RememberWHEN...Walt Macey, First Chairmanof NGA and his wife Mary.Recalling The Challenges inNGA’s Early DaysTOM JACKSONFormer President, Ohio <strong>Grocers</strong> <strong>Association</strong>HOW EXCITING IT WAS for me <strong>to</strong> move from Michigan <strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> Washing<strong>to</strong>n, DCarea in 1983. And, <strong>to</strong> add <strong>to</strong> that excitement, <strong>the</strong> thrill and challenge of helping builda new association with a great and formidable mission – <strong>to</strong> be <strong>the</strong> exclusive voiceof independent grocers and <strong>the</strong> wholesalers who served <strong>the</strong>m.William Reitz, Scott’s Food S<strong>to</strong>res,Rebecca Range, Deputy Assistant <strong>to</strong><strong>the</strong> President, Actress Martha Smithand Tom Zaucha, NGA.Left <strong>to</strong> Right – Tom Zaucha,Former US Representative CarrollHubbard, and Tom WenningWe were plowing new ground daily, withprograms, membership, and sponsors. WhenNARGUS merged with CFDA <strong>to</strong> formNGA, it changed <strong>the</strong> relationship between <strong>the</strong>“national” association and <strong>the</strong> state grocersassociation. Formerly, <strong>the</strong>re existed a looselystructured federation type relationship. So, ifa grocer was a member of a state association,membership in NARGUS was au<strong>to</strong>matic. Thiswas not <strong>the</strong> case in every state, but many hadadopted this arrangement.In <strong>the</strong> wisdom and association prowess ofTom Zaucha, he knew that <strong>the</strong> new NGAcould not survive and serve this importantindustry segment under <strong>the</strong>se conditions.Ergo, NGA changed <strong>to</strong> a direct membershipprogram. This new system created some unrestwith state grocers associations around <strong>the</strong>country. As vice president of industry relations,it was my job <strong>to</strong> res<strong>to</strong>re good, productive relationshipswith every state grocers association.At that time, <strong>the</strong>re were o<strong>the</strong>r nationalassociations who had plenty of resources <strong>to</strong>enhance <strong>the</strong>ir relationships with state associations.Conversely, NGA had limited resources.But, because of <strong>the</strong> independent grocer focusof NGA, in time we enjoyed new and strongerrelationships with <strong>the</strong> states. Undoubtedly, thiswas a time of great challenge and uncertaintyfor NGA. All of us who made up one of <strong>the</strong>earlier teams for Tom Zaucha knew that we had<strong>to</strong> work hard <strong>to</strong> carve out and create <strong>the</strong> respectand stature necessary for an association thatadvocated for <strong>the</strong> independent food distributionindustry. The persistence and perseverancepaid off – look at NGA <strong>to</strong>day!6 | NATIONAL GROCERS ASSOCIATION WWW.NATIONALGROCERS.ORG
“Working Toge<strong>the</strong>r With Our Suppliers...PATRICK QUINNFor Our Mutual Benefit.” 1989 NGA ChairmanREMEMBERWHEN...THERE ARE MANY VALUES THAT NGA PROVIDES for <strong>the</strong> independentretailer and wholesaler, such as <strong>the</strong> opportunity for face-<strong>to</strong>-face time with <strong>the</strong>government <strong>to</strong> present our case on a variety of issues. We should always be ready <strong>to</strong>recognize changing circumstances that may affect our industry.We should also be ready <strong>to</strong> recognize changingbusiness circumstances that could affect ourindividual operations, as well as impact ourindustry. In this area, NGA was instrumentalin creating opportunities <strong>to</strong> bring us closer <strong>to</strong>our suppliers <strong>to</strong> understand <strong>the</strong> needs we eachhad, and <strong>to</strong> help us work closely <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r formutual benefits.The most important initiative that weunder<strong>to</strong>ok was a conference attended by retailand wholesale members of NGA, joined byrepresentatives of industry manufacturers. Atthis meeting, we sought input as <strong>to</strong> what were<strong>the</strong> things we should be looking at as we planfor <strong>the</strong> future. One of <strong>the</strong> great suggestionsfor us (Spartan S<strong>to</strong>res) was that we shouldconcentrate on center s<strong>to</strong>re products. We didindeed head in that direction, a very positivemove for <strong>the</strong> company in sales of our centers<strong>to</strong>re products.“The Constant Concern... MergingWholesale and Retail Toge<strong>the</strong>r”WE WERE STILL IN THE BUILDING PROCESS with many issues goingon at <strong>the</strong> same time, and that’s what sticks in my mind as most important. The constantconcern was merging wholesale and retail <strong>to</strong>ge<strong>the</strong>r. We were fortunate <strong>to</strong> have agreat leader in Tom Zaucha, and he surrounded himself with an outstanding staff. Theydid a great job keeping both groups involved.Ano<strong>the</strong>r very important item was governmentrelations. We were continually involved withour legisla<strong>to</strong>rs, in giving <strong>the</strong>m an understandingof our objectives as independent grocers,and explaining why we needed help in makinga level playing field for all of us.This representation of our objectives was goingon at <strong>the</strong> same time with state and federal legisla<strong>to</strong>rs.And while all of this was happening, we alsoneeded <strong>to</strong> educate our own members about <strong>the</strong>issues so that we would be effective in explaining<strong>the</strong> association’s objectives <strong>to</strong> legisla<strong>to</strong>rs.WILLIAM REITZ1988 NGA ChairmanIn <strong>the</strong> growth of NGA, our goal was <strong>to</strong>become a viable, respectable organization, involvedin government affairs, and sharing eacho<strong>the</strong>r’s knowledge with all independent grocers.Now, <strong>to</strong> talk about our company, Scott’sFood S<strong>to</strong>res. We never would have been <strong>the</strong>company we turned out <strong>to</strong> be without NGA.They supplied us with education, introducedus <strong>to</strong> people in <strong>the</strong> industry who helped us inso many different ways, as we competed withchain s<strong>to</strong>re operations. We were better opera<strong>to</strong>rsby being a member of NGA.We ThankIndustry SupportFor Our EducationInitiativesDEAN JANEWAY1997 NGA ChairmanSUPPORT FOR OUR VITALprograms comes not only frommember dues, but also from foodindustry suppliers who recognize<strong>the</strong> value of maintaining a vigorouseffort for education and information through tradeshows and conferences, and for programs thatsupport our grass roots initiatives in reaching out <strong>to</strong>legisla<strong>to</strong>rs and regula<strong>to</strong>rs.O<strong>the</strong>r organizations also seek support for <strong>the</strong>irprograms, but our unique role as <strong>the</strong> voice of<strong>the</strong> independent sec<strong>to</strong>r of <strong>the</strong> supermarketindustry is of special interest. The demonstratedability of NGA <strong>to</strong> represent thousands of independen<strong>to</strong>pera<strong>to</strong>rs across <strong>the</strong> country is a powerfulasset, and that strength will grow through<strong>the</strong> years as more independent opera<strong>to</strong>rs recognize<strong>the</strong> benefits of NGA membership.Our financial stability is a crucial fac<strong>to</strong>r inmaintaining our initiatives, and we welcomeindustry support in our education and informationefforts, of value <strong>to</strong> all of us.30TH ANNIVERSARY THE COMMEMORATIVE ISSUE | 7
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