Florida Grocers Association Launched by Florida Retail Federation

The Florida Retail Federation (FRF) announced on Tuesday that its Grocery Council will be renamed the Florida Grocers Association to help focus on the more than 2,300 grocery stores across the Sunshine State, a $45 billion annual industry. The Florida Grocers Association will be a division of the FRF. 

“Florida’s grocers are such an important and influential part of our economy, and we felt that this rebranding better reflects the impactful role they play for both businesses and consumers,” said FRF President and CEO Rick McAllister on Tuesday. “We felt the council needed to be better positioned to meet today’s needs and challenges of the state’s grocery industry, and the Florida Grocers Association provides the appropriate level of support and awareness.”

Tom Jackson, currently a consultant with the FRF consultant and the former CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association, will take over as interim executive director of the new operation. 

“Tom brings a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise about how to properly manage an organization of this size, while also growing its membership,” said McAllister. “Tom successfully ran a similar organization in Ohio for 25 years, and I look forward to the positive impact he’ll have here in Florida as we look to better serve the needs of Florida’s grocers.”

“I’m very excited about this new association, as it will provide a greater and more defined identity to serve Florida grocers,” Jackson said on Tuesday. “Florida is the third largest state in the nation yet didn’t have a grocers association. Our industry is too big and too important not to be served by an association dedicated to grocer’s needs. With substantial resources already in place, like our excellent government relations team and topnotch administrative support, we will hit the ground running.”