SACRAMENTO, CA (December 1, 2014) – The California Grocers Association has promoted Doug Scholz to Senior Vice President, Business Development and Marketing, effectively immediately.

In this position, Scholz will continue being responsible for leading the Association’s member engagement, revenue development and overseeing the creation and execution of the marketing strategies to enhance CGA’s overall image. In addition, he will oversee the Association’s communications department.

“By combining the communications department with membership, conventions and marketing, CGA will maximize existing synergies and allow for greater uniform messaging, while streamlining our expanding marketing programs,” Fong said.

Scholz joined CGA in 2010 as Senior Director of Business Development and Strategic Partnership. He was promoted to Vice President of Business Development and Marketing in 2012.

“During the short time Doug has been with CGA he has done a fantastic job re-inventing the CGA Strategic Conference, driving membership to new heights and marketing our events at a highly professional level,” said Fong. “He has changed and innovated our programs, two of the key factors of our culture and path to the future.”

The 2012 elections will have a major impact on California politics. For the first time since 1933, one party now holds a super majority in both the Assembly and the Senate.

The California State Capitol has a new addition this holiday season – a 5,800 pound can replica of the State Capitol.

The replica is the creation of Canstruction – a national charity that showcases colossal structures made entirely of full cans of food. It will be on display near the East entrance to the Capitol through December, after which the cans of food will be donated to local charities.

Originally created for the CGA Strategic Conference this past September, the Capitol replica was disassembled, shipped to Sacramento and reconstructed by CGA staff on Nov. 7.

Food cans for the project were donated by Chicken of the Sea, Juanitas Foods and Unified Grocers, Inc.

“This is a terrific opportunity for CGA to showcase the fantastic work our industry does in helping the less fortunate,” said CGA President Ron Fong. “A special thank you goes to those companies donating product and time to make this happen.”

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – September 21, 2014 – In a historic partnership to strengthen California’s future grocery industry workforce, the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation has committed to provide scholarships, internship stipends and professional development opportunities to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Agribusiness Food Retail Management Program (CPAFRM) for the 2015-2016 academic year.

“By partnering with Cal Poly, we can provide financial assistance and infuse real-world knowledge and learning opportunities into the student experience,” said CGA President Ron Fong, “and help prepare practice-ready graduates who can step right into careers in our industry.”

The Memorandum of Understanding is a one-year commitment designed to help shape future generations of grocery industry professionals in a wide range of disciplines. CGAEF will award four (4) $5,000 scholarships to students having completed a minimum of 8 units of CPAFRM classes with a 3.0 grade point average. Additionally, the Foundation will provide a maximum of five (5) $1,000 stipends to help defray the costs of housing, food and transportation for students seeking an industry internship.

The MOU was announced at the CGA Strategic Conference in Palm Springs, Calif., on Sept. 21, 2014. In making the announcement, Fong said Cal Poly’s commitment to the grocery industry’s future workforce made it a natural partner to achieve the mutual goal of preparing graduates to make immediate and meaningful contributions to their employers and the industry as a whole.

“Hiring talented, experienced young people who enter the grocery industry with relevant experience not just in the classroom but in the workplace speeds up the orientation process, lowers costs for hiring and training, and accelerates productivity,” said Dr. Jay Noel, Department Chair, Agribusiness, Cal Poly.

The MOU represents the Foundation’s first higher-education partnership in its 22-year history. It hopes to expand the funding to other agribusiness-focused campuses throughout the California State University system.

The program will also facilitate internship opportunities with CGA-member companies and foster additional learning opportunities for students and faculty. The Foundation also agreed to encourage additional philanthropy and public-private partnerships from the grocery industry to provide additional hands-on learning opportunities, infuse industry-specific expertise into the curriculum, and identify future employees.

Beginning with a single scholarship in 1992, the Foundation has grown exponentially over the last 22 years to bestow nearly 2,900 worthy college students with awards totaling more than $3.4 million. In addition, the Foundation’s Career Development Tuition Reimbursement program has surpassed the $1 million mark in tuition reimbursement grants.

The CGA Educational Foundation was created under the direction of the California Grocers Association Board of Directors in 1992. Its mission is to provide financial assistance to advance the educational goals of CGA member company employees and their dependents and offer educational programs to advance the grocery industry. For more information, visit www.CGAEF.org.

View more information on Cal Poly’s Agribusiness Department Retail Management Program.

It has been a busy year so far for the California Grocers Association. CGA completed its merger with the California Independent Grocers Association, Gov. Jerry Brown discussed key state issues with the CGA Board of Directors, and this year’s CGA Educational Foundation Hall of Achievement inducted a grocery family and a long-time supplier executive.

Learn what else CGA has been up to in 2014 »

CGA Educational Foundation Celebrates Landmark Donation

Record gift will benefit employees of family-owned grocery companies

The California Grocers Association Educational Foundation recently received a record donation from the California Independent Grocers Association (CIGA) that will significantly expand the funding of college scholarships, tuition reimbursement and industry educational opportunities for independent grocer members of CGA and their dependents.

The $403,000 gift was the result of the recent merger between CIGA and CGA and represents the single largest donation to the Foundation’s 22-year history.

“We are proud to support the mission of CGAEF,” said former CIGA Executive Committee Chair Bob Parriott, Twain Harte Market. “At a time when students continuously struggle to continue their education while lessening their financial burden, this program ensures that hundreds of students in our industry will receive the financial support they need.”

Parriott presented the check to CGAEF Chair Jim Van Gorkom, NuCal Foods, at a recent CGA Board of Directors meeting. Also as part of the merger, former CIGA board member Kelly Augustine, United Markets, Inc., was elected to the CGAEF Board of Trustees.

