Massachusetts Food Association

What Massachusetts Food Association does

The Massachusetts Food Association (MFA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1906 and headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, representing the supermarket and grocery industry across the Commonwealth. Its membership spans enterprise grocery retailers (Stop & Shop, Big Y, Hannaford, Demoulas/Market Basket, Shaw's, Wegmans, Whole Foods, Trader Joe's), wholesale distributors (C&S Wholesale Grocers, UNFI, Wakefern), manufacturers and CPG companies (HP Hood, Polar Beverables, Bimbo Bakeries USA, Gold Medal Bakery), and associate/professional service members, totaling over 75 member companies.

MFA's core products and services are advocacy, regulatory representation, and industry programming rather than technology. Offerings include Government Affairs services (state and federal lobbying, legislative tracking across ~300 industry-relevant proposals per session, and position letters), MFA Events (annual convention, annual meetings, Hall of Fame and emerging-leader awards), weekly News Scan publications, Industry Information resources sourced from the Food Industry Association, and the MFA Goes Green sustainability program (Enhanced Recycling MOU, Grocery Bag Reduction MOU, and Green Guidelines administered under MOUs with MassDEP). The association also operates as a member of MA Emergency Support Function 5 (MAESF-5), coordinating private-sector food supply continuity with MEMA before, during and after disasters.

The business model is membership dues funded, with ancillary revenue from convention sponsorships, tote sales, and events managed through the affiliated New England Food Foundation. Distribution is primarily direct-to-enterprise: companies apply for membership through the website or by contacting the office, with tiers including Single Store, Multi Store, Non-Retail, and Affiliate. MFA markets to members and the broader industry via its website (mafood.com) with a members-only login, weekly email news scans, Facebook/Instagram/X (Twitter) accounts, media editorials, and webinars on legislative issues.

Name

Massachusetts Food Association

Legal name

Massachusetts Food Association

Website

https://mafood.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1906

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Massachusetts Food Association is a 1906-founded non-profit trade association representing Massachusetts supermarket, grocery, wholesale, and CPG companies through state-level advocacy, regulatory representation, sustainability programs, and industry events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Marlborough

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Massachusetts Food Association is a non-profit trade association that represents the supermarket and grocery industry in Massachusetts. It delivers government affairs advocacy at state and local levels, tracks roughly 300 legislative proposals per session, hosts the MFA Convention and Annual Meeting plus industry awards, publishes weekly news scans and government affairs alerts, runs the MFA Goes Green sustainability program (including MOUs with MassDEP), and coordinates emergency preparedness through MAESF-5 with MEMA on behalf of its 75+ member companies.

Product overview

The Massachusetts Food Association is a non-profit trade association for the supermarket and grocery industry in Massachusetts. The organization provides advocacy services, hosts industry events including the annual convention and awards ceremonies, publishes weekly news and legislative updates, offers industry information resources, manages membership services, and operates sustainability initiatives. These services collectively support and represent the interests of grocery retailers and food industry suppliers across Massachusetts.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Government Affairs Advocacy Advocacy and lobbying services representing the supermarket and grocery industry on legislative and regulatory matters at the Massachusetts state and local levels, including testimony, position letters, and policy monitoring before agencies such as DPH, DEP, DTA, and ABCC. Intended for MFA member companies in the grocery industry.
• MFA Convention and Annual Meeting Annual in-person industry events including the MFA Convention and Annual Meeting, featuring keynote speakers (e.g., Governor Maura Healey at the 117th Annual Meeting), networking, exhibitor booths, and industry awards (Hall of Fame, Community Service, Emerging Leader). Intended for MFA member companies, sponsors, exhibitors, and grocery industry professionals.
• Weekly Publications and News Alerts Weekly News Scan publications, legislative updates, government affairs alerts, and industry reports distributed by email to members. Provides ongoing policy intelligence on Massachusetts legislative and regulatory developments affecting the grocery industry.
• Industry Information Resources Industry data and research resources for members, including supermarket facts, sustainability guidelines, and Food Industry Association (FMI) research and data. Provides members with market and operational intelligence.
• Trade Association Membership Trade association membership providing access to advocacy, networking events, training resources, and the member directory for grocery industry professionals. Membership tiers include Single Store, Multi Store, Non-Retail, and Affiliate categories.
• MFA Goes Green Sustainability Program Environmental sustainability program offering members participation in the Enhanced Recycling MOU and Grocery Bag Reduction MOU with MassDEP, plus comprehensive green guidelines covering over 100 green actions. Provides regulatory relief on sustainability compliance for participating grocery retailer members.

