Happy 2011 to all our readers! How many New Year’s resolutions have you all broken so far? I make a wish list, not resolutions, so I am exonerated from the guilt that comes along with breaking resolutions. That being said, I hope all the items on your wish list have little check marks indicating “fait accompli” next to them by December 31.Â
We have some updates to get out to our readers about two Philadelphia companies who don’t need “bailouts” from the state. The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) is a little behind schedule opening its state of the art produce distribution center, but representatives from PWPM tell me that March is now the target date to have the facility up and running. Our friends at Penn Jersey Paper Company (PJP) are also building a new facility on Blue Grass Road in Northeast Philadelphia, not too far from their present site. Tom Furia III is overseeing the entire project which boasts 255,000 square feet of warehousing space. Glenn Harbison, PJP, tells me there will be 90 trucks of racking delivered and the way they install it is like an erector set; really something to see. I liken it to an Amish barn raising. Included in the new facility will be a large test kitchen with classroom seating so prospective buyers can view the different brands of equipment carried by PJP in an actual industrial kitchen setting. The PJP Showroom will be reintroduced at the new location featuring sections for Jan-San, equipment, packaging and my personal favorite, tabletop. I think I’ll do my next kitchen shopping spree at PJP instead of one of the big box stores! The opening is slated for May of 2011. To keep up with the construction progress at PJP, you can friend PJP on Facebook.
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) will hold its 19th annual retail executive conference April 11–14 in Tempe, AZ. The conference provides the perfect setting for group discussion and networking, enhanced with an extraordinary line-up of presentations by industry experts. This year’s event will kick-off with keynote speaker Alec Covington, president and CEO of Nash Finch Company. With attendance limited to 150 people, make sure to register sooner than later! For more information go to www.nfraweb.org . Remember, March is frozen food month and June is dairy month!
News from Italy has come in concerning new plastic bag laws. It seems that Italy has banned all plastic shopping bags effective January 1, 2011. According to greenbiz.com, stores in Italy which use 20 billion bags a year (one-fifth of all European use), will be able to give out their remaining plastic bags, but once they’re gone, they can only offer paper, biodegradable plastic or cloth bags. Of the more than 8,000 municipalities in Italy, around 200 already have plastic bag bans in place. I am sure Prada, Gucci, Fendi and the rest of the designers will have their own version of recyclable shopping bags for sale by the next fashion season.
Godshall’s Quality Meats, Inc., Telford, PA, proudly announced that the company has successfully achieved Safe Quality Food (SQF) 2000, Level 3 certification as recognized under Global Food Safety Initiative (GSFI) standards. “Along with everyone in our company, I am extremely proud to have achieved the SQF Level 3 certification. It has taken a concerted effort from our entire team to make this happen. Achieving Level 3 is consistent with our company’s commitment to meet exemplary standards of food safety and to produce high quality products for our consumers to enjoy,” said Mark Godshall, president. Level 3 is the highest standard to be certified by SQF, a program that is administered by the SQF Institute (SQFI), a division of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). SQF is a leading global food safety and quality certification program and management system which also lends focus to product quality, an important aspect of the buyer-supplier relationship. In business for over 60 years, Godshall’s has grown to be a nationally recognized leader in the fast growing turkey bacon and turkey specialty meats category among distributors, retailers and most importantly consumers.
Last year at this time, we were reporting that the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB) was installing wine vending machines in approximately 100 grocery stores throughout Pennsylvania. It seems there were some glitches and last month the PALCB removed the machines. The problem was that the machines were withholding the already purchased bottles of wine from customers. Word is they should be back in the stores by month’s end.
Congratulations to Mike Marano, Alliance Marketing Group, who is taking over as president of AMR/MAFTO for 2011. Along with executive vice president Charlie Poletti, Acosta and the board of directors, this group is planning a year filled with enjoyable events for all of us.
We welcome into the world our first baby of 2011, Jack Henry Davis, son of Matt and Kristen Davis of Pirate Brands. Baby Jack was born on January 2 weighing in at seven pounds, nine ounces. Mommy and baby are reported to be doing just fine.
Birthday shout outs for the chilly month of January go out to: Linda Doherty, NJFC; Eve Gigis, Acme Markets; Gary Larkin, JOH Mid Atlantic; David Patragnoni, Smithfield;
George Latella, St. Joseph’s University; Food Trade News salesman extraordinaire Mike Keba; and Food Trade News alumni Meg Major, Jim Kinney and Bob Ingram. Buon compleanno a tutti!
I know it’s cold and snowy outside, but think spring and keep smiling; pitchers and catchers report on February 14th!
 Quote of the month: “When the fish stinks, it stinks from the head.” Mario Maggio