“CIGA’s donation to CGAEF is a huge investment in the development of tomorrow’s grocery industry leaders,” said CGAEF President Ron Fong. “We are grateful for CIGA’s tremendous generosity and its members which allow the Foundation an opportunity to provide college scholarships to deserving students.”

Currently the largest statewide program in America supporting the grocery industry, the CGAEF’s College Scholarship and Career Development Programs offer $500,000 annually in financial relief from ever-rising costs that prevent many from completing their education.

Beginning with a single scholarship in 1992, the Foundation has grown exponentially over the last 22 years to bestow nearly 2,900 worthy college students with awards totaling more than $3.4 million—ensuring that California’s grocery employees and their dependents have the resources necessary to start or complete their higher education. In addition, the Foundation’s Career Development Tuition Reimbursement program has surpassed the $1 million mark in tuition reimbursement grants.

The CGA Educational Foundation was created under the direction of the California Grocers Association Board of Directors in 1992. Its mission is to provide financial assistance to advance the educational goals of CGA member company employees and their dependents and offer educational programs to advance the grocery industry.

For more information, visit www.CGAEF.org.

The California Grocers Association learned some valuable lessons about battling GMO labeling through its campaign against Proposition 37 in that state, said Ronald Fong, president and CEO of CGA.

In focus groups conducted after the campaign, in which the proposal to label GMO products in California was defeated in partnership with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, Fong said CGA learned that customers really don’t fault companies for campaigning against legislation that might harm their business.

However, that doesn’t mean customers are comfortable being prodded by their supermarkets on certain positions.

“We learned that grocers are regarded favorably, and we are trusted, but we are not trusted as a political messenger,” Fong said in a presentation at FMI Connect in Chicago on Friday. “They don’t want us to tell them how to vote.”

Among other findings from the focus groups:

• Within the store, customers trust produce managers more than anyone else if they have questions about GMOs, followed by the general store managers.
• Farmers themselves are highly regarded by consumers and trusted
• Consumers respond favorably to science-based information, such as scientific research that indicates findings about GMO safety.

“What we learned was, don’t cross the line and make it a political discussion,” he said. “Customers don’t want to have a political discussion with their grocer in the store.”

Reprinted from Supermarket News (6/13/2014)

Perfect weather greeted nearly 200 grocery retailers and suppliers participating in the 55th Annual Sonoma Golf at the Oakmont Golf Club in Santa Rosa, CA, on Wednesday, June 4.

“Conditions couldn’t have been more perfect,” said Ron Fong, CGA President/CEO. “We look forward to hosting this annual gathering of independent grocers and the companies that supply them in the years to come.”

2014 Sonoma Golf Tournament Winners

West Course

1st Place – 57 (low gross)
Dave Cato
Rich Larsaespada
Kevin Springer
Rob Braun

1st Place – 42 (low net)
Mike Stone
Rich Moresco
Matt Bloom
Jerry Boitano

2nd Place – 58 (low gross)
Brett Reiter
Jason Morris
Sal Perez
Aaron DeMuth

2nd Place – 44 (low net)
Doug Rager
Sarah Kennedy
Bob Weidinger
Shawn Hackbarth

Closest-to-Cup
No. 8 – Mark Ridinger (3′ 2″)
No. 13 – Mark Gleason (11.5″)

Longest Drive
Men – Brian Mauer
Women – Stephanie Bon

East Course

1st Place – 55 (low gross)
Russ Cox/Dan Brinker
Tom Keefer
Mike Keefer
Kip Evans

1st Place – 43 (low net)
Mitch Caselberry
Joel Fanfelle
Thin Than
Steve Abela

2nd Place – 57 (low gross)
John Bort
Richard Alberton
Mike Robinson
Maurice Robinson

2nd Place – 45 (low net)
Ed Belcher
Eddie Robles
Larry Wallace
Earl Gordon

Closest-to-Cup
No. 5
No. 11 – Gary Carver

Longest Drive
Thin Tran

Thank You Sponsors

We would like to thank the many companies that participated in sponsorships at this event. Their on-going support helps to make the Sonoma Golf Tournament a tremendous success!

C&S Wholesale Grocers
Tee Prize/Golf Balls

Unified Grocers, Inc.
Awards

Safe Credit Union
Awards

Clover Stornetta
Hosted Bar

Gallo Sales Company
Dinner Wine

Tony’s Fine Foods
Grand Prize Raffle – TV

J. Woods Beverage Group
Port & Cigars

Following is a statement from the Yes on SB 270 Coalition regarding the passage in the California Assembly Committee on Natural Resources committee today. SB 270 will reduce harmful pollution, create sustainable jobs and help California’s 100+ jurisdictions that already have banned certain single-use plastic carryout bags. The measure now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

“Today signifies an important step forward for California’s economy and environment. In a committee room crowded with supporters for a single bill, the overriding message emerged that we can make positive environmental changes yet continue to grow jobs in California through good public policy. As we heard today from a wide range of supporters, SB 270 is good public policy. It will fuel California’s economy by sparking innovation and creating new sustainable, homegrown jobs, while helping businesses and consumers alike to navigate the patchwork of city and county ordinances. We commend Sens. Alex Padilla (D-Los Angeles), Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) and Ricardo Lara (D-Los Angeles) for their leadership on this issue.”

The Yes on SB 270 Coalition includes dozens of groups spanning many arenas, including environmental advocacy groups, California cities and counties, grocers, large and small retailers, California-based manufacturers and waste management associations.