On behalf of the National Supermarket Association (NSA) Florida Chapter Board of Directors, l am pleased to welcome you to our NSA Florida XI Annual Gala benefiting the Scholarship Foundation. As the largest independent supermarket event in Florida, we are honored to usher industry luminaries, store owners and staff, vendors, and community leaders.

John D. Rockefeller Jr. wrote “The secret of success is to do the common things uncommonly well”. In 2022, this is exactly what our member stores were called to do. As we returned to something esembling normal, our stores met new challenges – continued product and labor shortages coupled with rising costs. We saw the Consumer Price Index for food-at-home rise in double digits. Many grocery shoppers, especially those in lower-income households, embraced a simple strategy for battling high prices: they stopped buying as much.

Our members showed their resourcefulness and resilience, playing the hand they were dealt. They found ways to staff their stores, maintain strong inventory, expand on perishables and focus on affordability. The innovative efforts put in by our retailers helped differentiate our stores from chain stores struggling with the same issues. In comparison, our shelves were fuller, our stores were not hort staffed, and we had several value priced options for our customers. Our stores managed to outperform industry statistics with the personalized touch that only an independent retailer can offer!

Established in 1989, the National Supermarket Association is a trade association with steadfast dedication to represent the interests of independent supermarket owners throughout the eastern seaboard. NSA stores are locally owned and operated, carrying fresh, local and ethnic products to satisfy a multi-cultural customer base.

Our Florida Chapter stores employ over 3,000 workers and have more than $750 Million in annual sales! The stores are community focused, with a commitment to providing fresh food options and a personalized shopping experience. Our customer base, once referred to as a niche market, is now a dominant market in many
areas of Florida, and is the fastest growing market in the state!

The NSA Florida Chapter prides itself on its commitment to social responsibility. Through our national NSA Scholarship Foundation, we have awarded more than $3.7 million towards educational scholarships to deserving underprivileged students from neighborhoods served by our members’ supermarkets. Of this amount, over $610,000 has been to Florida recipients, many of whom are the first in their family to pursue a college degree. By helping them achieve their educational goals, we help the communities of our member stores.

We are especially proud of our Business Partner connections. We graciously thank our sponsors for their trust and support. Despite facing economic headwinds and the challenges waiting for us, NSA stores are confident that our industry stands strong, and by innovating, educating and deploying strategic operational solutions, we will continue to prosper. Our success is your success, and with diligent efforts from everyone, together we will revel in the Excitement of Winning!