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keeping every member in the loop with aflood of emails, which helps keep themeducated on the issues and involved.“Gary asks everybody for their input,” hesays. On the education front, there arealso workshops, seminars, and articlesin Hawaii Retail Grocer magazine. Henotes that Hanagami has also focused onmembership. “We have some really strongnew members that have experience withother associations, so they bring infresh new viewpoints,” he says.“We are going to become an associationthat will be a legislative force inthe industry,” says Hanagami, “one thatwill strive to educate its internal andexternal members, and an associationthat will further impact the greatercommunity that we serve and where wederive our revenue. We’re going to bean association that communicates clearlyand creates the opportunity for internalnetworking for its members. Finally,we’re going to be an association thatcelebrates in its success and has fun.”Survival“Is it enough to combat big box stores?asks Taniguchi rhetorically. “No, butHFIA will provide tools to help retailersand wholesalers become stronger.”Amemiya notes that as the retail landscapechanges, companies have to constantlyrethink their strategies, and so does HFIA.“Even big box stores can come and go,” shesays. “Historically, the biggest competitorshave been challenged. You can’t be statusquo. You have to find your niche or a newone to compete—and have good people, agood plan, and good leadership.”Taniguchi says it’s going to be tough,but believes there can be a niche foreveryone. He suggested that everybodyshould have a strategy to work withsuppliers. “Although we can’t gettogether to influence price,” he says,“[we can work] to establish relationshipsto help the industry as a whole. If localsuppliers remain strong, they are moreable to offer good pricing to retailers.As a wholesaler, Mike Walters, Love’sBakery president and HFIA ExecutiveCommittee immediate past chair,agrees: “Our direction is to developa stronger retail base to HFIA so wecan strengthen personal relationshipsoutside the office.” Strong relationships,he says, allow joint partnerships betweensuppliers and retailers. For example,a supplier and retailer may do ashort-term promotion together to attractconsumers and keep a brand name outin front while accepting lower margins.Walters is originally from Salt LakeCity, Utah, jesting that he was “one of 10Catholics” at the time. As a “crazy kid,”he volunteered for the Marine Corpsduring the Vietnam War, and later, whilegoing to school at the University of Utahat night, he did route sales for WonderBread (Continental Baking Company),launching a 40-year career in the bakingindustry. Walters was a psychology major,but was promoted to a supervisory positionand started a family and so didn’t finish hisdegree. He did well for himself though, ashe was promoted to general sales managerfor the San Diego bakery, then wasselected to be in an executive managementtraining program and was promoted togeneral manager of the Denver bakery.He later was promoted to vice presidentof sales for the Los Angeles region,then to general manager for NorthernCalifornia. Walters eventually left thecompany and did consulting, when he wasrecruited by a former mentor to becomeHo ‘omaika‘iBonny!Job well done!Wishing you successin your next year.24 HAWAII RETAIL GROCER - CONVENTION ISSUE 2011
Mike Walterspresident of Love’s Bakery in 2002. In2008, Love’s parent company wanted todivest the bakery. Walters was faced withthe bakery’s closure or had the option tobuy it. Selecting three key employees, hebought Love’s in 2008, and it once againbecame locally owned as it was back in1968. With employees stepping up tothe plate and a lot of hard work, Love’sBakery, established in Honolulu in1851, was returned to profitability.Walters would like to see retailersbecome more of a part of the HFIAenvironment and to have a greatervoice. He has confidence that ExecutiveCommittee decisions are being madeand will be made in the best interests ofboth suppliers and retailers. As past chair,Walters sees his role as supporting andrespecting the current chair’s vision.The Vision ThingA few of the Executive Committeemembers commented on hopes for thefuture. “Specifically, getting more retailersinto the organization and growing it by25% over the next three to five yearswould be a step in the right direction,” saysAlan Nakamura. “In my ‘crystal ball,’ I seeHFIA continuing to be a vibrant, energeticassociation which is seen as truly caringabout Hawaii’s people. New members willbe encouraged to participate in many ofour annual activities so a healthy successionplan can be put into place to strengthenHFIA as the years go by. There will befocus on legislation so we can continue toprovide the people of Hawaii with foodand beverages safely, affordably, and asefficiently as possible. Members will bekept abreast of major issues which mayaffect our industry, and will be encouragedto voice their thoughts and opinions.The feeling of ohana should continue toflourish well into the 21st century.”“One of the things I’d like to seewith HFIA going forward,” says BonnyAmemiya, “is to have the ability tomobilize the membership’s employeebase—several thousand of them—whenwe have legislative issues on the table. Itwould be significant to use web technologyto encourage members and their employeesto participate in the process and contactlegislators when they will be directlyimpacted. I would like to see our webpagegive a synopsis of issues and make it easyfor their voices to be heard. We could havea very powerful voice. Finally, I would likeHFIA to have an engaged membershipthat cares about social, as well as industryissues, one that can take the lead ineffecting changes that will make Hawaii abetter place to live and work.“It’s difficult to predict the future,”says Stan Brown. “Japan just experienceda devastating earthquake and tsunamiand they went from the world as theyknew it to one of survival.” Change canbe challenging and even sobering, and theparadigm we live in today may be gonetomorrow. Perhaps Brown sums it up best:“Whatever materializes, I would like tosay that HFIA would be in a position torepresent our industry. If we don’t, wewould cease to exist.”Get Savings, Security, Control and Convenienceall with ONE CARD!PLUS your business may qualify for monthly discountsthat can really add up.*To apply, visit www.TesoroFleet.com©2011 Tesoro Corporation. All rights reserved.*Fuel discounts offered by Tesoro are subject to change or cancellation at any time in Tesoro’s sole discretion and without prior notice.For discount terms and additional information, please visit www.tesorofleet.com.HAWAII RETAIL GROCER - CONVENTION ISSUE 2011 25CLIENT TESORO JOB # TE_11013
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Page 10 and 11: TRENDSOnce-Sizzling SoySuffers Seri
Page 12 and 13: New MembersALOHA PETROLEUM, LTD.PRO
Page 14 and 15: TRACEABILITY:Like Google for Your F
Page 16 and 17: HFIAZRELOADEDHow the Association is
Page 19: Proud to Serve Hawaiifor 63 Years.M
Page 23: AlohaLocally owned & operatedProudl
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Page 29 and 30: to chart a definite course for his
Page 31 and 32: 500 Exhibits! • industry sEminars
Page 33 and 34: Does your supplier offer programs l
Page 36: Serving Kauai’s FamiliesFor Over

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