Kids learn important life lessons when they shop with their parents

This column appeared in 2020, Issue 4 of California Grocer magazine

By Kimberly Rae Miller

I still have the unicorn party supplies I bought for my daughter’s first birthday in a box next to my desk. A year ago, as I called the bakery to cancel her birthday cake, I took comfort in the fact that if nothing else, I didn’t have to go to work on my baby’s first birthday. Next year, I thought, would be different.

It’s next year and it’s not different…yet. The unicorn-themed plates and cups and party hats will have to wait one more year. As we gear up for her second homebound birthday, I can’t wait to expose her to all the normal life stuff she’s missed in the last year. At 22-months, she can’t remember ever going to a restaurant. She’s never had a play date, gone to a fair, picked an ice-pop from the ice cream truck or gleefully raced down grocery store aisles in a cart driven by her dad while I yell, “Stop, please don’t hit anyone!”  

Grocery shopping with kids is, despite the unavoidable meltdowns, something I miss. I miss seeing my son, who has never been much of an eater, get excited by food. I miss plotting our own baking projects as we roam the bakery section. I miss the way he tries to strike up conversations with everyone he sees. 

For most of us, shopping for food is just a part of daily life, something we have to do, but for small children, it’s an adventure. The grocery store is where kids get to exercise a small amount of control, helping to choose family meals. It’s where they learn about commerce. Where they learn about nutrition. It’s where they learn what is appropriate and inappropriate behavior. Where they discover foods from other cultures. Where they meet their neighbors. Sure, it’s where we buy food, but it’s also where we teach our kids important lessons about how to take care of themselves. 

I took it for granted before, but when as the world opens back up, I’m looking forward to including my daughter into our grocery store adventures. I don’t know how many more years I have that my kids will actually want to roam the produce aisles with me, sneaking unwashed raspberries into their mouths despite my protestations. The raspberries are a battle I’ll never win, so I’ll just savor it while it lasts.  

Mark your calendars, next year we’re having one “rager” of a third birthday party. I hope you like unicorns. 

As the Association continues to work to ensure COVID-19 vaccinations are efficiently distributed to essential grocery employees, we’ve built out a one-stop shop for all your vaccine informational needs.

Find information on securing a vaccine, verifying your essential employees, plus additional tools in our Vaccine Information Center.

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.”

Managing Conflict Through De-Escalation: A Deeper Dive

This March, the CGA Enterprise Risk Protection Committee is excited to host a follow-up three-hour webinar that builds on the highly popular “de-escalation tactics” presentation by the prestigious firm of Wicklander-Zulawski at the 2020 CGA Strategic Conference.

Last fall’s presentation received high marks by conference attendees with multiple requests for follow-up instruction. This must-attend webinar is designed for all grocery associates and again features Joe Wolf from Wicklander-Zulawski. 

In light of the unique challenges created by COVID-19, this highly informative webinar will provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to formulate plans and take effective measures to minimize conflicts and resolve disputes before they escalate.

Topics to be addressed include:

• Causes of Catastrophic Outcomes
• Applying the Recovery Mindset
• Seeking Better Outcomes – What Does Success Look Like?
• Fundamentals of Conflict Resolution

The program will explore the nature of these incidents and offer guidance on recognizing signs of emerging conflict and provide ways to prepare the workforce to peacefully and successfully arrive at solutions agreeable to all concerned.

The presentation will not be a lesson in tactics or hard skills used to fend-off physical attacks. Rather, it is designed to provide a few simple techniques and a system of experiential learning intended to improve the participants’ abilities to prepare for and peacefully resolve such incidents.

The webinar takes place March 9, from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., followed by a bonus fourth hour for those wanting additional instruction. For more information, contact Dave Heylen, and view this informational brochure for registration details.

Sponsorship Opportunities

Looking to stand out from the crowd? We have very limited Sponsorship Opportunities available on a first come basis to connect with the top Enterprise Risk Protection, Loss Prevention, Safety Management executives from CGA member companies. Learn more about sponsoring by contacting Maria Tillman.

