The two largest groups who lobby on behalf of Vermont store owners announced Wednesday that they are merging. The Vermont Grocers Association and the Vermont Retailers Association will combine their names when they combine forces.
The Vermont Grocers Association President, Jim Harrison, will lead the new organization. He said the deal formalizes a long-running alliance. "We certainly work arm in arm, we have a lot of similar interests and priorities," said Harrison. "For the past couple years actually, our associations have been working together in terms of sharing office space and whatnot."
The new Vermont Retail and Grocers Association will have a combined membership of 830 member businesses.
Tasha Wallis is currently the retailers association’s executive director. She said the deal is a good opportunity for both groups. "I think everybody’s really looking at it as an opportunity not just to merge but to rethink how the association does things," said Wallis.
She will leave her post at the end of the month. Before working for the retailers association, she held positions in Governor Howard Dean and Governor Jim Douglas’ administrations.
