So, here we are in the dog days of summer, sweating out our third heat wave and everyone is thinking about how to get out of Dodge to beat that heat. Well, maybe not everyone. I can’t remember a summer so busy with mergers and new store openings. The Ahold/ Delhaize merger was big, but the A&P store closings and sell offs hit us in Food Trade News-land much harder. On top of those two big announcements, three ground-up, brand spanking new stores opened in the Lehigh and SusquehannaValleys between July 30 and August 7. They are all very different, and in our over stored markets, the chains that operate them have found room to grow in the markets they serve. All three also serve as anchors in new shopping centers.
On July 30th as the ShopRite of Bethlehem cut the ribbon on the 68,000 square foot, state-of-the-art supermarket owned and operated by the Colalillo family’s ShopRite of Hunterdon County, which currently owns and operates three additional ShopRite stores in New Jersey and one in Yardley, PA. The most recent, in Yardley, PA is doing better than expected according to Joe Colalillo, president. At the opening, the Colalillo family made a special donation to Second Harvest Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley. “For more than 60 years, it has been our family’s mission to provide our customers with a great place to shop and our associates with a great place to work,” said Colalillo. He continued, “We are very excited to extend this commitment to the Bethlehem community with the opening of this new store.” The store and new shopping center are located across the street from St. Luke’s Hospital and a new apartment/condo community is right next door. The ShopRite of Bethlehem will offer a broad array of products and services customers have come to expect, but let’s begin with the customer service center. It looks like a chic hotel registration desk. No clutter, no bulletin boards or cigarette lockers, just a clean and sleek area with a vase of flowers on the counter. Credit for that and the upscale look of the entire store should be given to Jeannie Colalillo, who heads up the interior design for all of the ShopRite of Hunterdon Valley stores. The drive through pharmacy is a nice feature as well. Customers and hospital workers from St. Luke’s can also enjoy a wide selection of freshly prepared meals from a hot buffet bar, entrées and gourmet delicacies to take home and call their own or enjoy at either of the two in-store cafés, one a little quieter upstairs and another downstairs both seating more than 60 guests. Joe Gozzi, VP of ShopRite Kitchens, gave me a guided tour of the kitchens and introduced me to each of the four chefs working behind the scenes. As a part of a commitment to helping customers live happier, healthier lives, the store has an on-site dietitian who will offer free consultation, store tours or meal planning to customers. This has become pretty much the norm at most ShopRites. The store will also offer ShopRite from Home®, and Scrunchy’s Playhouse, a free onsite childcare facility where children can play in a fun and safe setting while their parents shop. Continuing the concern for the environment, the ShopRite of Bethlehem is outfitted with the latest energy-saving and sustainable technologies in refrigeration and lighting, including glass doors on the dairy and freezer cases, LED and T-8 lighting and environmentally-friendly refrigerant systems. Congrats, Joe and family!
Giant/Carlisle took a huge leap and opened a store in Weis Markets’ backyard in Lewisburg, PA on August 6. The store was 20 years in the making, and from the look on Giant president Tom Lenkevich’s face, it was worth the wait. The 48,000 square foot, sparkling new store is just north of the intersection of Routes 15 and 45, and well within walking distance from Bucknell University. Store manager Marvin Mann told me they are focusing on the college students especially in the prepared food/ take home food area. Hisso Sushi, a third party sushi provider, supplies the culinary artists and the ingredients to make the full range of sushi offered at the store. There is also a pharmacy, in store bakery, a large café and larger craft beer section. Students are back to school in a week or two, so get ready!
The third notable opening was held August 5 in Birdsboro, PA as Boyer’s Markets celebrated more than just the opening of its 18th store. This new store represents a new chapter in the life of this small but important chain of stores sprinkled throughout the north central section of Pennsylvania. We send congratulations to Dean Walker, Anthony Gigliotti and the new team as they take the reins and begin the next life of Boyer’s Markets. Over the past month I have visited all of the Boyer’s Markets stores preparing for the pull-out special section you can find in this issue. There are a few things worth knowing about this regional independent chain. The employees love working for Boyer’s. One said, “Make sure you tell everyone how great the team is at Boyer’s.” Done. The red shirt service really does exist. Customers are greeted by name much of the time and the atmosphere is always cheerful. They have the Valley Girls, two of the hardest working stock clerks I have ever met. They have a system and it works! Boyer’s has cornered the market on how to fit more products in a small setting than any other operator around. Manhattan’s corner markets have nothing on Boyer’s. Fresh is a priority, just ask the butchers and meat cutters. Last but certainly not least, they are a family, and a growing one at that. Auguri!
It is the end of an era in the Philadelphia market as Anthony L. Maglio has announced his retirement from the Maglio Sausage Company after 60 years in the food industry. At age 12 he began working after school and during the summer. He learned every aspect of the family business but his forte was always in the production of the sausage products they manufactured. From mixing to delivery of the finished products, Anthony’s passion for the business grew and remained throughout his career. He didn’t just show up, he lived the business. He also coined the Maglio tag line, “Try me, I’m delicious!” which found its way onto many t-shirts. A truly humble and charitable man, his concern for those who were less fortunate and his love of community came through when he and a group of Delaware Valley businessmen founded the Tri-State Dairy Deli Association (TSDDA) in the late 1970s. To that point, during his tenure as a board member and then as president, in 2004 Anthony was presented with the Founder’s Award for his work in TSDDA. He was also president of the Philadelphia Food Trades Organization when it merged with TSDDA. Always wanting to do for others, Anthony came up with the idea to give underprivileged children Christmas presents, and “Christmas in November” was born. Anthony believed that while many gave money to organizations, it would be better to give directly to the children in the form of gift certificates (this was back in the day before gift cards were invented). Food for the party was usually donated so the proceeds could go toward the gifts and dancing until all hours of the night was not unusual. The event has evolved into Christmas for All Kids, now part of the Mid Atlantic Food Trades Organization (MAFTO). Although he is retiring, he will still keep active in the Market at Maglio’s. Of course, he can always be found on the golf course or in Florida. Most importantly, he will be spending more time with his wife, Pat, their grandchildren and his devoted daughter, Nicole, who grew up in the business and learned so much from observing her role model. Happy trails, Ant. May your cigars be Cuban and your golf handicap be a plus one (wink)!
The circle of life continues as we send out condolences to the family of Anthony “Tony” Frederico, 63, who passed away on July 15. Tony had retired as a vice president from Acme Markets after a 40 year career there.. Originally from Upper Darby, Tony and his family resided in West Chester, PA. The most important part of his life was his family and they will greatly miss him. He is survived by his wife Joann R. (nee Centritto); son Bobby Frederico; one brother and one sister; and nieces, nephews and friends. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Prion Alliance, PO Box 391953, Cambridge, MA02139.
Birthday shout-outs for the steamy month of August go out to: Michael Bozzuto, Bozzuto’s; Marty Delinski, Acme Markets; Ed Rogers, L&L Brokerage; and Frank Frazier, retired from Cargill.
“It’s a smile, it’s a kiss, it’s a sip of wine … it’s summertime!” – Kenny Chesney
