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Services and Capabilities | Strategic Areas of Focus | Membership | GMA Leadership | Historical Timeline

5/13/2008
Managing the Safety and Quality of Foreign Ingredients Six Sigma Workshop and Webinar
Washington, DC
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5/13/2008
Better Process Control School
Las Cruces, NM
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5/27/2008
Better Process Control School
Lincoln, NE
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06/06/2008
GMA Executive Conference
White Sulphur Springs, WV

6/9/2008
Better Process Control School
Columbus, Ohio
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View Complete Events Calendar »


Services and Capabilities

Public Policy Leadership
GMA serves as the vital link between the CPG industry and policymakers at federal and state levels. GMA's team of government affairs experts deliver our industry's message to the White House, Capitol Hill, states legislators and the appropriate government agencies. GMA represents your interest through effective lobbying, testimony, comments, scientific documentation and briefings to members of Congress, key committees and agency staff. The Association's goal is to ensure that the laws and regulations governing food marketing and production are feasible, practical and based on sound information.

Communications Outreach
GMA has a first-class communications and media relations department that works closely with the Association's issue and policy experts to deliver the food, beverage and consumer products industry's messages to policymakers, the media and consumers. From food safety and supply chain efficiency to nutrition and reverse logistics, from rapid response to proactive public relations, GMA works with broadcast and print media to amplify the industry's position on key issues.

Industry Affairs Strategy
GMA's business initiatives help enable profitable growth for GMA member companies in the channels and markets in which they operate and facilitate overall industry efficiencies. This is accomplished by 1) helping to create a growing, dynamic and efficient marketplace, and 2) providing manufacturers, distributors and other contributing parties with knowledge and understanding of the forces driving change in the industry in their supply chains and their sales promotion practices.

Scientific, Technical, Regulatory and Food Defense Support
GMA's scientific and regulatory staff develops targeted, scientific programs to support its membership base that are coupled with strategic research programs in support of regulatory/legislative intervention and improved business results. The team is rooted in deep technical and regulatory subject matter expertise applied to strategic and emerging issues such as heath and wellness opportunities, nutrition labeling, food safety issues and risk assessment. Membership support is also proved for crisis management, quality/food safety issues and consumer claims analysis through the on-site scientific focus areas, including microbiology, chemistry, processing and packaging.



Strategic Areas of Focus

Consumer Confidence
Bolstering consumer confidence in the food supply is a core operating principle for GMA. Whether navigating the complicated regulatory environment in Washington, D.C. and the states, developing standards, programs and technologies that build public trust, or effectively communicating with consumers in difficult times, the Association serves as an instrumental liaison between food industry leaders, policymakers and the public.

Customer and Channel Collaboration
The search for new and sustainable areas of business growth tops the agenda for food, beverage and consumer packaged goods companies. GMA provides forums for members to collaborate with retail trading partners. In collaboration with retail partners, GMA leads industry-wide initiatives that improve the efficiency of the overall supply chain and improve customer service levels, as well as provide insights into successful sales and sales promotion activities. And, the Association supports the development of technology that enables efficient information exchange and improves business decisions and commerce flow through sales and sales promotion, supply chain efficiency and global technology.

Global Commerce/International Policy
Rapid advancements in technology, communications, diplomacy and trade have enhanced our access to overseas markets. At the same time, a host of foreign countries and international organizations constantly seek changes t o international trade that impact our ability to conduct business around the globe. GMA helps its members navigate the complicated and complex global business environment by helping them engage in global commerce as efficiently as possible. The Association works to eliminate tariff and non-tariff trade barriers; harmonize standards for food beverage and consumer products; (CODEX, ISO); encourage border efficiencies; investment and tax policy; intellectual property and counterfeiting; multi-lateral organizations policymaking (WHO, WTO, OECD); market-based commodity prices; and customer facilitation.

Health and Wellness
Policymakers and consumers - especially parents - are placing a greater emphasis that ever before on personal health and wellness. That is why GMA has taken a leadership role in promoting industry solutions that help consumers achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle. From educating policymakers and the public about industry healthy lifestyle initiatives to promoting age-appropriate and responsible marketing and advertising policies, the Association helps it member companies tap into consumers; desire for healthier products. And, GMA serves as an important and valuable liaison to those domestic and international policymakers who are formulating opinions, laws and regulations that impact the way we do business.

Sustainability
Growing concern about the global environment has fueled increased public and private sector interest in policies and practices that help protect and preserve our natural resources. Nowhere is the impact of this increased scrutiny greater than in the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry, which contributes $2.1 billion to the nation's economy, so GMA is taking the lead on this important issue. From thought leadership and legislative and regulatory advocacy to customer expectations and manufacturer successful practices, the Association works to help its members better understand the sustainability landscape, initiate environmentally-friendly business practices and more effectively communicate our industry's environmental commitment to policymakers, our customers and consumers.

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Membership

Information about the benefits of membership and associate membership, current GMA parent & subsidiary member companies and associate member companies and how to become a member.

Membership Information »



GMA Leadership

Find biographical information about GMA's leaders. more »

GMA Employment Opportunities



Historical Timeline

Explore a timeline of GMA’s history throughout the past 90 years. Read about GMA events, member companies and the association's impact on the food, beverage and consumer products industry over the decades. more »

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