The Farmer’s Almanac has released its time-honored predictions for the winter of 2022 and it’s not looking good for our part of the country. While most of the U.S. is expected to have “flip-flop” conditions, more snow and frigid temperatures are indicated for the Mid-Atlantic with a nor’easter toward the end of March. Dare I say – begin stocking up now?
September is both Hunger Action Month and Family Meals Month. The past 18 months have shown us that the war on hunger is not even close to being won and the need to give is greater than ever. Whatever sector of the business we’re in, we all have an obligation to assist where we can, be it to seniors who find themselves short at the end of the month or to families who don’t have enough food to feed each child three meals a day. The history of the food bank and ultimately Feeding America, which initiated Hunger Action Month, began in the late 1960s when John van Hengel, a retired businessman in Phoenix, volunteered at a local soup kitchen. The story is that a conversation with a destitute mother who had had hit on hard times with 10 children to feed gave him the idea to create the concept of the food bank when she told him she was reduced to foraging in the backs of grocery stores where large amounts of food were discarded although technically still edible. So, in 1967, with $150 and a truck, van Hengel began gleaning fruits and whatever food he could find from retailers to bring back to the soup kitchen. He founded the world’s first food bank, named St. Mary’s in recognition of the Basilica that gave him the donation to begin his new venture. Fast forward to 1975 when he accepted a $50,000 federal grant which he used to establish 18 food banks across the U.S. In 1976 he left St. Mary’s and established America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network which has been known as Feeding America since 2008. Guided by van Hengel, this organization established food banking standards and guidelines as well as acquisition of food from national consumer products manufacturers. It was a win-win: businesses were able to cut the costs of disposing of unusable but edible food as well as receiving tax breaks by helping multiple charities. Since that time, Feeding America has grown to be the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief organization with a network of 200 food banks across the country feeding 42 million food insecure people, including 12 million children and 7 million seniors.
In 1983 van Hengel left America’s Second Harvest to establish Food Banking Inc., which became International Food Bank Services in 1991 and is now known as the Global FoodBanking Network. He served as a consultant to food banks around the world and oversaw the start-up of food banks on six continents until his death in 2005. He was truly a missionary. I encourage all members of the food industry to do your part, no matter how small, to aid in the eradication of hunger. It’s on us to make it happen.
Retailers have historically been big supporters of food banks in their communities. Our area is no exception. Weis Markets has launched its annual Fight Hunger in-store donation program in support of hundreds of local food banks and regional food pantries in its seven-state marketing area. The program runs through the end of September, coinciding with Fight Hunger month. “This is a tremendously challenging time for food insecure families in the communities we serve and the hundreds of food banks and pantries who serve them,” said Ron Bonacci, Weis Markets’ VP-advertising and marketing. “Our customers have been steadfast in their support for these organizations in the past, and we hope they will consider donating once again. As part of our program, Weis Markets will also continue to donate to our regional food bank partners.” This is Weis’ 14th annual Fight Hunger Campaign, which has raised more than $4 million in customer donations that have been supplemented by company donations.
September is here, children are back to school, and access to a healthy breakfast is critical to helping our community’s children and their families succeed. In honor of Hunger Action Month, Albertsons Companies has launched its Nourishing Neighbors Breakfast for Kids campaign across all banners. Once again, the Acme Markets Foundation’s Nourishing Neighbors Program is holding a fundraiser to encourage customers to donate money to help provide healthy breakfasts for children in need in their communities. All donations stay local to help fight hunger in the community where the donation is made. “One of the goals of Nourishing Neighbors is to ensure the children in our communities have access to healthy meals so that they can learn, grow, and succeed,” said Jim Perkins, president of Acme Markets. “We’re so grateful for our generous customers who help us continue to make large donations to local food banks and hunger-relief programs in our neighborhoods.” Each store is partnering with a local charity that will use the donations they collect to fund healthy breakfasts for children in need in each community. This year’s organizations include Share Food Program, Community Food Bank of NJ, Chester County Food Bank, Food Bank of Delaware, Foundation for Literacy and Learning, YMCA of Bucks County and various school districts and other local organizations. The program aims to eradicate childhood hunger in America by keeping food banks stocked and supporting meal distribution programs at schools. Albertsons Cos. set a year-long giving record in 2020 with $260 million in food and monetary donations to hunger relief agencies and food banks. Kudos!
