It has been said that good things come to those who wait. And for those of you who have been patiently waiting for the Food Trade News 36th Annual Market Study to arrive, I can promise you will not be disappointed. Covering 70 counties in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and Connecticut and all channels of retail distribution, Food Trade News proudly goes where no other publication dares to go; giving you the statistics you need along with the expert analysis we know you want. Always the definitive word in the retail food industry, Food Trade News tells it like it is with no holds barred. Our publisher Jeff Metzger with his incredible memory and intimate knowledge of every aspect of the food industry lends his insights throughout the year to those looking to increase their understanding of just how it works. His guidance and support of new ideas has certainly made a difference in how we go to market. This extraordinary compilation of ads, data, statistics and editorial analysis requires efforts from our entire organization. So, I am sending out a group high five to the Food Trade News team: Terri Maloney, our VP of editorial, who tirelessly puts 24 issues and special sections together and makes us look good every month; Kevin Gallagher and Karen Fernandez, my selling and schmoozing buddies, working with you is never boring; Beth Pripstein for adding our new readers to the system; Matt Danielson and Jenny Jones of Eink for their genius; and our chairman emeritus Dick Bestany, who continues to keep his toes dipped in the Best-Met waters. Finally, a humble thank you to our readers and advertisers for your support throughout the year and in particular this Market Study issue. We couldn’t do what we do without you! Grazie!
Customers and associates at Giant/Carlisle recently showed their support for local men and women serving in the Armed Forces by generously donating $560,194 through the store’s annual “Support Our Troops” campaign. Since the inception of the program in 2005, Giant and Martin’s customers and associates have donated more than $3 million to benefit regional USOs and the Wounded Warrior Project. “Giant/Martin’s is grateful for the service and sacrifice of our Veterans and active soldiers, and we will continue to do all we can to be a better neighbor to them and their loved ones,” said president Tom Lenkevich. “We are proud to provide this annual donation and to continue our partnership with much-needed organizations like our regional USOs and the Wounded Warrior Project. It’s our way of saying thanks for all that these men and women have done for us.”
ShopRite and Procter & Gamble have partnered to bring Caroline’s Carts, specialized shopping carts created for special needs children, to more than 250 ShopRite stores across the Northeast. Starting this month, Caroline’s Carts will be available at all ShopRite stores. A special event with Drew Ann Long, founder of Caroline’s Carts, took place at the ShopRite of Woodbridge earlier this month to unveil the unique cart and introduce it to ShopRite customers. Long created the custom cart for her daughter Caroline, launching Caroline’s Carts in 2013. P&G has extended its support of this partnership by helping ShopRite to bring Caroline’s Carts to all of its stores. Caroline’s Cart is a shopping cart created for special needs children and adults. It provides parents and caregivers a viable option to transport a child through a store while grocery shopping, without simultaneously having to maneuver a wheelchair and a traditional grocery cart. It is named after Caroline, the special needs daughter of Drew Ann and David Long, founders of Parent Solution Group and is manufactured by Technibilt. Caroline’s Cart is not just for children/adults who cannot walk, but has been used for children with autism, providing a safe solution while in the store. The Long family believes that all families deserve to have this option, so they can enjoy the freedom of shopping with their special needs child. For more information, you can visit www.carolines-cart.com
Weis Markets announced on June 17 that its associates helped raise $122,000 in customer donations for 100 local pet shelters and rescue organizations during its month-long “Paws for Pets” check-off and donation program. Weis Markets’ store in Newton, NJ was the chain leader, raising a combined $3,603 in combined donations for One Step Closer Animal Rescue, a pet shelter located in nearby Sparta, NJ. During the four-week program, which ran through Memorial Day, stores also held 60 pet adopt-a-thons. “Over the past five years, pet shelters and rescue organizations have seen a record increase in the number of abandoned animals they care for. Our ‘Paws for Pets’ program helps generate support for these organizations during one of their busiest months of the year,” said Brian Holt, Weis Markets vice president of advertising, marketing and public relations. “Thanks to the commitment of our associates and the generosity of our customers, we have raised more than $122,000 dollars for locally-based pet organizations in 2014 – and have raised nearly a million dollars in contributions and product donations since 2008.”
