Well, greetings to all and I hope everyone has been taking advantage of the terrific weather and getting out and enjoying all that our area has to offer this summer. We are right off the heels of a holiday weekend and smack in the middle of the season, and it has been great getting out to all of the events in the area.
Rich DeSimone of Alpha 1 Marketing tells us to not forget the upcoming Krasdale “Magical Buying Selling Show” scheduled for September 17. Putting on his best P.T. Barnum impression (and, no, he does not think of the vendors as suckers!), Rich promises all attendees that there is increased profits in the cards: prices so low “we’re sawing them in half! Show up and it will be like pulling profits from a hat!” See you on the 17th Rich!
Speaking of trade shows, the National Supermarket Association (NSA) will hold its annual show on September 4 at the Resorts World Casino right off of the Belt Parkway in Jamaica, Queens. The event attracts companies seeking to reach and sell their products to buyers and owners in the independent and ethnic sector of the industry. For more information contact Denise Diaz at 718.747.2860 or [email protected].
And finally, Wayne Kovacs of Key Food also tells us not to miss the Key Food selling show on September 9 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, Long Island. The show has been getting bigger and offering more deals with each passing edition of the event and Wayne tells us that this year promises to be no different.
We learned recently that George Weiner has been named senior director of merchandising at D’Agostino’s. George brings a wealth of experience to Nick D’Agostino III and the D’Ags team. Most recently George was consulting for a Midwest retailer and doing work for small and midsize companies to help improve efficiencies. But, we all know him from his vast experience in the industry through his years at Pathmark, Kings and A&P. Best wishes, George.
Big news came to the offices of RDD Associates in Totowa, NJ recently when they received word that they had been appointed to represent the full portfolio of HP Hood products at headquarter and retail for all divisions of Ahold USA (except the New England market where HP Hood is located and which it will continue to handle internally) effective July 1. The portfolio is huge and encompasses fluid, value added, cultured and frozen lines. In addition to securing the HP Hood business, Bob Cignarella and his team have also been appointed to represent Lifeway Foods’ Kefir products at retail for all divisions at AUSA, effective August 1. Both lines had previously been handled by Advantage Sales & Marketing. Bob tells us that the appointments were the result of the ability of RDD and its Mid-Atlantic partner, Pro-Star Sales & Marketing, to demonstrate a cohesive collaboration to share a common retail reporting platform to effectively react to AUSA’s perishable needs. Also from RDD came word that they have launched a Learning Academy and Manager-in-Training (MID) development program. The associate Learning Academy is a comprehensive training and education initiative to support associate development and best-practice knowledge sharing. The academy will offer more than 40 education and training classes covering foundational skills, business processes, technology-enabled systems and shopper marketing strategies. RDD’s MID program will fuel enterprise sustainability through career development planning, providing managerial and leadership training, and building critical experience for our next generation of leaders. I know from my years of contact with Bob Weinmann (the Doctor) that he was a huge proponent of education and training for our industry and I’m sure he has had a big hand in seeing this exciting program off the ground. Good luck and congrats on the appointments!
We heard from Tom Racine, president of Sally Sherman Foods, who was very excited to inform us that the Mount Vernon, NY based company recently obtained full compliance with the Safe Quality Food (SQF) Code Edition 7.1 from the SQF Institute. The scope of this registration covers the recipe meals manufacturing in the egg, seafood, tuna and chicken salad divisions. “This accomplishment is a result of our newly redesigned protein plant which is part of a complete facelift and refurbishing of our company,” said Tom. “The facelift included new refrigeration, production kitchens, information and technology systems and compliance with all FDA, USDA, OU and HAACP certifications.” Earlier this year Sally Sherman Foods achieved a 98.65 percent ASI Food Safety Rating score on its Food Processing Quality Systems and Product Safety Inspection Audit. “The quality and safety ratings are a shining example of the level of excellence we strive for every day. We as a company are all very proud of these accomplishments.” Congrats to Tom and the whole team at Sally Sherman.
The Catholic Institute of the Food Industry (CIFI) held its fourth annual Bread of Life breakfast recently at the Hilton Hotel in Iselin, NJ. The morning’s featured speaker was John Derderian of Allegiance Retail Services and if you missed it, shame on you, because John really did an exceptional job with his presentation. The more than 200 people in attendance were informed and entertained by John as he took the audience through the food industry over the last four decades. He intelligently described the landscapes and trials and tribulations, yet also the opportunities that exist for all of us in this industry. And with his best sales hat on, gave us a quick look into the recent growth and successes at Allegiance. To wit, Allegiance’s 10 consecutive four-week periods of increased sales, and promised increased store counts by the end of 2014. Stay tuned for the store opening announcements and great job John and the CIFI.
I had a chance to be at the opening of the first non-corporate PriceRite opening when Inserra Price Rites opened July 1 in Garfield, NJ. The new unit will be headed up by Lawrence Inserra III and it was a sight to behold with customers waiting on lines to enter the store that literally stretched out of the parking lot. The 41,000 square foot location was the site of a former A&P and was ready to go to meet and serve the overflow crowd. “I am so excited and grateful to have been given this opportunity by my family to open an Inserra PriceRite in Garfield,” said Inserra. “Our family has been in the grocery business for 60 years and they have left me with an amazing blueprint, which has taught me to always take care of the people you work with and for. I look forward to working with an incredible team for an incredible town and hope that amongst a variety of competition, our quality, price and people attract the community to PriceRite.” Although PriceRite may have been a couple of years delayed in getting to “go to market” in their own backyard (New Jersey) and let a couple of other discount operators have a head start, I am sure based on the initial impression and knowing the business model, Price Rite will be gaining ground very quickly and be quite successful in their home state.
And finally, I am sorry to have to pass this along, but my heartfelt condolences go out to our associate here at Food Trade News and Food World, Maria Maggio. Maria’s mother, Rosalie passed away in mid-July just a short few weeks after she had to lay her father to rest. Our thoughts and prayers are with Maria and her family at this time.
As always, I hope to see you out in the trade and please feel free to reach me at 201.250.2217 or [email protected].
