees had the opportunity to weigh in on environmentally targeted legislation that would effect carryout bags and packaging. CEO of RMS Matthew Dodson provided an overview of the proposed recycling dealer cooperative model spearheaded by RMS for recycling compliance under SB 1013. The proposed cooperative model would engage retailers, recycling partners, and technology companies.

The Association is grateful to our attendees for their candor and engagement at this year’s GR Day. Your perspective and participation are invaluable as CGA works to create an ideal business environment for grocers in California.

Thank you to Reyes Coca-Cola for hosting us at your facility!

Monday, January 8, 2024

The Independent Exchange

Our week begins with a meaningful opportunity for retailers and other attendees to sit down and explore essential topics to guide the success of your family business. Relevant and emerging subjects will be explored in a free-flowing format offering plenty of opportunities to get your most pressing challenges discussed.  Preliminary topics to include:

• Marketing & Merchandising Trends
• Community Engagement Programs
• Labor and Employment Challenges
• Leadership & Talent Development
• Loss Prevention and Asset Protection Issues
• What Bogs You Down
• Top 5 Compliance Questions
• GroceryTech

Information and dialogues from this share group will improve your business efficiencies and profitability, while also providing a conducive atmosphere to share best practices and explore new concepts with fellow California food retailers. Session facilitated by Ron Fong, President and CEO of California Grocers Association.

Ron Fong
President & CEO, California Grocers Association

Ronald Fong assumed the reigns of the California Grocers Association (CGA) as President and Chief Executive Officer in 2008. Ron joined CGA after 12 years with the California Credit Union League (CCUL) where he was Vice President of State Government Affairs. He was responsible for the League’s 10-person Sacramento office and directed its advocacy program.

Prior to that, he was Corporate President for United Market, Inc., his family’s independent grocery company operating neighborhood stores in the Sacramento region. He grew up working in his family’s stores and understands the grocery industry from the backroom to the boardroom. His grandfather started Carmichael Supermarket in 1941, the first grocery market in his home town of Carmichael.

During his tenure at CGA, he is credited with overhauling the government relations program, including the appointment of a new veteran lobbying and political team. Ron oversees and leads the strategy of the Association’s senior management team, which has made significant and well received changes to CGA’s government relations, member services, conferences and communication programs. He also serves as President to the CGA Educational Foundation.

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Connect for Keeps

Attract, keep, and build thriving talent, teams, & organizations

People don’t leave companies, they leave management (and really bad jokes). Often people trudge along in jobs where they feel unseen, and where their best efforts go unrecognized. They feel invisible. The tools you’ll learn in this keynote, clinically proven through various therapeutic modalities and self-compassion research, will teach your people how to make others feel understood, connected, and valued. Layer on truly memorable mind-reading moments and a few solid Dad jokes, and this keynote will be the signature event for your people to refer to again and again.

Key outcomes:

• Stop employees from “clocking out” when they clock in 
• Learn 3 easy tools that build lasting relationships
• Inspire employee discretionary effort, from meets expectations to exceeds expectations
• Combat employee erosion, quiet quitting, and rage applying
• Build empathy muscles for effective leadership in a diverse workforce
• Laughy tears, because it doesn’t hurt (it actually really helps)

Sean Bott
Speaker, Entertainer, Mind Reader

Spending much of his early life growing up in Saudi Arabia, Sean developed a scorching sense of humor. He began his journey into the art of magic at age of 12 by learning and then performing hypnosis, psychology, and stagecraft at his local library. One quirky magic shop and a degree or two later, he can now say he’s been blowing minds and making people gasp and laugh for over 15 years. Sprinkle on some pit stops at Second City in Chicago to keep his funny skills on point and you’re left with a one-of-a-kind mind reading experience. Sean combines his knowledge, personal experience, and mind-reading, to show us how to create warm connection with other humans quickly and authentically.

Whether building deeper relationships as a leader, working with clients, onboarding new employees, or retaining great talent, the tools he provides creates spaces of belonging faster and easier than ever before. Working with over 1,500 associations, corporations, and universities worldwide including companies like Dell, Google, and Disney, Sean has brought curated content, mind-blowing moments, and bucketfuls of laughs (not chicken) to thousands.

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

FMI Consumer Trends Report and Understanding Federal & State Politics

In this two-part session, FMI President & CEO, Leslie Sarasin will share the latest research regarding consumer food trends and unpack their implications for food retailers. For 45 years, FMI has partnered with leading research agencies to develop the touchstone U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends report and delivered its findings at their annual conferences. This year, Independent Operators Symposium attendees will get an advance peek at how consumers are dealing with inflation by employing new value-seeking approaches, hear the latest trends in healthy eating, and gain a useful perspective of generational purchase characteristics and online versus in-store shopping behaviors.

