News

Arlington, TX
February 16-18, 2026

Exhibit space is selling fast. Register online today!

Register now to increase your opportunity of being assigned a preferred booth location through the CDA priority point system. The CDA priority point system expires July 31. Exhibit space is assigned on a first-come first-served basis after July 31.

At Marketplace, the focus is to bring together distributors with their top trading partners and suppliers over a three-day period, featuring a one-day turnkey trade show, focused education sessions, and enhanced networking opportunities.

Attendee registration opens in September.

By attending Marketplace 2026, you agree to the CDA Notices & Disclaimers.

About Marketplace | Exhibitor Prospectus | Trade Show

On April 23, 2025, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the second-ranking Democrat in the Senate, announced that he will not seek reelection in 2026. His retirement will mark the end of a 44-year congressional career focused on immigration, the federal justice system and anti-smoking initiatives. During his tenure, Sen. Durbin was a leading advocate for the Tobacco Control Act that gave the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authority over tobacco products. Read more here.

On April 22, 2025, President Trump said the 145% tariff rate on China will be significantly reduced after he negotiates with Chinese President Xi Jinping, expressing optimism about a trade deal. So far, no meeting between the two leaders has been scheduled. Trump told reporters, “One hundred forty-five percent is very high. It won’t be that high, it’s not going to be that high…it won’t be anywhere near that high…It will come down substantially, but it won’t be zero.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told a closed-door investor summit on April 22, 2025, that the tariff standoff with China is unsustainable and that he expects the situation to de-escalate. Negotiations haven’t started but a deal is possible, the secretary said, according to attendees. The White House says it is closing in on general agreements with Japan and India to stave off tariffs, but details are unclear. Read more here.

On April 22, 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a series of new measures to phase out all petroleum-based synthetic dyes from the nation’s food supply, which is part of the administration’s broader initiative to Make America Healthy Again. The FDA is taking the following actions:

• Establishing a national standard and timeline for the food industry to transition from petrochemical-based dyes to natural alternatives.
• Initiating the process to revoke authorization for two synthetic food colorings—Citrus Red No. 2 and Orange B—within the coming months.
• Working with industry to eliminate six remaining synthetic dyes — FD&C Green No. 3, FD&C Red No. 40, FD&C Yellow No. 5, FD&C Yellow No. 6, FD&C Blue No. 1 and FD&C Blue No. 2 — from the food supply by the end of next year.
• Authorizing four new natural color additives in the coming weeks, while also accelerating the review and approval of others.
• Partnering with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to conduct comprehensive research on how food additives impact children’s health and development.
• Requesting food companies to remove FD&C Red No. 3 sooner than the 2027-2028 deadline previously required.

The FDA is fast-tracking the review of calcium phosphate, Galdieria extract blue, gardenia blue, butterfly pea flower extract and other natural alternatives to synthetic food dyes. The agency is also taking steps to issue guidance and provide regulatory flexibilities to industries.

MiO, which stands for Mobile Intelligent Ordering, is the mobile-first ordering platform built for modern distributors. It enables wholesale, retail and convenience sales reps and store users to move faster, sell smarter and deliver a better experience. From barcode ordering to AI-powered suggestions and real-time inventory visibility, MiO makes operations instantly more accessible, usable and intelligent.

Contact information for MiO is as follows:

Jen Grenz, CEO
jen@getmio.co
MiO
PO Box 11481
Chicago, IL 60611
(719) 310-3774
www.getmio.co

On April 21, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court sent a legal challenge back to Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to evaluate whether the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lawfully denied marketing applications for flavored e-cigarettes. The case that was sent back to the Fifth Circuit is FDA v. SWT Global Supply Inc. This order comes after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the FDA that the agency did not arbitrarily deny pre-market tobacco applications for e-vapor products sold by Triton Distribution and Wages and White Lion Investments.

In the Triton Distribution decision, the Supreme Court justices reinstated the FDA’s denial of applications to sell flavored e-cigarettes and reversed a ruling from the Fifth Circuit that determined the agency had changed the rules for issuing marketing authorization orders to sell e-vapor products.

In addition, the Supreme Court also declined to accept for review three vaping-related cases, including Magellan Technology Inc. v. FDA, Lotus Vaping Technologies Inc. v FDA, and Logic Technology Development LLC v. FDA. In each of these cases, the FDA had issued marketing denial orders preventing the sale of the e-vapor products which were the subject of the lawsuits.

