In Issue 1 we share the latest research on the future of retail, explore the world of Pop Up Grocer, and meet Cal Recycle’s new director.

The first California Grocer issue of 2021 is available now in its print and digital editions, and it’s an issue that truly seeks to set the pace for the year ahead.

Featuring the first column from CGA’s new board chair, Hee-Sook Nelson, we learn why grit is an essential characteristic of the grocery community. It’s also a trait that’s been on full display during the pandemic.

In Issue 1 you’ll also find an article surveying retail consultants, who share opinions on the trends that will still be shaping retail after the pandemic. Another feature story includes an interview with Cal Recycle’s new director, Rachel Wagoner. Finally, we burst into the lively, full-color aesthetically-driven retailer which is Pop Up Grocer.

Read the issue online here.

Margo Downs, Ben Nemtin, and Cam Marston will share characteristics essential for shaping your post-pandemic life

After more than a year living through the Covid-19 pandemic, the Association and its independent grocery community are excited to be returning to the Big Island this June.

If you’re like us, the state’s reopening date, plus the expanded access to Covid-19 vaccines, is cause for considering what we can expect from the near future. Is a new “Roaring 20s” just around the corner? Do we face a more protracted struggle against coronavirus? What is the “new normal” anyways?

Independent Operators Symposium featured speakers Margo Downs, Ben Nemtin, and Cam Marston offer a jumping-off point.

Resiliency and optimism are two inter-related characteristics that can guide us into 2021 and beyond. Having shaped innovative people strategies at Stitch Fix, Starbucks, and Lululemon, Downs knows a thing or two about why optimism is the secret to culture. And optimism isn’t only about a sunny outlook. Symposium participants will hear about Nemtin’s unique journey that saw him star in MTV’s “The Buried Life” where he and his best friends relied upon resiliency to surmount seemingly impossible social and personal obstacles.

New! CGA has added a third speaker to our 2021 IOS lineup. Cam Marston is the leading expert on the impact of generational change and its impact on the workplace and marketplace. As an author, columnist, blogger, and lecturer, he imparts a clear understanding of how generational demographics are changing the landscape of business. In his segment Marston will explain the dynamics of having five generations in the workforce simultaneously.

Read more about this year’s featured speakers. And if you haven’t yet booked your Symposium stay, more information can be found on the 2021 IOS event page.

SACRAMENTO, CA (April 2, 2021) – The California Grocers Association (CGA) and Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) have agreed to form a new partnership, further linking the state’s grocery retail community and California produce and floral suppliers.

Through this joint effort the organizations will collaborate to grow membership, promote industry events, and share advertising and marketing opportunities.

“Produce plays a vital role in the way consumers eat and how the grocery industry serves its customers,” said Doug Scholz, Sr. Vice President, Business Development and Marketing. “This relationship offers our grocery community the chance to build a greater connection to these important grocery partners.

The first-ever agreement between the two organizations, the partnership also includes reciprocal information sharing and elevated marketing opportunities.

“We’re thrilled to be solidifying the on-ramp between produce and floral companies and the grocery retail industry,” said Don Gann, FPFC Executive Director. “California’s produce and floral providers are essential to the state’s food marketplace, and through this partnership, I’m confident we’ll foster a thriving link between FPFC and CGA.” 

FPFC 20201 Chairman Sean McClure of Professional Produce stated his excitement “We are looking forward to offering this newly formed partnership of both Association members to expand relations, develop educational content, and connect with additional retail executives, purchasing teams, and companies in the Fresh Produce and Floral industry.” 

While CGA’s primary focus is on government relations, FPFC is known for its events and networking opportunities. Leaders in both organizations believe these attributes are complimentary as they work to grow their associations in tandem.

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The California Grocers Association is a non-profit, statewide trade association representing the food industry since 1898. CGA membership includes approximately 300 retail companies operating more than 6,000 stores in California and Nevada, and approximately 200 grocery supplier companies.

The mission of the Fresh Produce & Floral Council is to connect members to the information, education and professional network they need to increase knowledge, grow their businesses and collectively advance the industry. Our members include growers, shippers, wholesalers, brokers, distributors and retailers of produce and/or floral items.

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.