2021_Alabama_Grocer_Issue_3

PRESIDENT’ S MESSAGE

W i sh i ng a l l a Ha p p y and P r o s p e r o u s Ho l i day

ELLIE SMOTHERMAN TAYLOR PRESIDENT ALABAMA GROCERS ASSOCIATION

From vaccine mandates to supply chain issues to inflation, we are still continuing to see the effects of the pandemic.

participants in USDA’s SNAP program generally spend their benefits soon after receiving them, and this spending that has cascading effects throughout the economy. Our office is always open and ready to listen to our members. If at any time during the 2022 Legislative Session you have a question or concern, please do not hesitate to contact myself or our Legislative Representative Patrick McWhorter. Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not recognize the 2021 Alabama Grocers Association Year Award Winners. Congratulations to Bill Davis, A & R Supermarkets; Kirk Clark, Mitchell Grocery Corporation and Bo Taylor, Coca-Cola Bottling Company UNITED. Each of these fine individuals exemplify leadership and excellence in Alabama’s grocery industry and we are honored to recognize each of them. As 2021 ends, I wish for all of you a happy and prosperous holiday season. Thank you for allowing our Association to be the voice of the grocery industry in Alabama. ■

that establishes the crime of organized retail theft, including record keeping requirements for items sold on third party platforms, and updates to the food code to be in compliance with federal menu labeling regulations. We continue to take an active role in Healthy Food Financing Initiatives as well as proposals that would limit SNAP and WIC. One bright light in the pandemic is the amount of emergency assistance given to the people of Alabama. From March 2020 to September 2021, over 285,466 households and 588,405 participants were given emergency allotment benefits of $965,079,315. This is a staggering amount put back into the economy. According to the Economic Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, during a slowing economy, $1 billion in new SNAP benefits leads to an increase of $1.54 billion in Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This $1 billion in new SNAP benefits would generate an additional $32 million in income for the U.S. agriculture industries and support an additional 480 full-time agriculture jobs. In addition, low-income

As much as we would like the coronavirus pandemic to end, issues for our industry continue to be at the forefront of our companies. From vaccine mandates to supply chain issues to inf lation, we are still continuing to see the effects of the pandemic. At the time of this writing, we are currently in a special session to do redistricting throughout the state but with everything else, we are seeing legislation related to COVID-19. Please continue to monitor our weekly market minutes and the Association App for updated information regarding federal, state, and regulatory changes. I am very proud of the work of our Association staff during this time to keep our members up to date and in compliance. In my career, there has never been a time when your Association staff has worked harder for all of you. The Alabama Legislature will begin on January 11th. Your board met in October to set our 2022 Legislative Agenda, which is included in this publication. Top legislative priorities include the ability of grocers to sell ready to drink spirits, INFORM legislation

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