April 29, 2025 at 1:30 pm ET

Register now for an exclusive 30-minute Q&A webinar with Zack Kass – Advisor, Futurist, and Former Head of Go-To-Market at Open AI. Following his keynote at CDA’s Marketplace event, Zack will answer your most pressing questions about the evolving AI landscape and how businesses can successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Submit your questions in advance when you register to increase the chances of your question being answered during the session. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with one of the most foremost experts in the field of AI!

Can’t attend the webinar on April 29? Still register to attend, and don’t forget to submit your questions. You’ll receive a recording of the webinar directly to your inbox on April 30.

President Trump announced a long-expected executive order imposing reciprocal tariffs on most foreign nations on April 2, 2025. The tariffs increased by 10% beginning April 5, 2024, for nearly all foreign nations. On April 9, 2025, some nations Trump feels have taken advantage of trade with the U.S. were subjected to an individualized rate between 10% and 50%. These rates are in addition to any current tariff or duty already in place on such products prior to Wednesday’s executive order.

The executive order exempted many classes of imported products from the new tariffs. Roughly 30 medications, pharmaceuticals, vaccines and raw ingredients for medications are exempted from the new tariffs. However, raw materials for durable goods and medical devices in the health industry would be subject to the new tariffs. The executive order also empowers the Secretary of Commerce to modify those tariff rates on a case by case basis.

However, speaking at a Republican fundraiser on Tuesday, Trump announced that he planned new “major tariffs” on pharmaceutical imports. He provided few details, but the one-week change from believing pharmaceutical imports are too critical to disrupt with tariffs to one week later taking the opposite position has many health experts confused. Then on Wednesday, only 12 hours after the ad valorem tariffs were implemented, the President suspended for 90 days nearly all tariffs he had announced the previous week, claiming that 70 nations are looking to renegotiate their trade deals with the U.S. However, the 10% ad valorem tariffs would remain, and the tariffs on most Chinese products was increased to 125%. The current status on tariffs leaves industries uncertain what the outlook is with regard to pharmaceutical imports, tariffs on raw goods and health products imported from China.

Know a college student enrolled for the 2025-2026 academic year? Take advantage of this opportunity to apply for one of four $5,000 college scholarships before tomorrow’s deadline!

The Ray Foley Memorial Scholarship is open to CDA distributor member company employees and their immediate family members who are currently enrolled full-time in an undergraduate or graduate program. Click here for full eligibility requirements and more details.

Don’t miss your chance at $5,000 – applications are due Friday, April 18.

On April 10, 2025, 27 Republican State Attorneys General sent a letter to numerous Trump Administration agencies requesting a coordinated federal government effort to respond to secure the county’s borders against the continued influx of unauthorized and illicit vapor products, the majority of which are shipped into the U.S. from China. The letter states that these illicit vapor products evade federal regulation, pose a risk to public safety and appeal to youth. The Attorneys General have asked the Trump Administration to act by instructing the federal multi-agency task force created in June 2024 to make stopping illicit Chinese e-cigarettes a top priority, giving U.S. Customs and Border Protection independent seizure authority, designating an individual to spearhead the enforcement efforts and enhancing seizure authority at the border of the Department Homeland Security. Read the letter here.

On April 11, 2025, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) issued a request for information soliciting ideas for deregulation from across the country. Commenters are asked to identify rules to be rescinded and provide detailed reasons for their rescission. Consideration will be given to written comments received by May 12, 2025.

The Federal Register notice states, “OMB invites comments about any and all regulations currently in effect. Americans are the most inventive, hardworking, and industrious people in the world. For too long, American dynamism and creativity have been stunted by onerous and unnecessary regulations. With this document, OMB seeks proposals to rescind or replace regulations that stifle American businesses and American ingenuity. We seek comment from the public on regulations that are unnecessary, unlawful, unduly burdensome, or unsound. Comments should address the background of the rule and the reasons for the proposed rescission, with particular attention to regulations that are inconsistent with statutory text or the Constitution, where costs exceed benefits, where the regulation is outdated or unnecessary, or where regulation is burdening American businesses in unforeseen ways.” Read more here.

On April 9, 2025, the House Oversight Committee held a hearing, titled, Restoring Trust in FDA: Rooting Out Illicit Products. Witnesses at the hearing included: Guy Bentley, Director of Consumer Freedom, Reason Foundation; Jonathan Miller, General Counsel, Hemp Roundtable; Richard Williams, Senior Affiliated Scholar, Mercatus Center; Shabbir Imber Safdar, Executive Director, The Partnership for Safe Medicines; and Dr. David Kessler (Minority Witness), Former FDA Commissioner. Read more here.

