Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Vermont State House

148 State Street Montpelier, Vermont 05602

(802) 839-1928

www.vtrga.org info@vtrga.org

Uniting together to promote the sustainable growth of our

industry through the educational, economic, and public policy

needs of our members.

VRGA’s annual Legislative

Day brings the state’s top

policy leaders and our

members together for

important conversations on

issues facing Vermont and

retailers. It is an opportunity

to learn more about the

legislative process and be part of the discussion.

In 2016, Vermont Legislature will, again, face a budget shortfall, which

will require choices in budget priorities and/or revenue adjustments,

much of it because of large increases to the state’s Medicaid costs.

Will Vermont approve the legalization of marijuana? Will it be sold at

retail? What new laws will impact employers? Will criminal

background checks be prohibited for employment? We hope to learn

about some of these issues today. Thank you for joining us!

Mandated paid sick leave

Criminal background checks

Increases in the Vermont employer

health care assessment

Business license fees

Budget deficit

Legalization of Marijuana

Disposable shopping bag tax/ban

Security breaches at retail

Education financing

Transportation funding

Potential changes to the GMO

labeling law

Beverage taxes

Property taxes

… And Much More!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

8:30 a.m. Registration & Coffee

State House

9:30 a.m. Conference Begins

Room 11, State House

Invited Speakers include: Governor Peter Shumlin

House Speaker Shap Smith

Senate President Pro Tem. John Campbell

12:00 p.m. Luncheon

Governor’s Ballroom, Capitol Plaza

Luncheon Program:

Gubernatorial Forum - With Governor Shumlin stepping down next

January, Vermont will have a new chief executive in 2017. The four major

announced candidates for Governor (2 Democrats, 2 Republicans), will join

VRGA members at the luncheon to share their vision for Vermont.

With Moderator Stewart Ledbetter, WPTZ senior reporter and moderator

of Vermont This Week on Vermont Public Television.

Media Perspective A VRGA exclusive! Following the

Gubernatorial forum, a panel of Vermont’s leading journalists

will offer some perspective and insight for the rest of the session

and lead up to the fall elections.

Sue Minter Matt Dunne Phil Scott Bruce Lisman

Emerson Lynn

St. Albans

Messenger

editor and

co-publisher

Anne Galloway

VTdigger editor

and executive

director

Paul Heintz

Seven Days

political editor

—————————————————————————————————

Company _________________________________________

Address __________________________________________

City _____________________ State ______ Zip __________

Registration Fee—$25 per person (includes Lunch)

Attendees:

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

__________________________________________________

Return by FEBRUARY 10TH to: VRGA, 148 State Street, Montpelier, VT 05602

# of attendees ___ X $25 = $ _______ total due

REGISTER online at www.vtrga.org or

Call us at (802) 839-1928

February 2016

Paid Sick Leave Debated in Senate Committee

The Senate Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs Committee held three

long days of testimony from both advocates and those that opposed the bill the week of January 18.

VRGA and several members testified on House bill 187, a bill that had not addressed what they viewed as very large issues such as;

Requiring paid leave for high school

and college students

Other states had provided a small

business exemption and California required fewer days

Longer waiting period which

corresponds with regular hiring practices

While it appears the bill is on the fast-track to pass, by the end of the week, Senators seemed to understand that the bill needed refining. As we write this newsletter, the committee was considering approving an amended version of the bill.

Largest Fee Bill Ever Proposed by Shumlin Administration Scanners, Scales and Gas

Meters Way Up

The House Ways & Means Committee last week reviewed the annual fee bill, which revealed significant fee increases from the Agency of Agriculture, Liquor Control, and Public Safety and Health. The bulk of new fees are derived from Transportation and the Department of Financial Regulation.

Total Proposed Fee Bill - $27,600,248 (new and adjusted fees)

Of particular concern to retailers will be proposed hikes in various store licensing fee from Weights & Measures, such as gas pump meters, scanners, scales, milk, meat, etc. Scanner fees alone are proposed to increase 150% to help fill budget gaps in the Agency of Ag.

Dept. of Liquor Control has proposed 9% increase for licensing across the board rounded to the nearest $5. DLC's goal is to not return to ask for increases for 3 years. DLC will is also adding a charge for in-person training of $10-$25/per person depending on the class.

The House Ways & Means Committee will comb through the bill, question each department as to the request and use of any new funds they will approve.

VRGA will keep you updated on new developments.

April 30 - May 1

Hilton Burlington

Seminars:

GMO Labeling update

Create the Best Gift Basket,

Expand Your Visibility!

