LOS ANGELES, Sept. 24, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unified Grocers has retained the services of Kevin Herglotz and HPA Strategies, Inc., a San Francisco-based public affairs firm specializing in strategic communications, issues management and government relations. HPA Strategies, founded in 2008, serves a wide range of clients in the food, retail, business and not-for-profit sectors.
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Kevin Herglotz and HPA Strategies are providing Unified with government relations representation at the federal, state and local levels, counsel on key legislative, community and stakeholder issues and input in the area of strategic communications. HPA Strategies' relationship with Unified is effective Oct. 1, 2010.
"We are delighted to have the opportunity to partner with Kevin Herglotz and HPA Strategies," said Al Plamann, president and chief executive officer, Unified Grocers. "Kevin is not only familiar with our industry and the issues we face, he understands what it takes for corporations to successfully navigate through today's economically-challenged and politically-charged business environment. We look forward to HPA Strategies' counsel and insights on a number of projects and issues."
President of HPA Strategies, Kevin Herglotz has more than 20 years of strategic communications, media, public affairs and government relations experience. Prior to forming HPA Strategies, Herglotz was senior vice president of public affairs and government relations for Safeway Inc., one of the largest food and drug retailers in North America. Herglotz has also served as a top communications official and key advisor to former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman, served as a spokesperson and communications director in the administration of former California Governor Pete Wilson and also worked on the Governor's re-election and presidential campaigns.
Herglotz serves on the boards of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Chamber Foundation and the California State Museum. He was chair of the California Retailers Association and served as vice chair of the California Grocers Association.
Unified Grocers is a retailer-owned wholesale grocery distributor that supplies independent retailers throughout the western United States. Unified and its subsidiaries, which generated approximately $4.1 billion in sales during fiscal 2009, offer independent retailers all the resources they need to compete in the supermarket industry.
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