On April 8, 2025, House Education and Workforce Ranking Member Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (D-VA) and Vice Ranking Member Greg Casar (D-TX), along with Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Ranking Member Bernie Sanders (I-VT), introduced the Raise the Wage Act of 2025 (S.1332/ H.R.2743). This bill would gradually raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $17 per hour by 2030. Read more here.

On April 10, 2025, the House voted 216-214 to pass a budget framework that will be used to enact key parts of President Trump’s legislative agenda, despite divisions from Republicans. The Senate voted 51- 48 on April 5, 2025, to pass the budget reconciliation blueprint, which outlines the parameters for tax cuts and a debt ceiling increase. Republican leaders are hoping to pass the package by Memorial Day.

As a reminder, the reconciliation process is a legislative tool which allows the majority party to bypass the Senate filibuster rules once per fiscal year, thus needing 51 votes instead of the traditional 60 votes to pass most legislation. The process first requires both chambers of Congress to pass an identical budget resolution authorizing the process and instructing various committees to package together a variety of spending and revenue provisions. The House passed its budget resolution with a “one big beautiful bill” approach, including tax cuts, border security, national security and other matters. The Senate passed its budget resolution with a two-bill approach that would address border security and national security first, and then a tax-cut package later in the year. The two versions differed on several other matters, most notably the House version would increase the debt limit while the Senate version did not.

Earlier this month, the White House, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), Senate Republican Leader John Thune (R-SD) and top committee chairs reached a deal: the reconciliation framework would largely reflect the House budget resolution, though with many changes. There would be a single bill and a $4.5 trillion debt limit increase would be included. However, the Senate and House have different spending and savings targets, which has caused difficulty in getting the bill over the finish line. Read more here.

TEC Services LLC specializes in providing comprehensive sanitation solutions tailored for the food distribution and manufacturing industries. Its services ensure facilities remain compliant with stringent food safety regulations, addressing challenges such as high staff turnover, audit readiness and operational inefficiencies. By integrating advanced technologies like its proprietary ClearPoint system, the company offers real-time insights and detailed reporting to optimize cleanliness and streamline audits. Its dedicated site managers work closely with clients to develop customized plans, enhancing productivity and maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and safety.

Contact information for TEC Services LLC is as follows:

Jay Hutchison
jhutchison@tecserv.com
TEC Services LLC
8601 Robert Fulton Drive, Suite 110
Columbia, MD 21046
(262) 960-1535
www.tecserv.com

Register now for an exclusive 30-minute Q&A webinar with Zack Kass – Advisor, Futurist, and Former Head of Go-To-Market at Open AI. Following his keynote at CDA’s Marketplace event, Zack will answer your most pressing questions about the evolving AI landscape and how businesses can successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Submit your questions in advance when you register to increase the chances of your question being answered during the session. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with one of the most foremost experts in the field of AI!

Can’t attend the webinar on April 29? Still register to attend, and don’t forget to submit your questions. You’ll receive a recording of the webinar directly to your inbox on April 30.

On April 8, 2025, the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing titled, The Power of Work: Expanding Opportunity through SNAP. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson (R-PA) emphasized the importance of work requirements to ensure the SNAP program guides participants to independence and self-sufficiency, while Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) discussed the Republican budget proposal to cut $230 billion from the programs under the committee’s jurisdiction and how cuts would hurt low-income families and farmers. Read more here.

September 8 – 11
Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
Phoenix, AZ

3 Reasons Distributor Members Need to Attend:

1. Engage in up to 30 TOP-TO-TOP meetings with key trading partners in just 2 1/2 days
2. Ample networking opportunities during meals and receptions
3. It’s the must-attend event of the year

View the video to the right for a preview of CDBX 2025 and 2026, as it heads to two new destinations!

• Distributor members: view the brochure and register online.
• Supplier/manufacturer members: CDBX is invitation only and participation in Convenience Distribution Marketplace is required.
• By attending CDBX, you agree to the CDA Notices & Disclaimers and Attendee Terms & Conditions.
• Please reach out to Jenn Finn at jennf@cdaweb.net with any questions.

