Retailer Owned Foods Distributors & Associates (ROFDA), Scottsdale, Ariz., announced plans to merger under the National Grocers Association (NGA), Arlington, Va., to bring together two organizations to provide a forum and platform for the independent supermarket industry.

“NGA is pleased to welcome ROFDA into the NGA family. Our two organizations and missions have been closely aligned for decades, and this is a natural next step,” says Greg Ferrara, NGA president and CEO. “Cooperative wholesalers play an important role in serving the independent supermarket industry. NGA looks forward to working closely with ROFDA’s members and associates to preserve what has made ROFDA special, while supporting their share groups and programs.”

“We have valued the strong partnership we’ve had with NGA over the years, and look forward to bringing together two great organizations into one,” says Francis Cameron, president and CEO of ROFDA. “The supermarket industry is undergoing change at a rapid pace. Similarly, as organizations serving independent retailers, we too must shift and align areas of interest and streamline efficiencies.”

ROFDA’s current share groups and buying programs will continue to operate under this new alignment, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

ROFDA, which was once called the Southeastern Food Cooperative Association (SFCA), represents eight cooperative wholesaler members, as well as a supplier associate member category.

NGA was incorporated as the Association of Cooperative Food Distributors of American and the National Association of Retail Grocers of the United States, before it was consolidated into one trade association. Today, NGA represents over 1,500 independent supermarket companies.