Kudos to Dean Janeway, George Knobloch and the entire headquarter team at Key Food Stores on a terrific, informative and entertaining vendor summit. The meeting was held at the Hilton Garden Inn, just a stone’s throw from the Key Food offices, and an overflow crowd of nearly 600 vendors were on hand to hear the plans for the coming year for the growing co-operative. Well done to all at Key Food!
Connecticut Food Association (CFA) president Stan Sorkin made it official and informed the CFA membership of his planned retirement at the end of the year. After eight years as president, Stan addressed a crowd at the recent CFA Person of the Year dinner at Mohegan Sun Resort. He stated, “Serving as CFA president has given me a feeling of accomplishment and job satisfaction unmatched by any other job I held during my career. I am proud of what we have accomplished together.” The CFA represents the interests of the state’s multi-billion-dollar grocery industry with a focus on government and trade relations. Under Sorkin’s leadership, the association solidified its financial condition, expanded its membership base, developed a pro-active legislative agenda, and enhanced the profile of the industry in the eyes of the legislature and state agencies. CFA chairman John Stobierski of Stop & Shop had formed a search committee to find a qualified individual to lead the association earlier in the year. The committee had a number of capable and worthy candidates and eventually chose Wayne Pesce to take Stan’s role. Wayne, formerly of Coca-Cola and with many years of state trade association knowledge from his years serving on different committees and board with the CFA and FIA (New York State), will be a good fit and will work with Stan through the end of the year. Good luck to both.
Glad to see old friend Tony Scudieri of ESM-Ferolie and Beacon United back on his feet and out in the trade again. Tony had been suffering severe back pain for the last couple of years and it finally got the best of him, ultimately forcing him to undergo extensive surgery at the beginning of this summer. While it put quite a hold on his golf game and travel plans (he’s a single digit handicapper), he looked good at a recent dinner and he stated that he is well on the road to a full recovery.
Hats off to Pat Brown and the Mrs. Green’s team on the grand opening of a gorgeous new store in Rye, NY, the chain’s 18th overall store and 16th in the Metro New York/New Jersey market. Mrs. Green’s Neighborhood Market is an industry leader in providing organic, locally-sourced produce, fresh food, and healthy-living products. The 9,700 square foot space, located at 1037 Boston Post Road, offers customers a fresh juice and coffee bar, freshly-prepared seasonal meals, vitamins, supplements and natural body care, and a wide variety of organic and locally-sourced groceries and produce, including high-quality, sustainable seafood and meat. High ceilings and a tangible feel of open space really round out the selling floor. “Mrs. Green’s is committed to providing our families and customers with locally-sourced, seasonal foods and healthy-living products,” said Brown, CEO of Natural Market Food Groups, the parent company of Mrs. Green’s. “We are thrilled to be opening a new store in City of Rye – continuing our strong relationship with the entire Westchester community – and look forward becoming an integral part of this wonderful community.” The store will be managed by Amzad Zadlatiff.
Congratulations to Lorelei Mottese, director of government relations for Wakefern Food Corp., as she was presented the Clancy G. Adamy Great American Award by the National Grocers Association. The award, which recognizes outstanding service in government relations, is named in honor of the late president of the National Association of Food Chains, one of NGA’s predecessor associations. NGA president and CEO Peter Larkin called Mottese “…a fierce protector of Wakefern and its members and a stalwart advocate for the supermarket industry.” Joe Sheridan, Wakefern president and COO added, “Lorelei understands the complex regulatory environment and makes sure our company never has a blind spot.” Mottese joined Wakefern in 2000 following a career in the public sector, including serving as a councilwoman and mayor in Lincoln Park, NJ, and as an economic development director for an urban enterprise zone. Congratulations, Lorelei!
Bogopa/Food Bazaar opened its 19th location under its new banner, Farmers Market by Food Bazaar. The 20,000 square foot store is located at 345 Huntington Turnpike in Bridgeport, CT and provides fresh produce, meat, seafood, dairy, frozen, deli and grocery goods to the Bridgeport area.
Good news continues to come out of the offices of Totowa, NJ based RDD Associates. The largest perishables-only broker in the Northeast is in a perfect position to offer seamless regional market coverage by virtue of its strategic partnership with the region’s “Best-in-Class” perishables focused sales agencies. Clients and potential clients can have relentless attention to results from Maine to Virginia, Harrisburg to NYC and every market in between. Spearheaded by RDD Associates, The Star Companies and Matrix Sales & Marketing, the newly named alliance, Regional Sales Solutions (RSM) provides manufacturers seamless regional sales coverage at Ahold USA, the new Albertsons (Acme, Shaw’s and Safeway Eastern), Wakefern, C&S and Bozzuto’s as well as penetration into all local market chains and independents. To see how RSM and RDD can customize a winning regional solution for perishable brands or to learn more, contact Bob Cignarella at 973.812.8070 or visit www.rddassociates.com.
At the recent NFRA convention in Dallas, RDD’s VP-frozen Bob Bollbach presented a check for $5,000 to the FISH organization. FISH (Food Industry Serving Heroes) is a non-profit group that helps soldiers and their families with various services and support initiatives such as providing wheelchairs, service dogs and guidance. Bob tells us that the $5,000 donation will enable FISH to purchase a service dog for a veteran who is suffering from PTSD. If you would like to learn more about this terrific non-profit organization, drop Bob a note at [email protected] or visit the FISH website at www.foodindustryservingheroes.org Well done!
And in the theme of military benevolence, kudos to Wawa, which offered free coffee to veterans, active military members and their families, all day, with no military ID required on Veteran’s Day. The giveaway took place at all of Wawa’s more than 700 stores throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and Florida. Wawa expected to give away more than 250,000 cups of coffee, thanking these dedicated men and women and their families for their service. “At Wawa supporting our military is part of our DNA and each year, Veterans Day gives us a chance to thank our troops, and, in our own small way, give something back to the brave men and women who protect the freedoms we all celebrate,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa’s president and CEO. “This year we’re excited to honor our military and their families with this free coffee giveaway on Veterans Day, and through a massive care package assembly at Wawa University today, the day before Veterans Day. Since 2002, we’ve been providing troops abroad with a taste of home through our coffee care packages, and we are passionate about continuing this tradition for years to come.” Additionally, Operation Taste of Home care packages are an annual tradition organized by Wawa associates and supported by the USO of Pennsylvania and Southern New Jersey (Liberty USO), who send thousands of care packages to our troops currently deployed. The Wawa Foundation will also present a check to the USO for $770,000, all raised through Wawa in-store coin and scan-campaigns held during the second and third quarters of 2015.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with their friends and loved ones and I look forward to seeing you out in the trade this Holiday Season! You can reach me at 201.250.2217 or [email protected]