to view the 30th Anniversary Magazine - National Grocers Association

“A NEW TRADITION”BEGINS…WITH THE INCORPORATION OF THE NATIONAL GROCERS ASSOCIATIONon October 1, 1982, the new national trade association representing food independent retailersand retailer-owned cooperative and wholesalers became a reality. At the time NGA was created,the country was emerging from a severe recession. Interest rates, inflation and unemploymentwere high. Chief among independent grocers’ concerns was the rapid growth of super warehousestores, merger and acquisition activity among chains and predatory pricing. A price war was ragingin Indianapolis, which drew Federal Trade Commission interest and the Justice Departmentwas getting ready to overturn a 25-year decent decree that restricted pricing activities in Texasand New Mexico. These were just some on a long list of issues that the new association wouldhave to grapple with in order to keep the playing field level for independent grocers and helppreserve consumer choice.The association was the result of a mergerbetween the National Association of RetailGrocers of the United States (NARGUS),representing independent retailers and smallchains, and Cooperative Food Distributorsof America (CFDA), representing cooperativewholesalers. Both NARGUS andCFDA had long histories in serving theirsegments of the industry. With the mergerof the two organizations, it was the firsttimeindependent retailers and wholesalersjoined under one organization.While NGA has always had a prominentand robust public affairs department committedto providing a comprehensive governmentrelations program, the association recognizedthat a core purpose was to offer all members astrong educational program with a curriculumapproach, geared towards the operational needsof both retailers and wholesalers.NGA has always (and will continue to)champion the need for keeping the independentsector strong — and their importance inmaintaining a competitive environment forconsumers, for ensuring a diversity of productsin the marketplace and the impact independentshave on the community.0204010301 Houston Grocers visit their Representatives during theWashington Conference in 1994.02 NGA members, the Graul Family, named the 1987 Grocersof the Year.03 Senator Steve Symms (R-ID) right, receives the NGA Spirt ofAmerica Award from NGA member William Long and his wifeDoreen and daughter Jennifer of Waremark Inc. (now WinCoFoods) in Boise, ID.04 Members packed a busy tradeshow show floor at the 1994Annual Convention.30TH ANNIVERSARY THE COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE | 1