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MGA’s May 18 Legislative Reception was a huge
success, and I want to thank all who attended–MGA
members, senators, representatives, and state
department and agency directors. As always, the
event’s sponsors were the real VIPs: The wonderful
feast was 100-percent financially supported,
catered and staffed by MGA members. I was proud to
host this exceptional event. Please join me in
thanking our valued sponsors below.
This year’s reception was another outstanding
get-acquainted opportunity for members and
law-makers that I hope will be repeated for many
years to come.
Linda
Gobler
President & CEO
Michigan Grocers Association
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Michigan Grocers
Association thanks
the following
companies for their generous contributions to
the success of the legislative reception.
Thank You,
Sponsors!
Affiliated Foods Midwest
Angeli Foods Company
Arctic Glacier Premium Ice
Busch’s, Inc.
Coca-Cola Bottling Company
Country Fresh
Geo. E. DeLallo Company
Duthler’s Family Foods
Encore Floral Marketing
Faygo Beverages
Great North Foods
Heeren Bros. Produce
Holiday Market of Royal Oak
Hometown Markets
The Johnston Group
Kellogg Snacks
Kroger Company
L&L Food Centers
Lipari Foods
McDonough’s Market
Meijer
Michigan Apple Committee
Potato Growers of
Michigan Inc.
Nash Finch Company
Oleson’s Food Stores
Orchard Markets
Paramount Coffee Company
Plumb’s
Prairie Farms Dairy
Ric’s Food Centers
Savory Foods
Spartan Stores, Inc.
SuperValu-Northern Region
Winter’s Sausage Company
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Annual Legislative Reception
May 18, 2010
MGA Headquarters - Lansing, MI
2010 Legislative Reception Recap:
On May 18, more than 100 MGA members, legislators, state
department leaders and other officials gathered at MGA’s
headquarters in Lansing (just a block from our state’s Capitol)
for the association’s fifth annual Legislative Reception.
Many — from legislators and regulators to MGA directors, members
and staff — commented on what a great opportunity the reception
was to talk informally about the hot topics impacting the food
industry and to develop or strengthen relationships.
In preparation for the event, MGA created a brochure, available
at the reception to provide an overview of the association’s
position on critical issues such as government spending reforms,
item pricing and the bottle deposit law. (See page 5 for more
about MGA’s legislative issues.) The brochure also provided
information about our industry such as how retail and associate
MGA members together provide jobs for more than 92,000 Michigan
residents. That’s more than 2 percent of the state’s payroll
jobs.
In addition to legislative issues, another popular topic of
conversation was the reception’s exceptional food, beverages and
flowers. The event was catered entirely by MGA members, giving
them the chance to showcase the top-of-the-line food and
beverages they create and sell each day.
With a nod to all things Michigan, this menu featured Albie’s
original beef minipasties, Winter’s premium hot dogs & brats
(official sausage of the Detroit Tigers), Levandowski’s
smokehouse beef brisket & pulled pork, Holiday Market’s Traverse
City chicken salad & spinach orzo salad, a Michigan cheese
shoppe featuring Reny Picot smoked gouda & manchego with honey,
Michigan apple pie, Michigan wines, malt beverages, soft drinks
including Faygo and Paramount’s gourmet coffee.
Not your run-of-the mill legislative reception, MGA’s event has
Lansing buzzing about it long after it’s done.
An important grassroots addition to MGA’s daily advocacy and
lobbying work, this exceptional event was an effective and fun
way to build rapport with legislators, regulators and other
members of the food industry. Future receptions are not to be
missed!
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(l to r) Rep. Goeff Hansen is
flanked by Spartan Stores’ John Piotrowicz, Jim Gohsman,
Brian Haaraoja and Nick Wedberg.
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| (l
to r) Wes Sterenberg and Jim Nader with Plumb’s talk with
Senator Mark Jansen and Jansen’s Chief of Staff Deborah
Drick. |
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(l to r) MGA Chairman DJ Oleson, Oleson’s Food Stores, talks
with the Michigan Agriculture Commission Chairman Todd Regis
and Country Fresh’s Rich Beishuizen |
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The reception was catered entirely by MGA members.
The phenomenal fare included sushi— salmon, tuna, veggie and
California roll, DeLallo’s gourmet antipasto, cocktail
shrimp, a made-to-order Caesar salad bar and more.
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(l to r) Winter’s Sausage Company Sales Manager Kevin
McCauslin and Stephanie Schrack were on hand to serve up the
“official sausage of the Detroit Tigers.”
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(l to r) Rep. Jase Bolger chats with Lipari’s Don Symonds
and Brian Rooney, a candidate for the 7th Congressional
District.
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(l to r) Spartan Stores’ John Piotrowicz, Michigan Liquor
Control Commissioner Ed Gaffney and Busch’s John Bush enjoy
the event.
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(l to r) MGA Chairman DJ Oleson talks with Spartan Stores’
Brain Haaraoja and Michigan Department of Agriculture
Director Don Koivisto.
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As the reception began, the sun came out,
completing the trifecta of good food, good people and good
weather.
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Seated are MGA board member Rich Beishuizen,
L&L Food Center’s Rick Zahm and Rep. Darwin Booher.
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Kroger’s Tim Nelson meets Rep. Andrew
Kandrevas, who represents the 13th House district which has
several Kroger stores.
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Background, Faygo’s Orlando Woods and
Forest Bryson talk with Nash Finch’s Rick Schmitz.
Foreground, SUPERVALU’s Mike Schiffli talks with Senator
Mickey Switalski.
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Rick Zahm with L&L Food Centers; Al Chittero and Forest
Bryson from Faygo Beverages. |
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Senator Patty Birkholz catches up with Bill
McDonough, McDonough’s Market.
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