Together with AOL Health, First Lady Michele Obama held her first-ever live web chat on July 13. Mrs. Obama is trying to eliminate childhood obesity in a generation with her “Let’s Move” campaign. In February, her first stop was at the Fresh Grocer at Broad and Jefferson Streets in North Philadelphia. During the web chat, the First Lady noted that the store is now the “shining star” of its North Philadelphia community. Said Mrs. Obama, “The produce matches any high priced grocery store in the country and the store is turning a profit. If they can do it in Philadelphia with their rural and urban communities, they can do it anywhere.” In keeping with the commitment to providing healthy alternatives to their customers , Fresh Grocer had Health Partners’ Biggest Winner Nutrition Program participants visited The Fresh Grocer supermarket at The Shoppes at LaSalle Shopping Center on Chew Avenue in Philadelphia on August 2, in search of fresh ingredients for heart-healthy, diabetes-friendly meals and snacks. During the eight-week “Biggest Winner” nutrition program, currently under way at Enon Tabernacle Baptist Church, participants have been learning about increasing their fruit and vegetable intake, reading nutritional food labels, understanding portion sizes, and more. They have also learned about the important role that proper nutrition and exercise play in managing diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. Health Partners’ Biggest Winners put their new, nutritional knowledge to the test by giving their normal shopping list a makeover; replacing unhealthy foods with the healthier options available at The Fresh Grocer store. The tour was conducted by Penn State nutrition adviser Deborah Winans. Nutritional store tours are run frequently in Fresh Grocer locations. For more information visit www.freshgrocer.com .
Weis Markets announced three new stores it is building will incorporate technologies and systems reducing store refrigerant charges (usage) to 50 percent less than a typical supermarket, thus decreasing their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. In recent weeks, Weis Markets has begun the construction of superstores in three Pennsylvania locations: Bellefonte, West Lawn) and Fork Township. The announcement was made at an award ceremony at Weis Markets’ Carlisle Street store in Hanover, which was the first supermarket in the state of Pennsylvania to earn a certification award from the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, a voluntary Environmental Protection Agency alliance with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions. Keilly Witman, manager of EPA’s GreenChill Partnership presented an award to Weis Markets for achieving these standards. “Reducing the environmental impact of our stores is a key part of being a good neighbor and we are committed to doing so in the years ahead,” said Kevin Small, Weis Markets’ VP-construction and development. “As a long-time proponent of sustainability and recycling, we have embraced the next generation of technology that will allow us to reduce our carbon footprint and operate our stores more efficiently. We plan for these three new stores to achieve GreenChill certification.”
On August 3, Genuardi’s announced that all of its locations will conduct a campaign to benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) to support research and treatment for neuromuscular diseases. The campaign is part of parent company Safeway’s companywide efforts to raise millions for the cause. Safeway praised MDA for the recent groundbreaking medical advancements that the organization has made possible. Now through Labor Day, Safeway’s more than 1,700 stores in the U.S. and Canada will collect donations for MDA and Muscular Dystrophy Canada (MDC) to find treatments and possible cures for neuromuscular disease, such as spinal muscular atrophy and ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The company’s U.S. retail stores will also participate in the Aisles of Smiles program, which provides MDA with a portion of the proceeds of specially marked products purchased by Safeway customers. MDA national chairman Jerry Lewis thanked Safeway for helping MDA fund the exciting new treatments for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. “We are so grateful that Safeway associates and customers keep finding creative ways to advance MDA’s lifesaving mission,” said Lewis. ”Safeway’s innovative in-store giving events, plus its special Aisles of Smiles coupon program truly make Safeway an extraordinary partner.” Over the years, Safeway has raised over $47 million for muscular dystrophy charities through customer donations at checkout and grass roots efforts, such as walks, golf tournaments and bake sales. In addition to financial support, the company employs nearly 10,000 people with physical or intellectual disabilities, making it one of the largest corporate employers of people with disabilities in the United States.
Atalanta Corporation led the way with six honorees at the Italian Trade Commission Distinguished Service Award ceremonies this past week in New York. George Gellert,
Atalanta chairman and CEO, was inducted into the Italian Trade Commission Hall of Fame; Salvatore Mazzella, who runs the cheese division and was instrumental in launching the Italian program for the company, received a Gold Award Certificate. Receiving Platinum Award certificates were: Margaret Cicogna, the ‘Contessa’ of Italian cheeses who helped get the Atalanta Italian specialty foods division started; Fred Chesman, one of the pioneers of the imported Italian cheese business; Tom Gellert and Andy Gellert (sons of George Gellert and executives at Atalanta). The awards, created under the auspices of the Italian Ministry for Economic Development by the Italian Trade Commission, honor individuals who have contributed to the awareness, education and sales success of authentic, quality Italian food products in the U.S., and those who highlight Italian specialty foods in their portfolios.
“As the largest importer of specialty foods from Italy, we at Atalanta are proud to be honored by the Italian Trade Commission with not one but four awards,” said George Gellert. “We take great pride in the business – and especially the relationships – we have cultivated over the years with leading Italian specialty food producers.” Auguri!