More on page 11, or visit www.vtrga.org!

Dale and Karen

Ameden have

owned D&K’s

Jamaica Grocery

twice. Dale, having a

background in

grocery, working and

managing at Grand Union and OK

Fairbanks bought the store in Jamaica in

1979 at a point where it was run down and

hardly functioning. He filled it up and

reestablished the grocery store in the

community before selling it in 1990 to focus

on family and various other businesses,

including a garden center, a butterfly

pavilion and bird aviary, petting farm and

bottle and can

redemption center,

and property

maintenance

business.

In 2008, after

dwindling sales

Dale and Karen

bought Jamaica

Grocery back and

reinvigorated the

store once again.

Customers began returning and the

grocery store became business once

again. The Amedens enjoy running the

store in which their roots are firmly planted.

Dale and Karen believe that running a store

in a small town is incredibly rewarding, but

also complicated. “You are always helping

others; there’s so much to do to help out

the community. You’re also giving advice

on marriage, filling out forms and

paperwork,

making

telephone

calls for them,

making

connections

for them

(because you

know

everyone!)

and even

helping them

pay bills

online; all

while running

the store, ordering stock, cutting meat, and

decorating cakes. The list goes on! It’s fun,

exhausting and wonderful and we plan to

be here for a long time!”

Karen grew up in Jamaica; her ancestors

being the first settlers in town, and Dale’s

grandparents lived in Jamaica. The couple

has eight children total. Dale’s three older

children have given us six grandsons and

one granddaughter. The oldest daughter

Becky, her husband and two sons live in

Jamaica; Lisa and her husband and two

sons live in the Boston area; Wesley, his

wife, two sons and a daughter live in

Jamaica. Then there is Danielle and her

fiancé in the Boston area; Kristi and her

fiancé in Thetford, VT; Dustin in

Washington, DC; and the twins Kevin and

Drew. Drew is now running the Property

Maintenance business and Kevin is

finishing up college this spring, the last of

the eight to go to college.

Welcome New Members!

A warm welcome goes to the following businesses that recently joined the Vermont Retail & Grocers Association.

Champlain Country Club Mike Swim Swanton, VT 802-257-1187 www.champlaincountryclub.com

Green Lube LLC Rob Remillard South Burlington VT 802-497-1601

Pine Marten Press – Vermont Wild, Adventures of Fish & Game Wardens (Associate) Fans have made the Vermont Wild adventure series a bestseller for many bookstores, Kinney Drugs and specialty shops around the state. The book’s author is Megan Price, a former reporter and state legislator. Each book contains adventures lived by retired game wardens during their long careers. Megan Price Charlotte, VT www.pinemartenpress.com

Rite Aid Stores Grace Schuyler Camp Hill, PA www.riteaid.com

Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters Pal and Brad Borofsky Brattleboro, VT 802-254-2933 www.samsoutfitters.com

Welcome New Vermont Specialty Food Members!

A warm welcome goes to the following businesses that recently joined the Vermont Specialty Food Association.

Benito’s Hot Sauce Producers of Vermont Craft Hot Sauce Ben Maniscalco Montpelier, VT 802-730-6823 www.benitoshotsauce.com

DRINKmaple Inc

Drink maple is a local natural hydration, consisting of one ingredient that comes straight from Vermont maple trees. With natural electrolytes, antioxidants, and half of the sugar of

coconut water Kate Weiler 75 North Elm Street St Albans VT 05478 508-314-4895

VRGA to Award Ten Scholarships

VRGA will be awarding ten $1,500 scholarship awards this coming spring to eligible Vermont students affiliated with a VRGA member business. Eligibility requirements are summarized on the announcement on at: www.vtrga.org, which we encourage you to post on your employee bulletin board.

We believe that this scholarship program will help some deserving VRGA member employees or their dependents, further their education.

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We were very sorry to learn of the passing of VRGA member, Tom Hudon of Sonny’s Pit Stop in Brattleboro. Tom (and Michele) were frequent participants in the association’s annual convention, often coming for the entire weekend.

Uber’s cofounder is backing a new startup called Purple, that aims to deliver gasoline to customer cars where they are parked and can be done overnight, while the customer sleeps. Currently just in LA, but expanding to San Francisco.

According to a recent ranking in Vermont Business magazine, New York residents pay the most for basic health insurance and Vermont is second, but has the highest monthly premium at $469 a month, compared with New Mexico, which has the lowest monthly premium at $181 a month. The information came from a new study by personal finance website GOBankingRates.com. The study compared silver plans ― the most popular plan according to the Department of Health and Human Services ― offered through the national or state-level insurance exchanges administered through the Affordable Care Act.

