Jim Rogers Wins NGA Leadership Award

Jim Rogers, president and CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York, has been honored as the 2011 recipient of the National Grocers Association’s Association Leadership Award.

“Jim’s dedication to his members and his commitment to the continued success of the independent grocer is an example for us all,” NGA President and CEO Peter Larkin said upon presenting the award March 30 at the NGA/FMI/FIAE Day in Washington. “As a member of the NGA Board of Directors, Jim’s leadership and insight has been an asset not only to his fellow board members, but importantly to the membership of NGA.”

Rogers’ accomplishments at FIANY include reform of New York’s item pricing law and curbing attempts to expand bottle laws. Last year, Rogers’ team protected merchants by successfully fighting off an initiative that would have prohibited surcharges on debit card transactions. Rogers and his staff continue the fight for all supermarkets to be able to better serve their customers by selling wine in their stores.

“Jim’s focus is always on fighting what is best for his members and New York’s supermarket industry,” Larkin said. “The entire supermarket industry is fortunate to have an advocate like Jim.”

Past recipients of this award include Pat Hicks, retired executive director of the Kentucky Grocers Association; Jerry Fleagle, president of the Iowa Grocery Industry Association, Kathy Siefken, executive director of the Nebraska Grocery Industry Association; Jim Olsen, past president and CEO of the Utah Food Industry Association and current president of FIAE; and Tom Jackson, president and CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association.

NGA is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry.