National Supermarket Association (NSA)

What National Supermarket Association (NSA) does

The National Supermarket Association (NSA) is a non-profit trade association founded in 1989 by Hispanic entrepreneurs to represent independent supermarket owners serving communities from Massachusetts to Florida, with operational headquarters in Flushing, New York and a New England chapter opened in Providence, Rhode Island in June 2024. The association represents approximately 700-800 independent member supermarkets across at least 39 banners (KeyFood, Foodtown, C-Town, Met Foodmarkets, SuperFresh, Associated Supermarket Group, Bravo, Compare Foods, Fine Fare, Price Choice, Shop Fair, Supremo, and others), predominantly Hispanic-owned and serving food desert and minority communities that large chains have historically underserved. NSA's underlying service platform combines advocacy and government relations (New York State of Wine coalition, CAPS anti-theft coalition), member services (exclusive vendor programs, discounted food safety inspections, compliance seminars), and a calendar of annual commercial and community events (International Sales & Trade Show at Meadowlands Exposition Center, Annual Gala drawing approximately 1,500 guests, Golf Classic, Scholarship Dinner, Women's Forum, Toy Drive).

NSA's revenue model rests on three streams: recurring annual membership dues from independent supermarket owners, event-related revenue from the trade show, gala, golf classic, scholarship dinner, and women's forum (sponsorships, exhibitor fees, ticket sales), and corporate sponsorships from CPG brands such as Goya Foods (a recognized 'Company of the Year' partner since at least 2022), Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, and Porky Products. The association operates with a small professional staff of approximately 46 employees, supplemented by an elected board of directors and chapter leadership, and extends its mission through the NSA Cares Scholarship Foundation (over $3 million awarded via Scholarship America) and strategic education partnerships such as the 2023 New York Institute of Technology collaboration covering 25%+ of tuition for member employees and families.

Name

National Supermarket Association (NSA)

Legal name

National Supermarket Association, Inc.

Website

https://nsaglobal.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The National Supermarket Association (NSA) is a 1989-founded non-profit trade association representing approximately 700-800 independent, predominantly Hispanic-owned supermarkets across the East Coast, Mid-Atlantic, Florida, and New England, providing advocacy, vendor programs, compliance training, and annual events.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Grocery Trade Association

NAICS

Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (44511), Supermarkets and Other Grocery Retailers (except Convenience Retailers) (445110), Food and Beverage Retailers (445)

SIC

Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Retail-Food Stores (5400)

akta.pro primary industry

Full-Line Supermarkets (National/Regional Chains) (CRAHAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pan-Regional Ethnic Grocery Stores (CRAHAFAA), Multi-Stakeholder Grocery Cooperatives (CRAHALAD)

Keywords

• Trade association services
• Independent supermarket advocacy
• Industry membership programs
• Grocer trade representation
• Food retail networking

Headquarters

HQ city

Flushing

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: NSA generates revenue through annual membership dues from independent supermarket owners. Members pay fees to join a community of independent supermarket owners with mutual interests and common issues.
2. Event Revenue: The association organizes major annual events including the Trade Show, Annual Gala, Golf Classic, Scholarship Dinner, and Women's Forum, generating revenue through sponsorships, exhibitor fees, and ticket sales.
3. Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors including Goya Foods, Coca-Cola, Frito-Lay, and others sponsor NSA events and programs, providing financial support in exchange for visibility among independent supermarket owners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National Supermarket Association is a non-profit trade association representing approximately 800 independent supermarket owners, predominantly Hispanic-owned, across the East Coast, Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Florida. The association provides advocacy before government entities and corporations, exclusive vendor programs, compliance seminars (food safety and consumer protection), technical assistance, food safety inspections, and a portfolio of annual events including trade shows, galas, golf tournaments, women's forums, scholarship programs, and toy drives. Members gain access to collective bargaining power, networking, and educational opportunities for employees and their families.

Product overview

The National Supermarket Association (NSA) is a trade association, not a technology product company. It provides a unified platform of member services for independent supermarket owners, including: trade show events (NSA International Sales & Trade Show), the NSA Cares Scholarship Foundation for education support, Women's Forum networking events, Annual Gala celebrations, Golf Classic events, Toy Drive charitable initiatives, compliance seminars, government advocacy, and regional chapters (New England and Florida). The association connects over 700 independent supermarkets with vendors, provides training, and advocates for policy changes affecting the industry.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NSA Membership Program Annual trade association membership providing access to exclusive vendor programs, technical assistance, food safety inspections, advocacy representation, compliance training at discount rates, monthly assembly meetings, and event tickets for independent supermarket owners.
• NSA International Sales & Trade Show Annual trade show event held at Meadowlands Exposition Center connecting vendors, brokers, manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers with NSA's network of over 700 independent supermarkets on the East Coast.
• NSA Cares Scholarship Foundation Scholarship program administered through Scholarship America to assist students in communities where NSA member stores are located, with awards going to students demonstrating academic promise and financial need.
• NSA Annual Gala Premier annual celebration event bringing together approximately 1,500 guests including supermarket owners, industry leaders, corporate executives, elected officials, and community leaders, featuring recognition awards.
• NSA Women's Forum Annual forum event celebrating and supporting women in the supermarket industry, featuring networking opportunities, influential speakers, and recognition of achievements.
• NSA Golf Classic Annual golf tournament event benefiting the NSA Cares Foundation, providing a platform to engage with supermarket owners and industry leaders while supporting educational opportunities.
• Government Relations & Advocacy Advocacy and representation before government entities and corporations on issues impacting the supermarket industry, including policy initiatives such as wine sales legislation and price equity laws.
• NSA New England Chapter Regional chapter based in Providence, Rhode Island providing outreach services to corporations targeting the Hispanic market and supporting independent, community-based retailers throughout New England.
• NSA Florida Chapter Regional chapter representing independent supermarket owners in Florida, extending NSA's reach and member services to the southeastern United States.
• NSA Compliance Seminars Educational seminars and courses on compliance including Food Safety certification and New York City Consumer Protection Law, offered at discount rates for members.
• NSA Toy Drive Annual charitable initiative providing school supplies and toys for underprivileged children in vulnerable communities, with deliveries made personally to the Dominican Republic.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $3 million in scholarships awarded to students from member communities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core, regional and minor.