CDBX Website | Schedule | Hotel and Travel

On April 3, 2025, Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Containing and Limiting the Extensive Abuse Noticed in Free Trade Zones Act (CLEAN FTZ) to create a trade rating system based on U.S. and international standards to combat trade-based money laundering and other criminal activities in foreign free trade zones. Currently, no formal rating system for free trade zones exists, making it challenging for federal enforcement authorities to address illegal trafficking of illicit narcotics, persons, weapons, tobacco, counterfeits, commodities, wildlife and more. Cassidy was joined by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) in introducing this legislation. The CLEAN FTZ Act:

• Creates a formal rating system with four tier classifications of countries based on compliance to U.S. and international standards.
• Gives countries an overall rating based on the performance of all free trade zones under their national jurisdiction.
• Makes the ratings publicly available and is updated annually.
• Allows the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to make recommendation to improve efforts to combat illicit trade to countries rated tier II, III and IV.
• Creates a hotline for reporting of instances of illicit trading and money laundering activity.
• Provides financial penalty options for foreign persons involved in illicit international trade.

Read more here.

On April 1, 2025, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chair Cassidy (R-LA) and Ranking Member Sanders (I-VT) invited Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary RFK Jr. to testify before the HELP Committee on April 10, 2025, about the “reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services.” Kennedy's team confirmed receipt of the request, but did not confirm attendance. The hearing could still take place later if the committee and Kennedy agree on a date. It’s unclear when a hearing might be scheduled, though, as the Senate is set to recess April 14 through April 25, 2025. HHS staff is reportedly scheduled to brief the House Energy and Commerce Committee on Friday afternoon about the reorganization. Read more here.

On April 2, 2025, House Appropriations Committee Republicans released guidance for lawmakers for FY26 appropriations requests. Members can submit their requests starting April 14, 2025, with deadlines throughout May. The Labor HHS deadline for members to submit requests to the subcommittee is May 23, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. All subcommittee deadlines can be found here. Committee Chairman Tom Cole’s (R-OK) guidance indicated that all projects included in the FY25 bills are eligible to be resubmitted, after they were removed from the recently passed CR.

On April 9, 2025, President Trump announced a 90-day pause on most of his “reciprocal” levies for countries that didn’t retaliate on his tariff order — while increasing China’s to 125%. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the tariffs announced on April 2, 2025, served as a way to get countries to come to the negotiating table. The 10% tariff was the baseline rate for most nations that went into effect on April 5, 2025. Goods from the European Union had been set to 20%, with 24% on imports from Japan and 25% on products from South Korea. Still, 10% represents an increase in the tariffs previously charged by the U.S. government. Canada and Mexico would continue to be tariffed by as much as 25% due to a separate directive that aims to stop fentanyl smuggling. Read more here.

Register now for an exclusive 30-minute Q&A webinar with Zack Kass – Advisor, Futurist, and Former Head of Go-To-Market at Open AI. Following his keynote at CDA’s Marketplace event, Zack will answer your most pressing questions about the evolving AI landscape and how businesses can successfully navigate the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Submit your questions in advance when you register to increase the chances of your question being answered during the session. Don’t miss this opportunity to engage with one of the most foremost experts in the field of AI!

Can’t attend the webinar on April 29? Still register to attend, and don’t forget to submit your questions. You’ll receive a recording of the webinar directly to your inbox on April 30.

September 8 – 11
Arizona Grand Resort & Spa
Phoenix, AZ

3 Reasons Distributor Members Need to Attend:

1. Engage in up to 30 TOP-TO-TOP meetings with key trading partners in just 2 1/2 days
2. Ample networking opportunities during meals and receptions
3. It’s the must-attend event of the year

View the video to the right for a recap of last year's CDBX.

Distributor members: view the brochure and register online.

Supplier/manufacturer members: CDBX is invitation only and participation in Convenience Distribution Marketplace is required.

CDBX Website | Schedule | Hotel and Travel

Please reach out to Jenn Finn at jennf@cdaweb.net with any questions.

By attending CDBX, you agree to the CDA Notices & Disclaimers and Attendee Terms & Conditions.

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 2025-2026 academic year. Click here for full eligibility requirements and more details. Click here for a flyer to share within your company.

All applications must be received by April 11, 2025. Contact Lauren Herbert for more information.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced layoffs within several agencies on April 1, 2025. The dismissals are a part of a sweeping restructuring of the agency, first noticed on March 27, 2025, and spearheaded by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. In addition to the lay-offs, senior officials across the agency were offered transitions to other departments. Among those was Dr. Brian King, director of the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). Dr. King was placed on administrative leave and offered a transfer to the Indian Health Service. Whether he accepted that transfer remains to be seen.