Stewart’s Shops has announced a $30 million capital budget for expansion, remodels and new store construction for the coming year and could go higher depending

on permit approvals. Saratoga Springs-based Stewart's operates 332 convenience stores in upstate New York and southern Vermont.

Mike Bourgoine, president of Associated Grocers of New England, has announced his retirement, effective July 3, 2016. Bourgoine has been with AGNE for 15 years, the past 12 as president & CEO.

University Mall in South Burlington has unveiled plans to transform Vermont’s largest mall to a mixed-use entertainment hub with restaurants, a movie theater, skating rink and retail. UMall joins Burlington Town Center with major plans to change the way we view retail centers.

Retail food prices in December were 0.4% less than a year earlier, marking the first time deflation has occurred in almost six years, according to Food Institute analysis of just-released government data. This put the 2015 retail food inflation rate at just 1.2% or half of the 2014 level although that rate varied by city.

Scott Grimmett has been named CEO and president of the Schenectady, N.Y.-based Golub Corp., parent company of Price Chopper, Market Bistro and Market 32 grocery stores. Grimmett, who joined the company in January 2012 as EVP and COO, spearheaded the company's rollout of its fresh-focused, upscale Market 32 concept. VRGA and VSFA member, Paul Ralston of Vermont Coffee, has created a new radio program which commenced on WDEV January 21 at 1:00 pm, “The Reluctant Politician.” “I’m trying to decide if I should run for office,” Ralston said, “and if so, which office.” Paul is a former two term

state representative from Middlebury and a member of the VRGA board. For more information, www.reluctantpolitician.net Campbell Soup Company announced its support for the enactment of federal legislation to establish a single mandatory labeling standard for foods derived from genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The company continues to oppose a patchwork of state-by-state labeling laws, which it believes are incomplete, impractical and create unnecessary confusion for consumers. Paul Greenan has been promoted to vice president of procurement and category management of Associated Grocers of New England. Paul is a board member of VRGA. The Burlington Town Center unveiled changes to its proposed makeover of the downtown shopping center to a crowd of over 200 people recently. Two of the new buildings would be 14 stories tall and require a zoning change to raise the city's current height limit. Three levels of above-ground parking are planned with 948 spaces, nearly doubling the 575 spaces at the garage on Cherry Street that now serves the mall. The proposal includes 274 units of housing, 350,000 square feet of office space and 218,000 square feet of retail space, almost twice as much as there is now.

The Vermont Department of Liquor Control announced that Patrick T. Delaney, a veteran of the hospitality and alcoholic beverage industry, will become the new Commissioner of the Department of Liquor Control on February 1, 2016. VRGA will be inviting the new Commissioner to join members at the upcoming legislative day on February 16. Tess Kennedy, a former director of events and team member at VRGA has joined William Shouldice & Associates LLC as a Government Relations Associate. Amazon put out a press release noting that more than 23 million items were ordered globally on Cyber Monday alone from its Amazon Marketplace service, which offers third parties the ability to sell their products on its website. This represented a more than 40 percent increase over the number of items ordered on Cyber Monday in 2014. Ray Bouffard announced that Georgia Market is now primarily powered by solar where the store is the sole off-taker of power from a local solar 150 kw farm.

NGA Show Discount for VRGA Members

The NGA Show (February 28-March 2, Las Vegas) offers unparalleled opportunities to learn, engage, share, network, innovate for independent retailers and wholesalers, food retail industry executives, food/CPG manufacturers and service providers. Over the course of four days, attendees have the opportunity to take part in more than 30 education workshops and visit an EXPO floor

designed to optimize business relationships between retailers and manufacturers and service suppliers.

To register: www.thengashow.com/register. Use VERMONT16 for 10% off your 2016 NGA Show registration.

Fortified Wine Permits Now Available

Second Class licensed stores may now sell fortified wines through the Department of Liquor Control with a special permit. More information on the permit and any restrictions can be found at: http://liquorcontrol.vermont.gov There is a permit link near the bottom on the home page.

The legislature enacted the change to allow additional stores to sell fortified wine last spring.

Get Your Monthly Newsletter

By Email

Prefer to receive your newsletter sooner? How about by email?

Get it via email and get it sooner, Email info@vtrga.org and put in

subject line, “monthly newsletter by email.” VRGA has upgraded to a new digital version of the newsletter that is

easier to read.

