The Association of Retail and Consumer Professionals (ARC) has acquired the Retail Dietitians Business Alliance (RDBA). ARC, based in Chicago, also owns the Category Management Association, the Shopper Insights Management Association and the Space Planning Community.
Founded in 2012 by Phil Lempert of Consumer Insight, the RDBA supports registered dietitians working with grocery and other retailers across the United States and Canada. The acquisition, notes ARC, “…is another step in accelerating ARC’s vision of building better communities for professionals in the retail and consumer goods industry so they can learn, grow and meaningfully connect with others in their fields.”
“We are very pleased to bring the RDBA into ARC,” says Emily Callahan, ARC president, “and look forward to partnering with the RDBA advisory board to further expand the community and provide new content, training, thought leadership and networking opportunities to the member-base.”
In related news, ARC has brought on Stephanie Schultz as its new VP of strategic partnerships and initiatives. Schultz, a former retail dietitian, will wear several hats at ARC, including functioning as ARC’s ambassador to the RDBA.
