The Florida Grocers Association (FGA) announced on Tuesday that Josie Legido-Correa will lead it as executive director.
Back in June, the Florida Retail Federation (FRF) rebranded its Grocery Council as the FGA to help focus on the more than 2,300 grocery stores across the Sunshine State, a $45 billion annual industry. The FGA is a division of the FRF.
Randy Miller, the president and CEO of the FRF, praised Legido Correa who was the South Florida regional director for the FRF since 2013. Before that, Legido-Correa led the Downtown Miami Partnership and headed up the Downtown Development Authority Business Incentive programs. She also led Special Assessment District for the Downtown central business district.
“Josie has extensive experience meeting the diverse needs of FRF’s members and serving as a successful advocate for Florida’s retailers, including grocers, and announcing her as new executive director is a natural fit,” Miller said.
“This is a great opportunity to grow an organization which serves such an important and diverse sector of Florida’s economy, and I am thankful for the opportunity,” said Legido-Correa.
Tom Jackson, who had been a consultant with the FRF has bee the CEO of the Ohio Grocers Association, took over as interim executive director of the FGA. Jackson stepped aside for Legido Correa and will resume his consulting with the FRF.
Miller stressed that Legido-Correa had been working closely with Jackson as she prepared to take over the FGA
“I want to thank Tom Jackson for his incredible leadership and dedication to launching FGA last year and positioning it as the premier organization and voice for the Sunshine State’s grocery industry,” Miller said. “I look forward to Josie expanding on the foundation that Tom has built and ensuring FGA becomes the powerful and impactful voice the industry needs.”
“Tom’s insight has been invaluable to me and he has left FGA in an incredible position for me to take to the next level,” Legido-Correa said. “I’m excited about what the future holds for Florida’s grocers and I look forward to advocating for them at the local, state and national level.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @ KevinDerbySSN
