The year 2020 is playing out to be one for the history books. Each month it seems we are experiencing some sort of disaster. August began with a tropical storm with a name nobody could pronounce. And for those of us in the Southeastern part of Pennsylvania and the bordering counties in New Jersey, we have the dreaded Spotted Lantern Fly, another gift from China that likes eating the sap out of our vineyards and about 70 other varieties of trees and plants. Apparently, it is an excellent hitchhiker and found itself on a shipment to Berks County, PA in 2014. Its expansion has been quick, although it is not harmful to humans. The best option to deter this predatory insect is to kill as many of them as possible as quickly as possible. I’ll have to take a look at the September 2020 Bingo card to see what we can expect.
Well, it looks like Wegmans has figured out COVID-19 and they’ve gotten their mojo back. We all know that the showmanship on display in the fresh departments of all Wegmans stores was abruptly shut down when COVID-19 raged through the country. Sets were reimagined and dump bins with high volume items replaced cafes, hot food, med, and salad bars. Everything went behind the glass. So, in the middle of a pandemic why not open a gorgeous new store…ahead of schedule? On August 5, Wegmans opened a 121,000 square foot store in Harrison, NY, the first one in the Hudson Valley. Strategically, it opened on a Wednesday and without the lines wrapped around the store. Surprisingly, Danny, Colleen and Nicole Wegman came to see the newest ideas played out in real time. Some of the modifications, especially the ones that were previously self-serve, are now service-plus. The salad bar is going away for good, being replaced with a service “create your own” soup and salad bar – both behind glass in between the pizza and sandwich stations. Self-serve soup may have a comeback, but no final decision has been reached yet. Bakery items are all individually wrapped (read: added expenses) but there is a full bakery operating and the seafood display is behind Plexiglas (hopefully they will bring that display back to all stores). The dry aged beef cabinet was in place and The Burger Bar and Coffee Shop are all serving up the foods loved by all who shop at Wegmans. “Ready to Eat” grab-and-go and “Ready to Cook” seem to be the way of the future. So, we’ll see how the other retailers get ready for fall, the holidays and the new normal. From where I sit, it looks like Wegmans is on the right track.
I can’t say this enough, food industry folks are the most generous people on earth. Retailers in particular continually share their knowledge and good fortune. This time it is through the PA 30 Day Fund, a 501c3 organization fueled by the private sector committed to supporting small business jobs and entrepreneurs in Pennsylvania with the goal of helping save as many Pennsylvania jobs as possible while small businesses of all kinds await recently approved federal funding. It was founded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Pennsylvania businesses that qualify for assistance from the fund must meet the following criteria: employ three to 30 people; they must be based in Pennsylvania, operating for at least one year; and the owner/operator must be a state resident. To date, the fund has given out 500 forgivable loans of $3,000 each to such businesses, many of which are located near supermarkets. As board member and co-founder Jeff Brown of Brown’s Family Markets said, “It’s no fun being in a strip mall all alone. It’s about the people who got to stay open helping the people who didn’t.” The retailer funds the fund, and the fund cuts the check for the small business. So, who has participated? Burns Family Markets, Collins ShopRites, Cowhey Family Markets and Brown’s Markets. Acme and The Giant Company are also working on their participation. And that’s the way we do it in the retail food industry! For more information or to make a contribution, please go to: www.pa30dayfund.com.
On the heels of the announcement of the first drive through window at Wawa store in Southern New Jersey, earlier this month the convenience store operator officially announced its plans to build an 1,850 square feet, freestanding drive-through at the intersection of West Trenton and Pine Grove Roads in Falls Township, PA in Lower Bucks County. The architectural design is based on key Wawa brand elements such as the trademarked canopy, while offerings are focused on fresh food in a drive-through experience. With an ongoing mission of providing convenience for customers, this innovative model is solely focused on drive-through and curbside pickup service where customers can use state-of-the-art technology to quickly order Wawa’s most popular food and beverages, including value meals and combo meals, along with coffee and specialty beverages. “Wawa continues to test new store concepts with this latest drive thru format, providing an opportunity for our customers to still experience and enjoy their favorite Wawa products while remaining inside their vehicle,” said Terri Micklin, Wawa’s director of construction. Wawa hopes to begin construction in late August 2020 with a targeted opening date of December 2020 and will employ 25 members of the community, including four full-time positions. “We are hoping to learn from the layout, workflow and traffic flow at this location, as we continue to explore alternatives for longer term application to our stores post-COVID-19,” said Micklin. So, is it fast food or convenience? Your guess is as good as mine. Also, on a sad note, the flagship Wawa at Broad and Walnut Streets in Center City Philadelphia is closing for good this month. Unfortunately, residual COVID-19 issues and some aggressive altercations outside of the store have forced it to take the big “W” and move it elsewhere. The other stores in Center City will remain open, so far.
