Treasurer Davis Calls on Federal Trade Commission to Oppose Kroger-Albertsons Merger

In a letter dated August 23, 2023, Delaware State Treasurer Colleen Davis joined six of her colleagues in calling on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to oppose the proposed merger between major grocery chains Kroger and Albertsons. Davis believes the merger poses a significant threat to the well-being of Delaware residents and expresses deep concern and strong opposition to the consolidation of two of the largest grocery store chains in the United States.

The FTC is currently reviewing the proposed merger and considering its potential impact on competition and consumers. Treasurer Davis believes the negative impact of the deal could have wide reaching effects.

“I have serious concerns about access to fresh and affordable groceries, particularly in underserved communities,” Davis said. “It’s critical that we maintain a diverse range of grocery options, especially for those who rely on these stores for their daily needs.”

In addition to the severe consequences to Delawareans’ access to food in their communities, Treasurer Davis also cautions about the potential harm to workers’ livelihoods.

A study from the Economic Policy Institute, found that the merger between Kroger and Albertsons could result in a total loss of $334 million in wages for over 746,000 grocery store workers across more than 50 metropolitan areas. This loss translates to an average annual wage decrease of approximately $450 per worker.

Treasurer Davis expressed concerns about the potential impact on workers in both companies. Albertsons currently operates 18 stores in Delaware: 15 under the Acme name and 3 more Safeway stores, with Kroger owning two Harris Teeter locations.

“Mergers often lead to job cuts and layoffs as duplicate positions are eliminated in the name of cost savings,” Davis said. It’s crucial that we protect workers’ livelihoods and job security.”

The letter also asserts “the consolidation of the chains would diminish workers’ ability to organize and negotiate for better wages and working conditions,” stressing that by “reducing the number of outside options available to workers, the merger would significantly limit competition in hiring and retaining employees, undermining their bargaining power.

“While mergers and acquisitions can sometimes provide benefits, we must carefully consider their impact on our communities, workers, and consumers,” Davis said. “I believe that this proposed merger between Kroger and Albertsons could have far-reaching negative consequences, and I am committed to advocating for the best interests of Delawareans.”

Read and download the full letter here.


Delaware BPA Students Bring Home Honors from National Conference

Last week 235 Delaware students were among about 6,500 middle-level, secondary-level and post-secondary level business students from 25 states, Puerto Rico, China, Haiti, and Peru who participated in the 2023 Business Professionals of America National Leadership Conference held in Anaheim, California.

Students demonstrated professionalism during the conference and competed in 52 events in the categories of: management, marketing and communications, digital communications and design, management information systems, business administration, and finance. Delaware also had one student, Cara Huang, campaign for the Executive Officer Leadership Team.

Presentation of the BPA Cares Awards, Ambassador Torch Awards, service awards, and scholarships took place on Friday at the National Honor Awards Ceremony.  You can watch the live stream at www.thinkcybis.com/bpa-live/.

Students were recognized on Saturday at the Middle Level/Secondary Awards Finale.  You can watch the live stream at www.thinkcybis.com/bpa-live/.  Find a list of Delaware’s Top 10 winners below.

Special thanks to Delaware BPA’s Gold Sponsor, JP Morgan Chase (JPMC) and Board of Director Chair Rich Jester.  JPMC Managing Directors Glen McFarlane and Jamal Brown provided a $1,500 award to the 1st place Website Design Team from Newark Charter High School – Kinga Gul, Alanna Denault, Natalie Keach and Srujan Yamali and the $1,500 McFarlane Scholarship to Jennae Overton.

Thank you to sponsors, Mike Stanley of Wildwich Food Truck and Rob Schumacher of Schuprints Screen Printing for contributing to the purchase of state flags for all Delaware delegates.

BPA is a career and technical student organization for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. For more information, please visit the BPA web site at www.bpa.org or contact Dr. Lisa Wilson, Delaware BPA state advisor, at lisa.wilson@doe.k12.de.us.

Top 10 awardees: High school

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Top 10 awardees: Middle School

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Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006


Business Students Win State Honors

Business students from across Delaware won state awards at last month’s Business Professionals of America State Leadership Conference.

 

About 360 high school business students from 20 high schools in the state participated in the conference at the Chase Center on the Riverfront in Wilmington, competing in 52 events in the categories of management; marketing and communications; digital communications and design; management information systems; business administration; and finance. Students also campaigned for the state officer leadership team.

 

About 260 business students from 20 middle schools statewide also participated. The middle level students competed in 15 events.

