Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association
  • About
    • Celebrating 70 years
    • Board of Directors
    • Corporate Leadership Program
    • Our Team >
      • Contact us
      • Work at PFMA
    • Antitrust Statement
  • Membership
    • Retail Membership
    • Associate Membership
    • For members
  • Advocacy
    • Issues >
      • Federal Issues
      • State Issues
      • Philadelphia Issues
      • Pittsburgh/Allegheny Co Issues
      • Other regions issues
    • Priorities
    • Committees
    • FoodPAC
  • News & Publications
    • News Releases
    • Spectrum magazine
    • Videos and podcasts
    • Reports
    • Advertising rates
  • Events
    • 2023 Annual Conference
    • Calendar
  • Services
    • Scholarships
    • Resources and training >
      • COVID-19
      • Member Resources
      • Emergency planning
      • A Bag's Life
      • Helpful links
    • Pennsylvania Coupon Redemption Services >
      • The PCRS process
      • Sample coupon policy
    • Retail Price Accuracy >
      • SCP Request Information
    • Endorsed services & Partners
    • Job bank
  • Buyers Guide

ABOUT

Celebrating 70 years

Serving and supporting the industry

Since its establishment in 1952 at the Lawrence Hotel in Erie, Pa., the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association has pioneered innovative ways to serve and support the commonwealth’s food and beverage industries. On Oct. 29, 2022, PFMA commemorates its 70th anniversary. 
It’s incredible to reflect on the work that PFMA has accomplished for its members over the past 70 years. The support of our broad and longstanding membership has allowed us to advance the interests of grocery stores, convenience stores, wholesalers, consumer packaged goods companies, lottery and gaming organizations and more—ultimately benefiting Pennsylvanian businesses and consumers.”

—Alex Baloga, PFMA president and CEO

What it means to be a PFMA member


PFMA milestones

1952 Established the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association

1956 Launched Pennsylvania Coupon Redemption Services, the largest retail coupon clearinghouse owned and operated by a retail food association 

1960  
Hosted its first convention in Pittsburgh, which grew to include a trade show, educational programs, networking opportunities and Pennsylvania’s Best Bagger contest 

1976  
Formed FoodPAC of Pennsylvania, its first political action committee aimed at raising funds to elect qualified candidates to state office 

1979  
Opened a branch office in Harrisburg to increase its presence in the state capitol
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1986  Merged with the Pennsylvania Grocers Association and established Merchants Express Money Orders (MEMO), which grew into one of the nation’s largest money order companies

1988  Moved association offices to Wormleysburg, just minutes from Harrisburg

1991  Created the Scanning Certification Program, a voluntary program for retailers that provides shoppers with retail pricing information and price accuracy

1996  Funded the Thomas R. and Laura Ridge Scholarship in partnership with Pittsburgh Association of Manufacturers Representatives and the Northwestern Pennsylvania Food Council 

2008  Created Spectrum magazine, providing association and member news

2016  Merged with the Pennsylvania Distributors Association

2021  Established Shelf Confidence, an association podcast focused on trends and innovations in the food and beverage industries
PFMA serves more than 800 corporate members and more than 4,000 retail food stores. Some of our members have been with us for more than 50 years.
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When fax machines were high tech: 
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Staff reflects on past accomplishments

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It’s been said that change is the only constant in life. The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association certainly has navigated many industry and policy changes over its 70-year history. Yet it also boasts years of steady leadership, growth and service. 

“In recent years, the PFMA family has grown to include many representatives of the candy, tobacco and beverage industries; gaming companies; and specialty food distributors,” said Dave McCorkle, past PFMA president. “The growth has made PFMA’s message to policy makers even stronger.” Read more!

Food is family: Nourishing communities & businesses for 70 years

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Famed American chef, author and TV personality James Beard once said, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.”

This commonality in the human experience makes issues surrounding food particularly significant. For 70 years, PFMA has dedicated its work to improving access to healthy foods, better jobs and more opportunities in the food and beverage retail industry.    
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“Our business really is food. It’s bringing people together, it’s bringing issues to the forefront, it’s improving the quality and the climate of Pennsylvania business for the food industry,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association. Read more!


