Michigan Grocers Association Names Legislator of the Year

Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) has named State Representative Ray Franz (R-Onekama) Legislator of the Year. Franz was honored for authoring a state law to create a temporary liquor license for business owners awaiting finalization of a permanent liquor license transfer.

"Representative Franz’s law is really a game-changer in liquor licensing,” said MGA President/CEO Linda Gobler. “Before it passed, transferring a liquor license could take several months. That is a lot of time for businesses to lose sales, which prevents them from serving customers and also hurts the bottom line.”

The law now requires the liquor control commission to issue a conditional license to qualified applicants within 20 business days.

Rep. Franz is a long-time grocer. He purchased Kenny’s Market in Onekama in 1978, renaming it Franz Market and operating it for 30 years. Then, in 1998, he opened a store in Bear Lake that he ran for 11 years. He was presented with the award at MGA’s Legislative Reception earlier this month in Lansing; more than 100 MGA members, legislators and state department leaders and other officials were present.

Founded in 1898, MGA represents more than 230 food companies, including retailers that operate almost 500 stores.