AHEAD OF WHAT’S NEXT By Bridget Goldschmidt
In the Rooms Where It Happens THE NATIONAL GROCERS ASSOCIATION’S FLY-IN FOR FAIR COMPE TITION OFFERED A CHANCE TO PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF THE LEGISL ATIVE PROCESS.
I spoke with NGA President and CEO Greg Ferrara after the association’s fly-in event.
his past June 8, I found myself traversing Targeted Approach the corridors of power. This was not on my According to Greg Ferrara, president own account, but rather to observe the Naand CEO of Washington, D.C.-based tional Grocers Association’s Fly-In for Fair NGA, whom I spoke with later that day, Competition in action. The event involved the fly-in event, which this year includindependent grocers meeting with congressed 100-plus meetings, “lays the groundpeople and their staffs on Capitol Hill to urge work for our teams now to spend the enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act, next weeks and months going back and an antitrust law passed way back in 1936, to following up with the offices, fulfilling give indies a level playing field when it comes commitments, getting them more inforto competing against the big guys. mation and then connecting back.” Following a breakfast keynote address As for the decision to focus this year on antitrust issues by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., I tagged along on antitrust as the main issue affecting with various contingents of independent grocers as they met with sevindependents, Ferrara explained: “We’ve eral U.S. representatives, listening in as these small-busidiscovered doing smaller or ness owners described the difficulties of operating in the targeted events, or focused present economic climate — inflation, supply chain snarls “We’re a member on one issue ... is the most and the pandemic are making things difficult for every- organization. It’s why effective right now today body — as well as trying to keep pace with much larger we exist and why we for what we do.” As an rivals that are able not only to undercut indies on prices, do what we do for our example of how well this but also dominate access to supply and shut out smaller approach works, he noted members.” operators from certain products. This is a particularly that in every one of the 10 critical issue in areas where the independent operates the —Greg Ferrara, NGA or so meetings he had takonly grocery store in an underserved urban or rural area en part in that day, “we got that would otherwise be a food desert. commitments to sign on to” the PromoThe stories told by grocers were heartfelt, and the congresspeople and tion of Small Business Competition Act, aides they visited in their offices listened respectfully and asked on-point which would give the Small Business Adquestions. These were, in most cases, their constituents, after all, with the ministration the ability to study and report power to potentially vote them out of office, but beyond that, I saw a real on the extent to which antitrust enforceinterest on the part of lawmakers and their staffs in trying to understand the ment protects competition by small busipain points of local grocers — more than I expected, frankly. nesses — not just grocers. Having its finger on the pulse of what’s most important to independent grocery retailers and wholesalers is how NGA is able to serve them so ably. “We’re a member organization,” Ferrara emphasized. “It’s why we exist and why we do what we do for our members. That’s why we knew that this was the issue. This was the time to do it. And the feedback that I’ve heard so far today is overwhelming success.” NGA’s Fly-In for Fair Competition enabled independent grocery retailers and wholesalers to meet with members of Congress, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
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Bridget Goldschmidt Managing Editor bgoldschmidt@ensemleiq.com