Following this presentation, Leslie will sit down with CGA’s Ron Fong to discuss federal and state politics with updates on emerging issues including credit card swipe fees, WIC & SNAP benefits, theft legislation, California’s PAGA ballot initiative, minimum wage, and recycling updates, to name a few.

Leslie Sarasin
President & CEO, FMI

Leslie G. Sarasin is the president and chief executive officer of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), the trade association that serves as the voice of food retail, assisting its food retail and wholesale members in their role of feeding families and enriching lives, as well as the companies that supply goods and services to the industry. FMI conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1500 food retail and wholesale member companies in the U.S. and around the world, including more than 40,000 retail food stores, nearly 25,000 pharmacies and combined annual sales volume of some $770 billion. Under her leadership, FMI has emerged as a member centered organization helping food retailing venues find new and future facing ways of feeding families and enriching lives. A committed collaborator, Sarasin has infused FMI with a vision of cooperative action that amplifies the association’s ability to assist its members in addressing the critical industry issues of the day.

Prior to joining FMI, Sarasin spent 19 years at the American Frozen Food Institute, serving as president and CEO for the last nine of those years. She also held positions at the National Yogurt Association, Frozen Potato Products Institute, International Frozen Food Association, National Food Brokers Association, Crest International Corporation and Salomon Brothers. Sarasin holds a JD from the University of San Diego and a BA in economics from Smith College.

Thursday, January 11, 2024

The 5 Rules

Leaders want results, but only 5% have plans in place to develop their teams. It doesn’t take a complex plan to create transformation — it just needs The 5 Rules. Based on over 45 years of leading thousands of employees, Steve Black has distilled essential principles that produce results into this one book.

Unlock the potential within yourself or in others by introducing these five rules into all aspects of life — you won’t regret it! For families looking to strengthen generational bonds or individuals searching for personal growth, these five rules can revolutionize any life they’re applied to.

• Do Your Job: This simple rule is important to not skim over. There’s more to it than you may think.
• Be Kind: How being kind is important to your success as a leader and the success of your team.
• No Surprises: The importance of communicating to solve problems faster and make progress faster.
• No Drama: How exaggerated facts or feelings can do harm within your team.
• Protect the Brand: In everything you do, you represent the brand. Learn why.

Steve Black
Author, Coach, Leader and CEO of A Brighter Day Life

With 45 years of expertise in the retail grocery arena, Steve Black has had a remarkable career. He’s been an integral part of companies that are true innovators and trailblazers, such as Rouses Markets, Lucky’s Farmers Markets, Sprouts Farmers Markets, and Sunflower Farmers Markets.

His leadership-focused mindset and hands-on experience have enabled him to contribute valuable insights at every turn-impacting businesses through coaching & training teams dedicated towards personal growth on both individual & organizational levels.

Steve Black and his wife, Melanie, along with their daughter Taylor live in Colorado and enjoy spending time outdoors on their four – wheelers, trout fishing, photography, and traveling to see their two sons, daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren.

SB 1013: What you Need to Know

When Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB 1013 (D-Atkins) into law, it marked the most significant update to the state’s “Bottle Bill” in decades.

As a result, there is a transition timeline in place, and a road away from the expensive in lieu fees many grocers were forced to pay when the industry became recyclers of last resort and the recycling market collapsed. Moving forward, the industry should be preparing for a significant re-tooling of its recycling strategies and responsibilities.

CGA continues to meet frequently with CalRecycle, and its director, Rachel Wagoner, with whom the Association maintains a productive relationship. The Association is also actively involved in creating dealer cooperative options for grocers. We thank you for your partnership in creating a new recycling system that better serves both the grocery community and its customers.

To help members navigate the challenges ahead, CGA has created a members-only portal where stakeholders can access essential information in one easy location. Click the button below for access.

California beer consumers report high satisfaction with their beer choices and access in the marketplace, according to a new survey from MFour on behalf of the California Beer and Beverage Distributors (CBBD).

“California’s beer distributors are delivering choice and access for California’s beer drinkers,” said California Beer and Beverage Distributors President and CEO Victoria Horton.

“Consumers are benefitting from competition and wide selection, whether they love local craft brews or legacy brands. Beer distributors understand California’s fast-paced marketplace and evolving beer trends that California consumers want in their local beer aisle.”

For craft beer consumers, 78% expressed satisfaction with their access to craft products they desire and 81% are satisfied with their variety of choices.

General beer brand consumers expressed similar opinions at 78% and 79%, respectively.

“The customer experience, meeting demand and enabling discovery, is always front-and-center for grocers,” said Ron Fong, President and CEO of the California Grocers Association. “It is gratifying to confirm that consumers, across the board, feel the beer distribution and retail network in California is thriving.”

The survey also reveals insightful information about California beer consumers such as the demographics of craft drinkers versus general beer brand consumers. And while Democrats and Republicans may not agree on much these days, they agree they are happy beer drinkers.

See the survey report here.

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.

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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.