 

Find a list of state qualifiers here and here.

Students were recognized Friday at the 2023 Business Professionals of America, Delaware Association Awards Ceremony. The ceremony culminated with the celebration of leadership, recognition of community services, and the presentation of the 2023– 2024 State Officer Leadership Team with school representatives and families in attendance.

 

The following student members were elected to serve on the State Officer Leadership Team for 2023 – 2024:

  • President – Jennae Overton from Middletown High School (Appoquinimink School District)
  • Vice President – Kinga Gul from Newark Charter High School (charter)
  • Secretary – Manushri Gupta from MOT Charter High School (charter)
  • Middle Level Representative – Anusha Sarwadi from Alfred G. Waters Middle School (Appoquinimink School District)

 

The Secondary Advisor of the Year was Jeffrey Bunting of Indian River High School in the Indian River School District. Jennifer Rhudd, formerly of Kirk Middle School, received the Honorary Life Award. The State Professional Cup is awarded to the chapter from each division most actively involved in Special Recognition and Torch Awards. This year’s recipient of the Middle Level Professional Cup is Mariner Middle School in Cape Henlopen School District and the Secondary Level Professional Cup is Cape Henlopen High School.

 

State Auditor Lydia York and state Rep. Michael Smith served as judges.

 

Gold sponsor JP Morgan Chase is represented on the Board of Directors and contributed about 35 judge volunteers including Managing Directors Glen McFarlane and Jamal Brown as well as a $1,500 award to the 1st place Website Design Team from Newark Charter High School (Kinga Gul, Alanna Denault, Natalie Keach and Srujan Yamali).

 

In addition, about 40 BPA members submitted more than 70 logo designs for the JPMC Design Challenge. Four winners were selected: Srinidhi Kotteswaran, Daniel La Rose, Rajat Bhaskaran, and Leo Yan. Each student received a $75 Amazon gift card, certificate, and an opportunity to meet a User Experience designer at JPMC to get a closer look at building a brand from scratch.

 

BPA is a leading Career and Technical Student Organization (CTSO) for students pursuing careers in business management, office administration, information technology and other related career fields. For more information, please visit the BPA Web site at www.bpa.org or contact Lisa Wilson, Delaware BPA State Advisor at lisa.wilson@doe.k12.de.us.

 

Media contact: Alison May, alison.may@doe.k12.de.us, 302-735-4006


Groundbreaking Global Supplier Diversity Initiative Launched

Wilmington, Del.— The World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia and Export Delaware announce, “Selling to the World, Growing a Vibrant, Inclusive, and Connected Economy for Greater Philadelphia” a program to expand small business exports that feature a new Global Supplier Diversity Initiative to support minority- and women-owned businesses. For the first time, minority- and women-owned enterprises (MWBE) will have unparalleled access to international partners and customers as they enter global supply chains.

The First Program of its Kind 

This program is carefully crafted to include Global Supplier Diversity Directors from Fortune 500 companies and business leaders as mentors. According to the US Census Bureau, 18 percent of US businesses are minority-owned (about 1 million businesses). Nearly 20 percent (1.1 million) are women-owned. Many of these companies apply to be certified as minority- or women-owned businesses. This designation offers numerous benefits; however, many small businesses don’t know how to leverage their certification to increase their sales overseas. This is about to change for those in the Delaware and Greater Philadelphia region.

The facts are compelling and demonstrate that there is much room to grow. According to the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA), minority-owned businesses represent 17.5 percent of exporting companies in the US and have a strong competitive advantage in conducting business internationally due to cultural affinities, multi-lingual skills, and close ties to countries of origin. The US Census reports that women-owned businesses represent 12.1 percent of US exporters. Compared with non-exporting companies, MWBEs have higher productivity and hire more employees than their non-exporting counterparts.

“MWBEs have great potential but, like many small businesses, are often hesitant and unaware of the assistance available to help them export,” said Linda Conlin, President of the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia. “We are proud to work with Beth and Export Delaware to increase growth and prosperity in our communities by helping these companies access new customers in promising markets around the world.”

“Selling to the World,” with its new Global Supplier Diversity Initiative, provides export education, training, and mentorship from experts in the field of exporting and global supplier diversity so these MWBEs can compete in the global marketplace. This unique approach will help businesses increase their sales through exports.

Exports Are a Profitable, Long-term Business Strategy

With over 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside of the US, exporting has proven to be a profitable and sustainable long-term strategy for small businesses. “Now, Delaware WMBEs will gain unparalleled access and opportunity to global supply chains of multinational firms,” said Beth Pomper, Export Trade Director of Export Delaware. “We are delighted to partner with Linda and her team at the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia on this ground-breaking initiative.”

