After years without an official State proclamation, Governor Rick Snyder has declared September 25 thru October 5, Independent Retailers Week. He signed the proclamation this month in Lansing. The last governor to sign such proclamation was Governor William Milliken.
Click here to view Certificate of Proclamation
In the proclamation the Governor stated “…the Independent Retailers in Michigan have always been dedicated to the public in their delivery of services in the market place throughout the State of Michigan by assuring customer satisfaction, providing food access and gasoline services in many communities and neighborhoods of Michigan that have traditionally been hard pressed to find such necessary services.” MIRA members consist of grocery stores, liquor stores, convenience stores and gas stations. MIRA (Midwest Independent Retailers Association) represents thousands of independent retailers in Michigan and Ohio, as well as, other Midwest states. “Small business is the engine that drives the economy,” said Auday Arabo, president and CEO of MIRA. “Independent retailers help keep local jobs and local dollars in our community while other corporate businesses send money to other states and other countries. This is also significant because local farmers in Michigan are working with local independent grocers pushing Michigan grown produce.” That philosophy prompted the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to choose three MIRA members to pilot the Fair Food Network’s Double Up Food Bucks program where customers earn double the food assistance dollars when they purchase Michigan-grown produce. The Detroit stores are Metro Foodland, Mike’s Fresh and Honey Bee Market. MIRA is also preparing to donate more than 6,000 Turkeys and other items to needy families in Michigan and Ohio. In 32 years, they have donated nearly 70,000 Turkeys in Michigan and Ohio. MIRA works with 100 non-profit agencies to identify families who are in need including Forgotten Harvest.
Some MIRA member include:
- Hillers
- Busch’s
- Meijer
- Heartland Markets
- Fresh Food Depots
- Value Centers
- Plumbs (Grand Rapids)
- Ric’s
- Hardings
- Niemann’s
- Plum (Metro Detroit)
- Village Market
- Hollywood Markets
- Holiday Markets
- Westborn Markets
- Vincent & Joes
- Papa Joes
- Nino Salvaggio
- Market Square
- Saturn Markets
- Krown Market (border of Detroit and Hamtramck)
- 8 Mile Foodland
- 500 Independently owed Spartan stores throughout Michigan just to name a few
MIRA has identified 87 full-line Grocery Stores in Detroit and 75 of them are MIRA members.
- Glory Markets
- Imperial Supermarkets
- Mike’s Fresh
- Honey Bee
- Metro Foodland
- Save A Lots
- University Foods
- Banner
- Food Pride
- Family Fare
- Greenfield Market
- Just to name a few
