Greetings all. I hope everyone had an enjoyable and productive summer and was able to accomplish whatever was on your “to-do” list. The fall season is just getting under way and the event and dinner circuit is starting to kick in, so I hope to see many of you out there, and I hope you all remain diligent in your safety protocols.
As we were getting ready to go to press with this issue, I learned that good friend Rich Durante has been appointed as CEO at Citarella. Rich was a longtime Kings Food Markets/Balducci’s employee, eventually rising to the position of president/COO at the upscale grocer before spending nearly five years at The Fresh Market as chief merchandising officer. Citarella operates seven retail locations, a commissary and a wine & spirits store. As soon as we get all of the details on Rich’s new responsibilities we will pass them along in our next issue of Food Trade News.
Good news came to the offices of Associated Supermarket Group (ASG) as Livoti’s Old World Market has joined the ASG retail network of independent stores. Livoti’s Old World Market, established in May of 2010 in Aberdeen, New Jersey by John Livoti and his family, has grown to four locations in 11 short years with the most recent opening in Freehold, NJ at the site of the former Top Tomato. In its more than a decade of business, Livoti’s has established itself as a household name in central New Jersey with beautifully decorated stores which create a warm and inviting atmosphere that complements the thousands of items made in house every day. The complete market offers a wide variety of traditional and Italian specialties. The market also offers gourmet and premium bakery, produce, meat, deli, mozzarella, olive bar, grocery, dairy, frozen, seafood and catering departments and Livoti’s prides itself on quality, consistency, and freshness, key factors to their success. The four Livoti’s stores are located in include Marlboro, Middletown, Aberdeen and the aforementioned Freehold.
Livoti’s reached out to ASG to help drive their center store business with localized ad programs through traditional and digital formats, as well as deepen its relationships with DSD suppliers.
“We are using analytical data comprised of category sales and consumer preferences. These insights will allow the store to merchandise and carry the top-selling grocery, dairy, and frozen
items at competitive prices.” said Ken Scher, SVP-business development for ASG.
“We believe ASG will be a major key to improving our center-store sales and competitiveness. Their strong DSD support as well as excellent customer support is very crucial to help us tackle issues we face during these times like out-of-stocks, product delivery, social media, and marketing,” said John Livoti. “We are constantly trying to improve in all facets, & we believe ASG will help us achieve those results,”
“Having Livoti’s join ASG’s network will propel both companies to achieve further growth,” said Joe Garcia and Zulema Wiscovitch, co-CEOs and co-presidents of ASG. “ASG will provide Livoti’s the merchandising and product assortment needed to respond to their customers’ needs.”
Congratulations to both parties.
We were saddened to learn that all around good guy Michael Lamb passed away at the age of 70 in early August with his family by his side. Mike was a lifelong New Jersey resident born, having been raised in Scotch Plains and then raising his own family in Wayne. Many knew Mike from his vast experience in the meat and seafood industry. His last position before retiring in 2016 was with Kings Food Markets/Balducci’s as director of meat sales and merchandising. However, many also interfaced with Mike from his many years at A&P and Twin County Grocers in similar capacities, and even after retiring from King’s he continued as a consultant for several food chains. He was the beloved husband of Patricia, and incredibly loved father of Michael Gove Lamb and his wife Haley of Hope, ME, Ryan Lamb of Wayne, and Allison Lamb of Honolulu and Oakland, CA; cherished grandfather of Alwin; dear brother of Patrick of Springfield, NJ, Christopher of Westfield, NJ, the late Mary Lamb and the late William Lamb; and several nieces and nephews. The family asks that anyone looking to remember Mike consider making a donation in his name to the Wayne Fire Company #5, 5 Lake Drive W, Wayne NJ 07470. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
A big tip of the hat to the Dean Janeway, George Knobloch and the team at Key Food Stores on bringing back quite possibly the greatest show on earth – the Key Food Selling show! While the pandemic put a hold on the last couple of Key Food shows, it was all systems go for this recent edition of one of the most fun trade expos in the food industry. The show was held at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island and while there was some apprehension regarding the number of store owners and store level personnel that would show up, all apprehension was quickly alleviated, as the show was full, crowded and productive. A tropical theme with the usual menagerie of outrageousness really makes this show a must see every year, and the Key Food team brings a level of enthusiasm which just further enhances the experience. Well done, all.
