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PRESIDENT’ S MESSAGE

What Yo u n e e d t o know wh e n ta l k i ng t o P o l i t i c a l c and i dat e s

ELLIE SMOTHERMAN TAYLOR PRESIDENT ALABAMA GROCERS ASSOCIATION

3. Currently, there are 1.9 million Alabamians in a food desert. We need state funding to help us eliminate this problem. In additional to increasing families’ access to affordable and nutritious foods, new and improved grocery stores can help revitalize lower- income neighborhoods by generating foot traffic and attracting complementary services and stores such as banks, pharmacies and restaurants. By employing local residents, stores create jobs for those who need them most and help create a virtuous cycle that enables residents to increase economic activity. 4. We need legislators that work to provide economic development and stimulation for our economy. This includes economic incentives and working with the business community on issues such as infrastructure, workforce training, and eliminating burdensome obstacles for new development and growth. 5. The grocery industry is constantly changing and now includes the challenges of online grocery delivery and pick-up, competition from new non-traditional grocery competitors in the market and changing consumer preferences from Millennials and Generation Z consumers.

2018 is gearing up to be a highly contested election year. almost one-fourth of Alabama lawmakers have decided not to run for re-election.

These include twenty-three of 102 members in the Alabama House of Representatives and nine of the 35 members in the Alabama State Senate. Some are retiring, and some are seeking statewide office, including Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. Many of our members often ask me when talking with potential candidates what the priorities are for AGA in the upcoming elections. Through working with our Legislative Committee, I have outlined our top legislative priorities here and hope that you will convey these when talking with candidates both local, state and federal. All politics is local, so please let us know any relationships you have with current and potential candidates. We will be sending out more information on grocery

favorable candidates as we get closer to the primary and general election. 1. The grocery industry is a highly regulated industry. We need lawmakers that are pro-business and will not overregulate the grocery community. Healthcare, OSHA, FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act), and GMO Labeling are oftentimes onerous and expensive. 2. The grocery industry is an easy target for consumer taxes. Customers only have so much in their budget for their food dollar. We do not need an increase in new or current taxes. Products like tobacco, candy and soft drinks are oftentimes easy targets. Regulations such as Country of Origin Labeling, Menu Labeling,

All politics is local, so please let us know any relationships you have with current and potential candidates.

| ALABAMA GROCER 6