Fresh Thoughts for a New Year

In the final issue of 2020, CGA’s quarterly magazine delivers a catalogue of new ideas to inspire your thinking.

For this issue we broke away from our usual format to add new voices and several fresh takes on industry hot topics like Instacart and COVID-19’s impact on where Americans live. We also dive deep with new CGA Board Chair Hee-Sook Nelson.

Look for the edition in print at your office, or read CGA’s digital version.

California Grocers Association President and CEO Ron Fong was today appointed to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Community Vaccine Advisory Committee which is tasked with providing input into the distribution and allocation of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

“This is a tremendous opportunity to have a seat at the table as the vaccine begins being distributed throughout California,” Fong said. “It’s critical the State prioritize frontline grocery workers to receive the vaccine, after healthcare workers. We also want to help coordinate the safe vaccine distribution from grocery store pharmacies to our communities and employees. As a vital component of every community, local grocery pharmacies provide a convenient, safe location to distribute the vaccine.”

The Community Vaccine Advisory Committee, under the direction of Dr. Erica Pan, Acting State Public Health Officer, will build on the work of the Scientific Safety Review Work Group and the Drafting Guidelines Work Group. The Committee will provide input and feedback for the ongoing planning and engagement efforts to ensure equitable vaccine distribution and allocation. In the beginning, vaccine supplies will be limited and will be distributed to those at highest risk.

“While the COVID-19 vaccine is new, we are not starting our planning process from scratch. This is an area of expertise we have strong partnerships in, building on lessons learned from previous vaccination campaigns, including H1N1 and seasonal flu,” said Gov. Gavin Newsom when announcing the committee last month. “We’ve been planning and thinking about this for months, and we are being guided by some of the world’s best experts in this field.”

Today’s announcement was Fong’s second appointment to a statewide pandemic-related committee. Earlier this year, Fong was invited to participate on Gov. Newsom’s Task Force on Business and Jobs Recovery.

The Gelson’s executive will direct the Board’s strategy across numerous industry initiatives into 2021.

SACRAMENTO, CA (Dec. 4, 2020) – Hee-Sook Nelson, Vice President, Team Development & Public Affairs, for Gelson’s Markets, was elected the 2020-2021 California Grocers Association Chair of the Board of Directors at the Association’s virtual Annual Meeting on Dec. 4, 2020.

As Chair, Nelson will lead the Board’s strategy regarding CGA’s numerous legislative, educational, communications and industry-related programs. The Association is comprised of more than 300 retail companies operating more than 6,000 stores in California and Nevada. The chair serves for one year. She succeeds Phil Miller, C&S Wholesale Grocers.

“We are excited to have Hee-Sook serve as chair in the coming year,” said CGA President & CEO Ron Fong. “She has a keen understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing our industry, particularly as we all work to the navigate the ongoing global pandemic.”

Nelson is the first Asian American woman to serve as CGA Board Chair, and the second woman to serve in this role in the last three years.

In addition to Nelson, the following individuals were elected to the 2020-2021 CGA Board of Directors Executive Committee: First Vice Chair, Renee Amen, Super A Foods; Second Vice Chair, Dennis Darling, Foods Etc.; Treasurer, Lynn Melillo, Bristol Farms; Secretary, Hal Levitt, The Save Mart Companies; and Immediate Past Chair, Phil Miller, C&S Wholesale Grocers.

Directors elected to their first full three-year term include: Kylie Bishop LaBrie, The Hershey Company; Lori Brown, Post Consumer Brands; Elaina Budge, Costco Wholesale; Mary Kasper, 99 Cents Only Stores; Tyler Kidd, Mar-Val Food Stores; Kelli McGannon, Ralphs Grocery Company; David Moore, E. & J. Gallo; Ken Mueller, Raley’s; Josh Southerland, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling; Diane Snyder, Whole Foods Market.

