News

President Trump expressed frustration that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is not moving quickly enough to approve flavored vapes and other nicotine products, putting FDA Commissioner Marty Makary in the hot seat. Read more here.

On May 5, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the marketing of four Glas electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) through the premarket tobacco product application (PMTA) pathway. Each product is an e-liquid pod containing 50mg/ml (or 5%) of tobacco-derived nicotine. The authorized pods include Classic Menthol, Fresh Menthol, Gold and Sapphire. This action marks the FDA’s first authorization of non-tobacco and non-menthol ENDS products. Read more here.

On April 30, 2026, the House voted 224-200 to pass the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) after months of uncertainty about whether Republican leaders would be able to secure enough support to pass the legislation. Notably, lawmakers removed a controversial pesticide labeling provision and adopted an amendment to allow certain hot food purchases under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The bill also includes a permanent ban on Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) processing fees and includes a provision directing the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to transition to EBT chip cards to combat EBT skimming and SNAP benefit theft.

While the legislation does contain some provisions aimed at reducing regulatory burdens for producers of industrial hemp, it does not include any language to alter or delay the impending ban on hemp THC products. Bipartisan lawmakers had filed amendments to the bill to regulate hemp THC products and delay the ban, but the sponsors withdrew the proposals. The Farm Bill now moves to the Senate where obstacles remain for it to be passed into law. Read more here.

President Trump on April 30, 2026, announced that Nicole Saphier, M.D., has been nominated to be the next U.S. surgeon general. Saphier is a radiologist and director of breast imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth in Middletown, N.J. Trump withdrew the nomination of Dr. Casey Means, his second choice for surgeon general, whose confirmation was stalled on Capitol Hill amid opposition, including from some Republicans, in part over her views on vaccines. Read more here.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published the final rule regarding stocking standards for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), ensuring a broader variety of nutritious food is available to SNAP participants at authorized retailers across the country. Read more here.

Watch On-Demand

This webinar explored a real-world example of how a distributor evaluated its state of readiness to comply with Section 204(d) of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

An “X-Ray,” or examination, of an actual distributor’s operations was conducted to determine what procedures and platforms are already in place to trace the regulated food products and what gaps exist that need attention. This webinar assisted distributors in understanding how food traceability requirements affect day-to-day warehouse operations from receiving to inventorying to shipping. In addition, food traceability expert Andy Kennedy of New Era Partners explored common challenges that distributors face and provide insights on how to plan to comply with the food tracing regulation.

Angie Simonetti, CDA’s executive vice president, attended Layman Distributing’s 20th Annual Buying Expo last week at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, VA. The event brought together more than 200 manufacturers and featured a foodservice seminar led by Sharon Kuncl of UniPro Foodservice, along with a special guest appearance by legendary NFL running back Marcus Allen.

Also at the Expo, Layman kicked off a partnership between Layman, Community Snacks and the Life Ring Foundation. While at the show, Layman and Community Snacks donated the Community Snack’s Booth Fees to the Life Ring, and through the ongoing partnership, both Companies also agreed to donate 5% of all Community Snacks’ chip sales made by Layman Customers to Life Ring moving forward. The Life Ring Foundation is a nonprofit headquartered in Roanoke, VA, dedicated to uplifting children and families in Central and Southwest Virginia impacted by Pediatric Cancer by throwing them a life ring in their fight to find a cure and receive the associated treatment.

Simonetti poses with Layman Distributing President Scott Thomasson (left) and NFL legend Marcus Allen (right).	Layman Distributing's Buying Expo featured several foodservice offerings for its retailer partners.

CDA Business Academy returns for its second year – a 16-week virtual education program designed for emerging, rising leaders and middle managers in the convenience products distribution industry. The curriculum focuses on people management and business finance, delivered through a fully virtual format combining self-paced learning, live expert-led sessions and peer networking.

The second cohort will run from August 20 through December 3, with live sessions held every third Thursday. Open to all CDA members, the program supports leadership development across the industry. Space is limited – register now to secure your spot by July 31.

Don’t Miss the Early Bird Special: Buy 2, Get 1 Free
Register by May 29 to take advantage of this limited time offer to develop more leaders for less – register three, pay for two.

Ready to invest in your future leaders? Click here to learn more or contact Lauren Herbert for further details.

Last week, CDA's Richard Owen, president and CEO, and Angie Simonetti, executive vice president, visited Dot Foods Innovations 2026, themed "Festival of Flavor" and held at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. The show's 4,300 attendees took part in numerous networking opportunities and an agenda full of innovative products, speakers and entertainment.

Owen (right) and Simonetti connect with Dick Tracy (left), CEO of Dot Foods.	Attendees network, sample products and conduct business on the trade show floor.

