Wisconsin Grocers Association

📅 There are three weeks left until the annual WGA Innovation Expo!

There are many opportunities to learn, connect, and network at this year's event, including:

📚 Over three hours of grocery-specific educational seminars
🤝 The Wisconsin Grocery Industry Trade Show and Local Lane with over 85 booths
🏆 Industry competitions like the Cake Decorating Championship, Floral Arranging Contest, and The Great Wisconsin Bag-Off

Whether you're new to the grocery industry or a seasoned professional, this year's WGA Innovation Expo offers flexible registration options and valuable opportunities to engage with peers, vendors, and grocery industry leaders.

✨⏰ Don't miss Wisconsin's premier grocery industry event of the year! Learn more and register here: bit.ly/WGAExpo2026Register. Registration closes August 4, 2026.

Happy Fourth of July!

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of our nation's founding, we celebrate the enduring spirit of independence that has shaped America and continues to define its grocery industry.

Wisconsin’s grocers are proud to help families gather, celebrate, and enjoy this historic milestone! 🟥 🛒🟦

This Memorial Day weekend, we honor the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

Wisconsin’s grocers proudly serve their communities each day, and we remain grateful for the freedoms that allow us to do so.

Registration deadlines are approaching for the Wisconsin Grocers Association golf outings! ⛳️

These are events where you can play with a team, meet WGA allied, retail, and warehouse members, and support a great cause!

📍 Northern Golf Outing
🗓 Monday, June 8, 2026
📌 Greenwood Hills Country Club – Wausau, WI
⏰ Few days left to sign-up! Registration Deadline: Monday, May 25

📍 Southern Golf Outing
🗓 Wednesday, July 22, 2026
📌 Evergreen Golf Club – Elkhorn, WI
⏰ Registration Deadline: Wednesday, July 8

If you're part of Wisconsin's grocery industry, message us for the registration link!

Wisconsin’s grocery industry is rooted in community. 🛒❤️

Hear from Tom Oestreicher, department manager at the Jefferson Piggly Wiggly (Wisconsin & Illinois), on what makes a career in Wisconsin’s grocery industry so rewarding.

When asked what advice he’d give to someone starting a career or pursuing a role as a store owner, manager, or department manager, Tom shared, “Commit to it. Not every day is going to be great. Getting through those rough patches makes the good days that much more rewarding.”

Wisconsin’s grocery industry is built on supporting local communities. 🛒❤️ Hear from Nate Vollmer, director of human resources at Trig's, about what makes working in Wisconsin’s grocery industry so meaningful.

“The grocery industry is very unique as it’s one of the only businesses that you’ll find in almost every town, village, and city in the state. This gives operators the opportunity to play a critical and central role in their communities. At Trig’s, we are extremely focused on connecting with local shoppers by supporting all our local food pantries, school districts, veterans’ groups, first responders, and other charities and foundations. We also do what we can to support local vendors throughout the state by supporting the sale of their products. Our “Love it Local” campaign is a big part of how we stay connected to our communities locally and statewide."

Not everyone’s journey into the grocery industry looks the same. 🛒 Some start with their very first job bagging groceries, while others find their path through family traditions, career changes, or unexpected opportunities. What connects them all is a shared passion for serving their communities. ❤️

In the latest issue of the Wisconsin Grocer magazine, we’re sharing the inspiring career journeys of grocery employees across the state.

Check it out! 📖✨

Congratulations to Andrew Martin from Meijer on receiving the WGA Advocacy Award! 👏

The latest Wisconsin Grocer magazine highlights advocacy in action, recognizing individuals and sharing what grocers need to know.

Read more in the latest issue and stay informed on what’s ahead. 📖

Every time a customer walks into a grocery store, they encounter something extraordinary. Shelves are stocked, produce is fresh, prices are clearly marked, orders are filled, and questions are answered with care. None of this happens by accident. It happens because of the people who make up Wisconsin’s grocery workforce.

This issue of Wisconsin Grocer is a celebration of people. From the front end to the back room, from independent single-store operators to multi-store teams across the state, grocery employees are the steady force that keeps our communities fed and connected.

Check out the latest magazine to read all about careers in Wisconsin's grocery industry! ✨🛒

Have you seen the latest Wisconsin Grocer magazine? It highlights careers across Wisconsin’s grocery industry! ✨🛒

Steve Burkhardt stepped into his role as chair of the Wisconsin Grocers Association Board of Directors in January 2026, bringing nearly four decades of experience with him. What started as a job bagging groceries in a small-town store has grown into a career helping lead operations across multiple Wisconsin communities. His passion for the industry remains just as strong today as it was at 16.

Today, Burkhardt serves as vice president of operations for Hometown Grocers Inc. (HGI), a company that launched in 2021 with a mission to sustain independent grocery stores in smaller communities. He transitioned into the HGI role — overseeing nine independent stores — more than four years ago under the company’s philosophy of supporting and growing smaller stores.

Read about it in the latest Wisconsin Grocers magazine!