Greetings to all and I hope the start of the autumn season has been good for everyone. The trade dinners, shows, outings and affairs have been in high gear and will continue to be so for the next several weeks. I certainly hope to see you out at the various events and please feel free to come up and say hello if you see me.
Great work by the Kings Food Markets team with their sixth annual golf outing at Crystal Springs Resort in Vernon, NJ, benefitting its Act Against Hunger, which was held back in August. The tournament joins Kings and its industry partners, who all share one common goal – feeding the community and raising additional support for programs that provide hunger relief services throughout New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. All proceeds from the golf outing go toward Kings’ continuing efforts to end hunger in the community. Some past organizations that have benefited from the annual event include Community FoodBank of New Jersey, Grow it Green Morristown, Interfaith Food Pantry, Center for Food Action, Table to Table and Neighbor to Neighbor. Great work, Kings staff and vendor partners!
And speaking of a “tip of the hat,” Back on My Feet held its fifth annual golf outing at Arcola country club in Paramus, NJ. The event honored Dan Dinkowitz, director of member services at Allegiance Retail Services, and drew a good size crowd on a spectacular early October day.
Back on My Feet is a non-profit organization that seeks to revolutionize the way our society approaches homelessness. Their unique running-based model demonstrates that if you first restore confidence, strength and self-esteem, individuals are better equipped to tackle the road ahead and move toward jobs, homes and new lives. They provide practical training and employment resources for achieving independence; an environment that promotes accountability; and a community that offers compassion and hope. Back on My Feet recruits members at homeless and residential facilities around the country and begins with a commitment to run three days a week in the early morning. After 30 days in the program, members with 90 percent attendance earn the opportunity to move into the second phase of the program called Next Steps, which provides educational support, job-training programs, employment partnership referrals and housing resources. Danny Dinkowitz was happy to be honored and many of the Allegiance Retail Services associates, customers and members were on hand to support the cause as well, which raised more than $80,000 for the day. In addition, a shout out to Bimbo Bakeries USA, which is a lead sponsor of the outing and the organization and more specifically to Bimbo VP-sales Joe McCarthy. For those who didn’t know, Joe raised $12,000 back in July for Back on My Feet from supporters who sponsored him as he participated (and killed) the NYC Triathalon. Outstanding show of support from all!
It was really nice to bump into Joel Perlmutter of Perlmutter Family ShopRites recently. Joel has had his battles with health scares over the last several years but, if there ever was a fighter, it certainly is Joel.
He said he is feeling great and he looks fit and is back to a daily regimen of exercising every day. As he says, “Don’t try…..DO!” and he is truly the embodiment of that phrase. Keep up that fighting spirit, Joel! L’chaim and Happy New Year you and your family, you look great!
Congratulations to Jeff Vogel who has joined Ferrero USA as eastern regional manager. Jeff comes to Ferrero with many years of CPG experience. He most recently was with Georgia Pacific and prior to that spent time with Fort James Corp and Lever Brothers. Best of luck.
The Connecticut Food Association (CFA) has named Leslie G. Sarasin, president and CEO of the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), as the recipient of CFA’s Outstanding Industry Leader award, and will present her with the award at their 2016 Person of the Year banquet on October 20 at Mohegan Sun. “Leslie is a tireless champion for the nation’s food retailers and wholesalers and we’re thrilled to recognize her efforts in advocating on behalf of the food retail industry,” said Wayne Pesce, CFA president. “She fully understands the power the states hold in influencing policy and the broader food community agenda, and her leadership and knowledge has brought a new energy to our industry.” Pesce described the significance of Sarasin’s award, saying, “Leslie is largely being recognized for her leadership role in the legislative victory that established federal preemption regarding the disclosure of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). In 2013, Connecticut’s governor signed the first state law in the nation mandating the labeling of foods that contain genetically modified ingredients, so this year’s legislative victory at a federal level offered Connecticut businesses more flexibility and helped to preserve interstate commerce.” Sarasin remarked on receiving this honor, “I’m incredibly humbled to receive this recognition from the Connecticut Food Association and to have my efforts acknowledge in a state so dear to the heart of my family is especially meaningful. Some of our most politically active members hail from ‘the Constitution State,’ and their advocacy efforts amplify the voice of food retail so effectively, it is heard well beyond Connecticut’s borders.” Sarasin’s career in the food industry spans more than 30 years. In October 2008, Sarasin joined FMI during a critical time in the food industry. Her wealth of experience serving the food industry has secured a strong future for FMI and its members. Sarasin remains a staunch supporter of the consumer while advocating on behalf of the businesses FMI represents.
Congrats to Linda Doherty and the entire team at the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) on another outstanding Good Government Breakfast recently held at the Forsgate country club in Monroe Township, NJ. At the breakfast, the Food Council Committee for Good Government (FCCfGG) recognized Tom Cormier of Ahold USA as its recipient of the 2016 Good Government Award. Presented annually to an industry leader who demonstrates excellence in public affairs advocacy, the Good Government Award is the most prestigious public policy recognition bestowed on a New Jersey food industry member. Tom is truly one of the “good guys” in the industry and has 33 years of experience in the food retail industry and currently serves as director of government affairs for Ahold USA. He is active with a number of state and national trade associations and business groups, as was demonstrated by another recognition from the Maryland Retailers Association (MRA) just days before the NJFC event. Tom received the Louis Goldstein Public Service Award which honors individuals and organizations for their extraordinary contributions to food retailing and giving back to their communities. A great recognition for an outstanding individual.
Well that’s it for now all. Hope to see you out and about and, as always, you can reach me at 201.250.2217 or [email protected].