The Hershey Industry Performance Analysis (HIPA) Report delivers the most comprehensive financial benchmarking report in the convenience distribution industry. Thanks to the generous support of The Hershey Company, it is available at no cost to participating CDA distributor members. Participants receive:

• Industry Benchmarking Report: Financial and operational data with insights on key metrics.
• Individual Financial Benchmarking Dashboard: An interactive tool to compare your company’s performance, identify areas for improvement, and make smarter, data-driven decisions.

New for 2026: The survey has been streamlined for an even better user experience – shorter, easier and faster to complete, while still delivering the same high-value insights.

To secure your company’s personalized benchmarking results, complete the survey by May 15.

For more details, click here or contact Lauren Herbert.

The Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) is currently stalled in the House. It had previously moved forward out of the House Agriculture Committee on March 4, 2026, and was sent toward a full House vote, but lawmakers have not been able to advance it further. The bill is tied up in a broader legislative fight along with other issues like government surveillance (FISA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding. A key procedural vote needed to bring the farm bill to the House floor has been delayed due to internal disagreements among Republicans, meaning the chamber has struggled to begin debate. Read more here.

The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced it will open a medical marijuana dispensary registration portal on April 29, 2026. The announcement follows a Dec. 18, 2025, executive order from President Donald Trump to reschedule cannabis as a less dangerous drug. The move is meant to expand access to medical treatments and support research while still enforcing laws against illegal drug use. Companies applying must pay a $794 annual fee, answer questions about past license suspensions or revocations, and describe security measures at proposed dispensary locations. The DEA will hold a new administrative hearing beginning June 29, 2026, regarding the proposed rescheduling of marijuana. A new notice of hearing is being published in the Federal Register to govern these proceedings and facilitate a timely resolution of the rulemaking. Read more here.

On April 29, 2026, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health held a hearing titled, “Healthier America: Legislative Proposals on the Regulation and Oversight of Food.” During the hearing, Committee Members and witnesses discussed 28 pieces of legislation related to food production and food safety. The proposals span several key areas, including updates to the generally recognized as safe (GRAS) framework, infant formula and baby food safety, food labeling and consumer transparency, and oversight of food chemicals and dietary supplements. Read more here.

House Transportation Chairman Sam Graves (R-MO) told reporters that he is targeting April 29, 2026, as the markup date for the surface transportation reauthorization bill and is negotiating a top-line number between $500 billion and $550 billion. Democratic Vice Chair of the Transportation Committee Rep. Rick Larsen (D-WA) has said more recently that the proposed April 29, 2026, markup may need to be delayed.

The most recent surface transportation or highway bill reauthorization that was included in the much broader Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act (IIJA) expires on Sept. 30, 2026. Graves said there will be a registration fee for electric vehicles in the surface bill, a long-sought goal of his. Last year, he succeeded in inserting a $250 registration fee for EVs and $100 for hybrids in the House version of the GOP-led budget reconciliation bill, but those provisions never made it into law. He said the EV fee will be different this time around. Read more here.

The Partnership for Food Traceability (PFT) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will host two town halls on Food Traceability Rule implementation efforts in 2026. These virtual town halls will provide a forum for stakeholders and other interested parties to share information on continued implementation of the Food Traceability Rule and areas of remaining concern, specifically as they relate to lot-level tracking and flexibilities for compliance.

Registration is now open for the town halls:

June 15, 2026, 12:00-2:00pm ET: Challenges and Solutions for Lot-Level Traceability
November 6, 2026, 12:00-2:00pm ET: Solutions and Progress in Lot-Level Traceability

Interested parties are invited to attend any or all town halls. Individuals interested in providing comments during the town halls should indicate their request to speak on the registration form.

Did you know you can expand the C-Metrics™ data to dig even deeper into category performance? For select product categories, the chart shows how sales and units are trending for the most recent 13 weeks compared to the prior year, helping distributors and suppliers better understand which categories are driving trends and where opportunities exist.

Click here to explore the C-Metrics projections – updated weekly on the CDA website.

While the standard view shows high-level categories like Candy and Cigarettes, the expanded data includes subcategories such as Gum or Chocolate Bars/Packs within Candy, and Mid-Level or Premium price tiers within Cigarettes. C-Metrics™ is an additional service outside of the InfoMetrics® Program, built from warehouse delivered shipments to convenience stores from InfoMetrics® distributors and national partners.

Contact Tom Baldwin or Mike Farrah to learn more about how C-Metrics™ can help drive your business.

Dr. Bret Koplow, Acting Director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products (CTP), participated in a panel discussion this week at the American Tobacco and Nicotine Forum.

