NCGA Names New Category Management Lead, Adds New Member Co-ops

National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA), a business services co-op with over 100 members across the United States, has appointed Ben Nauman category management lead, effective Feb. 9.

In his new role Nauman will lead a team developing programs and tools to support NCGA members' product selection and merchandising efforts, and help to differentiate co-ops in the marketplace.

Nauman is currently on NCGA's management team as a development director for the Iowa City, Iowa-based organization's central corridor. Over the past few years he has guided efforts to create the group's systematic store improvement program and establish a development team to better meet members' needs.

"Food co-ops continue to grow and prosper when many other retailers are struggling, by staying focused on member and shopper needs, and offering consumers both choices and the opportunity to create community," noted Nauman. "Our category management program will provide our retailers with better tools and resources to serve their shoppers and members, allow us to strengthen our partnerships with manufacturers and vendors, and increase the impact food co-op shoppers have on the larger natural products marketplace."

Reporting to NCGA director of purchasing Dave Blackburn, Nauman will be based in the organization's St. Paul, Minn. office. He previously worked in the Iowa City office.

In other NCGA news, the association welcomed two new members, Alberta Co-op Grocery in Portland, Ore. and Chequamegon Co-op in Ashland, Wis.