ARLINGTON, VA – The National Grocers Association (NGA) today announced the co-location of two educational programs exclusively designed for independent supermarket operators. NGA’s Financial Management and Technology Conference will meet in conjunction with Trading Partner Business Sessions Program this October 4 – 7 at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, IL.
Sponsored by First Data (NYSE: FDC) and FMS Solutions Holding LLC, the NGA Fall Leadership Meetings will provide attendees with four days of educational sessions pertaining to financial and technological issues and high level networking opportunities.
“Our members continue to provide us with feedback on the importance of enhanced trading partner relationships and staying ahead of the curve of technology and financial solutions. Given this feedback and the steady growth of each event, we believe the synergies between the two platforms will allow for independent supermarket operators to take full advantage of the educational programming and networking opportunities that the Fall Leadership Meetings have to offer. We have been very pleased with the support this event has received from our industry partners at First Data and FMS,” said Peter J. Larkin, president and CEO of NGA.
“This is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for independent grocers. The unique presence of the Fall Leadership Conference and Trading Partner sessions combined with the always popular, Financial Management and Technology Conference makes this a must attend learning and sharing event for the independent grocer. FMS is proud to be a long-standing key sponsor of this event,” stated Bob Graybill, CEO of FMS.
“Independent grocers and the wholesalers that serve them play an important role in the supermarket industry. At First Data, we strive to serve this segment with cutting-edge technology that facilitates secure and efficient commerce. We’re excited to join NGA and FMS in sponsoring this unique event that brings together key industry players to strengthen business relationships and foster deeper industry collaboration,” said Guy Chiarello, President, First Data.
Registration for these programs is now open. For more information, visit www.ngafall.com.
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About First Data: First Data (NYSE: FDC) is a global leader in commerce-enabling technology and solutions, serving approximately six million business locations and 4,000 financial institutions in 118 countries around the world. The company’s 24,000 owner-associates are dedicated to helping companies, from start-ups to the world’s largest corporations, conduct commerce every day by securing and processing more than 2,500 transactions per second and $1.9 trillion per year.
About FMS: Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, FMS Solutions Holdings LLC (www.FMSSolutions.com) provides over 3,500 independent retail grocer and independent supermarket operations with financial, accounting and consulting services such as industry benchmarking, best practices and mission-critical decision support throughout the United States, Canada and in the Caribbean. FMS is proudly the National Grocers Association’s preferred provider of industry benchmarking, best practices, and mission-critical decision support.
About NGA: The National Grocers Association (NGA) is the national trade association representing the retail and wholesale 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 close to one percent of the nation's overall economy and is responsible for generating $131 billion in sales, 944,000 jobs, $30 billion in wages, and $27 billion in taxes. NGA members include retail and wholesale grocers, state grocers associations, as well as manufacturers and service suppliers. For more information about NGA, visit www.nationalgrocers.org.