For the fourth time in as many years the Phillies have taken the NL East! Add to that the home field advantage for the entire playoffs and…well I don’t want to give the “malocchio” to the team, so let’s just settle into our new normal of October ball and enjoy every pitch!
Last month I told you all about the social networking seminar on October 5th at the Liberty Science Center sponsored by the EPPA. The dinner and seminar was well attended by NY Metro area food industry members who want to learn how to optimize information available on the internet and integrate it into their marketing strategies. Frank Cotignola, Kraft Foods spoke primarily about the Google products available to help retailers and manufacturers how to find and use the data Google has gathered to optimize their marketing dollars and ultimately increase sales. We’re going to be hearing lots more about how social media and the internet will drive business decisions. This was just a beginners lesson. EPPA has put the information from the seminar on their website so everyone can take full advantage. www.eppainc.org
Members of the Philadelphia retail food industry came out on September 30th to hear Wal-mart’s Hank Mullany and Marc Lieberman talk about what’s new and exciting at the world’s largest retailer. They did not disappoint as they took us through the new national divisional set up and the Wal-mart venture into food deserts with a much smaller format. Regional and DSD companies took special interest in Mullany and Lieberman’s comments. Well represented were Herr’s, Utz Snacks, Coca Cola, Bachman and Hostess Brands.
The supermarket industry continues to lead the way when it comes to going green. On October 1, Karen Meleta, VP of consumer and corporate communications at Wakefern Food Corp./ShopRite accepted the Garden State Green Award in the Corporate Citizen category on behalf of Wakefern/ShopRite. The corporate award is given to organizations that have a significant positive impact on the environment through their daily business practices. The award was presented by actor, Emmy-Award winner and environmental advocate Ed Begley Jr. The Garden State Green Award is an integral part of the NJ Chamber of Commerce Garden State Green Fest and the annual PSEG Global Green Expo. Both events highlight a vast array of green topics from lifestyle and home and garden to construction, business, energy, and conservation. According to Ruth Coules, producer of the events, “The competition was strong and Wakefern Food Corp. should be very proud of this achievement!” Wakefern/ShopRite is working on everything from reducing the amount of shopping bags in store to making more reusable bags available. The corporation has historically been active with recycling and taking materials out of the waste stream. In fact, in the last two years more than 70 million bags were reused by ShopRite customers and diverted from New Jersey landfills and in 2009 ShopRite recycled nearly 1110, 0000 tons of cardboard, plastic film, bags, newspaper, office paper and metal.
According to Meleta, “We have our own recycling center in Elizabeth, New Jersey which is helpful in this regard.” Wakefern is also in the early stages of composting, and is looking at the best options for that (e.g., regional composting where available, on-site digesters).
Additionally, a number of stores are moving toward energy efficient lighting as this saves significant amounts of energy. Wakefern is also keeping an eye on sustainable seafood, educating store associates, and providing information for customers to educate them about sustainability initiatives. Meleta added, “Sustainability is a journey. There is no way to totally change all of your practices in the blink of an eye, but there are ways to take very strategic measures to achieve these goals in all areas of operations.” Congratulations, Wakefern. Keep up the good work!
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Partnership recently presented Weis Markets with three 2010 Environmental Achievement Awards. The company received GreenChill’s “Most Improved Emissions Rate Award,” the “Superior Environmental Achievement Award,” and the “Exceptional Environmental Achievement Award.” The awards are for the Company’s efforts to reduce the refrigerant discharged from the systems used to refrigerate the displays and frozen food cases in its 164 stores. These refrigerant emissions harm the earth’s ozone layer and contribute to climate change. “We are pleased to accept GreenChill’s awards and look forward to continuing our progress. In the coming years, we will continue to implement systems and programs that will help us reduce refrigerant emissions,” said Weis Markets president and CEO David J. Hepfinger. “Sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint are more than just admirable concepts – they are priorities that we will be investing in for years to come.” “Weis Markets improved their corporate refrigerant emissions rate by more than 20 percent in one year,” said Keilly Witman, Manager of EPA’s GreenChill Partnership. “That is the largest improvement of all GreenChill partner companies. Weis Markets’ associates worked hard to achieve this improvement, and they should be very proud of their accomplishment.”
