“Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day?” asked Alan Jackson in the tribute song he wrote soon after the horrific September 11 attacks on our country. Much like November 23, 1963 when Camelot crumbled and America lost her innocence, where we were on September 11 will be forever seared into our memories. Those moments changed us as a nation and as individuals. September 11 changed how we live our lives, how we travel and how we view other nationalities and religions. The one thing we cannot ever do is forget…those who died, those who lived and why they did. My family lived in Princeton, NJ at that time, a bedroom community to Manhattan. My children had friends who lost parents and some of my friends lost spouses on that fateful day. Some who were supposed to be in the towers were spared. One friend’s husband lost 78 people in his company that day. He had played golf because it was a beautiful day. Another overslept and made his calls to Europe from home due to the time difference. A few years later at the back to school night for my son’s freshman year, we met his new Western civilization teacher, a former Wall Streeter who had worked in the Twin Towers on September 11. He along with 20,000 others escaped unharmed. In the aftermath, he reevaluated his life and followed a different path…his love of history. He is now one of the most revered teachers at the high school and has the energy of the Energizer bunny. He is touching so many young lives in a positive way. These are the stories that give us all the strength to continue to fight for what we know is the best way of life on earth. President Bill Clinton said it best during one of the many memorial services; “Let us say that it is an honor to be an American and it is an honor to be free.”
Speaking of the Big Apple, last month I was driving across town to the East Side when lo and behold I spotted a cheese manufacturing “plant” at 20th Street and Broadway in the Flatiron district! Those of you who know me know that I can spot a cheese vat 10 miles away, and there were two full sized vats in the window of this shop. Naturally, my inquisitiveness got the best of me and I had to go in! Beecher’s Handmade Cheese Shop is an artisan cheese factory that manufactures a variety of cheeses. The cheeses are made on site and cured in New York State The milk also comes from farms just south of Albany. The space doubles as a market and a café where visitors can enjoy sweet and savory treats while seated on old fashioned milk cans with views of the cheese vats. It’s a novel idea and the cheeses were delicious. So, you really can find just about everything in New York City!
Mother Nature dealt our area with some moments to remember this past month. The Mid-Atlantic area experienced both an earthquake and a hurricane in one month. What’s next, locusts and pestilence? Especially hard hit was the Poconos area, including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre. Leave it to the retailers who were able to stay open to come to the aid of those who were evacuated from their homes. The ShopRites of Daleville and Mount Pocono donated a trailer load of water to the Red Cross to be distributed to those affected by the flooding. The challenges of the flooding put a great strain on the availability of fresh water. As the community struggled with this, as well as power outages and evacuations from homes, ShopRite made this donation to help in some small way to alleviate the suffering of those left in the wake of this disaster.
The day before hurricane Irene was scheduled to arrive, Super Fresh opened its first store in Philadelphia in 10 years in the Northern Liberties neighborhood, just north of Center City. When this project began many years ago, the space was scheduled to be a Pathmark. However, the neighborhood has changed so drastically (in a good way) in that time that the A&P executives decided that the Super Fresh model would work better. A&P CEO Sam Martin and his executive team were all smiles and full of enthusiasm as the shoppers came to see their much anticipated addition to the neighborhood. Baskets were full and customers were sampling the goodies offered by many vendors and chatting away about how excited they were to have this new store in which they can shop. Especially cool were the fish department, which had an old time fish market’s display case and the prepared food section. Members of the Philadelphia Fire Department showed their support as they shopped for lunches and food to stock the nearby engine house’s pantry. Fingers crossed for continued success at this city location!
The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP), a non-profit association of recycling professionals dedicated to promoting and enhancing the interests of recycling, recently recognized Weis Markets for its commitment to recycling and its innovative program to recycle waxed cardboard used to ship and store fresh vegetables and meats. In 2010, Weis Markets teamed up with Envirolog, the third largest producer of manufactured fire logs in the USA to recycle its waxed cardboard and produce. Envirolog fireplace logs are also sold in Weis Markets stores. Typically, supermarkets send most of their waxed cardboard to landfills since it is difficult to recycle. Today, all 163 Weis Markets stores participate in this recycling program. “We are extremely proud of our store associates for making our company’s waxed cardboard recycling program a success,” said Kevin Small, Weis Markets’ VP-store development. “This program has helped us reduce our store waste and our reliance on landfills. It also represents our commitment to finding new ways to reduce our carbon foot print and to improve our sustainability practices.” In addition to this wax box initiative, Weis Markets annually recycles more than a million pounds of plastic bags and 14 million pounds of cardboard. What is your company doing to reduce its carbon footprint?
Continuing the circle of life, we send condolences to the family of Don Marazzo, Marazzo’s Markets, who recently passed away. In 1947, Mr. Marazzo founded the Center Fruit Market in Trenton followed in 1961 by Marrazzo Quality Market. He assisted in opening Marrazzo’s Thriftway Robbinsville, NJ, and Ewing, NJ. He loved being outdoors, and especially enjoyed hunting and fishing. Mr. Marrazzo was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II and a member of the Italian-American Sportsman Club in Morrisville. He is survived by his wife Mary; two sons, Joseph and Sam; two brothers, Daniel and Norman; and many other family members. Joey Vento, one of my favorite South Philly characters and owner of Geno’s Steaks on the corner of 9th Street and Passyunk Avenue, died suddenly on August 24. Named for his only son Geno, Joey built a “palace of neon” across the street from rival Pat’s Steaks. People from all over the world stop by for the “Geno’s” experience! I love taking photos of foreigners and out of state folks who have no clue what they are in for as they approach the order window. Joey took a lot of heat for his sign at that order window stating, “This is America, when ordering speak English.” However, when ordering at Geno’s, there is a special language one needs to know, including “wit” onions and “whiz” for Cheez Whiz. What many don’t know is Joey was a generous man, donating to many deserving charities in the Philly area, especially to the Philadelphia Police Department. He was truly one of a kind and he will be missed. So, is it Geno’s or Pat’s or Jim’s? For me it will always be Geno’s! Rest in peace my friend.
We send congratulations and hugs to the entire Buchanan family on the birth of Logan James Buchanan. Proud parents are Karyn and Doug Buchanan of LaBrea Bakery. Baby Logan checked in at six pounds, one ounce and 19 inches long. He is also the grandson of Doug and Diane Buchanan, Brandywine Marketing Associates, and nephew of Laura and Nick Buchanan, Bob Evans Sausage Co.
Birthday shout outs for the beautiful month of September go to: Nate Ostroff, Network Food Brokers; Bob Higgins, SJU; Ed Elborne, Acme Markets; Joe Gardyan, Utz Snacks; Rick Dolan, Herr Foods; and to my mother, Rosalie Maggio, who defies aging every day! Buon compleanno a tutti!
Celebrating marital bliss this month are: Jeff and Elaine Bilk, Burris; Elaine and Neil Brassell, Johanna Foods; Mary and Frank Frazier, retired, Cargill; Janine and Mike Marano, AMG; Maurice and Gina Cicotelli Christino, Cento Foods; and Michael and Jessie Scaduto Riley, Food Circus Supermarkets. Congratulations!
To our industry friends and colleagues of the Jewish faith, l’shana tovah! A happy and healthy new year!
And, last but not least, Food World/Food Trade News officially has a facebook page. “Like” us and weigh in on the supermarket/food industry…we would love to hear from you!