And…they’re off! Masks, that is. Just in time for Memorial Day, the traditional start of the summer season, the mask and social distancing mandates in the Mid-Atlantic region have been tossed, and this summer, there’ll be dancin’ in the streets,” …I mean dancin’ on the boardwalks all along the Jersey Shore. Does that mean the pandemic is officially over? Not a chance, but we remain optimistic that herd immunity will take hold sooner rather than later.
More importantly, this month marks the forty something year Food Trade News is publishing its now infamous Market Study. We all know that these past 16 months have been surreal for everyone, but for those in the food business, it has been extremely stressful and frustrating, yet in most cases, profitable. This year’s study will reflect that point as we bring you the statistics and expert market share analysis from this pandemic year that you can find only in the pages of this publication. We cover all channels of retail distribution in the 70 counties in Connecticut, New York New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware that make up our footprint. We also make this important issue available online throughout the year at foodtradenews.com so you have access to the most comprehensive information at your fingertips. Preparing an issue of this magnitude truly takes a group effort and a lot of time, so I offer up a resounding round of applause to our Best-Met team: Jeff Metzger, Terri Maloney, Karen Fernandez, Kevin Gallagher, Beth Pripstein, the E-Ink team – particularly Jenny Jones and Matt Danielson – as well as the good folks at Evergreen Printing for a job well done. Finally, to you, our readers and advertisers in print and online, a grateful thank you for your continued support of this Market Study and every one of the issues we publish, especially this past year. One thousand thanks…mille grazie!
What has 20 gas pumps, 10 electric car charging outlets, a “Beer Cave” and an identity crisis? Answer: the newest Wawa in the City of Philadelphia, which has been dubbed the “Stadium Store” due to its proximity to the South Philadelphia stadium complex. Situated at the base of the Platt Bridge on 26th Street and Penrose Avenue, Philly’s newest Wawa is a much more welcoming site than the industrial car and appliance crushing eyesore that stood in its place for many years. This busy store will be manned by a team of approximately 50 associates and will add Wawa’s newest food innovations (soft serve ice cream, pasta, burgers and fries) to an already ginormous menu with Wawa brand favorites, including the award-winning Wawa coffee (195 million cups sold annually), the Sizzli breakfast sandwich, Wawa’s new line of specialty beverages (hot, cold, iced and frozen), the Wawa Bakery, Wawa’s built-to-order hoagies (125 million sold annually) and the c-store retailer’s beverage line of dairy products, juices and teas, which is how it all began back in 1902. But the big deal is that this new Philadelphia store will be the first and only Wawa in the city with beer sales, and one of six in the State of Pennsylvania. In true Wawa fashion, Wawa celebrated the new store’s opening in a big way with a ribbon cutting ceremony on June 17 with VIP customers, local officials and charity partners participating. The Wawa “Welcome America!” Festival over the Fourth of July weekend was also promoted, plus there was a bonus sports tie-in – the announcement of Wawa’s support for the City of Philadelphia’s bid to host FIFA World Cup 2026 matches. The event featured free coffee all day, beginning with a first cup coffee toast with Philadelphia Union Captain Alejandro Bedoya and Wawa CEO Chris Gheysens. Free Philadelphia Soccer 2026 T-shirts were given out to those attending and showing their support for the city’s official bid to bring the world’s game to Philadelphia. A preview of an interactive exhibit was shown. “Philadelphia Soccer 2026 Pitch” at the Independence Visitor Center will launch during the “Welcome America!” Festival to encourage the public to show their support for the FIFA World Cup 2026. “Hoagies for Heroes,” a popular hoagie building competition between local youth soccer teams from Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer and first responders rounded out the opening day events, with the presentation of checks and trophies to Philadelphia Parks and Recs soccer programs.
But I digress. I took a ride down to visit this mega store four days after it opened to see what all the excitement was about. Yes, the store is big, but it is also dim with charcoal grey tiles adorning many of the walls and darker floors – there’s no signature Wawa brightness. There are two seating areas and customers are allowed to drink up to two beers on the premises in those seating areas, so tailgating before games is not really an option. The Beer Cave is consumer-friendly with cans and 12 packs available, but it comes with a security guard. Ice cream is available in three areas. Soft serve behind the counter, Mini Melts in a freezer case tucked away in a corner and a three-foot freezer door toward the back of the store that housed ice cream novelties. What? There are five touch screen computers for ordering and plenty of open space for waiting. I learned that the first few days were going okay but, as with most retailers these days, they were having out-of-stock issues and logistical problems with their major supplier. Did I say retailers? Here is where the identity crisis question comes in. I left perplexed and my thought was: Wawa, what are you becoming? Fast food, c-store (but they don’t sell batteries), a seller of fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), a packaged goods store or all of the above? Can you be everything to everyone and succeed? I don’t know the answer, but I am sure it will play out over the next year or so. As for me, the jury’s still out. Wawa didn’t fare as well as many retailers in other channels during the peak of the pandemic, so maybe this is part of a restructuring of our sentimental favorite that’s recently received national attention from HBO’s limited series, “Mare of Easttown.”