Convention Exhibits Filling up

Fast!

April 29th - May 1st 2016

Hilton Burlington, Burlington, VT

Retailers & Grocers: take this opportunity to see the latest and greatest products and services offered by top-notch suppliers and providers.

Seminars to include:

Tips from Your Nerdy Best Friend to

make your life easier!

Learn to create Stunning Gift Baskets

to expand your reach!

How the New GMO Labeling Law will

Impact You

Networking Opportunities:

Expo

Meet the Brewers Tasting event

Chairman’s Dinner

Exhibitors: have you reserved your booth yet?

Booths are first come, first serve and past shows have sold out!

Reserve your booth today: Contact: Elise Wernhoff at (802) 865-5202 or elise@delaneymeetingevent.com.

More info can be found at www.vtrga.org

Vermont Growler Regulations Updated

Size reference for Beer, Wine and Cider Removed

Second class licensees shall not sell or furnish malt or vinous beverages for consumption on the licensed premises nor allow any individual to consume alcoholic beverages on the licensed premises except as authorized by 7 V.S.A. § 67 or other applicable provision of law. Second class licensees shall not sell or furnish any malt or vinous beverages in other than the original container unless otherwise authorized in writing by the Liquor Control Board. For purposes of this regulation, a container shall be construed to mean a bottle, can, keg or other receptacle containing malt or vinous beverage, and shall not be construed to mean six pack rings, cardboard boxes, or other packaging material holding such containers.

Licensees shall meet the following conditions:

Containers shall be sealed and

sanitary.

Consumption is only for off-premise.

Retailers will notify the DLC of their intent to participate in the container program.

Manufacturers may elect to participate

in the retailer container program by written authorization to their wholesale dealer with a copy sent to DLC.

Alcoholic beverages will be filled to go

for immediate sale and no pre‐filling.

Clean containers will be provided by

the retailer for each sale.

Labels will contain the name of the

retailer, alcoholic beverage, alcohol by volume, name of manufacturer, and best if consumed in 72 hours.

Containers will be filled from a direct

sealed draught system.

VRGA members Invited to Attend Law Enforcement Crime

Prevention Symposium

The NH Retail Association is proud to co-host a Retail and Law Enforcement Crime Prevention Symposium on Friday, February 12th, 2016 from 9:00am - 2:00pm. This event will be facilitated by the Tilton Police Department and Irving Oil Corporation, Corporate Security at the Tilton School 30 School Street, Tilton, NH, (Davis Lecture Hall). Lunch is included. The main reason to host this day is to bring Law Enforcement and Retail together to talk about regional and national Organized Crime trends and ways to prevent, network and investigate these cases together. Also, as you know, a lot of retail crime is also connected to the Opioid Epidemic in New England. We also plan to discuss the relationship to ORC and how these cases can cross over to narcotics investigations. If you have detectives that work ORC cases please forward this to them and if you are with the retail store or bank

community, please share this with your investigation team and management staff. For more information, contact Rick Daniels at Irving Oil at 603-559-8857 or email at Rick.Daniels@irvingoil.com.

More Consumers Paying Via Mobile Devices

Forty-three percent of respondents to a recent Retale survey show they have used their mobile device to pay for an item in a store, Payments Source reports. That’s a

7% bump from more than a year ago. The survey was conducted in the early part of December 2015.

The survey seems to imply that consumer acceptance of mobile payments will be driven by trust and familiarity. These numbers also suggest that consumers are beginning to expect retailers to provide ways for mobile payments in stores.

VSFA to join Vermont Cheese Council, Brewers, Spirits &

Wineries at State House Save the date – February 9

Vermont Specialty Food Association will

be at the State House showcasing and educating state officials on Vermont specialty food and beverage products. The reception, scheduled for February 9, 4-6 pm, will include tastings on participating

member products and samples from several of Vermont’s finest micro-brews, spirits, cheese and wines. Setup will begin at 3:00 pm

Please let Robin (robin@vtrga.org) know if you are a specialty food producer and would like to participate.

VRGA members are invited to attend this complimentary event. No registration necessary for attendees.

2016 Accepting Person of the Year Nominations

If someone from your company has made significant contributions to the retail and/or grocery industry in Vermont and you think that person should be recognized, submit your nominations!

The award will be presented at the VRGA annual convention on April 30, 2016.

Person of the Year Criteria Candidates must:

Model excellence in everything they do.

Have made significant contributions to

the retail and grocery community in Vermont by contributing time, money or energy to the entire industry.

