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NGA, ROFDA suspend planned merger

Independent grocery trade groups cite ‘unexpected circumstances’

Russell Redman

January 16, 2020

2 Min Read
NGA-ROFDA merger.PNG
Plans called for the National Grocers Association to acquire Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates, with the agreement expected to close earlier this month.National Grocers Association

The National Grocers Association (NGA) and Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) have halted plans to merge.

In announcing the move Thursday, NGA declined to publicly release details on why the NGA-ROFDA merger was being suspended. Members have been notified, NGA said. The organizations unveiled the merger in early November.

“In light of a number of unexpected circumstances, NGA and ROFDA have decided to pause the planned acquisition of ROFDA by NGA. While our two organizations continue to share a strong and collaborative relationship, it’s clear now is not the time to proceed as originally planned,” NGA President and CEO Greg Ferrara and ROFDA Chairman David Bullard said in a joint statement.

Plans called for ROFDA to be integrated into the combined entity under the NGA umbrella. The NGA-ROFDA merger had been approved by both NGA’s and ROFDA’s boards of directors and was expected to be completed on Jan. 1.

NGA plans to revisit the merger issue at its next board meeting in February, when the association holds its NGA Show 2020 annual conference. The event runs Feb. 23 to 26 in San Diego.

“Our organizations will continue working closely on programs and initiatives that are beneficial and bring value to our members. In fact, ROFDA will be hosting a number of share groups and meetings in conjunction with the NGA Show held this February,” Ferrara and Bullard stated. “Both of our organizations are committed to ensuring a vibrant independent supermarket industry, and we plan to continue our important work on behalf of our members while collaborating as we have for decades.”

Related:National Grocers Association, ROFDA to merge

In explaining the rationale behind their planned merger, NGA and ROFDA had said they were melding their organizations in a “shared mission to ensure a robust independent supermarket industry while continuing to provide a forum and platform for cooperative wholesalers.” Under the arrangement, ROFDA’s share groups and buying programs would continue to operate.

Pinson, Ala.-based ROFDA represents wholesale cooperatives, as well as associate members and suppliers, serving independent grocery and food retailers. Its eight co-op members are Affiliated Foods (Amarillo, Texas), Associated Food Stores (Salt Lake City), Associated Grocers of New England (Pembroke, N.H.), Associated Grocers (Baton Rouge, La.), Associated Wholesale Grocers (Kansas City, Kan.), CERTCO (Madison, Wis.), Piggly Wiggly AL Distributing Co. (Bessemer, Ala.) and U.R.M. Stores (Spokane, Wash.).

NGA describes itself as the only trade association focused exclusively on the independent grocery and food retail industry. The Arlington, Va.-based association, which represents more than 1,500 independent supermarket companies, said the independent grocery sector generates $131 billion in annual sales. Along with retail and wholesale grocers, NGA members include state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers.

Related:NGA appoints Greg Ferrara as next president, CEO

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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