National Grocers Association Appointed Collaboration Chief
Independent grocers are hiring to strengthen relationships with suppliers and major industry partners.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in People
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The National Grocers Association named Mike Ridenour as its new chief collaboration officer and senior vice president. Ridenour will focus on building connections between independent food retailers and consumer packaged goods manufacturers.
Why it matters
This appointment aims to bolster industry engagement for independent grocers, which currently represent 38% of annual food retail sales in the U.S. By formalizing this role, the association seeks to link members more effectively with manufacturers during a period of market expansion.
Independent supermarkets generate an annual industry value of $353 billion, accounting for 38% of total U.S. food retail sales. This sector recorded collective sales growth of nearly 40% between 2020 and 2024.
The players
Mike Ridenour
An industry veteran with 40 years of experience who previously served as vice president of industry relations for United Natural Foods, Inc.
National Grocers Association
The national trade association representing the independent supermarket industry and its $353 billion annual market.
United Natural Foods, Inc.
A major distributor and wholesaler serving the food industry where Ridenour formerly managed industry relations.
The details
Ridenour will leverage a 40-year career that includes roles as vice president of industry relations at United Natural Foods, Inc., and previous positions at Kraft Heinz and Kraft Foods Group. His operational focus is to bridge the gap between independent retailers and national manufacturers, ensuring grocers have better access to supplier networks. Ridenour also brings institutional knowledge from his prior tenure as a member of the National Grocers Association board of directors.
Timeline
September 28, 2026: NGA announced the appointment of Mike Ridenour.
2020-2024: Independent grocers experienced 40% sales growth.
Market Landscape
The hire reflects a broader trend of independent retailers scaling their influence to compete with national chains following the significant sales growth observed between 2020 and 2024. This strategy mirrors efforts by other trade groups to consolidate procurement and partnership power.
Independent operators should monitor future manufacturer programs facilitated by the new collaboration office, as these may lead to improved supplier access or terms. Retailers should track whether these efforts result in more favorable procurement pricing in the coming quarters.
The takeaway
The creation of this role signals that the NGA is prioritizing supplier integration to protect the competitive gains independent grocers have made since 2020. Operators should watch for upcoming industry relationship summits or partnership announcements from the association in the next year.
Further reading
For more on shifts in industry leadership, visit the People section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Grocery Dive.
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