It was interesting to hear while at the show how well the transition to new wholesaler supplier UNFI was going for the Key Food owners. The preliminary phase of supply included only non-perishable items, but every owner I spoke with proclaimed how well and smooth the entire process was going, and how eager they were for the continued rollout. Switching suppliers is generally not high on any independent operator’s list of favorite things to do, and when you combine that with a changeover to a new state-of-the art 1.3 million square foot distribution center (in Allentown, PA) you would think it would be a recipe for disaster. Well, thus far that is hardly the case. Congrats to both parties on the initial phase of the rollout and we’ll keep an eye out for the continued ramp up of the effort.
Well for the first time that I can ever recall, the National Supermarket Association (NSA) will hold its annual gala outside of New York City. The NSA Annual XXXII Anniversary Gala will be held on October 30 at Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, CT. What first started many years ago at Terrace on the Park and so quickly grew in prominence that it had to move to bigger accommodations like the Marriott Marquis and/or the Grand Hyatt in midtown Manhattan, the big extravaganza will now move north (no doubt due to COVID restrictions in the NYC boundaries), but nonetheless will still bring out the more than 1,000 guests that are always in attendance for the soiree. For information on how to attend contact Denise Diaz at 718.747.2860 or email Denise at denise.diaz@nsaglobal.org .
From the world of artificial intelligence (AI), Wakefern Food Corp. and CB4 recently announced they will expand CB4 technology after a successful rollout in several ShopRite and Price Rite Marketplace stores. The CB4 app uses AI and machine learning to increase sales, save time, and allow for better tracking of products. “Our initial test of CB4 at several ShopRite supermarkets provided valuable insights to complement our existing operations without burdening our store teams,” said Cheryl Williams, CIO at Wakefern. “We are pleased to be expanding CB4 throughout ShopRite and Price Rite Marketplace and anticipate much success.”
The CB4 solution features an app that Wakefern first piloted in 2020 that has a high per-minute ROI, allowing a store’s team to spend less time each week tracking price mismatches, out-of-stock items, inventory discrepancies and other common back end issues. The CB4 app provides each store with a list of SKUs unique to its individual selling pattern and operating conditions to help prevent inventory discrepancies that can hold back replenishment and sales. The technology allows store teams to make quick fixes like updating the inventory management system, printing a new label, or taking items out of back stock. These quick adjustments can help meet customer demand and increase sales.
Also from the technological front, Allegiance Retail Services (ARS) announced the results of a pilot program that delivers a new digital experience for shoppers. The most significant element of the program is the implementation of new checkout terminals (NTRs) from AppCard that make shopping easier, more convenient and relevant for the customers and the stores. The NTRs were tested in three Foodtown supermarkets and additional stores are in the pipeline. QR codes are posted throughout stores for shoppers to see specials, recipe ideas, and more.
Jack Shakoor, owner of a Super Foodtown that was one of the test stores, stated, “We are seeing a higher level of engagement with our shoppers by delivering an exceptional digital experience, especially with the digital coupons and digital receipts. The NTRs are giving us a more fully painted picture of our customers and what drives their purchases so we can plan accordingly to meet their needs.”
The NTRs enable shoppers to enroll in and update club cards, opt-in for SMS messaging to receive notices of specials, download digital receipts, receive digital coupons for their next shopping order based on purchase history, and more. The NTRs are one element of ARS’s Go Digital and Save program. “By using AI at checkouts to gather data, which is what the NTRs do, stores will be able to provide a better shopping experience and move customer satisfaction in a positive direction, so critical in this time when consumers are faced with a multitude of purchasing choices,” said Donna Zambo, VP and CMO, ARS.
Well, that will do it for now, everyone. Hope you are all staying healthy and safe and I look forward to seeing you out in the trade. You can reach me at 201.250.2217 or kevin@foodtradenews.com.