Kudos to ShopRite stores, which have been named to Newsweek’s 2020 America’s Best-In-State Customer Service for New Jersey, which recognizes companies for building key relationships with customers and providing extraordinary shopping experiences. “Being the preferred place to shop and work has always been our priority at ShopRite, and with many of our stores being family owned and operated, our longstanding commitment to the communities we serve continues to shine,” said Joe Colalillo, chairman and CEO of Wakefern Food Corp. “We thank all our associates for their passion and hard work, especially during the last few months, and our customers for recognizing this dedication. We’re honored to once again be recognized by Newsweek for our outstanding customer service.”
The publication worked with Statista, the respected global research firm, to highlight those brands that offer consistently excellent customer service. In 2019, ShopRite was among the top three supermarkets named to the same list for receiving high marks from customers in a survey of regional and national retailers.
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) recently announced that 22 college students have been named recipients of the 2020 Thomas R. and Laura Ridge Scholarship awards totaling $44,500. The annual scholarships are named to honor Thomas R. and Laura Ridge, the parents of the former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge. Thomas R. Ridge was a member of the Pennsylvania food industry for 25 years. His wife Laura was a strong advocate of education for their children Tom, David and Vikki. The scholarship fund was created to honor their memory. “We are thrilled to recognize these students who have worked hard on their educational journeys, showed extraordinary leadership, and positively contributed to their communities,” PFMA president and CEO Alex Baloga said. “At the same time, we are grateful for the PFMA member companies, organizations, and individuals who generously contribute to the fund each year to make the program a success.” The sponsoring companies include Wawa, The Giant Company, Sheetz, Karn’s, PFMA and the Northwestern Pennsylvania Food Council (NWPFC). Congratulations!
My partner-in-schmooze Kevin Gallagher and I came out of hiding from our pandemic quarantine and attended the New Jersey Food Council’s (NJFC) annual golf outing on July 27 at the beautiful Suburban Golf Club in Union Township, NJ. It was a hot day on the links, and the outing was designed in a way that followed all social distancing guidelines. Breakfast was provided by Bimbo Bakeries and a fresh lunch for the golfers was a prepared, individually wrapped and served on the course. Even with COVID-19 guidelines, the outing was ideal for business and networking. As usual, there was a strong showing of food industry executives representing retail, manufacturers, brokers, wholesalers and convenience stores from across New Jersey. Best team score went to Mike Biase and the team from Mission Foods followed, by Debbie Pregiato and the team from Advantage Solutions. Longest drive prizes went to Seirra Botsakos of Pepsico for the women and Rich Chamberlain of Inserra Supermarkets for the men. I am looking forward to seeing many of our industry friends at upcoming events and outings! It’s time!!
We are pleased to announce that we will publish our 2021 edition of the Grocery Industry Directory (GID) in anticipation of the coming year. This wire-bound book, which I have dubbed “the Yellow Pages of the food industry,” has all the information you need to find customers and vice versa, in every facet of our industry, plus some of the charts from the market studies we publish each June. As our ad says, some things change, some things don’t…you still need to reach your customers. Yes, even more so in the worst of times. We’d love to hear from you if you want representation in our unique publication. An added plus is that the 2021 edition is going to be available online at www.foodtradenews.com.
We send condolences on the death of Jennifer M. Kilpatrick, wife of Bob Kilpatrick, of Grupo Bimbo, who passed away at her home on August 12, surrounded by her family after a long battle with cancer. She was 47. Bob and his beloved wife shared 21 years of marriage. A meaningful tribute was posted in her obituary: “Jennifer Kilpatrick was a strong, compassionate, woman, who was loved by many. She brightened the lives around her, and always had a smile on her face, even in the most difficult times. She enjoyed watching the birds outside her window and loved to decorate and organize her house. She was a physical therapist, who improved the lives of others, and a wonderful mother of two. She deeply cared for her children, always putting their needs before her own. Jennifer will continue to remain in the hearts of her friends and family.” In addition to her husband Bob, Jennifer is survived by her mother Kumza Paik Case; daughter Meghan and son Zachary; step-father John Case; stepsisters Sarah Antine and Sheila Case; stepbrother David Case; and in-laws Karen and Robert Kilpatrick; she was predeceased by her father Anthony Wallace. Contributions in her name can be made to the charity of one’s choice. Rest in peace, Jen.
Also leaving us too soon was Travis Work, 34, a 10-year veteran of Utz Snacks who passed away unexpectedly on July 30. Born in Lancaster, he was the son of Benjamin L. and Dorothy S. Work of Quarryville. He was an avid modified softball player and he also enjoyed playing golf. He was a devoted father to his children and he treasured the time he spent with them. Travis will be dearly missed by his family and all who knew him. In addition to his parents, he is survived by his children Tenley and Dawson and their mother Danielle Work of Lancaster; sister Amanda Brown (Tony), and his paternal grandmother. He is also survived by many friends and relatives.
Birthday shout outs for the summertime blues month of August go to: Charlie Bell and Marty Delinski, Acme Markets; Michael Bozzuto, Bozzuto’s; and Ed Rogers, L&L Brokerage. Buon compleanno a tutti!
Quote of the month: “The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are strong at the broken places.” Ernest Hemingway
Maria can be reached at 443.631.0172.