Koplow stated that the FDA has decreased the its backlog of pre-market tobacco applications (PMTAs) by approximately 70% over the past year while also eliminating the “acceptance” queue to streamline the review process. He noted that while the FDA has reviewed approximately 27 million PMTAs, only a small number have been authorized, largely because most submissions lacked the scientific data required to demonstrate public health benefits. On enforcement, Koplow highlighted increased action against illicit products, including major seizures of unauthorized e-cigarettes. Read more here.

Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) rigorous scientific review, the agency has issued a renewal of modified risk granted orders to Philip Morris Products S.A. (PMP S.A.) for two IQOS system holders and chargers and three flavors of HeatSticks products. With this renewal, these five products may be marketed with the following exposure modification claim:

The products receiving modified risk granted orders are:

• IQOS 2.4 System Holder and Charger (PM0000479)
• IQOS 3.0 System Holder and Charger (PM0000634)
• Marlboro Amber HeatSticks (previously Marlboro HeatSticks) (PM0000424)
• Marlboro Green Menthol HeatSticks (previously Marlboro Smooth Menthol HeatSticks) (PM0000425)
• Marlboro Blue Menthol HeatSticks (previously Marlboro Fresh Menthol HeatSticks) (PM0000426)

View the announcement here.

On April 22, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) published a Federal Register notice finalizing the addition of 18 constituents to the established list of Harmful and Potentially Harmful Constituents (HPHCs) in tobacco products. The HPHC list identifies chemicals and chemical compounds found in tobacco products or tobacco smoke and/or aerosol that cause or could cause harm to users or non-users of tobacco products. Read more here.

House Republican leaders are preparing for a vote on the farm bill the week of April 27, 2026, with an amendment deadline of April 22, 2026. The House Agriculture Committee passed the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) on March 4, 2026. The farm bill, which is meant to be reauthorized every five years, is opposed by Democrats due to partisan fighting over nutrition and climate-smart agriculture policies. The bill does not include any language reversing the fiscal 2026 Department of Agriculture/FDA appropriations spending law that set a 0.3% limit on total THC content, which goes into effect in November. Instead, House Agriculture Committee Chair GT Thompson (R-PA) said hemp-derived products in their final form fall within the jurisdiction of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read more here.

On April 20, 2026, Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the Hemp Safety Enforcement Act (S.4315), a bipartisan bill that empowers states and Tribal governments to regulate and ensure the safety of hemp and hemp-derived products, preventing a looming federal crackdown from shutting down a thriving, multi-billion-dollar American industry. The legislation would allow states to opt out of the federal ban that’s set to take effect in November. Read more here.

On April 10, 2026, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report titled, “Combating Illicit Substances: DOJ Enforcement of Unauthorized E-Cigarettes.” The report showed large numbers of unauthorized e-cigarette products and devices continue to be for sale in the U.S. As of June 2024, there were over 6,000 e-cigarette products on the market, most of which lack U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorization.

The report outlines that the Department of Justice (DOJ) plays a central role in enforcement, primarily through its Civil Division, U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). Although the ATF was directed in 2025 to shift resources away from tobacco enforcement, it still maintains a list of noncompliant online e-cigarette sellers. From fiscal years 2022–2025, the DOJ carried out 88 enforcement actions, with a sharp increase in 2025 driven largely by identifying more noncompliant sellers. Overall the report shows that unauthorized e-cigarettes are still widespread, but federal enforcement, especially by the DOJ, has been ramping up in response. Read more here.

On April 9, 2026, Philip Morris USA Inc. (PM USA) filed its brief with the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) appeal of a lower federal district court decision vacating (i.e., overturning) the FDA’s graphic cigarette health warning regulation. The federal district court decision was issued in a lawsuit brought against the FDA by PM USA, Dhaliwal & Associates, Inc., Stewart Candy Company d/b/a Stewart Distribution, and the Georgia Association of Convenience Stores, Inc.

In its appeal brief, PM USA advances several key arguments as to why the Circuit Court of Appeals should affirm the lower federal district court ruling overturning the FDA’s graphic cigarette health warning regulation. These key arguments include the following:

1. The FDA failed to disclose raw data underlying the studies the agency relied on to adopt the graphic cigarette health warning regulation. Withholding of the raw study data violates the Administrative Procedures Act, the law which sets forth the required procedures that federal agencies must follow to propose and adopt regulations.
2. The delay in providing raw study data prevented PM USA, the other plaintiffs, and industry members from raising critical points in comments submitted on the proposed graphic cigarette health warning regulation that the data supported different conclusions than those reached by the FDA.
3. The FDA exceeded its authority by requiring eleven rewritten cigarette health warnings instead of the nine cigarette health warnings that Congress approved.

The Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit will now schedule an oral argument on the case. Read the PM USA brief here.

