Potash is the second generation in his family to run a small grocery chain in downtown Chicago, continuing a 60-plus-year family legacy of excellence in customer service. In addition to serving their consumers, Potash plays a strong role in representing independent operators on Capitol Hill in efforts, such as the Durbin amendment, which was the catalyst for merchants’ and consumers’ effort to bring fairness and transparency to swipe fees, a provision under the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. During the initial process of the swipe fee legislation in 2010, Potash and Potash Markets answered the call to action against big banks in support of Main Street businesses, hosting two press conferences on the subject in Chicago and Washington, D.C.
On the floor of the U.S. Senate in October 2011, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill) remarked, “Art Potash has become a buddy of mine, second or third generation owning this supermarket near North Chicago. He is not as big as the big boys, Dominick’s, Jewel [Osco], and the others, but, boy, what a nice store he has.”
After his first visit to Washington, D.C. to fight swipe fees, Potash continues his valued contributions in government affairs by serving as vice-chair of FMI’s Public Affairs Committee. His bipartisan spirit is evident in his service on several retail committees and his dedication to battling Wall Street on behalf of the industry.
In addition to his public affairs accomplishments in Washington, Potash still puts his hometown markets first and strives to give each customer a personal experience. Whether he is fighting for savings for retailers and their customers or working back home in Chicago, Potash’s involvement in the industry will leave a lasting impact.
“Art is a natural diplomat with a real gift of bringing to light the local impact of national issues in an accessible manner,” Leslie G. Sarasin, FMI president and CEO said. “He embodies advocacy in action, and as such expresses the ideas undergirding the Woodard Award.”
For more information on the Woodard award and past recipients, visit http://www.fmi.org/community/.
See below the 2012 Glen P. Woodard, Jr. Award announcement at Midwinter:
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) conducts programs in public affairs, food safety, research, education and industry relations on behalf of its nearly 1,250 food retail and wholesale member companies in the United States and around the world. FMI’s U.S. members operate more than 25,000 retail food stores and almost 22,000 pharmacies with a combined annual sales volume of nearly $650 billion. FMI’s retail membership is composed of large multi-store chains, regional firms and independent operators. Its international membership includes 126 companies from more than 65 countries. FMI’s nearly 330 associate members include the supplier partners of its retail and wholesale members.
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