Grocers’ Group to Discuss Safety, Retail Issues

Food safety and retail security issues will be discussed at Certified Grocers of California’s Expo ‘99, Wednesday and Thursday at the Long Beach Convention Center. The event, which is expected to draw representatives of about 3,000 retailers from across the western United States, will also include an exhibit hall for food manufacturers showcasing new products. On Wednesday, Alfred A. Plamann, chief executive of the group, known as Cergro, is scheduled to deliver a forecast for the company and the grocery industry in the wake of rapid supermarket consolidation. The annual event is expected to draw a much larger crowd than in recent years, given Commerce-based Cergro’s decision to merge with Portland-based United Grocers. That merger, which should be completed this fall, will form the largest grocery co-op in the western U.S with $3 billion in annual sales.