We’re gearing up for the holidays with lower gas prices and blockbuster deals at most of the big box stores, but it did warm my heart to see how many stores are not opening on Thanksgiving or decorating their stores for the holidays until just after Thanksgiving. Don’t forget to shop local this holiday season; it keeps small businesses relevant and our economy growing.
The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) held its 66th annual convention in Atlanta last month and, while the show and seminars are always jammed, this year it seemed extra jammed with about 1,060 exhibitors showcasing new products, trends, technologies and innovations, all housed within 267,400 square feet. The event surpassed the previous East Coast attendance record of more than 18,000 visitors from 63 countries set in 2010, when Fresh Summit was held in Orlando. Buyers numbered 3,380, the highest for the East Coast since 2011. In addition, for the second consecutive year, #FreshSummit was a top trend on Twitter, meaning it was one of the most popular social media conversations around the world, all on one day. Even this digital immigrant (me) tweeted all through the show. “Fresh Summit marks the annual homecoming for the produce and floral industry,” said Russ Mounce, vice president/DMM of produce for Sam’s Club and PMA board of directors chair. “The show numbers speak to the importance of this event for so many and I’m also so pleased to see the number of floral exhibitors continue to grow.” The three-day event included a significant focus on “demand creation,” working on new ways to help consumers eat more fresh produce. The association announced a new strategic alliance with the Entertainment Resource & Marketing Association (ERMA), bringing together the produce industry and entertainment marketing professionals to make fresh produce center stage in television shows, movies and online entertainment. This partnership, along with eat brighter! and Fruits and Veggies (FNV), is one of several ongoing demand creation efforts by PMA to improve consumers’ health and combat childhood obesity. The event’s demand creation focus culminated with a congratulatory video from First Lady Michelle Obama, thanking the industry for its outstanding work to promote fruits and vegetables with special acknowledgement for those leaders participating in both the eat brighter! and FNV initiatives. During the show, four exhibitors were chosen by a panel of industry experts for “best of show,” a contest designed to generate attendee excitement and encourage exhibitors to enhance the effectiveness of their exhibition experience. All were first time exhibitors: in-line booth, Kitchen22; island booth, Litehouse; new product launch, Evolution Fresh; and first-time exhibitor, Meshdecor. Congrats!
As for me, I am always on the lookout for the newest and most innovative products. PMA’s Fresh Summit never fails me. This year, the hottest trend was pre-packs of all kinds for the “on the go” lifestyle products: from veggies with hummus, cheese or dip to dried apricots multi-packed in a yellow school bus box to individually packed fruit slices, and all were aimed at kids. Juices of all kinds were also touted as healthy but in reality have so much sugar they make soda look healthy. My favorite non-kid related product was from the Botanical Food Company whose Garden Gourmet product line of lightly dried herbs and spices made me want to load the samples into my bag. Packaged in see-through and stackable containers, these products are like having fresh herbs available all year long. I also loved the Snip Chips, Dipperz and Brussel Bites snacks from Wonderfully Raw. They are organic, gluten free, non GMO, and Paleo. And yes, they are delicious, too. At the end of each PMA Fresh Summit, all of the remaining fresh produce is donated to the local food banks. This year a generous donation of 341,061 pounds of produce was collected by approximately 250 volunteers from the Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB). A recent report from Feeding America shows that 80,600 people are served each week by programs supported through ACFB, and that those clients turn to ACFB partner programs and pantries for help more than 6.1 million times over the course of the year. According to Feeding America’s Hunger in America 2014 report, 1 in 7.5 people, or an estimated 755,400 people, in metro Atlanta and north Georgia turn to food pantries and meal service programs to feed themselves and their families each year. This includes more than 164,000 children and more than 64,000 seniors. Over the past decade, PMA exhibitors have donated more than 3.2 million pounds of fresh produce to communities in need in the United States.