The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association expects to have a new president/CEO in place no later than August 1, 2014 according to Bill Klump, chairman of the board of IDDBA and chief marketing officer for Butterball LLC. Klump stated that the search, which started several months ago with the passing of longtime CEO and president Carol Christison, has been narrowed to a small group of very qualified candidates and that final interviews will take place next month. “The selection of the right person to lead the IDDBA is the most important issue we will face this year,” according to Klump. “The search has been thorough with a team comprised of current members of the executive committee as well as several past chairmen of the board. We are positive we will find the right person for the Association who will help us to fulfill the IDDBA’s mission of being a relentless advocate and resource for the dairy, deli, and bakery categories.” He also noted the retirement of long-time IDDBA employee and current senior VP Lucie Arendt, who announced her retirement effective July 16, 2014. In a letter to the board, Arendt said, “I leave with fond memories and many wonderful friends. I am very proud of this organization and all that we have achieved over the years. Thank you for the opportunity to work in a job I love and with such a strong, dedicated, and professional staff.”
“Lucie Arendt just led us through an incredibly successful seminar and expo, and we will always be grateful for her efforts this year and for the 28 years she gave the Association,” stated Klump. He went on to say that this is an exciting time for the Association as the transition provides another juncture to look into the mirror and prioritize new opportunities, new initiatives, and new organizational responsibilities. Indeed, the 50th Expo held this year in Denver, CO was a great tribute to the efforts of Lucie and the IDDBA staff. While many shows and conferences are experiencing attrition or have been completely eliminated, the IDDBA has consistently grown over the years, making it a must attend on the show “circuit.” Unfortunately, the trends speech usually delivered by Carol Christison was not replaced and I don’t have a “word of the year” to pass on to you. Aside from that, the show was once again a good place to do business. The 2015 Expo will take place in Atlanta, June 7-9.
The summer golf outing circuit is well under way with more than 185 golfers participating in the Boyer’s outing, 150 at Family Owned Markets and more than 144 at the Ravitz Family Foundation’s 13th annual golf outing. No holes in one have been reported so far, but everyone comes off the courses smiling and knowing they helped raise money for some worthy charities. At the dinner after the Ravitz outing, Steve Ravitz announced a $10,000 donation to the Boys & Girls Club of Camden, NJ in memory of Susan Asbell and Lewis Katz, who were killed with six others in a plane crash in Boston a few weeks ago.
June 5 marked three years since The Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) moved into its state-of-the art facility in southwest Philadelphia. The world’s largest (700,000 square feet), fully-refrigerated wholesale produce marketplace boasts an indoor environment, sheltered from the elements. “This facility is unequaled for security, comfort, product safety, cold chain management, staging, loading, and recycling,” said Sonny DiCrecchio, president and CEO. “We are proud to be a leader in all aspects of best practices.” Since colonial times, produce trading has thrived in Philadelphia. Tracing its roots back to Dock Street, merchants bought their goods from local farmers and conducted business in this vibrant marketplace for hundreds of years. Consolidating into the food distribution center in 1959, produce merchants eventually outgrew this space and required modern updates. It took 10 years of planning to create today’s PWPM, which is double the size of the old facility and establishes the highest global standards for the distribution of premium produce. Employing hundreds of people in both union and non-union positions, the PWPM donates over one million pounds of produce to local charities every year. Happy Birthday PWPM!