Named customers16 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA serves as member of MA Emergency Support Function 5 (MAESF-5), representing the business community and private sector before, during, and after disasters. MFA's duties include providing situational awareness on food retailers and distribution centers, developing critical commodities lists, coordinating private sector resources, and acting as conduit for information between SEOC and member organizations.
• Food Industry Association (FMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA works with the Food Marketing Institute (now Food Industry Association) and other national organizations to further industry causes. FMI provides research, data, and supermarket facts resources that MFA distributes to members.
• National Grocers Association (NGA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA collaborates with the National Grocers Association at the national level to advance the interests of the grocery industry and independent supermarket operators.
• Food Industry Association Executives (FIAE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA participates in regional and state organization networks including FIAE to coordinate industry advocacy efforts across state lines.
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA maintained ongoing discussions with DPH during COVID-19 pandemic regarding guidance, emergency orders, and vaccine priority for essential workers in the grocery industry.
• Greater Boston Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA serves on the Advisory Committee of the Greater Boston Food Bank and coordinates food donation programs through member companies.
• MA Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA has Memoranda of Understanding with MassDEP for Supermarket Recycling Program Certification and Grocery Bag Reduction initiatives, providing regulatory relief to participating members.
• Environmental Groups (MASSPIRG, Sierra Club, Surfriders)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA works with environmental activist groups and MA Retail Association to create statewide plastic bag ban proposals with consensus among business and environmental stakeholders.
• New England State Food System Planners PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership including Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and Massachusetts Food System Collaborative with goal of growing 30% of New England's food from within New England by 2030. MFA participates in local food purchasing surveys and data collection.
• Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA maintains relationship with DTA for SNAP/EBT program communication and coordination with grocery retail members during COVID-19 and ongoing food assistance program implementation.
• Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission (ABCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA continues to participate in ABCC group meetings and maintains ongoing communication with the Executive Director on alcohol licensing and regulatory matters affecting grocery retailers.
• Massachusetts Beverage AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMFA works with the Massachusetts Beverage Association on bottled water bans and related policy issues affecting both industries.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Grocers Association (NGA): NGA is the national trade association representing independent supermarket operators and wholesale grocers. MFA explicitly partners with NGA to advance the interests of independent grocers, making it the most direct national peer to MFA.
• Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association: PFMA is a state-level trade association representing Pennsylvania's retail food industry. Like MFA, it provides government affairs, sustainability, and member services to grocery retailers, wholesalers, and suppliers in its state.
• California Grocers Association: California Grocers Association is the statewide trade association representing California's grocery retail industry. It serves the same function as MFA but in California, operating as a direct state-level peer for advocacy, sustainability, and regulatory representation.
• Food Industry Alliance of New York State: Food Industry Alliance of New York State is the trade association representing New York's grocery industry. It functions as a direct counterpart to MFA at the state level, providing advocacy, regulatory monitoring, and member services to supermarket and grocery operators.

Emerging players

• Massachusetts Food System Collaborative: The Massachusetts Food System Collaborative is a statewide nonprofit working to strengthen the Massachusetts food system. MFA participates in the New England State Food System Planners Partnership with this organization, making it a thematically aligned peer operating in the same food-policy space.
• Greater Boston Food Bank: Greater Boston Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in New England. MFA holds a seat on its Advisory Committee and coordinates food donation programs through member companies, creating a partnership relationship with limited operational overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Food Industry Association (FMI): FMI is the national trade association for the food retail industry, providing research, advocacy, and education to supermarket and grocery operators. MFA explicitly partners with FMI to distribute supermarket facts and research to members, making it a direct national-level counterpart.

Others

• Food Industry Association Executives (FIAE): FIAE is a network of state and regional food industry association executives that coordinates industry advocacy across jurisdictions. MFA participates in FIAE as a peer of similar state-level associations, making it a horizontal peer network.

Regional players

• New England Food Foundation: The New England Food Foundation is a regional food industry organization in the same geographic footprint as MFA. MFA staff administer the Foundation's financials and events, indicating a closely coordinated regional peer relationship.
• Massachusetts Beverage Association: Massachusetts Beverage Association is a state-level trade association representing non-alcoholic beverage producers and distributors in Massachusetts. MFA partners with it on bottled water and packaging policy, making it a directly comparable state-level non-profit association.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mafoodassoc
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/massfood
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/massachusetts-food-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Massachusetts Food Association