Ramsey County History – Summer 2009: “Food for a Good Life: John J. Ryan and the Minnesota Grocers Association”

Food for a Good Life: John J. Ryan and the Minnesota Grocers Association
Author: Mary Jo Richardson

This article, written by his granddaughter, is the story of J. J. Ryan, who made his mark both on the state and nation as a spokesman for retail grocers. He was born in 1863 and came to St. Paul in the late nineteenth century. Ryan started out as a grocery clerk and eventually became a partner in the business. In 1892, Ryan was elected president of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Association. He was also a founder of the Retail Clerk’s Union and even when he became executive secretary of the Retail Grocers Association in 1903, he remained involved in the labor movement. As the leader of the Retail Grocers Association (1903–1915 and 1930–1935), Ryan spearheaded many reforms for the association, including lobbying the legislature for passage of the Minnesota Pure Food Code in 1905. Between 1915 and 1919, he also served as secretary to the National Grocers Trade Association. Ryan died in 1935.
PDF of Richardson article