It’s July, so that means Christmas is just around the corner for all of us. Recently, Acme announced that it is once again getting into the spirit of the holidays by supporting the 2021 “PHestivaL of Trees” event in November. It is an activity for adults and families to kick off the holiday season. This three-day event, to be held in Oaks, PA at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, is an annual holiday-themed family experience featuring uniquely decorated holiday trees and gingerbread houses, live entertainment, gift boutiques and of course Santa and Mrs. Claus will be in attendance. An added benefit is that proceeds from the event will benefit local animal shelters and rescues. Acme is inviting companies to join them to have brands or products in front of more than 10,000 attendees by signing up to decorate a tree in person the week before the event. All brands from all categories are welcome to participate. Acme asks that vendors create a holiday themed tree or utilize products or decorations that will be available at Acme. These custom trees will be on-site in the Acme “Fresh Foods, Local Flavors Forest” for attendees to view and purchase afterwards. Vendors can make this a team effort with family, friends or colleagues. In addition, vendor coupons or items are welcomed for distribution to attendees as they exit the event. Besides having products or brands on display, for a company’s $100 donation and decorating effort, each vendor will receive two complimentary tickets to the event and each vendor contribution will be helping local animal shelters and rescues.
To register go to https://www.phestivaloftrees.com/acme.
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association’s (PFMA) 2021 annual conference returned to its in-person format for two days of sessions at the Gettysburg Hotel at the end of June. Members, vendors and presenters gathered for the first time in 18 months, discussing a range of topics that highlighted sustainable practices, digital communication, tobacco and gaming. A virtual session with PA House Minority Leader Joanna McClinton covered the recently passed Pennsylvania budget as well as challenges faced by the food retail industry. “After more than a year of navigating trials brought on by the pandemic, it was great to get these industry leaders together in person once again and talk about the future of the food retail industry,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of PFMA. “The conference provides a valuable opportunity to network, brainstorm and plan for what’s ahead. Thank you to our members, presenters and vendors for sharing their insight and helping to make this year’s conference a success.” At its annual conference dinner at the Gettysburg Museum and Visitors Center, the PFMA honored Nicholas Bertram, president of The Giant Company (TGC), with its Food Industry Trailblazer Award. “As the food retail industry navigated many changes that resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, the best leaders anticipated and adapted to these changes,” said Tom Cormier, chair of the PFMA Board of Directors and manager of government affairs for Ahold Delhaize USA. “Nick learned to never put himself above any person or any work,” Cormier added. “He has developed a unique culture at The Giant Company that values and celebrates every member of its 35,000-person team.”
“It’s nice to finally be rebounding. It’s nice to finally have our eye on the future,” Bertram said when receiving the award. “All of us here tonight are blazing some kind of a trail. I think it’s possible. I think it’s one that will be healthier. I think it’s one that will be more inclusive. I think it’s one that will actually invite everybody, and I’m grateful to get the chance to build that with you all.” Bertram’s career in retail began more than 20 years ago at JCPenney. He moved onto Walmart as a part-time stocker and spent 12 years there, in a variety of positions. He later spent time at Jewel-Osco before joining Ahold Delhaize in 2013. In 2017, he took his current post as president of The Giant Company.
“Nick is an exceptional leader at The Giant Company and in the food retail industry. He continues to pave the way with new innovations in his work, all with a focus on team and family,” said Baloga. “We’re thrilled to honor his achievements.” Among those achievements are being the mastermind behind Marty the robot, rapidly accelerating the e-commerce business; leading the company’s charge into Philadelphia by introducing a successful urban format unique to the city, Heirloom Market; and unveiling a first-of-its-kind, two-level grocery store, Riverwalk; among other innovations. Last year, Bertram oversaw the unveiling of The Giant Company’s new brand platform, “For Today’s Table,” which emphasizes how sitting down for a meal connects families and creates stronger communities, ultimately leading to a better tomorrow for us all. His focus on team and community has led to many accolades. Bertram is chair for the board of directors of the Pennsylvania Chamber. He is also co-chair of the corporate council and a member of the Foundation Board of Overseers for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Well deserved, Nick. Congratulations!
The next PFMA event is its fall legislative conference October 26 and 27 at the Hershey Country Club. Details to follow soon.