The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), announced the winners of the 2014 Education Development Scholarship Awards during the annual Trade Relations Conference held at the Borgata in Atlantic City on June 3. NJFC created an educational scholarship program to promote future leaders and support the food industry as recommended by the NJFC Trade Relations Committee four years ago. This year, one more member scholarship has been added to the program, the Grace Scaduto Memorial Scholarship. NJFC president Linda Doherty said, “We are pleased and proud that the scholarship program is growing and flourishing. It allows us to provide an important member benefit and to invest in the future of NJFC families.” The Thomas Infusino Scholarship was awarded to Zachary Thompson who will be attending Rowan University. The Founders Scholarship was awarded to Stephanie Spies of William Paterson University who is employed by ShopRite of Hunterdon County. The Student Scholarship was awarded to Jessica Sofia who will be attending The College of New Jersey. The Spires Family Scholarship which is supported by Bob Spires, president and CEO of inSpire, Inc. and Judy Spires, CEO of Kings Food Markets, was awarded to Niveline Charles who is employed by Kings Super Markets and will be attending Essex County College. The Perry Sumas Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Christa Spisso of Kean University. The Raymond J. Maniaci Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Giuliana Carella of Saint Joseph’s University. The Lawrence R. Inserra Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Kaitlyn Bernadino who will be attending SUNY University at Albany. The Grace Scaduto Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Jamie Tilton who will be attending MonmouthUniversity. Doherty said, “NJFC received 71 applications for consideration. The selection committee was overwhelmingly impressed with the number and quality of applications. Our scholarship winners and all applicants are a shining example of the youth of today and their goals to succeed in today’s competitive business climate.” Each recipient was presented with a $2,000 scholarship check.
Speaking of scholarships, the application deadline is coming up for the MAFTO scholarships to be awarded at the annual dinner dance in Atlantic City in November. The parent must be a member in good standing for one year of MAFTO. For application information, please go to: www.mafto.org
The circle of life continues with some happy news this month. Michael Eni, son of Louis and Nina Eni of Dietz and Watson, graduated from Lehigh University and is continuing his education at Drexel University School of Law in the fall. Jeff and Sandy Brown of Brown’s ShopRites have two family graduations this year. Their son Joshua graduated from Cornell University and is headed down south to Boca Raton, FL as an analyst at Woolbright Development. Younger son Lenny is off to University of Rochester after graduating from The William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. Jamie Tilton, daughter of NJFC president Linda Doherty begins her freshman year at MonmouthUniversity after graduating from NorthernBurlingtonCountyRegionalHigh School. Congrats to the grads!
Best wishes go out to Mike and Wendy Biase, of Mission Foods, on the marriage of their daughter Deanna to John Hurkel last month.
We send out condolences to Sandra Sage on the sudden death of her father Enrico Salvatori at the age of 85. Born and raised in Ferentino, Italy, he resided most of his life in Boothwyn, PA. In addition to his parents, Dante and Rosa Salvatori, he is preceded in death by his wife, Maria Salvatori who died in 2009, and a daughter Vickie Salvatori Smith who died in 1998. He is survived by daughters, Rosa (Jeff) Poehlmann and Sandra (Tim) Sage, eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. The family has requested that donations be made in his name to Crozer Keystone Hospice, 5030 State Road, Suite 3001, Drexel Hill, PA19026.
We send condolences to James Giuffrida, Gourmet Food Brokers, and his family on the death of his mother Edith Leone Giuffrida, who passed away at age 84 June 23 at home. A South Philadelphia native, she lived her married life in Huntingdon Valley, PA. She is survived by her husband Joseph H. Giuffrida; children James, Dina Marie, and Joseph; seven grandchildren; and three great grandchildren. Donations may be made in her memory to Alzheimer’s Association Delaware Valley Chapter, 399 Market Street, Suite 102, Philadelphia, PA19106, www.alz.org/desjsepa, or to the American Diabetes Association, PO Box 11454, Alexandria, VA22312, www.diabetes.org. Rest in peace.
Birthday shout-outs for June is Dairy Month go out to: Jeff Geiges, Acme Markets; Mark Tarzwell, Ahold USA; Jim Burke Sr., Seafood America; Bill Derbyshire, Coca-Cola Refreshments; Tom Morrison, Integrity ESM; John Sottile, LaMagna Cheese; Barry Kahn, Food Scene; Tom Canuso, Turkey Hill; Nancy Rodgers-Fluharty, JLA Baking Solutions; Ralph Nagle, Albert’s Organics; Brian Chick, Charles Ritter, Inc.; and, at Food World and Food Trade News, Terri Maloney and our fearless leader Jeff Metzger. Buon compleanno a tutti!
Quote of the month: “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.” Maya Angelou
