Minnesota Grocers Association

The Minnesota Grocers Association was founded as the Minnesota Retail Grocers and General Merchants Association in 1897. It was the first state association of its kind.[1] The goal of this association was to seek solutions, develop better ways of doing things, and present a united front against the legislation that threatened member businesses.[2]

By 1897, chain stores like A&P, Kroger and Grand Union already existed. These chain stores were innovative and used lower cash and carry prices, no delivery, and no credit to streamline costs. Chain stores were able to get discounts from manufacturers until the passage of the Robinson-Patman Act in 1936, making price preferences illegal. Associations of independent grocers were established to fight the chains’ growing strength and influence.[3]

Over time, the MRG/GMA expanded its services to members by offering promotional ideas, information on trends, operational tips on marketing, merchandising displays, attention to accounting procedures and best business practices. During World War II, the association helped grocers by advising on ways to promote conservation both in-house and among consumers. To conserve energy, lighting plans were developed and distributed by the association. Stores also acted as collection centers for used tin and cooking fats. Also, during that time, the MGR/GMA employed people who would visit stores to help with the "arrangement of goods."[4]

After WWII, the association changed its name to the Minnesota Food Retailers Association and began publishing a magazine entitled Minnesota Food Guide. Growth continued for the association for the next generation, with the establishment of the Coupon Clearing House in 1965 to fund new initiatives by fighting for manufacturers to pay a handling fee for coupon collection.[5]

The MFRA had to respond to the rapid growth in non-food sales that came in the seventies, and worked for 14 years to pass Minnesota’s “Pill Bill,” allowing grocers to sell medications traditionally limited exclusively to pharmacies. In the seventies, the association was a leader in fighting mandatory beverage container deposits that forced retailers to collect waste associated with soft drinks.

In 1985, the name Minnesota Grocers Association was adopted, along with an overhaul of the quarterly magazine, now entitled Minnesota Grocer. Legislative responsibilities grew throughout the 80s and 90s, as retailers began expanding by selling items like fresh seafood, salad bars, flowers, natural and organic foods, and offering catering.[6]

Each of these items brought new government regulations that required attention from the MGA. Retailers were now involved with safety regulations surrounding prepared food, seafood and meat labeling, and organic certification. This expansion in sales categories also led to more complicated sales tax laws and prompted the MGA to publish a book detailing the guidelines for businesses.[7]

At the dawn of a new century, things once again changed for the food retail industry. Walmart was well into its grocery expansion, and bargain retailers began to move into small towns, threatening the traditional grocer. Once again, the MGA was there to help, offering increased opportunities for retailers to learn from peers and vendors. One way was the MGA Summer Conference, and a second was through Vendor Leadership Lunches. At the legislature, the MGA worked on industry issues like health care reform, sustainability, and workforce regulation. There was also a strong effort by the MGA to allow the sale of wine in grocery stores. Everything the Association did in the new millennium was based on the theory that grocers existed to help consumers, provide careers, and serve the community.[8]

The retail food industry always understood that it is important to give back to the community, so a scholarship program was developed. This provided tuition assistance to employees or their children, helping to grow the next generation of retail leaders. Those leaders will soon take the reins of industry, and the MGA has started the Emerging Leadership Board to help with the transition from baby boomers to Generation X.

Food PAC of Minnesota

The Food PAC of Minnesota was established in the mid-1970s to get Minnesota’s food retail industry into the political arena. The Food PAC is the political arm of the Minnesota Grocers Association and touts a mission of helping to elect pro-business candidates regardless of party or other affiliation. The Food PAC of MN collects personal funds from MGA members and uses them to help create a pro-business legislature. .[9]

MGA Foundation

The Minnesota Grocers Association Foundation was established in 1992 to offer educational opportunities to the retail food industry, provide scholarships to employees of member companies or their children, support community efforts and initiatives through grants, and present important industry information to the general public. It has supported many notable programs and has awarded $235,000 in scholarships.[10]

“Minnesota’s Own”

The “Minnesota’s Own” program was started in 2006 as a way to promote Minnesota products in Minnesota stores. It has since grown into a program that has provided millions of meals for hungry people through donations from consumers, retailers and vendors.

Now running every October, participating “Minnesota’s Own” retailers and food manufacturers create displays for a chance to win $1,000 dollars that will be donated to their local food shelves. This money is in addition to donations given during the actual program. Displays are judged based on creativity and use of product.[11]

MGA annual events

Legislative dinner

Each year in late winter, the MGA hosts a dinner that features speakers who are involved in Minnesota politics. The goal of the dinner is to educate MGA members on the goals and priorities of the legislative session using primary sources. Recent speakers have included Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch, Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Mark Phillips, House Speaker Kurt Zellers, Former House Majority Leader Tony Sertich, KSTP political reporter Tom Hauser, Former Revenue Commissioner Ward Einess, and Senate Minority Leader Tom Bakk.

