Barack Obama

Power 50 Ranking: 5 Title: President of the United States of America Key Developments: Proposed an ambitious agenda that includes food safety reform, health care reform and energy policy reform. What's Next: Finding the revenues to pay for this agenda while seeking to revive the economy.

In the run-up to last year’s presidential election, few executives in the food industry could be found who supported the Democratic platform and Barack Obama’s ambitious agenda for reform.

Now, after eight years of a hands-off approach to business regulation, the White House is in activist mode, for better or for worse.

Following a series of outbreaks of foodborne illnesses, one of President Obama’s first actions in his new position was to create a White House Food Safety Working Group, which recently unveiled a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing foodborne illness by stressing prevention, traceability, and cooperation among the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Agriculture and other state and federal agencies.

“President Obama’s most important impact on the industry may lie in the realm of food safety,” said Leslie G. Sarasin, president and chief executive officer, Food Marketing Institute. “[He] is emphasizing collaboration, starting with FDA and USDA. This principle extends to all government agencies at all levels.”

Now Obama is also seeking to shepherd health care reform through Congress — an issue that also promises to impact food retailers.

“His ambition to reform health care will have a major impact on the labor-intensive food retail and wholesale industry,” said Sarasin. “The result must be a plan that improves health care, extends coverage to all and, most important, reduces the cost.”

Tom Zaucha, president and CEO, National Grocers Association, agreed that health care reform was one of the areas where Obama’s influence will be felt by retailers. “I think the strongest challenge comes from labor issues,” he told SN, citing Obama’s appointments at the Department of Labor and National Labor Relations Board.

“Given the appointments, given the [Democratic] Congress and given the agenda, it’s going to be a real challenge,” Zaucha said.

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Supervalu Joins Better Buildings Challenge
Dec 02, 2011, Supermarket News, By SN STAFF
WASHINGTON — Supervalu, Minnepolis, announced that it has joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, which aims to engage building operators nationwide in improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020.

Report IDs Chicago SNAP Stores
Nov 21, 2011, Supermarket News, By MICHAEL GARRY
CHICAGO – A guide to retail stores in the Chicago area that are authorized to accept federal food assistance money but may not be providing nutritious food options was released by food-desert research firm Mari Gallagher Research & Consulting Group here.

UFCW Endorses Obama in 2012
Oct 20, 2011, Supermarket News, By SN STAFF
WASHINGTON — The United Food and Commercial Workers Union here said Thursday it is endorsing President Obama for re-election in 2012.

NACDS Recognizes Berwick as CMS Nominee
Apr 20, 2010, Supermarket News
The National Association of Chain Drug Stores pledged to work with President Barack ObamaÂ’s nominee, Donald M. Berwick, as administrator of The Centers for Medicare Medicaid Services (CMS), if confirmed by the Senate.

FMI Backs 35% Estate Tax
Oct 05, 2009, Supermarket News - Subscribers Only, By MARK HAMSTRA
Food Marketing Institute here is supporting a compromise proposal on the estate tax that would reduce the rate from its current levels but would not eliminate it. The tax sometimes called the death tax by businesses is levied on inherited wealth, and it is of concern to many business owners who seek to pass their companies on to the next generation. The inherited wealth is currently

Grocery Store News Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. | Supermarket news
Sep 10, 2009, Supermarket News

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