In addition, Secretary Kennedy announced a significant restructuring in late March, which included a combination of personnel cuts, centralization of functions and a consolidation of HHS divisions. Specifically, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will see a decrease of 3,500 full-time employees. However, the announcement specifically noted that the "reduction will not affect drug, medical device, or food reviewers, nor will it impact inspectors."

CDA is carefully monitoring the changes at the FDA and CTP. As new officials are placed into position, CDA will plan to meet with each person and will continue to offer the association and its members as a resource. We will make every effort to share additional information as it becomes available.

Read more on Dr. Brian King being placed on administrative leave here.

Read more on the FDA staff reductions here.

On April 2, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court announced a decision in favor of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION v. WAGES AND WHITE LION INVESTMENTS, L. L. C., DBA TRITON DISTRIBUTION, ET AL (Triton). The Court, in considering whether the FDA lawfully denied authorization to market certain flavored e-cigarette products, unanimously decided the FDA's Marketing Denial Orders (MDOs) were consistent with previously issued agency guidance on scientific evidence. Specifically, the Supreme Court held that the Fifth Circuit erred in setting aside as arbitrary and capricious the FDA’s MDOs denying respondents’ applications for authorization to sell new e-cigarette products pursuant to The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009. The Fifth Circuit's ruling in favor of Triton was vacated and remanded back to the Fifth Circuit. To be clear, the Supreme Court stopped short of ruling the FDA acted unlawfully by not considering marketing plans as part of the approval process. However, as the case makes its way back to the Fifth Circuit, that Court will need to consider that question under a different legal standard than was previously used.

Both Triton Distribution and Vapestasia filed applications in 2020 for flavored e-cigarette products. Critics of the products claimed the flavors were designed to appeal to minors. The FDA denied both applications along with hundreds of other applications.

CDA will continue to monitor this case and will convey any additional information as it becomes available.

Read more here and here.

President Trump nominated Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) Acting General Counsel Andrew Rogers as head of the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Wage and Hour Division and attorney Jonathan Berry as labor solicitor.

Rogers previously worked in the Wage and Hour Division during the first Trump administration. He later moved to the EEOC, where he was former chief counsel to Republican commissioner Andrea Lucas, who is now acting chair of the EEOC. Trump named Rogers acting top lawyer at the civil rights agency in February. Berry is a former chief counsel to Trump and was principal deputy assistant secretary for policy at the DOL during the president’s first term, and later became managing partner at Boyden Gray PLLC. Trump also nominated David Castillo as chief financial officer for the DOL and Anthony D’Esposito as the agency’s inspector general. Read more here.

On April 2, 2025, President Trump announced he is pressing forward with sweeping tariffs on imports from most foreign countries. Trump said the import taxes, ranging from 10% to 49%, would do to U.S. trading partners what they have long done to the U.S. and will draw factories and jobs back to the U.S.

The Senate voted to approve a resolution opposing the tariffs on imports from Canada hours after his event championing "Liberation Day." Four Republicans (Sens. Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky; Susan Collins of Maine; Lisa Murkowski of Alaska) sided with Democrats in voting for a resolution that would repeal the emergency declaration that permitted Trump to levy taxes on Canada by citing deadly fentanyl flowing across the border. The measure, introduced by Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), passed the upper chamber of Congress by a 51-48 vote. The resolution is not expected to pass the House. Read more here.

After months of internal deliberation on their legislative plans to pass their ambitious tax-cut legislation, top Republicans seem to have reached a deal on the framework of their massive reconciliation package. As a reminder, the reconciliation process is a legislative tool which allows the majority party to bypass the Senate filibuster rules once per fiscal year, thus needing 51 votes instead of the traditional 60 votes to pass most legislation. In other words, a package that Republicans can pass without any Democratic votes.

The reconciliation process first requires both chambers of Congress to pass an identical budget resolution authorizing the process and instructing various committees to package together a variety of spending and revenue provisions. The House passed its budget resolution including tax cuts, border security, national security and other matters. The Senate passed its budget resolution with a two-bill approach that would address border security and national security first, and then a tax-cut package later in the year. The two versions differed on several other matters, most notably the House version would increase the debt limit while the Senate version did not.

Last week, the White House, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Senate Republican Leader John Thune (R-SD) said the reconciliation framework would largely reflect the House budget resolution, though with many changes. There would be a single bill and a debt limit increase would be included. The next step is for the two chambers to put their agreement in writing and establish budgetary targets for each committee of jurisdiction. Senate Budget Committee leaders met with Trump this morning to discuss a path forward for the bill in the Senate. Read more here.