In recent years at the Legislative Dinner, the MGA has returned to the tradition of naming a Minnesota Grocers Association Legislator of the Year. Winners have included:

Golf tournament

The Annual MGA Vendor Leadership Golf Event is the primary fundraiser for the MGA Scholarship program. The golf event includes a silent auction and prize drawings as well as contests on different holes. In 2010, twenty-five scholarships were awarded due to proceeds from this event.

IndustryConnects

The newest of the MGA annual events started in 2011 and is designed to connect vendors, retailers, government, and the MGA itself. The event involves a networking period followed by industry and government speakers who work to demonstrate the benefits of necessary relationships between attendees at the event.

Summer Conference

The Annual MGA Summer Conference is the association’s marquee event. It is a three-day event intended for MGA members and their families that includes an awards dinner, a cocktail reception, an industry seminar, a golf tournament, lake tours, a family picnic, and an inspirational speaker. At the dinner, awards are given for Outstanding Grocer, Outstanding Vendor, and MGA Hall of Fame. These awards are highly coveted, and biographical presentations are given on each award winner.

Hall of Fame inductees

Sr., Harold “Shorty” Finch, Dwight Holmquist

Jack Hooley, George Levine

Fred Sheridan

Outstanding Grocer Award winners

Outstanding Vendor Award winners

Best Bagger

Each August, the MGA hosts a statewide Best Bagger Competition. Stores hold competitions to determine their contestants, and a state competition is held at the Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. The winner of this event goes on to compete in the National Best Bagger Championship in Las Vegas, NV and also receives a cash prize.

Best Bagger winners

Date Winner Store Location 1989 Robb Wintheiser Coborn's, Sauk Rapids Minneapolis Convention Center 1990 Dean Reller Coborn's, Sauk Rapids Minneapolis Convention Center 1991 Craig Thorvig Chris' Foods, Sandstone Minneapolis Convention Center 1992 Matt Gangl Chris' Foods, Sandstone MN State Fair 1993 Dane Klar Chris' Foods, Sandstone State Fair Grounds 1994 Greg Feia Coborn's, Sartell Radisson South Hotel 1995 Patrick Maloney Chris' Foods, Sandstone MN State Fair 1996 Jake Paulson Soderquists, Soderville MN State Fair 1997 Brandon Kreklau Ernies Market MN State Fair 1998 Haver Owaleon Coborn's, Little Falls MN State Fair 1999 Misty Kreklau Ernies Market MN State Fair 2000 Ben Lochner Coborn's, Little Falls Mall of America 2001 Ryan Griffith Supervalu, Morris Mall of America 2002 Joe Battaglia Chris' Foods, Sandstone Mall of America 2003 Andrew Seymour Chris' Foods, Sandstone Mall of America 2004 Kyle Schultz Chris' Foods, Sandstone Mall of America 2005 Brandon Johnson Chris' Foods, Sandstone Mall of America 2006 Jon Sandell Chris' Foods, Sandstone Mall of America 2007 Breanne Haapala Lunds Navarre Mall of America 2008 Jake Jensen Chris' Foods, Sandstone Mall of America 2009 Jessie Seamans Lunds Navarre Mall of America 2010 Matt Medley Lunds Penn Avenue Mall of America

References

  1. ↑ Bohen, Jim (1997). "MGA - A Century of Success". Minnesota Grocer (Summer): 14–35.
  2. ↑ Bohen, Jim (1997). "MGA - A Century of Success". Minnesota Grocer (Summer): 14–35.
  3. ↑ Bohen, Jim (1997). "MGA - A Century of Success". Minnesota Grocer (Summer): 14–35.
  4. ↑ Bohen, Jim (1997). "MGA - A Century of Success". Minnesota Grocer (Summer): 14–35.
  5. ↑ Bohen, Jim (1997). "MGA - A Century of Success". Minnesota Grocer (Summer): 14–35.
  6. ↑ Bohen, Jim (1997). "MGA - A Century of Success". Minnesota Grocer (Summer): 14–35.
  7. ↑ http://www.mngrocers.com
  8. ↑ http://www.mngrocers.com
  9. ↑ Bohen, Jim (1997). "MGA - A Century of Success". Minnesota Grocer (Summer): 14–35.
  10. ↑ http://www.mngrocers.com
  11. ↑ http://www.mngrocers.com