Houston Grocery Manufacturers Representative Association

Pete Haynes founded the Houston Grocery Manufacturer's Representative Association (HGMRA) in 1972. Haynes is retired from the Carnation Company and continues to serve the organization as an advisory board member.

The HGMRA's main service project is the awarding of scholarships to students interested in a career in the food industry. The HGMRA has awarded 949 students over $1.5 million dollars in scholarship funds. These students' interests range from accounting and pharmacy to marketing and computer science. The HGMRA makes it clear to applicants that the scope of food industry jobs isn't confined to a retail grocery store environment.

The HGMRA works with Houston-area retailers to select the best candidates for these awards. Originally, the program awarded high school seniors a scholarship that covered a portion of their full-time college expenses. The program was expanded to include part-time college students who are working full-time for a grocer and are taking at least six hours of coursework per semester. The HGMRA scholarship program is recognized as one of the finest in the country.

The main fundraisers for the scholarship program are the HGMRA Golf Tournament held early each fall or spring and a Scholarship Trade Dinner in April. There is a speaker or program after a social hour and a dinner to honor scholarship winners. This year's banquet will be held at the new Houston Food Bank location.

The HGMRA would not be nearly as successful in its efforts to find talented and energetic young adults in the food industry without the help of the retailers.

During the year the HGMRA sponsors a series of breakfasts/luncheons featuring speakers from area grocery stores. This past year included Scott McClelland, President of HEB Houston; Louis Katopodis, President of Fiestamart; Bill Breetz, President of Kroger SouthWest KMA; and perenial favorite Ross Lewis, President of Food Town.