Independent Grocery Organizations NGA, ROFDA Team Up

Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) will merge under the National Grocers Association (NGA), bringing together two organizations with a shared mission to ensure a robust independent grocery industry with a platform for cooperative wholesalers. The merger will take effect Jan. 1, 2020.

“NGA is pleased to welcome ROFDA into the NGA family. Our two organizations and missions have been closely aligned for decades and this is a natural next step,” said Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of Arlington, Va.-based NGA. “Cooperative wholesalers play an important role in serving the independent supermarket industry. NGA looks forward to working closely with ROFDA’s members and associates to preserve what has made ROFDA special, while supporting their share groups and programs.”

ROFDA’s current share groups and buying programs will continue to operate under the joint organization and currently represents eight cooperative wholesaler members.

“We have valued the strong partnership we’ve had with NGA over the years and look forward to bringing together two great organizations into one,” said Francis Cameron, president and CEO of Pinson, Ala.-based ROFDA.  Cameron will be joining the NGA staff along with Teresa Pope, who served as the administrative and operations manager for ROFDA. “The supermarket industry is undergoing change at a rapid pace. Similarly, as organizations serving independent retailers, we too must shift and align areas of interest and streamline efficiencies,” Cameron added.