Demonstrated leadership, vision, or

mentorship or made personal sacrifices for the betterment of the entire industry.

Promote the mission of the Vermont

Retail & Grocers Association: To advocate for policies that strengthen our state’s economy and support economic growth, are committed to the success of Vermont’s grocers and retailers and the thousands of Vermonters they employ.

To make a nomination, go to:https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/8CDDFSZ. Deadline for nominations: Feb. 15, 2016.

Police Investigate ATM Skimming at Okemo

LUDLOW, Vt. - Ludlow Police and federal authorities are investigating ATM skimming incidents at Okemo.

Authorities say a visitor attempted to used an ATM at the ski resort's base lodge on Sunday and that his debit card got stuck. While trying to remove it, the card skimming device came off in their hand. Police confirmed it was a skimming device, used to fraudulently obtain credit/debit card information. A second device was also found at the Jackson Gore base lodge.

Police are urging visitors who may have used the machines to contact their bank and/or credit card company.

Upcoming Events Vermont Food & Beverage Tasting February 9, 2016 State House Montpelier, VT www.vtspecialtyfoods.org VRGA Legislative Day February 16, 2016 State House Montpelier, VT www.vtrga.org Imperial Seasonal Show March 2-3, 2016 DCU Convention Center, Worcester, MA www.imperialdist.com AG New England Spring Trade Show March 15, 2016 Manchester, NH www.agne.com Vermont Organics Recycling Sum-mit (VORS) April 7, 2016 Vermont Technical College www.compostingvermont.org Capital Candy Spring Show April 16, 2015 Manchester, NH www.capitalcandy.com Local Foods Matchmaker Event (tentative) April 29, 2016 Hilton Burlington VRGA Convention & Expo April 29-May 1, 2016 Hilton Burlington Burlington, VT www.vtrga.org Dowling’s & Burlington Drug Trade Show May 20, 2016 Stowe Mountain Resort Stowe, Vermont www.dowlingsinc.com

Upcoming DLC Training Classes for Second Class Licensees To register for any of the DLC seminars, visit:

https://secure.vermont.gov/DLC/eventreg or call 828-2339 Find We Card 2016 Calendars and Training Materials here: www.wecard.org

February 10 1:00 – 4:00

pm Marlboro Graduate Center, 28

Vernon Street, Brattleboro Jennifer

Fisher

February 17 10:00 am-

1:00 pm Department of Liquor Control, 13

Green Mountain Drive, Montpelier Jennifer

Fisher

February 18 1:00 – 4:00 VFW, 353 Lake Street, St. Albans Melanie

February 22 10:00 am-

1:00 pm

CCV 1197 Main Street, Suite 3 (3rd

floor, rear door entrance)St.

Johnsbury

Jennifer

Fisher

March 17 1:00 – 4:00 VFW, 353 Lake Street, St. Albans Melanie

March 18 12:00 – 3:00

pm Rutland City Police Department Com-

munity Room, 108 Wales Street Melanie

Gaiotti

March 29 10:00 am-

1:00 pm Department of Liquor Control, 13

Green Mountain Drive, Montpelier Jennifer

Fisher

2016 Legislative Day & Luncheon Please Join us! Tuesday, February 16 at the Vermont State House

Register at www.vtrga.org

Free Executive Training Program Available to VT

Entrepreneurs

Vermont is seeking 15 small business owners to participate in the Emerging Leaders Initiative beginning in April at Vermont Technical College in Williston, Vt.

Emerging Leaders, a seven-month program, is a free executive-level training program for entrepreneurs to learn how to establish a three-year strategic growth plan for their businesses. The strategic plans emphasize organizational structure, resource network and assistance needed to build a sustainable business of size and scale.

Emerging Leaders is for established business owners and is not for start-ups or people who are thinking about starting a business. To be considered, firms must be for-profit enterprises, been in business for at least three years, have one employee

other than self, and have annual revenues between $400,000 and $10 million.

There are no restrictions on the types of businesses that can participate. The Small Business Administration established Emerging Leaders in 2008 to assist entrepreneurs in urban communities.

This is the initiative's inaugural year in the Vermont and is available to small businesses statewide. In 2012 the SBA selected Interise, a non-profit organization specializing in entrepreneurial education, to oversee the initiative. The Boston-based organization selects the instructor and establishes the Emerging Leaders curriculum. The past 10 years, Interise has assisted more than 3,000 small businesses across the U.S.

Business owners interested in the program need to complete the online application at www.interise.org/SBAemergingleaders by March 1.

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