News

On March 11, 2026, five Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) consumers filed a complaint against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins claiming that new waivers are part of an effort by the USDA to undermine the program.

The USDA has approved various restrictions on which foods are eligible for SNAP benefits in 22 states. The lawsuit challenges the waivers in five states - Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia - and alleges the USDA’s approval of the waivers violates the Administrative Procedure Act, a federal law that governs administrative law procedures, as well as exceeds the statutory authority granted under the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008. The lawsuit also alleges the waivers have caused the plaintiffs irreparable harm and add “onerous compliance burdens on retailers.”

The Trump administration has said that the waivers will help SNAP consumers buy healthier foods. Read more here.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a Marketing Granted Order (MGO) authorizing the marketing of an e-cigarette and nicotine pod manufactured by Glas Inc. This FDA marketing authorization is for the Glas G2 Device and the Blonde Tobacco 50 MG/ML Pod. To date, the FDA has now issued MGOs for 41 e-cigarette devices and nicotine cartridges or pods. View an updated list of e-cigarette devices and nicotine cartridges/pods authorized by the FDA here.

On March 16, 2026, President Trump issued an executive order creating a benefits-fraud task force chaired by Vice President JD Vance. Members of the task force are to come up with ⁠a plan in 90 days to implement anti-fraud measures. A White House fact sheet describing the order mentioned California, Illinois, New York, Maine and Colorado as U.S. states with "insufficient" fraud oversight.

Trump had previously tasked Vance with leading administration efforts to investigate fraud in Minnesota. The order designated that the task force look into fraud allegations across the country. Trump has repeatedly invoked a scandal that dates back to 2020 in Minnesota in which 47 ⁠people were accused of defrauding $250 million from a state-run, federally-funded child nutrition program. Read more here.

Rep. Mike Carey (R-OH), joined by 71 of his House colleagues, recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer, urging them to require the Chinese government to curb the flow of illegal e-cigarettes in any new trade agreement with the U.S.

Citing a threat to national security, the letter calls for the U.S. federal government to "aggressively counter the source of these products" and requests a commitment requiring the Chinese government stop all e-cigarette exports in the ongoing trade negotiations. The full text of the letter can be found here.

On March 17, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it is withdrawing the following two temporary guidances, originally published during the COVID-19 public health emergency, regarding human and animal foods that involve onsite visits under the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA):

• Temporary Policy Regarding Preventive Controls and FSVP Food Supplier Verification Onsite Audit Requirements Due to COVID-19
• Temporary Policy Regarding Accredited Third-Party Certification Program Onsite Observation and Certificate Duration Requirements Due to COVID-19

In these two documents, the agency issued guidance on onsite auditing and observations requirements to assist firms responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and help ensure continued food safety and availability during the pandemic. Read more here.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee held a markup of the Dalilah’s Law (H.R. 5688) on March 18, 2026. The Committee approved the bill by a vote of 35 to 26. H.R. 5688 would require:

• Ensuring all CDL holders understand English, roads signs and law enforcement officers;
• Placing drivers who fail to meet the law’s requirements and safety standards out-of-service;
• Requiring states to verify that they are not issuing CDLs to illegal immigrants;
• Significantly increasing penalties for states failing to comply with the law by withholding of Federal funds;
• Banning foreign dispatch services and brokers, who have fueled a surge in freight fraud and cargo theft; and
• Cracking down on “CDL mills” to ensure drivers entering the industry are receiving adequate training.

Read more here.

CDA’s "The Drive to Thrive: CDL Scholarship Program" offers an exciting opportunity for employees of distributor member companies to grow their careers in commercial truck driving. The scholarship program awards ten recipients with up to $5,000 towards their CDL training. CDA Distributor Member Companies in good standing can nominate up to two employees.

Click here to learn more about the program, eligibility, and criteria. Contact Lauren Herbert when you are ready to begin the nominating process.

All applications must be received by March 20, 2026. Contact Lauren Herbert with any questions.

On March 9, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a draft guidance to assist companies in submitting Pre-Market Tobacco Applications (PMTAs) for electronic cigarette products. The draft guidance is titled “Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Premarket Applications: Considerations Related to Youth Risk.” A draft guidance is not legally binding and describes the FDA’s current thinking on a specific topic and should only be viewed as recommendations. The public may submit comments on the draft guidance to the FDA on or before May 8, 2026, at which time the agency will review comments and finalize the draft guidance.

The draft guidance focuses on another question that arises during the review of a PMTA for a flavored e-cigarette, namely, how much of an added benefit compared to a tobacco-flavored e-cigarette must a manufacturer demonstrate for the FDA to find that a flavored e-cigarette meets the APPH standard. The FDA’s position is that an e-cigarette, which has a fruit, candy, dessert or other sweet flavors, is a substantial public health risk to attracting youth usage and, for this reason, has a high evidentiary burden to demonstrate that the benefits to adult smokers in terms of quitting or reducing cigarette smoking outweigh the risks of youth usage.