Ecommerce, global supply chains, free trade agreements, and export funding assistance have helped make the world’s global customers more accessible. According to the International Trade Administration, companies that export have a better chance of “riding out” fluctuations in the US economy, as they are sustained by demand from customers worldwide. By offering this new Global Supplier Diversity Initiative, minority- and women-owned businesses in Delaware and the Greater Philadelphia region will be equipped to grow and flourish in the coming decades.

“Our goal for this program is to enable minority- and women-owned businesses to be able to enjoy these benefits, so they can continue to grow, expand and create more local jobs,” said Pomper.

This program is designed to directly support minority- and women-owned businesses in Delaware and the Greater Philadelphia region. However, all eligible businesses are welcome to apply, not just those that women and minorities own.

This program is funded by a grant from the US Economic Development Administration, a cooperative agreement with the Small Business Administration (SBA) via the State Trade Export Program (STEP) Grant, and the private sector.

Interested companies in Delaware should contact Beth Pomper at Export Delaware: beth.pomper@delaware.gov. Those in Pennsylvania and New Jersey should contact Dino Ramos at the World Trade Center of Greater Philadelphia: dramos@wtcphila.org.


Export Delaware is an initiative of the Delaware Department of State and the official export resource for Delaware’s small businesses wanting to export their products and services worldwide. To learn more about Export Delaware, click here.


Additional Direct Support Now Available to Small Businesses Applying for DE Relief Grants

Delaware Division of Small Business and Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce Announce Partnership

Dover, DE (Nov. 18, 2020) – More small businesses will have help in applying for DE Relief Grants through a new relationship between the Delaware Division of Small Business (DSB) and the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce (DEBCC).

The two organizations have formed a partnership under which the Chamber will assist small businesses in applying for DE Relief Grants, a key economic relief program administered by the Division of Small Business.

“We are thrilled to announce this partnership,” said Ayanna Khan, DEBCC President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our goal is to increase the number of minority-owned businesses applying and approved for DE Relief Grants. This will advance the Chamber’s mission to serve the needs of minority-owned businesses across Delaware, provide economic opportunity and support to business owners as well as to the communities they serve.”

Through Nov. 12, 1,904 applicants had accepted and/or been approved for more than $61 million in grants, with requests for another $31.2 million undergoing the review process.

The median grant award has been a little more than $20,000. The typical recipient had a median annual 2019 gross revenue of just under $500,000.

“DE Relief Grants have been a source of vital financial assistance to Delaware small business owners,” said Division of Small Business Director Damian DeStefano. “The Division’s partnership with the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce will ensure that more small businesses, particularly those we know have been hit hardest by COVID-19, such as minority-owned firms and microenterprises, have access to the assistance they need to secure the most relief funding possible.”

DE Relief Grants are a joint effort between the state of Delaware and New Castle County. Under the rules of the federal CARES Act, from which the program money comes, the State and County must use available funds by Dec. 31, 2020.

Applications for the current round of grants are due by December 4, which provides time for all applications to be reviewed and funds to be dispersed prior to the end of the year.

Information about DE Relief Grants can be found at delbiz.com/relief, including an extensive Q&A document, demonstration videos and a full explanation of eligible expenses.

Business owners interested in assistance from the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce can email the Chamber at email@debcc.org or call (302) 709-1708.

About the Division of Small Business
The Division of Small Business is focused on making Delaware the number one state in the nation to start and grow a small business. We provide support to businesses of fewer than 100 employees to help them maximize their potential. Small businesses account for 98 percent of businesses in Delaware and employ 55 percent of Delaware’s workforce. To help them succeed, the Division offers grant and loan programs and customized services and support, ranging from assistance navigating governmental regulations to connecting them to an extensive network of resource partners.  For more information visit delbiz.com

About the Delaware Black Chamber of Commerce

The DEBCC works to ensure that minority and other disadvantaged entrepreneurs are not left behind due to a lack of support to help them achieve success. The DEBCC provides the necessary assistance and support systems to ensure that minority-owned businesses advance their economic footprint across Delaware. DEBCC serves as a vital hub for connecting minority business owners and entrepreneurs with the resources needed to assist them in growing their enterprise and creating new economic opportunities and job growth throughout the First State.  Most importantly, the DEBCC is an all inclusive Chamber, dedicated to economic advancement and equality for all. For more information visit www.DEBCC.org

 

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