The Haub School of Business at Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) announced that its highly-acclaimed executive masters of food marketing program is now being offered to associates of Ahold USA and one of its retail divisions, Giant/Carlisle, at the company’s support office in Carlisle, PA. “Saint Joseph’s University is thrilled to partner with Ahold USA to deliver this unique MBA program for food industry professionals. This is an opportunity for two great institutions to partner in developing the next generation of leaders in food retailing,” said Dr. Stephen Porth, associate dean and food marketing department chair at SJU. “This is the same program offered to executive students by Saint Joseph’s University at our Philadelphia executive campus,” said Bryant Wynes, program director. “Degree requirements and course offerings are the same. Courses will be taught by the same, well-respected faculty.” With a couple of exceptions, all courses will be taught at the Ahold USA support office in Carlisle, PA. The courses follow the university’s unique executive format, where each course is delivered in a single Friday/Saturday session. Students have the option of also attending regular program classes in Philadelphia or online. The course of study leads students to the university’s executive food marketing MBA degree. However, food marketing courses offered may also be applied to the university’s executive food marketing MS degree or post graduate certificate. The program offers unique, food industry-specific courses that allow students to gain insight and acquire skills to take their careers to the next level. “In addition to traditional graduate business courses in management, economics and finance, program courses cover applicable topics such as food marketing strategy, consumer and trade promotions, food marketing research, food service marketing, and innovation and new product development,” said Dr. Porth, adding that SJU’s executive masters in food marketing program has graduated several students from Ahold USA and Giant/Carlisle who are now senior executives with the company. During a visit to the Ahold USA support office this past spring, Wynes said that he and Laura Braley, Ahold USA senior manager of performance management and management development, discussed the possibility of offering the classes to associates in Carlisle, saving them the two-hour drive to take courses at the university’s executive campus in the Philadelphia area. “Laura felt that there would be a lot of interest if we could make the program more convenient,” said Wynes. Braley also felt that there would be interest by Ahold USA and Stop & Shop associates from the support office located in Quincy, MA, as well as among business partners with Daymon, EYC and Nielsen who were working out of the Carlisle offices. “All of that has proven true,” said Wynes. Classes in Carlisle began in October and will span two and a half years, culminating with graduation.
More news from Giant/Carlisle and Martin’s: their customers donated $550,888 to support local regional food banks during the grocer’s in-store Bag Hunger campaign earlier this fall. This is the second Bag Hunger campaign Giant and Martin’s conducted for hunger relief efforts this year. “Giant/Martin’s remains committed to being a better neighbor in helping to end hunger in our local communities through both monetary and product donations,” said Tom Lenkevich, president. “Thank you to our customers for also embracing the call to help feed our neighbors in need. When combined with our spring Bag Hunger campaign, our customers generously gave almost $1.2 million to their local regional food banks.” Regional food banks that benefit from Giant/Martin’s support include the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank, Philabundance, Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley, FeedMore – Central Virginia Food Bank, Food Bank of Western Maryland, Greater Berks County Food Bank, Water Street Rescue Mission in Lancaster, Food Resources of Washington County, Maryland, and the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in Virginia. The Giant/Martin’s Bag Hunger program is just one of many ways the company is helping to meet the high demand for donations to local hunger relief organizations which seems to peak at this time of year. This $1.2 million in generous customer donations complements 2015 year to date contributions by Giant/Martin’s to local food banks of $8 million. As part of Giant/Martin’s Feeding Our Neighbors holiday campaign, nearly $90,000 in turkeys and cash will be donated to seven regional food banks and local hunger organizations in November. With Giant/Martin’s Meat the Needs program, the grocer freezes meat that would otherwise go unsold, but is still safe to consume, and donates it to regional food bank partners.
The Network of Executive Women (NEW) Greater Philadelphia chapter held its fall learning event at the Hershey Country Club earlier this month, with featured speaker Jeffrey Tobias Halter discussing “Executive Success: What Men Aren’t Telling Women.” His informative and entertaining talk kept the more than 200 guests (about 80 percent of whom were women) engaged throughout the presentation. It was followed by a discussion with panelists Kurt Schertle of Weis Markets; Michele Buck of The Hershey Company and Tonie Leatherberry of Deloitte Consulting, LLP. Longtime NEW regional officer Michele Luckenbaugh of The Hershey Company was awarded the Best of the Best Award by last year’s winner, Peggy Allen, of David Perry Associates. The next event is scheduled for April 2016. Details to follow.
If you haven’t registered for the MAFTO Christmas for All Kids/Monte Carlo night, there’s still some time! Treat your employees or bring your friends to one of the most fun evenings of the year! The party starts at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 4 and goes until 11:30 p.m. “Funny money” gambling, open bar and buffet, and great prizes at the end of the evening make for a great time. Each person is asked to bring a new unwrapped toy for either girls or boys. The toys will be donated to the Angels Of God Clothing Closet and Sacred Heart R.C. Church in Camden, NJ. To register, please go to www.mafto.org
Kudos to John Derderian of Allegiance Retail Services on his recent election to the National Grocers association (NGA) board of directors. John will serve a two-year term.
Birthday shout outs for the “stuffed” month of November go to: Jim Mullen, Giant/Carlisle; Mike Mackin, Schmidt Baking; Curt Gruber, Acosta; Mike Marano, Force One;
Pat McCarthy, retired from Ocean Spray; Anthony Maglio, Maglio Sausage; Bernie Ellis, retired; and yours truly, aging like fine wine. Buon compleanno a tutti!
As you gather with family and friends to celebrate this most American holiday, please give what you can to those who are without the means to put a Thanksgiving dinner on their table, and remember to say a prayer for our troops at home and abroad who continue to sacrifice every day for our way of life. Happy Thanksgiving!
Quote of the month: “As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” John F. Kennedy