2009 was a successful year for the Association. We proudly launched EatAtHomeAlabama.com which brought new interest to consumers on eating at home and terrific press coverage. During this unstable economic time, this was a great thing for the industry and our Association.

We will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary during the 2010 year. Be sure to look for our new anniversary logo throughout the year. What a blessing to have such a strong organization incorporating all aspects of the grocery industry!

I would like to thank each and every one of you for being apart of the Association and hope that you find this publication both useful and informative. The Association’s door is always open, so please feel free to let us know your thoughts. I hope you have a prosperous and Happy New Year.

Jay Mitchell

Association Chairman
Mitchell Grocery Corporation

• 2009/2010 Alabama Grocers Association Board of Directors
• Download the 2009 AGA Year in Review (Large 15mb file please be patient when downloading)

Visit the Buy Alabama’s Best page here >>

Click here for more information and to place an order.

View Tournament Information Here >>

View Weekly Legislative Reports Here >>

Get 2010 AGA Convention Information Here >>

The Alabama Grocers Association will be promoting eating at home by giving away three hundred EatAtHomeAlabama.com reusable grocery bags at Bruno’s Supermarket in Hoover, across from the Galleria at 3780 Riverchase Village, from 2pm to 6pm on Friday, September 18, 2009. The Eat At Home Alabama website was created by the Alabama Grocers Association as a tool for consumers to learn how to save money, eat healthier, safely prepare and store your foods, enrich your life and promote the grocery industry in the state of Alabama.

Agriculture and the grocery industry are an important part of Alabama’s economy and employ over 200,000 people. We hope that with the current economy, consumers will find this site useful in not only stretching their food budget, but also teaching the benefits and joys of eating at home.

In conjunction with this promotion, Buy Alabama’s Best, which is the September sponsor of EatAtHomeAlabama.com, will also be there sampling Alabama products in the Bruno’s Riverchase store. The goal of the Buy Alabama’s Best program is to identify and increase awareness of Alabama food products and increase sales of these products as well as raise money for designated charities through partnering with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries and the Alabama Grocers Association. Consumers can distinguish Alabama products in their local grocery store by looking for the Buy Alabama’s Best logo. By buying Alabama products, consumers are supporting their local communities and the economy in the state of Alabama. The following companies will be sampling their products at Bruno’s in Hoover: Barber Dairies, Big Sky Granola, Bud’s Best Cookies, Dean’s Sausage Company, Golden Flake Snack Foods, John’s Famous Slaw Dressing, Mayfield Dairy Farms, Moore’s Marinade, and R.L. Zeigler.

We would like to invite everyone to come out to Bruno’s on September 18th to receive your free reusable bag, sample some of Alabama’s best products, and learn how you can save money by eating at home.

For more information on this upcoming event, please contact Ellie Taylor at etaylor@alabamagrocers.org or call the Association office at 205.823.5498.

Under the new system, permits will no longer be required for each minor employed. In its place, employers will be required to purchase a Certificate; Class I to employ minors age 14 or 15 and/or Class II, to employ minors age 16 or 17.

This certificate will be applied for online for a fee of $15.00 per certificate. The certificate must be renewed annually.

Every business location must have a certificate on display for the appropriate age groups they hire.

Apply for the certificate by going to www.labor.alabama.gov.

Additionally, schools will still issue an “eligibility to work” form certifying that students under 16 have satisfactory grades and attendance in order to be employed. This form must be in the minor’s personnel file for inspection.

Each employer must keep on premises a separate file for each employee under
19 years of age. The file shall contain the employee’s name, home address, date of birth, date of hire, proof of age, school of attendance, and time records which shall state the number of hours worked each day, starting and ending times, and break times.

A Child Labor Law poster (2009 version or later) is free of charge and required to be on display in every location employing minors under the age of 19.

The wording in this signage is different from the We Card signage that most of you currently are using in your stores.

The signage must read:

1. Alabama law strictly prohibits the purchase of tobacco products by persons under the age of 19.
2. Proof of age is required for the purchase of tobacco products.

If you are in need of this signage, please contact the Association office. This signage is free to all Alabama Grocers Association members.

The next Golf Tournament will be the 17th Annual Alabama Grocers Education Foundation Fall Golf Classic on Monday, October 19, 2009 at Pine Tree Country Club. Pine Tree is located at 5100 Pine Whispers Drive, Birmingham, Alabama 35210.

» Online Registration – 17th Annual Alabama Grocers Education Foundation Fall Golf Classic

» Online Informational Brochure – 17th Annual Alabama Grocers Education Foundation Fall Golf Classic

Photos from the Alabama Grocers Association 2009 Convention

Sandestin, Florida – Monday – July 27, 2009 to Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Monday

• 2009 Golf Tournament
• 2009 Monday Night
• 2009 Casino

Tuesday

• 2009 Business Session
• 2009 Bingo
• 2009 Exhibit Hall
• 2009 Best Bagger
• 2009 Chairman’s Banquet