The Giant Company (TGC) kicked off 30 days of hunger action in recognition of Hunger Action Month with its first-ever Giant Grocery Grab in Harrisburg, PA, where contestants shopped ‘til they dropped, raising awareness for local hunger relief organizations. In response to increased pressure put on the charitable food network, throughout September TGC is teaming up with its customers and supplier partners to raise awareness, donate funds and volunteer to help eliminate hunger in the communities it serves. “While The Giant Company is committed to helping our local food banks and pantries provide meals to families in need year-round, Hunger Action Month is a time to spark increased awareness and leverage our partnerships to help drive significant change within our communities,” said Glennis Harris, SVP-customer experience. The Carlisle, PA-based brand of Ahold Delhaize USA has donation, volunteer and awareness activities planned throughout September to support families facing food insecurity, including: distribution of 5,000 backpacks full of food to school kids in the Central Pennsylvania and Philadelphia communities; celebration of National Peanut Butter Day when for every 28-ounce jar of private label peanut butter sold in stores or online, TGC will donate a jar to local partner hunger relief organizations; TGC team members from across its operating region will participate in volunteer efforts on September 17 – Hunger Action Day – with food bank partners, from packing and organizing to harvesting and planting; and Stuff-a-Truck donation events will be held at TGC stores in Quarryville and Trexlertown, PA. In addition, every Tuesday in September, TGC nutritionists are hosting hunger action virtual classes focused on topics such as food insecurity, paying it forward, eating healthy on a budget and $4 meal inspirations. For more information about TGC’s ongoing hunger relief efforts, which include its Meat the Needs program that has donated more than 15 million pounds of meat that would otherwise have gone unsold to food banks, go to www.giantfoodstores.com.
Just in time for Family Meals Month, the ShopRite of Roosevelt Boulevard has announced the debut of “Fresh to Table”, an innovative and reimagined store-within-a-store concept where customers can find fresh, on-trend foods and easy-to-prepare ingredients and meal solutions in a variety of grab-and-go formats. Additionally, the concept offers new digital conveniences designed to help customers save time and money while providing great meals for their families. “The ShopRite of Roosevelt Boulevard has proudly served the Philadelphia community for more than 25 years, and we’re excited to introduce this new shopping experience in our store,” said Sean McMenamin, president of McMenamin Family ShopRite and a second-generation grocer who operates two ShopRite stores in Philadelphia. Designed within the store’s existing footprint, “Fresh to Table” reinvents traditional produce and fresh departments to provide inspired, high-quality options and ingredients for shoppers looking for a one-stop shop meal experience. These include sections with ready-to-cook items (Prep & Eat), ready-to-heat and serve items (Heat & Eat) and ready-to-eat meals (Grab & Eat). Convenient digital components such as ShopRite Order Express are available for customers to pre-order meals online, and distinctive signage and designated checkouts make the Fresh to Table in-store experience easy and intuitive. Another highlight of the new shopping experience is the “Tasty & Trending” section featuring on-trend, seasonal foods with items that change frequently. Fresh to Table will soon be coming to sister store ShopRite of Morrell Plaza.
The New Jersey Food Council’s (NJFC) 2021 Trade Relations Conference was held in-person at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City earlier this month. It’s the first in person event other than the summer golf outings the NJFC has held in more than 18 months due to COVID 19. It was good to see food industry folks out and about catching up. The program featured a presentation by Gary Hawkins of the Center for Advancing Retail & Technology (CART), on the future of technology in the food industry. Additionally, the conference included a panel discussion featuring Robert Jablonski of DoorDash, Ron Onarato of Inserra Supermarkets and Caroline Masullo of Peapod Digital Labs that was moderated by Nick Brown of KraftHeinz. “This forum is a unique opportunity for the state’s leaders in the food industry to discuss challenges, collaborations, and innovations in the food space,” said NJFC president and CEO Linda Doherty. “Our keynote speaker and panel really captured the minds of our member audience and provided a pathway for food industry members to evolve post-COVID-19 as new shopping habits such as online sales, home and personalized delivery, and curbside pickup are here to stay.” Additionally, Gary Capozzi of PepsiCo, was honored with the inaugural NJFC Jimmy Ostling Trade Relations Award, which has replaced the Max Stone Trade Relations Award. The conference concluded with an industry-wide golf outing at Seaview Golf Club the next morning.
Celebrating another trip around the sun in September are: Anthony Gigliotti, Boyer’s Markets; Ed Elborne, Mt. Olive Pickles; Nick Sborlini and Anne Marie Mozzone, Acme Markets; Fran Dolan, Herr Foods; Lauren Eni Canseco, Dietz & Watson; Joe Gardyan, Utz Snacks; Tom Kovacevich, TMK Produce; and Thom Nardi, Paradigm Partners. Buon compleanno a tutti!
L’shana Tovah – a sweet new year to our friends of the Jewish faith as you pray for a good year ahead.
Quote of the month: “If you can’t feed 100 people, then feed just one.” Mother Teresa
Maria can be reached at 443.631.0172