It is possible that a bag of bagel crisps can make a difference. A concept that began with one woman distributing groceries out of the trunk of her car has since grown to a charity that has distributed close to 400 million pounds of food and groceries valued at nearly a billion dollars. Grains For Good is a new, revenue generating venture of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ) whereby donated bagels are turned into bagel crisps as part of its Foodservice Training Academy curriculum. Culinary students prepare and package our bagel crisps for sale in farmers markets and specialty stores. One hundred percent of the proceeds of each bag of Grains For Good are donated to CFBNJ, which distributes more than 33 million pounds of food and other groceries in 18 New Jersey counties annually. By believing in the possible rather than the impossible, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey has been delivering food and hope in equal measure to New Jersey communities for nearly 30 years. For more information go to www.njfoodbank .org .
The Redner family hosted its annual Gary W. Redner Memorial Golf Outing on July 28 at four courses in the Reading area. More than 475 golfers participated at Fox Chase, Manor, Galen Hall and Chapel Hill golf courses. After swinging the club for four hours, the attendees were treated to a delicious picnic barbeque at the Willow Glen Picnic area. Grant Wabnitz of Nestle Purina shot a hole in one on hole 15 at Chapel Hill! The $4,898 in proceeds from the outing were split between the general fund of the Crime Alert Berks and the Earl and Mary Redner/GWR Scholarship.
By now you all know how I feel about reusable shopping bags; I love them and use them for much more than just supermarket expeditions. If you haven’t jumped on the bandwagon yet, here’s some information that will make you take the leap. Since 2007, when Wegmans introduced reusable bags, the company has cut the number of plastic bags handed out at checkouts by 30 percent. Before reusable bags were introduced, Wegmans stores were handing out one million bags per day. Are they still handing out plastic bags at Wegmans? Yes, but the bags are denser thereby allowing more products to be packed in the bags and thereby using less bags overall. The reusable shopping bags are made of 95 percent recycled woven polypropylene.
We were saddened to learn of two premature deaths this month. Paul McCaffrey, son of Jim McCaffrey of McCaffrey’s Markets passed away on July 23. A graduate of St. Joseph’s University, Paul was most recently at SAI Marketing. He is also survived by his four children. Also, industry veteran Mike Kaplan of Advantage Sales died at home on July 17 after a short battle with cancer. He was with Pezrow/Advantage Sales for 38 years. He leaves behind his wife Marie and three sons.
Sometimes people who are so in love for many years can’t live without their beloved when the other has passed on. Such was the case with Jack and Beverlee Goldberg. Beverlee passed away on June 21 after a valiant battle with cancer. Jack followed her to eternal rest just six weeks later on August 5. I visited with two of their children, Lynny Ravitz and Jeff Goldberg and along with Nate Ostroff, KFL Management, we exchanged our favorite Jack stories. Lynny and Jeff told me of how running Penn Maid was Jack’s life; it wasn’t a job, it was a labor of love. He took great pride in growing the Penn Maid brand. Jack was also a founding member of the Tri-State Dairy Deli Association and a member of PFTO, now merged as AMR/MAFTO. He lived and breathed the dairy business. Larger than life with a twinkle in his sparkling blue eyes and a little cigar entwined in his fingers, Jack always did it his way. He ate what he wanted, saved everything, even all of the Penn Maid memorabilia and did everything fast. Jeff said, “More than once, people have said that they broke the mold when they made your father. He really was one of kind. He was one part comedian, two parts family man, one part schmoozer and three parts loyal friend.”
“Like peanut butter and jelly, pancakes and maple syrup, pretzels and mustard, and love and marriage, my parents were a true partnership for 59 years. In his last days, he knew he would be better off with my mom and was not going to let my mom hang without him for too long. Mom needed a little head start knowing that Dad was so speedy that he would catch up to her.” Lynny said. Rest in peace, we will miss you.
Birthday shout outs for the month of August go to: Jeff Bilk, Burris Logistics, Judi Ostroff, wife of Nate Ostroff, KFL Management; Michael Bozzuto, Bozzuto’s; Kathleen Ellis, wife of AWI’s Bernie Ellis; Alvin Schwartz, LAS Assoc.; Ed Rodgers, L&L Brokerage; Frank Frazier, retired Cargill; Pam Hinkle, Knouse Foods; Marty Delinski, Acme Markets; my father, Mario Maggio, who celebrates 91 years; and a belated July birthday to Bob Krum, Red Lion Imports who celebrated his 75th birthday as we went to press last month. Buon compleanno a tutti!
Happy anniversary wishes to: Nate and Judi Ostroff, KFL Management; Carl and Janice Jablonski, formerly of Acme; Lynda and Richard Szybowski, Acme; Pam and Craig Hinkle, Knouse Foods; and special congratulations to Best-Met’s own Dick and Kathy Bestany and to our business manager, Bill Speakman and his wife Ann of Talbot Management!
I know it seems too soon to be thinking about this since we still have sand between our toes, but this year the Jewish holidays are “early” this year, so to our friends and colleagues of the Jewish faith, L’shana tova!
Quote of the month: “Believe you can and you’re half way there.” Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. President
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