VGA = Vermont Grocers Association

The Vermont Grocers' Association is a statewide trade association representing all sectors of the Vermont food industry. Approximately 670 stores belong to the organization, including supermarkets, superettes, convenience and country stores along with over 200 suppliers to the industry.. read more »

• Guilford Country Store Seeks Operator

  Friends Of Algiers Village, Inc., (FOAVI), a 501(c)(3) organization, is seeking proposals from qualified store operators to lease and run the store operation in the historic 1817 Broad Brook House. The building is in the heart of the Algiers Village section of Guilford and stands at the busy intersection of U.S. 5, the Coolidge Highway, and the Guilford Center Road. For more information.

• Peter Welch to be recognized at Convention

  Vermont Congressman Peter Welch will be honored at the upcoming food industry convention at the Welcome Reception on September 24 at the Fleming Museum at UVM. Peter Larkin, the new president of the National Grocers Association, is expected to join VGA at the reception in appreciation of the work that Congressman Welch has done for the industry on card fees and restrictions placed on retailers.

• Convention Registrations now Open

  The Spirit of 76, VGA's annual convention & expo will be held September 24-26 at the Sheraton Burlington and Miller South Centre at the Champlain Valley Exposition in Essex Junction, VT. Rusty DeWees as The Logger will highlight the Saturday Banquet. Registration is now open.
  Brochure
  Registration Form
  Hotel Reservations (overflow now at Holiday Inn)
  Exhibit Information
  Sponsor Opportunities
                                          

   

• Bottling & Selling of Growlers at stores no longer allowed

  Recently some stores began bottling and selling beer in "growlers" as originally approved by the Liquor Control Board. We have just learned that upon closer examination, DLC through the advice of the Attorney General's office, has concluded that second class licensees can no longer bottle product from kegs at their store and sell to the public.

• Important Industry Victory on Interchange Fees in Washington!

  Congress completed action on the financial reform legislation, which was signed into law by President Obama. Included in the bill was an amendment initially offered by Senator Durbin that will regulate debit card interchange fees, allow discounting and other incentives for lower cost forms of payment (cash, checks or debit cards) and allow merchants to set minimum purchase requirements up to $10 for credit card purchases.

  Vermont Congressman Peter Welch and Senator Pat Leahy played key roles getting the amendment included in the final bill. Welch, Leahy and Sanders all supported the legislation.

  Overview of Card Networks Reforms from NACS
  FAQ on Card Networks Reforms from NACS
  FMI Guidance on Implementing Card Network Reforms

• New Member Summer Special!

   VGA is pleased to offer a special introductory offer to new retail and associate members this summer. Just $89 for retail stores and $129 for associates. For more information.

• Scholarship Golf a Success!

  Another full filed of over 250 golfers participated in the annual Grocers Scholarship Golf Outing on June 9 at the Green Mountain National Golf Course in Killington, VT. The overall low gross team was from P & H Trucking, led by Gene Pushee.

  Program guide from event. Photos

• Vermont Grocers’ Awards $21,500 in Scholarships

  Vermont Grocers' Association is pleased to announce its scholarship winners chosen for the 2010-2011 academic year. Thirteen high school graduates were selected to receive grants to be applied to their college education expenses. The awards totaled $21,500, the largest in the program's history.

  VGA's Scholarship Program was established to provide financial assistance to promising students to further their education. Funds are raised through a June golf tournament and several events at the organization's fall conference.
  2010 - 2011 Scholarship Recipients and their affiliated stores/companies.

• New - Daily Industry News Feed from MorningNewsBeat.com & FDA Food Recall Information

  We are pleased to bring members a daily news service from morningnewsbeat.com through an RSS feed on our website. It is posted daily under News & Events tab. Also posted is a RSS feed from the Food & Drug Administration on Food Safety Alerts & Recalls.

• Important Links

  Pay your membership dues online with PayPal, Department of Liquor Control Training Sessions, Becoming an authorized retailer for 3SquaresVT (formally food stamps), Vermont Specialty Food Association, Vermont Alliance of Independent Country Stores, Vermont Food Stores, Online Training Courses, Vermont Farm to Plate Initiative and more.

• Recent Regulatory Updates

  2010 Vermont Changes to Unemployment Fund for Employers, Liquor Control Rule Changes, Federal HIRE Act to hire the unemployed, Buy Local info, Draft Bottle Bill Rule Changes, Stage II, COBRA subsidary extension, Special Excess Weight Permit for Interstate & More