PFMA Board of Directors past presidents & chairs

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The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association began during a charter presentation on October 29, 1952, in Erie. (From left) E.W. Haibach; Al Vicks; Vince L. Browner, president of the National Association of Retail Grocers; and Paul Reitz, first PFMA chair (then known as president).
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Al Vicks (left) retired as PFMA's president in 1987, welcoming David McCorkle as the newly appointed association president and CEO.
Paul G. Reitz
Riverside Markets
1952–1955
 
Stanley Genetti
Genetti’s Markets
1955–1958
 
Barney Moldovan
A&M Supermarket
1958–1961
 
Jerry Fahringer
Jerry’s Market
1961­–1963
 
Al Kane
Kane’s Market
1963–1965
 
Edwin Armitage
Armitage Market
1965–1967
 
David Molish
Shopping Cart Thriftway Supermarkets
1967–1970
 
Carl Gregory
Tops All Markets, Inc.
1970–1972
 
John Krystyniak
Red & White SuperMarket
1972–1974
 
Paul Wild
Lawndale Markets, Inc.
1974–1976
 
Eugene Petrucci
Petrucci’s Markets
1976–1979
 
Jay Miller
Jay’s Markets
1979–1981
Earl Redner
Redner’s Tiger Markets, Inc.
1981–1983
 
Charles Genuardi
Genuardi’s Supermarkets, Inc.
1983–1985
 
John Gould
Gould’s IGA Market
1985–1987
 
Arnold Young
Welsh Road Shop N Bag
1987–1989
 
Joe Heisler
Foodland
1989–1991
 
Vince Anderson
Wawa, Inc.
1991–1993
 
Christy Spoa
Ellwood City Save-A-Lot
1993–1995
 
Stewart Hartman
Rutter’s Farm Stores
1995–1997
 
Bill Bracey
Bill’s ShurSave Markets
1997–1999
 
Murray Battleman
Richboro Shop N Bag
1999–2001
 
Gary Kipp
Giant Eagle #640
2001
 
​Jack Clemens
Clemens Family Markets
2001–2003
 
Walter Rubel      
Acme Markets, Inc.
2003–2005
 
Chris Michael
Associated Wholesalers, Inc.
2005–2007
 
Scott Hartman  
Rutters Farm Stores
2007–2009
 
Dan McNabb       
Lebanon Shops Foodland
2009–2011
 
Louie Sheetz
Sheetz, Inc.
2011–2013
 
Richard McMenamin
McMenamin Family ShopRite
2013–2015
 
Paul Rankin
Country Fair, Inc.
2015–2017
 
Jeff Brown  
Brown's ShopRites
2017–2020
 
Tom Cormier
The GIANT Company
2020–2022
 
Lisa Dell’Alba
Square One Markets, Inc.
2022–present

    Help us celebrate!

    Send PFMA a happy anniversary message! We'll share your well wishes during our Fall Legislative Conference and anniversary celebration in October. 
Submit
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PFMA opened its Harrisburg office in August 1979. PFMA Chair Jay Miller (left) joined President Al Vicks (right). (Back row, from left) Also attending the ribbon cutting were Hank Sitko, director of public and governmental relations, Bill Drayton, PFMA field representative, and Dolf Polsenberg, director of special projects.

STAY IN TOUCH

Let us know how we can work for you!

email

pfma@pfma.net
​

phone

(717) 731-0600
(800) 543-8207

address

1029 Mumma Road
Wormleysburg, PA  17043


The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association
All Rights Reserved. © 2021
​
Website by WebLink International
  • About
    • Celebrating 70 years
    • Board of Directors
    • Corporate Leadership Program
    • Our Team >
      • Contact us
      • Work at PFMA
    • Antitrust Statement
  • Membership
    • Retail Membership
    • Associate Membership
    • For members
  • Advocacy
    • Issues >
      • Federal Issues
      • State Issues
      • Philadelphia Issues
      • Pittsburgh/Allegheny Co Issues
      • Other regions issues
    • Priorities
    • Committees
    • FoodPAC
  • News & Publications
    • News Releases
    • Spectrum magazine
    • Videos and podcasts
    • Reports
    • Advertising rates
  • Events
    • 2023 Annual Conference
    • Calendar
  • Services
    • Scholarships
    • Resources and training >
      • COVID-19
      • Member Resources
      • Emergency planning
      • A Bag's Life
      • Helpful links
    • Pennsylvania Coupon Redemption Services >
      • The PCRS process
      • Sample coupon policy
    • Retail Price Accuracy >
      • SCP Request Information
    • Endorsed services & Partners
    • Job bank
  • Buyers Guide