Retailers have not backed down from their charitable endeavors throughout the pandemic, giving to the underserved, including pets housed in shelters. Earlier this month, Weis Markets announced that its stores raised $391,000 for more than 120 local animal shelters and pet rescue organizations during its 12 annual “Paws for Pets” program. “We’ve worked with many of these local rescue organizations for more than a decade and know the good work they do,” said Ron Bonacci, VP-advertising and marketing. “The generosity of our customers helps them during a time of peak demand. Since 2009, our associates have helped raise more than $2.5 million dollars in donations for pet shelters and rescue organizations near our stores. We are grateful for their continued support.” Weis Markets’ Roosevelt Road store in Bloomsburg, PA, was the company leader, raising $6,380 for the Animal Resource Center in neighboring Millville. Its Tannersville, PA store raised $5,838 for the Animal Welfare Society of Monroe County. The company’s stores in Northeast PA, the Poconos and Northern New Jersey raised $49,350. The furbabies were most certainly appreciative.
Weis Markets continues to do more good deeds for the communities they serve. As COVID-19 continues to impact everyone’s lives, the most vulnerable being children and youth, especially those in foster care. Weis Markets recently announced the successful completion of a month-long round-up at the register program to support the iFoster Hope campaign. On behalf of Weis Markets, Bonacci presented a $250,000 check to iFoster, the national nonprofit that is operating the iFoster Hope campaign. These funds will provide children and youth in foster care in the seven states Weis serves with the resources and services they most need to reach their potential. “We live and work in the communities we serve and believe in giving back to causes that help children,” said Bonacci. “iFoster targets support and resources to help at risk youth live better lives. We are grateful to our customers for their support and have complemented their generosity with a corporate donation.” Serita Cox, iFoster Co-Founder & CEO remarked, “We are so grateful to Weis Markets for launching the iFoster Hope campaign to support local children and youth in foster care and those aging out. These funds will make a real difference in the lives of foster kids in all of the communities Weis Markets serves.” As I have said many times, the food industry, as a group, is among the most generous, always making in difference in the communities they serve.
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 10 years since the Philadelphia Wholesale Produce Market (PWPM) opened its doors at 6700 Essington Avenue. After all that time, it remains the world’s largest (686,000 square foot) state-of-the-art, fully enclosed, fully refrigerated facility, providing an unbroken cold chain for the 19 perishable produce businesses that call it home. These businesses employ hundreds of people in both union and non-union positions and donate more than two million pounds of fresh produce to local charities every year. “We are proud to pave the way as a leader in cold chain management, product safety, staging, loading, security, and recycling,” said Mark Smith, general manager of the PWPM. “In addition to establishing the highest global standards for distributing produce, our goal is to divert as much waste from the landfill as we possibly can. Through anaerobic digestion and other environmentally friendly practices, we’ve reduced our waste stream by about 80 percent and continue to focus on that last 20 percent.” Veteran produce vendors who were a crucial part of making the dream of the PWPM a reality had only positive comments when asked about the move. “The past 10 years have gone by in the blink of an eye,” says Tracie Levin, general manager of M. Levin & Company, Inc. “We couldn’t have asked for a better facility to showcase our produce. The bright, clean (and of course ‘cool’) and spacious market that has become our home has been great for the merchants and all of the customers who shop at the PWPM.” Tom Kovacevich, president and COO of TMK Produce, agreed. “We are truly grateful for the opportunity to transact business here,” he says. “There is no better arena for wholesale produce trading anywhere on earth.” John Vena, president of John Vena Inc., said the key to planning and developing this facility was the collaborative spirit of the merchants. “We worked together and made it happen,” he said. “Ten years on, that same willingness to work together continues to push us all forward.” As the pandemic winds down and the world starts to open back up safely, the PWPM plans to officially celebrate this important birthday in early fall. “We want to thank everyone who helped us achieve this milestone and we look forward to serving the produce community for many years to come,” says Smith. The PWPM is open to the public and serves a range of produce buyers from the home cook to national supermarket chains. Find out more at pwpm.net.
The circle of life continues as we send condolences to the family of deli industry veteran Joseph Giuffrida, who passed away on March 4 at the age of 90. Born in Bridgeton, NJ, Joe co-founded Freda Deli Meats with his brothers in 1956 which served the Philadelphia/Delaware Valley area for 40 years. The company and its wholly owned subsidiaries – including C.D. Moyer Company, Kohler Delicatessen Meats, Inc., and Kohler Urban Renewal Corporation – was sold to American Family Brands in 1996. The son of the late Anthony and Angelina Giuffrida, Joe was predeceased by his beloved wife of more than 60 years Edith and siblings Josephine, Connie and Sam. He is survived by his three children James (Bobi), Dina Marie (Dante) and Joseph; seven grandchildren; brothers Dominic, John, Freddy and Matthew; as well as many other members of a loving extended family. Rest in peace.
Taking another trip around the sun this month are: Phil Scaduto, Food Circus Supermarkets; Mark Tarzwell, Mrs. T’s; Jim Burke Sr. and Jim Burke Jr., Seafood America; Bill Derbyshire, Liberty Coca Cola; Doug Clemens, Clemens Food Group; Tom Morrison, Integrity Food Marketing; Nancy Rodgers-Fluharty, Pace Target Brokerage; Jeff Geiges, retired from Acme Markets; Ralph Nagle, Acme Markets; Terri Maloney, Food World/Food Trade News’ VP and editorial director; and the publisher and fearless leader of our organization Jeff Metzger. Buon Compleanno a tutti!
Quote of the month: “Big change starts small.” Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
Maria can be reached at 443.631.0172 or [email protected]