Greetings all and I hope this finds you and your families safe and healthy. Signs of coming back to semi-normalcy transpired over the last few weeks, as a trade show and several stores openings happened. I was able to attend some of them and it really gives you cause for optimism for more similar events in the future. Here’s what occurred:
While COVID-19 caused the attendance to be understandably down from the usual throngs that it draws, it was still encouraging to see quite a number of customers, vendors and Bozzuto’s associates on the show floor at the Bozzuto’s Merchandising Marketplace 2020 held at Foxwoods Resort & Casino. The Bozzuto’s staff did a stellar job of maintaining all safety protocols throughout the day for the exhibitors and attendees. Spread out in four ballrooms with booths on just one side of the aisle and plexiglass shields in place, you really couldn’t do much more to minimize any potential exposure. Bozzuto’s EVP Steve Heggelke told us that 350 customers signed up and were committed to attend the one-day show as of three days prior to the show, and I did see a good number of them. It certainly was far better seeing them in person as opposed to the many Zoom calls we’ve all had over the last several months. So, kudos to Bozzuto’s for the effort. They followed all the rules, they overcame the obstacles and they made a play. Let’s celebrate some of these small victories and hope they are a step forward to bigger ones in the coming months!
After being delayed by numerous COVID-19 shutdowns, Highland’s Market by Shopwell finally opened its doors in mid-October. The supermarket located at the old A&P store front in Hewitt, NJ, has been specially designed to make shopping a breeze. Owners Frank Manzo and Nick Nasser shared that shoppers will find everything they need, from fresh meat and produce, to canned goods, a deli counter and everything in-between in wide accommodating aisles.
Highland’s Market will also offer a cafe for those looking to grab a meal or coffee on-the-go, as well as a Carvel ice cream shop. There will also be a tie-in with the local community, with murals cheering on the West Milford high school teams and items available which are made by local New Jersey companies. There are plans for additional “by Shopwell” supermarkets in the NY/NJ marketplace, but details have  not yet been released. Highland’s Market by Shopwell is a member of Associated Supermarket Group (ASG).
Hats off to one of the hardest working retailers in the marketplace. Kevin Mannix and Mannix Family Supermarkets announced the grand opening of a new full service supermarket at 2656 Hylan Boulevard on Staten Island which replaces the original store right down the road. The 70,000 square foot supermarket includes unique amenities and will serve as the anchor tenant at The Boulevard, a newly constructed multi-story open-air shopping center with a “town square” feel. Ground-level retail shops and restaurants face a main street plaza with sidewalks and outdoor dining. The second level accommodates larger anchor tenants and entertainment attractions, with multiple access points and connectivity between the two levels.
The new ShopRite will stock more than 40,000 items and offer nearly 3,000 sale items each week while also offering more than 2,000 gluten-free and organic products. Store departments include a fresh bake shop featuring custom specialty cakes and made from scratch sweets and breads; floral shop (“Bloom”) with bouquets arranged daily; meat department staffed by experienced butchers offering restaurant quality cuts of meat at supermarket prices; seafood department (“Fresh Waters”);  and produce department (“Produce Patch”) that receives fresh, daily deliveries. Shoppers in produce will find a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables with a special emphasis on organic and locally grown produce. An in-store registered dietician, beauty advisor, online shopping with ShopRite from Home and restaurant quality options are other options available for customers.
“We are very excited to present to both our customers and associates a fantastic supermarket shopping experience in our new store at The Boulevard,” said Kevin Mannix and his son Timothy Mannix. (They also own and operate two additional ShopRite supermarkets in the Charleston and Graniteville sections of Staten Island.) “We paid a lot of attention to design and amenities and look forward to serving the community at the brand-new Boulevard shopping center, where our ShopRite will also employ close to 450 associates.”
The corporate philosophy of Mannix Family Supermarkets –” Give Back to the Comminutes in Which We Serve!”— is inspired by their associates. The company makes year-round donations to local food pantries, churches and non-profits and also supports corporate sponsored programs such as ShopRite Partners In Caring and Check Out Hunger in raising money to fight food insecurity. In addition, Mannix Family Supermarkets donates over 3,000 turkeys to families on Staten Island each year during its Thanksgiving Turkey Holiday Drive. Congratulations Kevin and family!!