Weis Markets is pleased to announce that its “Selling Solutions” in-store sampling program is re-launching the weekend of August 27. The retailer cited results from an Ad Age survey in June showing that consumer sentiment towards sampling is stronger today as shoppers seek normalcy through the in-store shopping experience. In fact, 65 percent of consumers said they will engage with in-store sampling when it returns and two out of three consumers stated they are more likely to purchase a product as a result. There is a strict six to eight week lead time, so vendors are encouraged to act quickly. To learn more about the program and the benefits for your company, contact Misty Fontanini at 641.275.1226 or mfontanini@interactionsmarketing.com.
The has pandemic proven that the food industry is most resilient and continues to put forth a herculean effort to help our country as we navigate through one of the most significant crises in our lifetimes. What we learned is that we have some stellar talent in our industry. What’s also been made clear is that we need to recruit the best and the brightest to become the next generation of leaders: employees with substantial food industry knowledge, exceptional critical thinking skills, and strong people management capabilities. Saint Joseph’s University (SJU) in Philadelphia has one of the oldest and most established food marketing programs in the country. Students in the program learn the specifics of the food industry while in school, flattening the learning curve for new food industry hires. These students are vested in the industry; they understand and enjoy it, which results in improved employee retention. In order to secure the continuity of our industry, the Academy of Food Marketing has created The Future Food Industry Leaders Program (FFIL) at SJU. Its purpose is, “to develop strong talent to keep the industry sustainable,” says George Knobloch, chief operating officer at Key Food Stores Cooperative and the vice chair/treasurer for the SJU Academy of Food Marketing Board of Governors. To do that, there must be a revenue model for the Academy of Food Marketing to support scholarships, experiential learning, co-op education, internships, and most importantly, job placement for SJU Food Marketing students. SJU offers both a major and a minor in food marketing, as well as M.S., MBA, e-MBA and certificate programs, so whether there is a program to fit everyone’s needs, for all levels, from incoming freshman to seasoned industry veteran. SJU is asking the industry to join in supporting the FFIL – a retailer-driven, recurring, annual program consisting of two events, the East Coast Joint Retailer Reception held in October and the week-long Rising Star Training Conference held in the spring. The benefits are many: a robust pipeline of entry-level talent; a valuable continuing education conference for your current rising stars; and extraordinary industry networking opportunities. All proceeds raised from this program will support the above-mentioned programs at SJU. Please contact Alison Nolan at anolan@sju.edu for more information on how to become a part of this new and exciting program. THWND!
The circle of life continues as we welcome little Miss Delaney Grace Tilton, first grandchild of NJFC President Linda Doherty and her husband Bill Tilton. Baby Delaney arrived on July 20, weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces. She and her parents, Drew and Stacey Tilton, are healthy and happy and Grandmom Linda is over the moon, buying lots of pink baby clothes. Congratulations!
After a lifetime career in the food industry, Ed Burda of Utz Snacks has decided to take a walk into the sunset, hanging up his bags of pretzels and chips to enjoy the fruits of his labor. Ed hails from the Pennsylvania coal country. After college, he began his journey in the food industry at Lipton Tea Company. After a few stints with a couple of CPGs and a broker, Ed worked for Best Foods Baking for a total of 10 years followed by 17 years at Pepsi and the last 11 years at Utz, all the while moving up the ladder to his final position as SVP of core sales. He covered a large territory including the Midwest and the East Coast. Ed was also a fixture on the food industry’s social scene, enjoying events and golf outings. Ed and his wife Andrea are planning to do some traveling and give back to the community while keeping their roots in Central Pennsylvania. Happy trails, Ed!
Are you having FOMO because you haven’t seen the Food Trade News 2021 Annual Market Study? No worries, the Market Study is available throughout the year online at www.foodtradenews.com or you can contact us at office@foodtradenews.com and a printed copy can be mailed to you for $125.
Birthday shout outs for the patriotic month of July go to: Mike Rothwell, Pennington Market; Joe Fantozzi, Allegiance Retail Services; Jim McCaffrey III, McCaffrey’s Markets; Maurice Christino, Cento Foods; Wayne Couts, Burris Logistics; Dr. Joe D’Angelo, SJU; and special birthday wishes to my son, Gino Marfuggi Jr.
Quote of the month: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.” Winston Churchill
Maria can be reached at 443.631.0172.
