Focus on community allows independent grocers to compete

The National Grocers Association annual conference at the San Diego Convention Center included a session called “Thriving as an Independent” in which four industry leaders told the audience why independent retailers will continue to be successful even with chain mergers, discount department stores expanding into groceries and online only companies.

Independent Grocers Alliance president and CEO John Ross, Associated Wholesale Grocers president and CEO David Smith, UNFI/SuperValu executive vice president for wholesale Mike Stigers and Affiliated Foods president and CEO Randy Arceneaux were the...