• Porky ProductscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 16 July 2026Porky Products is the exclusive trade show partner for NSA Trade Show 2026 and 2025. The annual event attracts companies looking to showcase products and services to key buyers in the independent supermarket sector.
• Rhode Island (Lieutenant Governor Matos)regionalOthers · 26 June 2024NSA opened its New England chapter headquarters in Providence, Rhode Island following over 18 months of discussions with Lieutenant Governor Matos who advocated for the selection of Rhode Island based on the state's central location, competitive business costs, and rich talent pool. No economic or tax incentives were received.
• New York Institute of Technology (NYIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 January 2023NSA and NYIT teamed up beginning spring 2023 to provide access to education for NSA members, employees, and their families. NYIT promotes undergraduate programs and MBA programs; NSA scholarships cover at least 25% of full-time tuition for accepted students. Organizations collaborate on internships, career fairs, and fundraising for student scholarships.
• Goya FoodscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2022Goya Foods is a longtime partner of NSA, recognized as Company of the Year. NSA partnered with Goya Cares, a global initiative to combat human trafficking. NSA Cares raised $10,000 during the 2022 gala which was matched by Goya, NSA, and Cibao Meat Products. Goya provides product donations and sponsors NSA events.
• Congressman Adriano EspaillatregionalOthersCongressman Adriano Espaillat administered the oath of office for NSA's new president and board of directors at the 2026 swearing-in ceremony.
• Ydanis Rodriguez (NYC Government)regionalOthersNYC government officials attended NSA's swearing-in ceremony, underscoring the strong relationship between NSA and city leadership.
• Dominican Republic Consul General (Jesus 'Chu' Vasquez)regionalOthersConsul General of the Dominican Republic in New York offered words of encouragement at NSA events and participated in Marca Pais campaign launch to promote Dominican products.
• Food Education FundminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSA partnered with Goya and Food Education Fund to host Taste of Latinoamerica, a Latin-themed pop-up restaurant event featuring students from NYC's Food and Finance High School.
• Community Service Society of New YorkminorOthersNSA partnered with CSS in 2019 to distribute Thanksgiving turkeys and meals to feed over 35,000 New Yorkers statewide alongside Walmart and Wegmans.
• Bodega and Small Business GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Collective Action to Protect our Stores (CAPS) coalition led by NSA to address rising retail theft and demand changes for worker and consumer safety.
• Metro Supermarket AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Collective Action to Protect our Stores (CAPS) coalition led by NSA to address rising retail theft.
• New York State of Wine CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSA joined the New York State of Wine coalition pushing to legalize wine sales in supermarkets in New York. Coalition includes Wegmans, ShopRite, Whole Foods, Stop & Shop and over a dozen members.
• Dominican Republic Export and Investment Center (CEI-RD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSA partnered with CEI-RD for the Marca Pais campaign to promote Dominican products through NSA member supermarkets on the East Coast, with 17 Dominican companies participating in the NSA trade show.
• BHD BankminorOthersNSA met with BHD Bank president to discuss initiatives to promote Dominican culture and banking projects for stores where the Dominican community can make money transfers.
• Scholarly AwardsminorOthersNSA scholarship program is administered by Scholarship America, the nation's largest designer and manager of scholarship and tuition assistance programs.
• Associated Supermarket GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorASG participates in NSA trade shows and provides solutions for independently owned stores to take advantage of economies of scale.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FMI - The Food Industry Association: Larger trade association serving the broader food retail industry including chains, wholesalers, and suppliers. Comparable to NSA in its trade association role and advocacy function but serves a much wider membership beyond independents.
• SpartanNash: Food distributor and retailer serving independent grocers across the U.S. Comparable to NSA in serving the independent supermarket ecosystem through distribution, private label, and support services, though operates as a for-profit public company.
• C&S Wholesale Grocers: Largest wholesale grocery distributor in the U.S., supplying independent supermarkets and chains. Comparable to NSA in serving independent grocers' supply chain needs, though as a B2B wholesaler rather than a membership association.

Direct peers

• National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS): Trade association representing convenience store operators. Comparable to NSA as a member-driven trade association providing advocacy, education, and events to independent retail operators, though serving the convenience channel rather than supermarkets.
• Independent Grocers Alliance (IGA): Global cooperative and licensing organization for independent grocers. Comparable to NSA in its focus on supporting independent supermarket operators through collective resources, though operates as a retailer cooperative rather than a pure trade association.
• National Grocers Association (NGA): National trade association representing independent grocers across the U.S. Directly comparable to NSA as a member-driven advocacy organization serving independent supermarket owners, though operating at a national rather than regional scale.
• United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC): National Hispanic business advocacy organization. Comparable to NSA in its focus on Hispanic business community representation and advocacy, though serving Hispanic-owned businesses across all sectors rather than specifically independent supermarkets.
• Bodega Association of the United States: Trade association representing small corner stores and bodegas, particularly in Hispanic communities. Comparable to NSA in its ethnic community focus, advocacy function, and representation of small-format independent food retailers, though smaller in scope.

Others

• Wakefern Food Corporation: Cooperative wholesaler and retailer behind ShopRite, Price Rite, and The Fresh Grocer banners serving East Coast independent grocers. Comparable to NSA's member ecosystem as several Wakefern banners (ShopRite, The Fresh Grocer) overlap with NSA's membership and coalition partnerships.

Regional players

• Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG): Cooperative wholesaler supplying independent grocery retailers. Comparable to NSA in serving the independent grocer ecosystem, though AWG operates primarily in the Midwest and Mid-South rather than NSA's East Coast/Florida territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-supermarket-association

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about National Supermarket Association (NSA)