Well, here we are again and the A&P debacle is still not completed. After two rounds of the bankruptcy auction process it was hoped that the matter would be closer to being completed rather than having more questions. But like everything else that A&P executives have touched over the last 15 years, all is still amiss. As we were readying for press, it was being seriously considered by the court that another round of an expected clean-up auction was to be scheduled in a last ditch attempt to sell the remaining bulk of stores that were still unsold. According to John Niccollai, president of United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 464a in Little Falls, NJ, âThere are still a lot of good stores out there that are unsold, I canât see them not being used.â In the meantime, those stores are expected to begin preparing to close. Niccollai said some of the unsold stores already appear to be liquidating merchandise through markdowns. Iâll reserve my comments until the process is completed, but in the interim you can turn to our lead story on the situation as well as take a look at Jeffâs column for an accurate indication of how we all feel.
The Hackensack, NJ Costco store will be converted âto a more specialized business center,â described as âa store model geared more to small businesses.â It will be the first in the northeastern U.S., but it is not a new concept for Costco, which opened the first one in 1992.
Costco says that business centers differ from regular Costco warehouses in that they donât sell clothing, apparel, books, seasonal items, or much of the consumer-oriented merchandise typically found at a Costco. They also donât have bakery, pharmacy or optical departments, or food courts. About half of their sales are delivered directly to small-business customers, rather than purchased in the store. They also open and close earlier. The business center stores stock items used by businesses such as hotels, hospitals, caterers, restaurants, convenience stores and professional offices. Those items include cleaning supplies, paper and printing supplies, office furniture, vending machine supplies and kitchen utensils. All Costco members are allowed to shop in business centers.â The more traditional membership club products that were offered by the Hackensack Costco now will be sold in a new Teterboro, NJ, club that will be opened in mid-October.
Big happenings occurred in Newark, NJ at the end of September when Neil Greenstein and his family opened a spectacular 70,000 square foot showcase ShopRite. Elected officials, community and church leaders and union representatives were all on hand for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new supermarket on Springfield Avenue in Newark. The grand opening of the new store comes after a hard-fought battle waged a little more than two years ensured that a ShopRite would be approved at the site rather than a Wal-Mart. The Greenstein family, a third-generation ownership, also owns and operates the Brookdale ShopRite in Bloomfield. The new store is the anchor for Springfield Marketplace, a mixed-use development that includes retail shops, restaurants, and apartments all of which will be completed in a few months. âWe are very excited to bring our second ShopRite store to Essex County, with this brand new location in Newark, where we will be a vital part of the community and a good neighbor,â said Greenstein. âWe call our Brookdale ShopRite the âsupermarket with a heart,â and we plan to bring that same heart, soul and dedication now to serve the city of Newark. We are privileged to be part of this community and all the great new development that is happening in Newark right now.â The site where the ShopRite was built had been vacant for over 20 years.
Kudos to Linda Doherty and the good team at the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) on another very well run Good Government Breakfast held at Forsgate Country Club. in Monroe Township, NJ. At the big business affair, Richie Saker, president and CEO of Saker Holdings Corporation, received the Good Government Award, which is the most prestigious public policy recognition bestowed on a New Jersey food industry member. Saker ShopRites is the largest member of the Wakefern Food Corporation family of supermarkets and Rich currently serves as vice chairman for the NJFC and served as chairman for the Food Council Committee for Good
Government for seven years. âAs chair of the Food Council Committee for Good Government, Richard Saker has had a tremendous impact on the direction and success of the Food Council and we wholeheartedly thank Richard for all his perseverance and dedication to our mission by recognizing him with our most prestigious honor, the Good Government Award,â said Doherty, who also serves as FCCfGG treasurer. âHe has made good government a priority and continually challenges and encourages his fellow food council members to become engaged in the civic process.â
Mike Waldon of Empire Food Marketing sits on the board of a wonderful charitable foundation, Embrace Kids. The Embrace Kids Foundation helps families whose children have cancer, sickle cell disease or other blood disorders and is committed to enhancing the quality of life of the children and to relieving families of emotional and financial pressures. Embrace Kids supports families throughout the greater New Jersey area and offers such programs as the Embrace Kids Learning Center, emergency financial assistance, family services, inspirational events, social services and counseling, The Edith and Martin Stein Building of Hope and the David E. Zullo PACCT Program. As Mike told us, he gets to see first-hand all of the great work the foundation does and can personally assure everyone that all funds raised are put to very good use. Mike tells us that Embrace Kids is running a raffle to raise funds with the grand prize of two round-trip first class tickets to Europe on United Airlines plus a $3,000 travel voucher. There is a maximum of 1,500 tickets to be sold and cost per ticket is only $25.00. If anyone is interested in purchasing a raffle ticket or supporting the organization in another way, Mike welcomes you contact him at 732.326.9300 or [email protected].
Kudos to all of the fine folks at King Kullen for once again putting together a terrific charitable event. The 33rd annual James A. Cullen memorial golf outing was held at the Cold Spring Harbor Country Club in Cold Spring Harbor, Long Island and an overflow crowd was on hand for the dinner as well as the golf. The benefactor of monies raised from the event was Little Flower Children and Family Services of New York. Founded more than 85 years ago, Little Flower continues to meet the demands of some of the most vulnerable members of society – Â children and disabled adults. King Kullen and the Cullen and Kennedy families have long been supporters of the Little Flower cause, and it was inspiring to hear one of Little Flowerâs success stories, Israel Adams, speak at the dinner. Kudos to all at King Kullen.
A tip of the hat to the Eastern Produce Council (EPC) on the inaugural Joe DeLorenzo Apple Picking event held at Melickâs Family Farm in Oldwick, NJ. The event was named after Joe DeLorenzo, longtime member, supporter and past president of the EPC and well respected food industry produce veteran. Joe passed away less than a year ago, and when the EPC board met early in 2015, they came up with a way to honor his memory. The event drew a crowd of people including Joeâs family, friends and EPC members to enjoy a wonderful day at Melickâs (the largest apple grower in New Jersey).
A very nice event was held at the Arcola Country Club in Paramus, NJ where the Fourth annual Back on my Feet charity golf outing teed off to raise funds for the cause. Back on My Feet is a charitable organization that uses its resources to help the homeless as well as change the perception of homelessness through runningâŠyes, running. The non-profit organizationâs mission is not to create runners within the homeless population, but to use running to create self-sufficiency in the loves of those experiencing homelessness. This yearâs honoree was Rich Durante, COO of Kings Food Markets/Balducciâs, and thanks to the efforts of the Bimbo Bakeries USA team lead by president Fred Penny, the event raised $60,000 for Back on My Feet. Well done!
Well thatâs it for this month. Hopefully we will have some resolution to the A&P mess the next time we talk. Until then you can reach me at 201.250.2217 or [email protected]