Our condolences to Bill Chiodo of the Affinity Group (and formerly Acosta) and his wife Kim on the passing of Bill’s mother Stella Chiodo. Stella was the beloved wife of the late Natale and loving mother of Bill (Kim), Roseann (Paul) Boswell, and Michelle (Jack) Logan. She was the cherished Nonna of Joseph, Annalise and Natalie Chiodo and Cara and Jack Boswell. She was 90 years old at the time of her passing. May her soul rest in peace.
Great work by DeCicco & Sons, the family-owned chain of nine stores in Westchester county, NY as they became a model of how to operate a business during COVID-19. They were among the first businesses in the country to implement extensive customer and employee safety protocols, many of which later became government-mandated. In the earliest days of COVID-19, the DeCicco family was hearing from their relatives in Italy about the virus’s rapid spread and deadly implications. Luisa DeCicco, the company’s head of human resources, was speaking daily to her sister, a doctor on the front lines in a hospital in the Puglia region of Italy, about the devastation of the disease, as well as the practices needed to reduce its transmission. Luisa and her husband John DeCicco Jr., the company’s CEO, heeded the warnings, and wasted no time in translating the precautions being taken by the healthcare system into safeguards for their stores, their employees and patrons.
DeCicco says it was among the very first to require all employees to wear masks and personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as installing plexiglass checkout barriers, establishing special shopping hours for seniors and vulnerable individuals, and limiting the number of shoppers inside the store, as they closely managed capacity.
“We have had to think and act quickly; the health of our employees, and the communities we serve are at stake. This is a responsibility we didn’t necessarily ask for, but one we cannot walk away from either,” said John DeCicco Jr. “Continuing to adapt, and delivering on our values and our commitment to our customers has required the focus of our entire team. That work isn’t over, it continues daily. We know that we need to maintain our vigilance, even as the warm weather and greatly reduced infection rate in New York has led to a certain amount of complacency or COVID fatigue in the general public.”
He added, “We know the infection rate is likely to climb, as the weather turns cooler, indoor activities increase, and cold and flu season commences. We hope the infection rate stays low, but we have to plan for the resurgence that is likely to occur.”
Being able to continue to source the premium-quality products their customers expect, without interruption or shortage, proved to be its own challenge. Supply chain interruptions, the closure or partial closure of purveyors and distributors, many of them also family-owned businesses, became another COVID obstacle for DeCicco’s. Similarly, maintaining the high level of customer attentiveness with new staffing challenges and distancing requirements demanded further innovations from the family operation.
“Our people are the backbone of our business,” said Luisa DeCicco. “We have had to establish several new positions to facilitate store safety, manage traffic and enhance customer adherence to protocols. We’ve added over 300 payroll hours per week per store, 2,400 hours weekly for the chain. That is roughly the equivalent of adding the staffing of one store — just for safety-related functions.”
As the pandemic progresses, DeCicco & Sons continues to evolve to safeguard its employees, customers and business. Among the measures the retailer is taking now, and considering for the near future, are changes both visible — the presence of masks and PPE, prepared food self-service functions replaced by staff functions, hand sanitizing stations — and less visible (but no less important) to the customer, such as the implementation of UV technology in their existing air filtration systems or the rigorous and thorough overnight cleanings.
Online ordering, curbside pickup and delivery will continue to grow, but the retailer acknowledges they are still an imperfect solution “that lacks the sensory aspect that is irreplaceably part of food and grocery shopping.” The DeCiccos noted that delivery and the pick-and-pack operation required for curbside pickup are labor-intensive, as are all the precautions and protocols required to make in-person shopping safe for employees and shoppers.
The chain chose not to institute the normal price adjustments that were due to occur in February 2020, John DeCicco Jr. said. “We did have many inflationary price increases which were scheduled to go though at the end of February, however, when we saw this storm coming we decided against doing any price increases, so not only do we have these [COVID-related] cost increases to cover, but we also have our normal yearly costs increases to cover.”
“The bottom line is that all businesses have already had to adjust to the realities of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said. “Those that will lead will continue to prepare, and fortify their response, for the sustainability of their business, and for the safety as well as convenience of their customers.” Great job to DeCicco & Sons!! And while we are at it, good luck to DeCicco & Sons on the opening of their ninth Westchester supermarket in mid-October in Eastchester. The new 30,000-square-foot store at 777 White Plains Road will occupy the space once held by and Acme store that closed last fall. Can’t wait to see it.
Well, that’s a wrap for this month. Like I said earlier, here’s hoping that we are starting to come out of this a little bit and I’m really hoping to see some of you sooner than later. Stay safe everyone! [email protected] or 201.250.2217.
