NRF and RILA Break Merger Talks
The proposed merger between the United States’ two biggest trade organizations for retailers is off.
National Retail Federation and Retail Industry Leaders Association announced June 24 that the boards of the two groups had mutually agreed to stop merger talks. The end of the proposed merger also means that NRF President Tracy Mullin will continue to lead the Washington D.C.–based organization. When the merger was announced on April 21, Mullin said she would retire later in 2009. She has worked at NRF for more than 30 years. RILA leader Sandy Kennedy will reportedly continue as president of the Arlington, Va.–based retail trade organization.
NRF spokesperson Scott Krugman said there was not one particular issue that broke up the merger. “Our organizations have different scopes,” he said. “Ours is broader with the organizations we represent.” NRF represents independent retailers, high-profile national chains, restaurants and e-commerce retailers. It reportedly has 2,500 members. RILA’s members are 200 chain retailers.
When the merger was announced in April, the boards of NRF and RILA said the benefits of the merger included shaping a unified voice for retailers in the nation’s capital. Krugman said NRF would continue to lobby for retailers in Washington, as well as produce retail conventions such as the Loss Prevention Conference & Expo, held June 15–17 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. —Andrew Asch
