WASHINGTON, D.C. – More than 200 supermarket retailers, wholesalers, and food industry state association executives from across the nation convened in Washington, DC today for the annual “Day in Washington” Supermarket Industry fly-in.
Retail members from the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the National Grocers Association (NGA) will participate in over 200 meetings with Members of Congress and key legislative staff to advocate on central policy issues that impact the supermarket industry. Top policy priorities on the agenda include advocating for the preservation of a strong Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) public-private partnership, opposing any new fees, reporting mandates or other costly administrative burdens on retailers, and working towards a robust payments ecosystem that enhances payment card security and transparency with an open standards-setting regime and supports secure dual routing for credit and stronger authentication methods at checkout. Attendees will also hear remarks from Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (WA-5), an ardent advocate for considering food retail business issues.
FMI President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin said, “Food retailers take great pride in selling safe, quality and affordable food to the diverse neighborhoods they serve across the country. This mission remains consistent; it’s the socioeconomic forces that are changing. Our industry is transforming, and our members’ participation in the policymaking process has arguably never been more important. Congress needs to hear first-hand examples from the food retail industry, as a direct witness to the behavioral, social and economic changes affecting the ways consumers shop for food – namely how the influences of technology, privacy and the shifts in consumer values affect their businesses. We’re all experts when it comes to buying groceries for ourselves and our families, but it’s important that Members of Congress understand how proposed administrative changes affect grocers’ narrow margins and their ability to help communities thrive.”
“As the debate on food and nutrition policies continue to unfold in our nation’s capital, it’s critical that supermarket operators engage in the political process, and as an industry, we speak with one collective voice to inform and educate Members of Congress and their staff about the impact such policies have on day-to-day operations,” said Peter Larkin, president and CEO of NGA. “The supermarket industry plays a significant role in the nation’s economic footprint, but more importantly, on the local level as job creators and backbones of the communities. We are grateful for the grocery operators who took the time to leave their stores and come to Washington, DC to share their stories with policymakers on Capitol Hill.”
About FMI
Food Marketing Institute proudly advocates on behalf of the food retail industry, which employs nearly 5 million workers and represents a combined annual sales volume of almost $800 billion. FMI member companies operate nearly 33,000 retail food stores and 12,000 pharmacies. FMI membership includes the entire spectrum of food retail venues; single owner grocery stores, large multi-store supermarket chains, pharmacies, online and mixed retail stores. Through programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education, health and wellness and industry relations, FMI offers resources and provides valuable benefits to almost 1,000 food retail and wholesale member companies and serves 85 international retail member companies. In addition, FMI has almost 500 associate member companies that provide products and services to the food retail industry. For more information, visit www.fmi.org and for information regarding the FMI Foundation, visitwww.fmifoundation.org.
*****
About NGA
The National Grocers Association (NGA) is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for close to one percent of the nation's overall economy and is responsible for generating $131 billion in sales, 944,000 jobs, $30 billion in wages, and $27 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers, state grocers associations, as well as manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visitwww.nationalgrocers.org.
Source: Food Marketing Institute