Jeff Berman, Group News Editor -- Logistics Management, 4/22/2009
WASHINGTON—Taking steps to better represent retail interests in Washington, the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) said that their executive committees have agreed in principle to merge and create a singe trade association.
NRF and RILA officials said that the completion of the merger is contingent on a thorough due diligence process, with merger details currently being developed. The NRF and RILA boards of directors must recommend the merger, which has to be approved by the membership of both organizations. This process is expected to be completed this summer.
In an interview with LM, Brian Dodge, RILA SVP, Communications and State Affairs, said that this merger makes sense on a few different levels.
“To this point we have had two trade associations operating in Washington and serving the same industry,” said Dodge. “And the rumors of a merger or a consolidation of some sort have…ebbed and flowed for a long time. It is based on the fact that two trade associations representing slightly different member bases—but in the same industry—and work together often on the same issues.”
In terms of differences in membership between the two organizations, RILA represents the 65 largest retailers operating in the U.S. across all segments with annual sales totaling around $1.5 trillion, as well as six million of the nation’s 15 million retail employees. RILA membership also includes service suppliers and product manufacturers, bringing its total membership to about 200 members. Dodge said that seven of the ten largest U.S. retailers are RILA members.
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