Read the full article here.

Read the full draft guidance document, which includes instructions on where and how to submit comments, here.

CDA President and CEO Richard Owen attended the Chambers & Owen, Inc. trade show this week in Madison, WI, as he continues to visit members and build relationships throughout the industry. Chambers & Owen, Inc., established in 1891, is a fifth-generation, family-owned convenience store distributor serving retailers across the Midwest.

CDA President and CEO Richard Owen (center) connects with Chad Owen (left) and David Karr, Chambers & Owen, Inc.	Attendees visit booths and network at the Chambers & Owen, Inc. trade show.

Are you looking to unlock leadership potential? The CDA Leadership Institute, formerly known as the CDA Leadership Academy, offers a transformative hybrid program combining expert coaching, collaborative learning, and real-world applications. Participants will learn to improve team dynamics and cultivate a strategic mindset, all while connecting with like-minded individuals.

The CDA Leadership Institute is designed specifically for CDA members – it is ideal for high-potential employees, new managers and anyone on your team looking to broaden their communications, managerial, financial and leadership skills.

To learn more and reserve a spot, click here or reach out to Lauren Herbert. Don’t miss the opportunity for you or a member of your team to join CDA’s third cohort and take a leadership journey to the next level.

On March 6, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) held a listening session with industry trade associations to learn about challenges to comply with the food tracing requirements of Section 204(d) of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and possible solutions to simplify compliance with tracing high-risk products at a lot-level instead of a case level.

CDA was one of the food industry trade associations that was invited to give a presentation during the FDA listening session. The presentation covered challenges being faced by distributors, as well as five flexible solutions to minimize the burden on distributors to comply with FSMA Section 204(d). Read more here.

HWY Partners is a leading food, snack and confectionery sales agency in the Northeast. The company's success is driven by access, insight and deep relationships with both customers and clients. It provides proven leadership across convenience, grocery, drug, club, vending and alternative retail channels.

With extensive headquarters, distributor and retail coverage, HWY Partners helps manufacturers navigate local and regional supply chain challenges with a seamless, coordinated approach.

The company delivers category leadership through data-driven analysis, space planning, industry insights and best-in-class merchandising execution and reporting. Combined with strong marketing and administrative support, the HWY Partners team brings a relentless passion for delivering measurable results for our partners.

Contact information for HWY Partners is as follows:

Bernard Gomeau
BernardG@hwypartners.com
HWY Partners
3 Tech Circle
Natick, MA 01760
(508) 655-2300
https://www.hwypartners.com/

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.

Are you looking to unlock leadership potential? The CDA Leadership Institute, formerly known as the CDA Leadership Academy, offers a transformative hybrid program combining expert coaching, collaborative learning, and real-world applications. Participants will learn to improve team dynamics and cultivate a strategic mindset, all while connecting with like-minded individuals.

The CDA Leadership Institute is designed specifically for CDA members – it is ideal for high-potential employees, new managers and anyone on your team looking to broaden their communications, managerial, financial and leadership skills.

To learn more and reserve a spot, click here or reach out to Lauren Herbert. Don’t miss the opportunity for you or a member of your team to join CDA’s third cohort and take a leadership journey to the next level.

CDA’s "The Drive to Thrive: CDL Scholarship Program" offers an exciting opportunity for employees of distributor member companies to grow their careers in commercial truck driving. The scholarship program awards ten recipients with up to $5,000 towards their CDL training. CDA Distributor Member Companies in good standing can nominate up to two employees.

Click here to learn more about the program, eligibility, and criteria. Contact Lauren Herbert when you are ready to begin the nominating process.

All applications must be received by March 20, 2026. Contact Lauren Herbert with any questions.

The Cross-Industry Compensation & Benefits Report is a comprehensive study of compensation and benefits programs at wholesale distribution companies across the U.S. It provides information about executive and employee compensation including salaries, bonuses and commissions, and fringe benefits such as health insurance, retirement programs and time off.

Participate today to gain valuable insights to help strengthen your organization’s compensation practices – the survey is open until March 16.

Participating distributor companies will receive:

• An industry comparison report with results from 1,000+ distributors
• A personalized, company-specific benchmarking report
• Downloadable excel data tables & online access to searchable results
• An executive-ready infographic & on-demand results presentation

Click here for more details or contact Lauren Herbert with any questions.

After a two-day markup, the House Agriculture Committee approved a Republican authored farm bill by a margin of 34-17. Seven Democrats joined all GOP committee members to advance the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567) on March 4, 2026.

Many Democrats expressed opposition to the bill over the $187 billion in cuts from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last summer. Republicans stressed the budget constraints they were facing and that the Farm Bill should focus on agricultural policy.

