Peter Larkin to Assume Role of NGA CEO and President July 1, 2010

Dear N.G.A. Member;

On June 30th Tom Zaucha will retire as President and CEO of the National Grocers Association. Tom's contributions to the organization are well documented and go far beyond what I could possibly cover in this letter. Under his leadership, N.G.A. earned a well deserved reputation as a powerful advocate for the independent retailer and the wholesalers that serve them. He dedicated the last twenty eight years of his career to building a financially sound association with a clearly defined mission that is well positioned for future growth and success. I hope you join me in thanking Tom for his incredible contributions to our industry. We wish Tom and Bernadette all the best in retirement.

As one chapter closes another opens. On July 1st Peter Larkin will take over as our new President and CEO. I want to thank the Executive Committee and the Search Committee for their time and hard work throughout the selection process. We were fortunate to have several well qualified candidates apply for the position but after a careful review it was clear that Peter's years of industry experience and strong background in government relations made him the right choice for N.G.A. Peter is already on the job and has been working side by side with Tom and the rest of the staff to ensure an orderly transition.

While Peter is already well known in the industry many of you may not have had a chance to meet him. Over the next several months he will be out meeting members, attending industry functions and communicating directly with many of you. So please join me in welcoming Peter to N.G.A. Give him a call or send him an email. I know he would be glad to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Chris Coborn
Chairman of the N.G.A. Board of Directors