‘Tis the season to be generous, and nobody does it better than the charitable folks in the food industry. This was more than evident on December 5 when the Mid Atlantic Food Trades Organization (MAFTO) held its annual Christmas for All Kids event at Williamson’s in Horsham, PA. Led by committee chairs Bill Schlosky of Utz Snacks and Ron Benjamin of the Star Companies and assisted by board members Joe Gardyan of Utz Snacks, Scott Vicari of Promo Point Marketing and Amy Phillips of the Star Companies, all made sure that the event went smoothly. Nearly 150 people gathered for great food, music and “funny money” gambling all to benefit the chosen charities for 2014. As in 2013, toys were donated to Sacred Heart Church in Camden, NJ and Pennsylvania State Rep. Tom Murt’s Santa’s Special Visits Program. This year a very special group was added to the donation list: Angels of God Clothing Closet in Pitman, NJ. This group was started by Katelyn Darrow in 2009 when she was just 12 years old. Since then, she has provided clothing and other life necessities to more than 8,000 families in the communities surrounding Pitman. Angels of God takes donations year round. For more information on how you can help, go to: www.angelsofgod.com. Katelyn is a poised, well-spoken young woman. We can expect to hear more from her as she grows into adulthood. The merriment continued into the wee hours, with industry vendors and retailers alike enjoying some holiday cheer and gambling. Acme president Jim Perkins and his lovely wife Athena were spotted at the tables, along with Acme’s Sherry Caldwell, Susan Rorke-Lawler and MAFTO board member Ed Elborne. Both the McCaffrey’s and RMG teams were out in full force as well. Kurt and Donita Zeppenfeld of A&P won the fabulously popular “leg lamp” and Tom von Kessel of Ravitz’s ShopRites won this amazing adult tricycle, complete with hand brakes. I can’t even begin to describe it, but it is a fun way to get some exercise. Mark your calendar for the 2015 event. It’s always the first Friday in December.
Decorating with lights is always a huge part of Christmas. So, in the spirit of the holiday, here are some of the do-not-miss places to see spectacular light displays. First, of course is LongwoodGardens in Chester County, PA. Nobody does it better. At the Herr’s Factory, they go all-out for the “Christmas Snacktacular.” Families can enjoy hay rides, snack making and meet a real reindeer during the celebration, which is centered around Herr’s impressive holiday light display. The festive display features more than 400,000 lights arranged throughout the complex including “Big Red,” a 60-foot-tall Norway spruce decorated with more than 1,500 red lights. Shady Brook Farms in Yardley, PA has a drive through light show with accompanying music and hot chocolate and homemade ice cream for guests after the ride. For me, nothing is more fun than driving up and down the streets in South Philly oohing and ahhing at the entire streets lit up for the Christmas holidays. The most popular displays are on Smedley Street between 16th and 17th Streets just off of Oregon Avenue and “The Miracle on 13th Street” (the S. 1600 block). Christmas music plays all night and the cars just keep coming. So, if you’re looking for something new to make part of your holiday traditions, add a light show. You’ll be singing and smiling for days!
Procacci Brothers has unveiled new Sesame Street-themed packaging for its popular Santa Sweets authentic grape tomatoes. The new packaging and label, which features Sesame Street’s lovable red character, Elmo, is Procacci Brothers’ first contribution to the Produce Marketing Association and Sesame Workshop’s nationwide “eat brighter!” initiative. “Our Santa Sweets grape tomatoes are a perfect fit for this fantastic initiative,” Rick Feighery, vice president of sales, said. According to director of marketing Frank Paone, the ‘eat brighter!’ campaign presents one of the most exciting marketing opportunities that Procacci Brothers and Santa Sweets has encountered since introducing grape tomatoes to the mass US market in the late 1990s. “When we joined the program, our team saw it as a natural fit to put a Sesame Street character on our own existing label near Tom, Matt & Otto, our longtime Santa Sweets mascots. We love the ability to promote the characters to children as we’ve seen proven success around the industry with it. Grape tomatoes are such a sweet and healthy snack for young diets and we believe that the ‘eat brighter!’ program will help us get them into more lunchboxes and onto children’s plates,” said Paone. It’s all about the kids and getting them to eat healthy from a young age.
It’s that time of year again when the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association’s (IDDBA) 20th annual Cake Decorating Challenge is looking for contestants. The challenge will be a featured event at the annual Dairy-Deli-Bake Seminar and Expo, to be held June 7-9, 2015 in Atlanta, GA. Three supermarket decorators will have the opportunity to create show-stopping displays that promote their artistic abilities and show off the talent and hard work that sells cakes for their companies. Judges are looking for decorators who have skills in three areas: production cakes, theme cakes, and wedding cakes. It’s easy to enter. Decorators just need to send a photo album of their best cakes along with an entry form. Supermarket retailers may enter as many cake decorators as they choose. The deadline for entering is February 13, 2015. Visit iddba.org/cakeform, for more information and an entry form. Contact Jessica at 608-310-5000 or [email protected], with any questions.
The circle of life continues as we send condolences to Sam Marrazzo on the death of his mother, Mary J. Marrazzo, who passed away at the age of 93 on November 27. A Trenton, NJ native, she moved to Morrisville 57 years ago. Along with her late husband Donald, Mary helped found the Center Fruit Market in Morrisville, PA in 1947 and the Marrazzo Quality Market in 1961, and assisted in opening Marrazzo’s Thriftway, with stores in Robbinsville, NJ, and Ewing, NJ. In addition to her son Sam and his wife Margaret, she is survived by son Joseph and his wife Frances of Holland, PA; four grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Funeral services were private. Rest in peace.
Birthday shout-outs for the celebratory month of December go out to: Larry Rothwell, Pennington Quality Market, who turns 89 and is looking quite well; Paul McGurkin, Integrity/ESM; Jay Gordon, Sales Management Partners; Dorothy Hamilton, Acme Markets; Linda Naddeo, HP Hood and Lane Gordon, Key Impact Foods. Buon Compleanno a tutti!
Merry Christmahanakwanzika from all of us at Food Trade News. No matter how you celebrate this holiday season, be sure to include our troops in your prayers. With warm wishes for a peaceful, happy and healthy 2015, Buone feste!
Quote of the month: “If you do not hope, you will not find what is beyond your hopes.” St. Clement