Rep. David Rouzer (R-NC) introduced an amendment to bring back tobacco as a commodity under the Commodity Credit Corp. (CCC) for economic aid. Rep. Don Davis (D-NC) also spoke in support of the amendment. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN) noted the 2004 tobacco buyout passed on a bipartisan basis and questioned the use of taxpayer dollars to promote domestic use of tobacco. "To me, that seems very inconsistent with the Make America Healthy Again agenda." Chairman GT Thompson (R-PA) said the issue of using CCC funds for tobacco "has been heavily debated" and tobacco farmers have missed out on aid that other commodities have received. "It's time to put tobacco on a fair and equal footing with other commodities," Thompson said. The tobacco aid was added back into the Commodity Title by a voice vote.

H.R. 7567 would change laboratory testing standards for state and tribal governments regulating hemp products. State and tribal regulators would have to establish a procedure to test the total tetrahydrocannabinol concentration, or THC, a psychoactive compound in the plant. Current law requires the labs to only test for delta-9 THC. An amendment that would delay redefining hemp was withdrawn. As a reminder, the fiscal 2026 Department of Agriculture/FDA appropriations spending law set a 0.3% limit on total THC content, effectively banning intoxicating hemp products starting in November.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chair John Boozman (R-AR) indicated a Senate farm bill will be released in the coming months. That proposal will reportedly include language to legalize year-round E15 sales. If the full Senate and House can pass their own farm bills, the two chambers will negotiate a final bill to approve and send to the president’s desk. A new farm bill has not been enacted since 2018. Since its original expiration in September 2023, Congress has extended its provisions through multiple legislative actions, most recently pushing the expiration date to Sept. 30, 2026. Read more here.

On March 4, 2026, Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy. Jr., and National Nutrition Advisor at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dr. Ben Carson announced the USDA's commencement of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans Strategic Partnerships, an effort which encourages the private sector to participate in educating the American people about the importance of the guidelines and how they serve as the foundation to better eating. The event featured an update on the impending Stocking Standards final rule, a rule that holds any retailer interested in accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits accountable to a higher minimum standard of staple food stocking requirements.

Secretary Rollins also signed four new SNAP restriction waivers for Kansas, Nevada, Ohio and Wyoming.

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 3, 2026. Contact Lauren Herbert for more information.

CDA would like to thank everyone who participated, exhibited, and sponsored at last week’s Convenience Distribution Marketplace in Arlington, TX.

The event was a resounding success for the convenience products wholesale distribution industry. Marketplace’s engaging education sessions, Opening Drive welcome reception, the Marketplace Trade Show, Distributor Showcase, and the Hall of Fame Dinner provided valuable connections and a meaningful experience for all attendees. We extend a very special thank you to our Marketplace sponsors—your partnership truly makes a difference! Watch the video to the right for a recap of our time at Marketplace.

We look forward to seeing you next year in Arlington, TX, for Marketplace 2027, Feb. 22-24. Exhibitors secure your Marketplace 2027 exhibit space now!

On Feb. 19, 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced agency actions that relate to the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Section 204(d) food tracing requirement.

First, the FDA announcement referenced an updated frequently asked question guidance document to respond to questions asked by industry stakeholders about the FSMA Section 204(d) regulation. The FDA is requesting comments from the public about the guidance document. The deadline to submit comments about the guidance document is May 21, 2026. Also, under the Table of Contents in the guidance document, Section G (Transformation of a Food on the Food Traceability List) and Section I (Recordkeeping) have questions and proposed FDA responses that are applicable to distributors. For a copy of the guidance document, click here.

Second, the FDA announcement reiterated the agency’s plan to conduct a series of quarterly listening sessions with public stakeholders, including food supply chain companies. CDA reported last week that the association will be participating in the first such FDA FSMA listening session on March 6, 2026. These listening sessions will provide an opportunity for the FDA to engage with regulated companies and trade associations to better understand industry concerns and challenges about and flexible solutions to allow compliance with FSMA Section 204(d). The FDA will announce the dates of the other quarterly listening sessions as they are scheduled.

Read the FDA FSMA announcement here.

On Feb., 2026, House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15) announced a weather-related postponement of the full committee markup of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 (H.R. 7567). The markup will now occur on March 3, 2026.

As a reminder, H.R. 7567 would change laboratory testing standards for state and tribal governments regulating hemp products. State and tribal regulators would have to establish a procedure to test the total tetrahydrocannabinol concentration, or THC, a psychoactive compound in the plant. Current law requires the labs to only test for delta-9 THC. The 2018 farm bill legalized hemp with less than 0.3 percent of delta-9 THC, leading to the proliferation of intoxicating hemp products and raising concerns about potential health risks. The fiscal 2026 Department of Agriculture/FDA appropriations spending law set a 0.3 percent limit on total THC content, effectively banning intoxicating hemp products starting in November.

The legislation’s nutrition title would direct USDA to make an online purchasing pilot program for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, or food stamps, an option nationwide. The bill also includes a provision directing states to move to chip-enabled electronic benefit cards, a technology designed to reduce food stamp fraud. Currently only California and Alabama have issued EBT chip cards to beneficiaries, and seven states have transition projects underway. For more details on the bill, view a title-by-title summary here and the full text here.