The EPA’s GreenChill Partnership works to promote green technologies, strategies and practices that protect the stratospheric ozone layer and reduce greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to global warming. GreenChill also presented Weis Markets with two additional awards for achieving emission reduction goals in 2009, the “Superior Environmental Achievement Award,” for meeting its challenging reduction goal and a second award, the “Exceptional Environmental Achievement Award,” for significantly exceeding this goal. Weis was one of only two supermarket companies in the nation to receive the exceptional achievement award. Kudos to Weis! It’s getting easier to be green!
Safeway Inc. customers and employees have achieved a spectacular milestone. By donating a total of $11,010,853 million dollars to the 2010 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon; the extended Safeway family has now raised more than $50 million dollars for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. MDA CEO, president and telethon executive producer Jerry Weinberg said Safeway’s ongoing commitment to MDA has enabled the Association to enhance funding to its worldwide research programs. The Telethon raised $58,919,838 in pledges and contributions. This is the eighth year that Safeway has been an MDA National Sponsor, raising money through donations at the checkout stands and a cause marketing campaign called Aisles of Smiles. “We are so grateful that Safeway associates and customers keep finding creative ways to advance MDA’s lifesaving mission,” said Lewis. “Their innovative in-store giving events such as this year’s “Make a Muscle, Make A Difference” campaign make Safeway a truly amazing partner,” he added. Safeway maintains its deep commitment to MDA because of the Association’s support of robust research programs at universities throughout America and overseas
Mark your calendars for these fun filled upcoming events: November 5-7, the AMR/MAFTO is honoring Jeff Brown, Brown’s Super Stores at the Taj Mahal Casino & Spa in Atlantic City. This weekend will be filled with great food, music, dancing and of course, gambling. December 3; bring an unwrapped new toy to the AMR/MAFTO annual Christmas for All Kids which will feature a Monte Carlo night filled with dancing, more delicious food and many prizes. This is a perfect opportunity to have your company’s holiday party without having to tend to details and donate to a great cause; helping children who without our help wouldn’t have any holiday gifts to open at this very festive time of year. For more information about the AMR/MAFTO events go to www.amrmafto.org .
We send condolences out to the family of Bob Burris who passed away last month after a valiant battle with cancer. Mark Tarzwell, president of Burris Retail Logistics remarked to me that Bob had everything in place. He was ready and willing to go and on the day of Bob’s funeral it was business as usual at the office. We also send condolences out to Robert Simmons, Esq., Fiergang & Simmons, PC on the recent death of his father, Leonard B. Simmons, DVM.
Congratulations to Michelle Gloeckler, senior VP of merchandise execution at Wal-Mart, who has been named president of the Network of Executive Women (NEW) for a one year term. NEW executive director Joan Toth said “Michelle Gloeckler has experience as a senior leader on both the retail and supply sides of the industry. Her passion and enthusiasm for developing women leaders, strong history of achievement in the area of diversity and inclusion and keen dedication to our mission are all qualities we sought when choosing who will take our organization to the next level. We’re excited to have her as our leader.” Nina Weiland, Food Trade News, is a charter member of the Philadelphia chapter.
Birthday shout outs for the ghoulish month of October go to: Mike Villari, Citterio; Kathleen Ellis, wife of AWI’s Bernie Ellis; Jeff Ghajar, Goya Foods; Mike Keba Jr., Giant/Carlisle; Pete Kostick, Utz Quality Foods; Charlie Schuster, RMG; Ray Nemeth, Herr Foods and Food Trade News’ own Nina Weiland. Buon Compleanno a tutti!
Celebrating marital bliss this month: Frank and Mary Frazier, retired from Cargill; Jane and Charlie Schuster, RMG and Tim and Lisa Summy, BBU who just celebrated their 25th by traveling through Italy for a couple of weeks. Congratulations to all!
GO PHILLIES!!!
Quite of the month: “Positive thinking is the key to success in business, education, pro football, anything that you can mention. I go out there thinking that I’m going to complete every pass.” Ron Jaworski