I’m done. Finished. It is time. I am retiring! After 18 years of writing 216 legislative commentaries for Best-Met Publishing, which followed almost 45 years at Giant Food till my retirement as vice president of public affairs in 2007, and then starting what turned out to be a lucrative consulting business, it is now time to truly retire. I have lots of fond memories but as this being my final commentary, there are a few things I wish to share with my readers.
First, a humble thank you to Best-Met, namely the late Dick Bestany, Jeff Metzger, Terri Maloney, and new publisher Alex Wissel, for your encouragement and camaraderie. To my readers, thank you for your e-mails and comments throughout the years. I always enjoyed hearing from readers including those whose toes I may have stepped on.
How It All Started – First Impressions
One day in 1954 my twin brother Allan and I got a glimpse of President Dwight Eisenhower as he drove along Richmond’s Monument Avenue in a two-car presidential caravan (which is unheard of today) in his huge Cadillac limousine. Seeing the President of the United States as a 12-year-old struck me as the coolest thing I’d ever seen especially after he actually waved to us as we stood alone by the curb. I was star-struck! I guess you could say that’s when I first caught the political junkie bug.
In high school and then college and graduate school, I focused on public affairs and then landed a full-time dream job at Giant in 1966 (after working part-time as a bagger and cashier at Giant’s first Richmond store) where I represented Giant in the community and then eventually in the local, state and federal legislative arena. The “Age of Consumerism” was brewing in the late 60s and it alone created numerous political challenges aimed at all food retailers. However, Giant’s Izzy Cohen, who was executive vice president at the time but still called all the shots, figured that we could better position the company if we got directly involved in the communities the firm served including working alongside elected officials as opposed to allowing trade associations, as good as they were, to speak for the company. He gave the task to me!
First Issues
There was never a lack of issues to handle. My first legislative battle in the late 60’s was to explain to law makers that the new computer-assisted checkout technology and the Universal Product Code (UPC) were in the consumer’s best interest. Some elected officials thought the technology was a ploy to make more money at the checkout. There were dozens and dozens of other issues over the years I worked on including beer and wine sales in food stores (still working on that one), recycling, workers comp, food safety, the Americans with Disabilities Act (Maryland Democrat Congressman Steny Hoyer asked me in 1988 to serve on his task force to draft the ADA legislation with a focus on issues dealing within the retail industry), Y2K (remember “the computer bug” scare when we went from 1999 to 2000? I testified before a Congressional Committee on that issue), drug issues, food stamps, weights and measures, swipe fees, ultra-processed foods, and the list goes on and on and on. I quickly learned that even one person CAN make a difference when speaking to individual legislators or before a government committee! That is my legacy message for you.
It Is Now Your Turn
My final message to each of you is to get involved in the legislative arena. Don’t simply rely on a trade association to represent your interests but get to know your elected officials and then explain your viewpoints to them on matters of concern to your company. Trust me, lawmakers want to hear from you. Tell your story convincingly, avoid arguments, and try your best to build your position. Do nothing and you have then created a silence that others will gladly fill.
Contacting your elected officials is not at all difficult. A phone call or an e-mail is acceptable but in-person is always better. Work in concert with trade associations such as FMI and the National Grocer’s Association. They would be delighted to have your assistance because you and only you can share personal information about your business and how proposed legislation will impact your business and customers.
End of story. I, for one, never in my wildest dreams, thought this kid from Richmond, Virginia would one day say that he has personally met every president (other than Donald Trump) since Jimmy Carter served in the White House and even got invited to a White House state dinner by President George Herbert Walker Bush. And to think that it all started with a hand-wave to Dwight Eisenhower.
In Conclusion, Final Words from the Hill
I am not going to write my final legislative commentary without at least some actual legislative news, so in conclusion…
Everyone surely knows by now that the federal government reopened for business last month after a record 43-day shutdown. With the U.S. operating once again, and lots of legislative business still pending, believe me, the timing is ripe to connect with legislators to influence their decisions that impact the food industry and your business.
What’s on tap for 2026? The all-important to our food industry farm bill just got another extension to September 30, 2026 and the new official U.S. Dietary Guidelines is being unveiled his month. Both issues present numerous opportunities for your business. Then the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) are hard at work revising food safety provisions impacting food inspections and traceability. Wait – there is more, too!
Millions of needy Americans will soon lose food stamp benefits as new work requirements and other Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and even Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) policy changes take effect. These changes, coupled with many other policy provisions in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill Act, are the most significant changes in decades (meaning “cuts”) to these social net programs and WILL surely impact your bottom line. These are all issues to put on your lobbying radar screen. I hope by now you get the picture.
Again, you don’t leave the operations of your business or company to others so why leave, for example, adverse legislation or ill-conceived regulatory changes to others?
My very best wishes to all of you – the finest food industry folks I’ve ever worked with over my 50+ year career and especially to the “Quality Food People” at Giant Food! We will always be family!
Barry Scher is a principal with the public policy firm of Policy Solutions LLC and a retired Giant Food executive. Prior to retirement after 45 years at Giant, he served as vice president of public affairs. He can be reached at Bscher@policy-solutions.net.