Directors elected to their second three-year term include: Jake Fermanian, Super King Markets; David Higginbotham, Stater Bros. Markets; John Mastropaolo, Chobani; Lee Smith, Smart & Final Stores; Rick Stewart, Susanville Supermarket IGA; Karl Wissmann, C&K Market.

Chair appointments to the Executive Committee include; Denny Belcastro, Kimberly-Clark Corp.; Steve Dietz, United Natural Foods, Inc.; and Michel LeClerc, North State Grocery Company. Former CGA Chair Kendra Doyel, Ralphs Grocery Company, was elected an honorary board member.

In Case You Missed It

Last week, upon release of the Regional Stay at Home Order, Governor Newsom’s staff shared that the grocery industry was not included in the new 20% occupancy limit placed on “retail.”

Within 48 hours, the Governor’s office changed course and informed the Association of its intention to move grocery to a 20% occupancy cap, along with all other non-essential retail.

The Association aggressively pursued a reversal and investigated every means available to pressure the Governor. Late Sunday evening, Newsom’s staff shared that grocery store occupancy will be restricted to 35% under the Regional Stay at Home Order.

The LA Times reports:

On Sunday, hours before a new health order went into effect across much of California, officials issued an addendum allowing grocery stores to operate at 35% capacity — down from 50% capacity, which has been in effect statewide since the beginning of the pandemic, but up from 20% in the latest state-ordered restrictions. The state’s order had required both essential stores, such as grocers, and nonessential retail, such as shopping malls, to limit capacity to 20% if they were in an area considered a coronavirus danger zone. But the California Grocers Assn. lobbied against such a drastic reduction.

State officials worked over the weekend with the California Grocers Assn. to bring clarity to the latest order, said Dave Heylen, a spokesman for the industry group.

Ron Fong, president and CEO of the association, argued that grocery stores needed to be distinguished from other types of retail, noting that under the original order all stores were lumped together.

Contrary to other retailers, such as clothing stores, “we are providing critical infrastructure, providing safe food to our customers,” Fong said Monday morning.

A member of Newsom’s task force on business and jobs recovery, created in the spring during the earliest surge of the pandemic, Fong said the governor agreed that grocery stores needed to be carved out in the new rules. 

Customers should not have trouble accessing their local grocery stores under the modified cap, Fong said. 

“There will not be crowding,” he said. “We will not have long lines out the door, which was what our concern was going to be at 20%.”

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 Case You Missed It

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new plan to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines through partnerships with both chain and independent grocery stores across the country. Several California grocery companies are part of this effort.

The vaccines will require no out-of-pocket costs, according to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, and pharmacists, pharmacy interns and pharmacy technicians will be able to provide vaccinations to customers. Providing the vaccine options at grocery stores will remove barriers to customers improving community health throughout California.

“We are leveraging the existing private sector infrastructure to get safe and effective vaccines supported by Operation Warp Speed into communities and into arms as quickly as possible with no out-of-pocket costs. The vast majority of Americans live within five miles of a pharmacy, and our new agreement with pharmacy partners across America is a critical step toward making sure all Americans have access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines when they are available.”

By partnering with HHS, the grocery industry in California continues to expand its role on the frontlines, serving Californians during the pandemic and other natural disasters. 

“Throughout the pandemic, grocery stores have done the essential work required to sustain communities with safe access to nourishing food,” said California Grocers Association CEO and President Ron Fong. “This partnership is an extension of the grocery community’s commitment to our customers and all Californians.”

As part of the agreement, Californians will be able to access vaccines at Albertsons, Safeway and Vons Pharmacies; Costco; Raley’s, Bel Air and Nob Hill Pharmacies; Ralphs; and Save Mart Pharmacies.

Currently, there are no COVID-19 vaccines that have been authorized or approved by the Food and Drug Administration and recommended by CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to the CDC.  However, this pharmacy partnership is being established in anticipation that one or more COVID-19 vaccines will be authorized or approved and recommended for use in the United States before the end of 2020.