September 21, 2023

Collaboration will facilitate the aligned goal  to share knowledge and expertise in the fields of specialty food/beverage and grocery retail

New York – The Italy America Chamber of Commerce (IACC) has entered into an official partnership with National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, the designed to benefit independent grocers across the United States looking to access new products and resources.

“Independent supermarkets are continually looking for innovative products and resources to differentiate themselves in the marketplace and better connect with their consumers,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA president and CEO. “NGA and the Italy America Chamber have worked collaboratively to connect leading Italian brands to America’s top independent supermarkets and share best practices. This partnership will support even more opportunities to delve into education, insights and resources, and make connections. We were thrilled to have several Italian brands exhibit at the 2023 NGA Show and are excited to bring even more leading Italian companies to the 2024 NGA Show, March 10-12 in Las Vegas.”

The partnership between NGA and IACC will include participation in conferences, professional development opportunities, and sharing of knowledge and expertise in the fields of specialty food/beverage and grocery retail.

“The IACC’s partnership with NGA opens exciting new avenues, not only for our two associations, but for the members, grocers and local producers we represent,” said Federico Tozzi, Executive Director of the Italy – America Chamber of Commerce. “With this strategic alliance, we are essentially creating a direct line of contact between the leading U.S. independent grocery retailers and local Italian suppliers, providing retailers and producers alike with the opportunity to make inroads into previously unexplored and untapped markets. We are looking forward to welcoming a delegation from NGA at the second edition of America Buys Italian in Brescia, from October 2-5, where executives, category buyers and purchasing directors have the opportunity to meet one on one with local companies, discover and source products, and make new and profitable connections with Italian specialty food producers.”

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IACC is a private, not-for-profit membership organization that brings together businesses and advances the interests of its members through contacts and interaction with Italian government agencies, trade associations and leading international organizations. The IACC actively partners with its member companies to help grow their businesses and build their brands, leveraging its vast global network to gain valuable, targeted exposure for members’ products and services.

The NGA Show has been the place where independent grocers gather for more than 40 years, connecting supermarket retailers and wholesalers, food manufacturers and service providers from around the world to share innovative solutions and best practices that support and strengthen the independent supermarket channel. The NGA Show is produced and managed by Clarion Events as part of the Food & Beverage Group in partnership with the National Grocers Association (NGA). For more information and to register, visit www.theNGAshow.com.

The National Grocers Association is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale community grocers that comprise the independent sector of the food distribution industry. An independent retailer is a privately owned or controlled food retail company operating a variety of formats. The independent grocery sector is accountable for about 1.2 percent of the nation’s overall economy and is responsible for generating more than $250 billion in sales, 1.1 million jobs, $39 billion in wages and $36 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers located in every congressional district across the country, as well as state grocers’ associations, manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.