A very happy and healthy New Year to everyone!
We all observed the New Year by counting down the final seconds of the old to usher in 2015.
And perhaps that’s the allure of the New Year – a fresh start and a clear demarcation offering a brighter year and future, while hope springs eternal. Let’s aspire to do better, be better, minimize weaknesses and maximize opportunities.
While trying to forecast what will happen in any new year is difficult, Food Trade News once again has been fortunate enough to have a few top retail executives gaze into their crystal balls and forecast some ideas for our industry in the coming 12 months. Thanks to all of the panelists for their assistance with this and we can’t wait to see how the year turns out.
Well, in what should be no surprise to anyone out there, Key Food Stores kicked off the New Year with the unveiling of a new banner. Olive Tree Marketplace opened at 1490 Clove Road in Staten Island, NY in early January. For those of you who know the area, it is the site of the old Mignosi Market, but Olive Tree is several levels notches up from that store. The store’s owners,  the Shehadeh brothers (Walid, Mustafa, Ziad, David and Mo, who also own four Key Food stores) took on a partner in this store, executive Chef Hani Qassis. Hani’s influence is instantly seen from the expansive deli and spectacular prepared food section that spans almost the entire back end of the store. David Shehadeh told us that they expanded the old building by almost 2,000 square feet to be able to enlarge the gourmet deli and catering operations to serve the area. He said, “For a 9,000 square foot location, we offer everything a conventional supermarket does plus MUCH more! We fully expect to be the premier supermarket destination and gastronomical experience for the Staten Island community.” Key Food Stores CEO Dean Janeway was beaming as he congratulated the owners and announced the new Olive Tree Marketplace raised the total of Key Food units to 171! Congrats all around.
King Kullen recently announced the retirement of two long-time perishables executives. Sue Brooks, director of bakery and frozen foods, and Guy Savio, produce and floral coordinator, will be calling an end to their 36 year and 35 year careers with King Kullen respectively. Tom Corcoran will be the new director of bakery and Joe Schneider will take on the role of produce coordinator, according to the company. Also at King Kullen, two long time store managers will also be retiring. Ed Hubert of the Rockville Centre store will be hanging up his hat after 41 years and Mike Pesce, manager of the Shirley store, will be retiring after 28 years. May the four of you enjoy your retirement days.
And congratulations to the Raitses family and the entire team at Best Market on the opening of their 21st store at 2900 Middle Country Road in Lake Grove, Long Island.      The newest site is a spectacular unit, offering wood smoked BBQ, an ocean fresh seafood department, a full service bakery, a dynamic deli and prepared foods, olive bar and much more. It will be interesting to keep an eye on this site as the new location is less than one mile down the road from the new Fairway Market which just opened in late July 2014. “Gentlemen, go to your corners and wait for the sound of the bell!” Katie March will be the store manager at the location.
Exciting news came to one of the big-hit local items when Long Island Brand Beverages of Hicksville, Long Island announced that Cullen Agricultural Holding Corp. and Long Island Brand Beverages L.L.C. are combining businesses to expand in the ready-to-drink tea category.
Long Island Brand Beverages manufactures premium bottled iced tea beverages that are sold primarily on the East Coast. Under the merger agreement, former members of Long Island Brand Beverages will receive an aggregate of 39,500,000 shares of common stock, or approximately 63 percent of the combined company, and Cullen shareholders will own the remaining 37 percent. The combined company, named Long Island Tea Corp., will be led by Philip Thomas, chief executive officer of Long Island Brand Beverages.
“Consumers are looking for healthier beverages and iced tea is increasingly filling that need, but there is significant room within the iced tea category for better products,” Thomas said. “Our passion is offering consumers a healthier iced tea alternative using premium ingredients at an affordable price. We believe combining our business with Cullen will allow us to continue to build our brand awareness and offer broader distribution to make access to our teas easier for even more consumers.”
The ready-to-drink tea category has grown 6.1 percent annually from 2009 to 2014 and is forecast to grow more than 10 percent annually during the next five years, according to research. Sales in the segment were projected to reach $5.3 billion in 2014. Although the top four players account for approximately 45 percent of the market, the category increasingly has become fragmented and more inviting to new entrants…..
And it’s last call for the 46th annual EFRA Winter Marketing Seminar. This family-friendly event is being held at Villa Roma Resort in Callicoon, NY February 6-8. Plenty of activities for the kids and adults (skiing, skating, tubing, etc.) will keep everyone busy, and indoor activities for those couch potatoes in you are available as well. For information on the seminar, hurry up and contact Mike Ryan at 973.835.1710 or email [email protected].
We heard from Ken Downey as the new year began, and he told us that things are going really well in his new endeavor KGDSR,LLC. Ken was the longtime director of bakery at Kings Food Markets and holds a wealth of national awards and recognitions from his accomplishments in the industry. He started his consultation company about six months ago and has been establishing a real foothold in the food industry. If anyone is looking for a top-notch executive to analyze their business you can reach Ken at 732.284.6414 or [email protected]
And, I know it’s a little way off, but mark your calendars for a nice charitable event. The Foundation for Fighting Blindness (FFB) dinner is May 28 at Terrace on the Park, Corona, NY. Director and trustee of FFB, Jason Ferreira of Ferreira Foodtown, told us that this year’s honoree will be Thomas Baressi, co-owner, Uncle Giuseppe’s. As we learn more of the event details we will pass them along……
And just as we were going to press we learned that Vince Colatriano was named VP-center store for The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Vince is a seasoned industry veteran who was most recently with Allegiance Retail Services and prior to that had worked at Kings Food Markets and Pathmark. Best wishes in the new spot, Vince.
Well here’s hoping to see you out in the field in the coming 12 months and again, all the best to you in 2015. As always, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 201.250.2217.