The White House released President Trump's Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 agency budget proposals on April 3, 2026. The House Appropriations Committee scheduled Subcommittee hearings to review agency budgets for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which includes the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) request and for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) request that oversees nutrition assistance programs. Both hearings are scheduled for April 16, 2026. See information on the HHS budget hearing here and the USDA budget hearing here.

The House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration will markup the FY27 spending bill on April 23, 2026. The full Committee is scheduled to markup the legislation on April 28, 2026.

On April 9, 2026, CDA President and CEO Richard Owen participated in the Cooper-Booth Wholesale Co. Connect Trade Show where retailers had the chance to discover the latest products and services tailored for the c-store industry. Held at the Wind Creek Bethlehem in Bethlehem, PA, the trade show featured firsthand product demonstrations, exclusive deals and networking opportunities for retailers and vendors.

Owen (left) connects with Cooper-Booth Wholesale Co. President Barry Margolis.	Attendees network and conduct business on the busy trade show floor.

Designer Greetings is one of the largest greeting card publishers in the U.S. featuring more than 24,000 designs. Its cards are tailor-made for the c-stores that you service. The company consistently delivers high-margin incremental sales to the retailer from a small physical footprint on the sales floor. Its collection is unmatched in quality, value and depth, ensuring customers always find the perfect card for every occasion. Greeting cards generated over $7.5 billion in sales last year. Designer Greetings' commitment to building and maintaining strong relationships with its base of satisfied customers is at the heart of everything they do.

Contact information for Designer Greetings, Inc. is as follows:

David Kline
David.Kline@designergreetings.com
Designer Greetings, Inc.
11 Executive Avenue
Edison, NJ 08817
(732) 662-6700
www.designergreetings.com

On March 11, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance on the agency’s current thinking on assessing the risk to youth, and the added benefit to adults needed to outweigh that risk, when reviewing applications for flavored e-cigarettes.

“Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Premarket Applications – Considerations Related to Youth Risk” addresses in general how much of an added benefit – compared to a tobacco-flavored e-cigarette – an applicant must demonstrate, via appropriate studies, for a flavored e-cigarette to be found appropriate for the protection of the public health.

The public may submit comments on this draft guidance at regulations.gov to docket number FDA-2026-D-1817. Comments should be submitted by 11:59 PM ET on May 11, 2026. Read more here.

Last week, CDA President and CEO Richard Owen traveled to Overland Park, KS, for the AMCON Distributing Company ProShow. Held at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel & Convention Center, the ProShow featured an immersive experience with the latest tools, knowledge and a curated selection of top-tier products designed to help retail businesses excel.

Owen (center) connects with Andy Plummer (left) and Chris Atayan, AMCON Distributing Company.	Attendees do business at the AMCON Distributing Company ProShow.

On April 8, 2026, CDA submitted a comment letter to the Office of the United States Trade Representative to support its investigation concerning the unfair trade conditions in the U.S. caused by the large-scale production and export from the People’s Republic of China of unauthorized e-cigarettes intended for sale in the U.S. The importation and sale of these unauthorized e-cigarettes from Chinese manufacturers have a significant impact on the lawful distribution of e-cigarettes in the U.S. In the comment letter, CDA states that domestic distributors “seek a market in which lawful, American-owned and operated businesses are not structurally disadvantaged by an upstream, foreign‑origin supply chain that routinely evades U.S. legal requirements.” Read the CDA comment letter here.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that authorities removed more than 28,000 pounds of illicit vapor products in Nassau and Orange counties following a three-month investigation. The products were linked to Ecto World, a Buffalo-area distributor also known as Demand Vape, according to the governor’s office. Read more here.

The CDA Distributors Education Foundation awards four annual college scholarships of $5,000 to applicants from distributor member companies in honor of Ray Foley, the late executive vice president of the National Candy Wholesalers Associations.

The Ray Foley Memorial Scholarship is open to CDA distributor member company employees and their immediate family members who are currently enrolled in a full-time undergraduate or graduate program for the 2026-2027 academic year. Click here for full eligibility requirements and share this flyer with your company employees.

All applications must be received by April 17, 2026. Contact Lauren Herbert for more information.

This week, CDA's Angie Simonetti and Jenn Finn attended the Merchants Grocery Company, Inc. "Hit A Home Run with Team MGC" trade show. Held in Fredericksburg, VA, the baseball-themed show kicked off Tuesday evening with a vendor appreciation dinner at the Nationals Minor League Baseball Stadium, followed by Wednesday's Merchants Grocery Company Market Place.

Posing with a themed cutout of Merchants Grocery Company, Inc. President and CEO Chris Smythers are (l-r) Simonetti, CDA; Smythers and Heather Means, Merchants; and Finn, CDA.	Attendees had plenty of chances to win big throughout the trade show, with exciting prizes and even a cash booth, adding to the fun.