WASHINGTON REPORT
Independent Partnerships for the Future G R EG F ER R A R A PR E S IDE N T AN D CEO N AT ION AL GR OCER S AS S OCIATIO N
The 2022 NGA Show, held at the end of February, was another successful gathering that fortified retailers, wholesalers and suppliers with the insights, best practices, and forward-thinking guidance they need to thrive in today’s highly competitive grocery marketplace This year’s show, held at the Caesars Forum Convention Center in Las Vegas, was also the first showcase for three new initiatives from NGA and its strategic partners. Certainly, one of the most important investments a grocery retailer can make is shopper insights – data that helps operators stay at least one step ahead of the market. Large chain retailers have been devoting significant resources to Big Data, leaving smaller operators at a disadvantage. Now there’s a way for independents to flex their collective analytics muscle. NGA and retail software solutions provider BRdata have teamed up to help independent community grocers leverage data analytics to stay abreast of key market trends and drive sales. NGA Independent Insights powered by BRdata, an independent-centric cloud-based program, allows users to see item and category trends among independents nationwide to more easily determine what trending items are not selling or underselling, along with underperforming categories.
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NGA Independent Insights will allow users to drill down on top trends in their region and state, compare trends among stores of similar sizes and in similar areas (i.e., suburban small city, urban and rural), and predict categories that will be trending in the near future. This solution makes reams of important marketplace data digestible and easily accessible to grocery operators of any size.
The past two years have revealed a heightened awareness of food safety and overall enhanced sanitation. To that end, NGA has named Ecolab, the global leader in hygiene, water and infection prevention solutions and services, as its food safety partner as part of a new suite of resources available to NGA member companies.
Food safety and enhanced sanitation practices have always been paramount for independent community grocers. The training, guidance, and depth of knowledge provided by Ecolab will help ensure our members’ adherence to the highest food safety standards and boost confidence and trust among their consumers. NGA members will be able to access online food safety training that reinforces the fundamentals and introduces the latest innovations. Additionally, operators will find information about how to register for webinars on food safety regulations and opportunities available through Ecolab, including links to Ecolab’s thought leadership, solutions, and services. More information can be found online as it becomes available. Last but certainly not least, NGA and The Tomorrow Group are working together to deliver new, forward-thinking content and experiences to the independent supermarket industry, with a focus beyond tech on the total store – reimagining layout and design, and innovation in retail outside of the supermarket, as well as emerging technology.
