Grocers and Service Station Dealers Ask Congress to Sponsor Credit Card Fair Fee Act
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Grocers and service station dealers ask Congress to sponsor Credit Card Fair Fee Act On April 9, a national contingent seat at the negotiating table when of retail grocers and service station fees are determined, an opportunity dealers - including AFPD staff retailers are currently denied. and board members - traveled to AFPD represented your interests Washington D.C. in a national as staff and board met with your lobbying effort to ask their members members of Congress during “A of Congress to co-sponsor and vote Day in Washington Dedicated to for H.R. 5546. the Credit Card the Credit Card Fair Fee Act.” All AFPD Foundation Fair Fee Act. Sponsored by House attendees at the event, which was Golf Outing Judiciary Committee Chairman coordinated by the National Grocers John Conyers (D-MI) and 14 Association and Food Marketing affecting retailers’ bottom line,” coming soon! co-sponsors, the bill is designed Institute, were enthusiastic about says Jane Shallal, AFPD president. to counter the market power of the positive responses they received “We must work collectively and be It's time to register for the premier Visa and MasterCard in setting from Congressional representatives persistent to stop this practice and golf event of the season - the AFPD credit card interchange fees. H R. and senators. restore transparency to the credit Foundation Golf Outing! This year it is 5546 will open up the market to “Credit card fees are eating away card industry,” she added. scheduled for July 16 at the beautiful competition within the credit card at the profit of our members and To see how credit card fees affect Fox Hills in Plymouth, Mich. As usual, industry by allowing merchants a has become a serious problem convenience stores, see page 8. we ll have some great prizes, and the proceeds benefit the AFPD Foundation Scholarships. More information is on page 15 and at www.afdom.org. Ohio Trade Show builds on first year’s success AFPD Ohio Food & Petroleum Trade Show Inside Wednesday, June 11,12:00 noon - 6:00 p.m. I-X Center, One l-X Center Drive, Cleveland, Ohio, 44135 Free Tickets! Michigan to issue food stam ps tw ice AFPD members will receive free tickets each m onth...............................................3 On Wednesday, June 11, the and managers of gas stations, in the mail. Non-members: call AFPD Synergistics routes fleets fo r Associated Food and Petroleum convenience stores, supermarkets, at 1-800-666-6233 and we will send you efficiency.....................................12 Dealers will open the doors to its specialty stores, truck stops, bars, free tickets too. Admission is $12 at the second annual Ohio trade show: restaurants and drug stores in Ohio. door, so be sure to get your tickets early! Econo Foods changes with its “We moved the show to customers...................................16 The Ohio Food & Petroleum Trade Show. Cathy Willson, the show’s Cleveland's I-X Center this year in Free Parking! Preventing security fra u d ............20 coordinator, has amassed an array order to be close to many of AFPD's Thanks to CBIZ, AFPD’s Parking Ohio Trade Show floorplan and of exhibitors who provide products member companies,” said AFPD Sponsor, attendees receive free parking. exhibitors...................................22 and services sought by owners President Jane Shallal. Building on the success of AFPD's first Ohio show last year, many of and take advantage of show specials. Associated Food & Petroleum Dealers P R S R T STD the exhibitors will offer products “To our knowledge, this is the 30415 W 13 M ile Road U S. Postage and services that are specific to the only show in Ohio that provides Farmington Hills, Ml 48334 PAID Ohio market. retailers with access to food, DETROIT, Ml “We have worked hard to provide beverage, petroleum and related Change Service Requested P E R M IT #36 a mix of exhibitors in our Ohio Food service vendors all under one roof. & Petroleum Trade Show who know This is an excellent opportunity to and understand what retailers want take it all in during one afternoon,” and need to stay competitive in the said Ed Weglarz, AFPD Executive Buckeye state,” says Willson. Vice President of Petroleum. A Retailers will have six hours to show diagram and a description of view exhibits, sample new products exhibitors begins on page 22. «C )t»3«0» **1 1°'V«»»pon »® u6mv -Wj MKd «4* P>» (HJWWIAHI TIOJ ITI» ISdid UIO IWJd Ulfl TIO) ISdid IVIld □ 3 i v y a 3 1A NI V 1 D 3 President'sMESSAGE Chris Zebari Chairman New Hudson Food Market Michigan to issue food stamps twice monthly John Denha Food & Beverage stamp distribution to twice monthly problem for in-store staffing, cash Mce Chair Government & Legislative Affairs 8 Mile Foodland -- passed on a 35-2 vote. It was then flow, supplier delivery, and inventory Pat LaVecchia sent to the House, where it passed and quality control especially with Petroleum/Auto Repair by a vote of 87-19. Senate Bill 120 respect to perishable items. Sales Vfce Chair Government & Legislative Affairs Pat's Auto Service was sponsored by Senator Martha dip severely at the end of the month, Joe Bellino, Jr. Scott. (A similar bill had been pending and work hours for store staff is cut. Food & Beverage Vice Chair Membership in the House sponsored by Rep. This impacts those employees. Some Broadway Market. Region 2 Andrew Meisner). This bill received grocers report that vendors/suppliers Dennis Sidorski Petroleum/Auto Repair Vice Chair Membership tremendous bi-partisan support in both have discontinued serving their area Maple & Miller Marathon the Michigan Senate and House, and because of lack of steady or regular Jim Garmo we thank our legislatures for being demand for products. Vice Chair Long Range Planning Shoppers Valley Market innovative in passing this ground For recipients, distributing food Al Chittaro breaking legislation. (At the time of stamps twice monthly will result in Vice Chair Community Relations this printing, the bill had been awaiting better quality of food, better ability Faygo Beverages. Inc Governor Granholm’s signature). for food stamp customers to take Jim Hooks Treasurer The Food Stamp Program payment advantage of sales and special pricing By Jane Shallal Metro Foodland method is currently a once-a-month offered through the month, and better AFPD President Bobby Hesano benefit. The current distribution staffing and services. Research has Secretary method causes very high food stamp found a direct correlation between D & B Grocers Wholesale Michigan is fortunate to be the first usage in the beginning of each month obesity and the monthly food stamp i EMERITUS DIRECTORS state in the country to pass legislation and has negative and detrimental cycle. Studies show that households Fred Dally Medicine Chest for twice monthly electronic transfer effects on both retailers and recipients. may be vulnerable to food insecurity Ronnie Jamil Mug & Jug Liquor Stores of food stamp benefits which would Terry Farida Value Center Markets Many of our retailers and suppliers in the later parts of the 30-day food make one half of food stamp benefits Sam Dallo In 'N' Out Foods are doing 80 percent of food stamp stamp cycle. We are hopeful that Bill Vrviano .House of Pnme available to a recipient in the first related sales in the first 10 days of the SB 120 will cure these problems part of the month and the balance REGIONAL DIRECTORS month, as a result of the posting and encountered by the grocery industry of the monthly benefit posted in the Paul Elhindi Lyndhurst Valero, Region 8 availability of Food Stamps benefits as well as recipients. Jim Gohsman Spartan Foods, Region 3 second half of each month. Senate Vickie Hobbs during this period of time. The current AFFD has been urging a change in Whitehall Shell, Region 7 Bill 120 — which changes food Kristin Jonna Vinotecca/Vmology, Region 1 payment method created an enormous the food stamp distribution method Mark Shamoun Country Acres Market, Region 4 Tom Waller CROSSMARK Sales Agency, in Michigan for a number of years. Region 5 This bill has received media attention Parcy Wells Coca-Cola, Region 6 on the state and national level. And The Grocery Zone while language in the federal Farm Najib Atisha Indian Village Market By David Coverly Bill has been recently introduced Jerry Crete Ideal Party Store to forbid states from pursuing such Phil Kassa Saturn Food Center Alaa Naimi Thnfty Scot Supermarket an innovative policy. AFPD is Thom Welch Hollywood Super Markets continuing to work with our federal Brian Yaldoo Park Place Liquor legislature to ensure that the voice of Michigan’s retailers, senators and Gary Davis Prairie Farms house representatives is heard and the Earl tshbia Sherwood Food Distributors intent of the Michigan legislature to Mika Rosch General Wine & Liquor Co Scott Skinner Diageo implement such a system be fulfilled. We look forward to working with [p e t r o l e u m auto repair d ir e c t o r s ! the Department of Human Services Gary Bettis Blissfield BP and the U.S. Food & Nutrition Service Rich Bratschi Lake Lansing Mobil Dave Freitag Yorkshire Tire & Auto in the development of a successful Maurice Helou Lyndhurst Valero program. A tremendous thank you goes out to all our members who assisted and supported our efforts to J«n* Shallal President Oaniel Reeves Executive VP Food & Beverage get this legislation passed. Weglerz Executive VP Petroleum Ren Milbum Vice President ^•chete MacWilliams VP of Communications Contact AFPD: Cathy Willson Director of Special Events Cheryl Twigg EXECUTIVE OFFICE ........Controller