Greetings everyone. Well, beach and pool time are here and the thermostat is soaring. Golf outings are in full swing and, regardless of yet another wave of COVID, it has been great to see so many of you coming out to the industry trade events and networking and socializing again.
The National Supermarket Association (NSA) is ramping up its annual sales and trade show to new levels. The event was originally conceived to attract companies seeking to showcase and sell their products and services to buyers and owners from the NSA’s 400+ independent supermarket sector base. It offers a unique opportunity to interact with many of these supermarket owners and managers under one roof. Well, this year the big association is turning the one-day selling event into a three-day business conference. Set to take place August 29-31, the first two days will consist of executive business forums and conferences. The first day will be for domestic based businesses and the second day will offer an international business forum where foreign companies will be on hand to present and discuss opportunities for their products and services to be available for NSA members. The second day will also feature keynote speaker Bob Unanue, CEO of Goya Foods. The culmination of the three days will be the annual sales and trade show held at Resort World Casino in Jamaica, Queens. The NSA welcomes all vendors, brokers, manufacturers, suppliers, service providers, food managers, supermarket owners, importers, merchandisers, advertising agencies and distributors. I have it marked on my calendar; for more information or to participate in any aspect of the NSA Trade Show and Conference, contact Denise Diaz at [email protected].
Kudos to Cibao Meat Products which held its eighth annual softball tournament at Franz Sigel Park on the Grand Concourse in the Bronx. The tournament was organized by Jaline Isidor, marketing director at Cibao Meat Products, but it had been forced to take a pandemic hiatus. As Jaline told us, “We are proud to be here again, especially after the pandemic, to continue doing this as we have done for the past few years.” The event is dedicated to the late sports promoter Wilfredo Torres and was won by the Dominican Sports and Cultural Center team. Cibao Meat Products hosted samplings and tastings of all of their products throughout the day and duration of the tournament to the overflow crowds. Well done, CIbao Meat Products!
I have had the chance to speak with many independent owner operators over the last few weeks, and more specifically, ones who operate in urban areas. We have discussed many different topics from supply chain to labor to the pandemic…you get the picture. Unfortunately, though, there has been a common thread amongst all of the conversations – the rampant shoplifting and theft occurring in their stores and the lack of response from city officials. One such owner, Ivan Arguello of the Key Food on Montague Street in Brooklyn Heights, said his store (co-owned with Enrico Palazio) is only one of many that has been consistently targeted by organized thieves known as “boosters.” He told me these thieves are part of an underground economy that is feeding off legitimate businesses. “If someone is homeless, I give them something to eat. Most of these people are not homeless, this is an organized operation. We catch people on an almost daily basis, and there is not one week that goes by that we don’t get at least three to four.” He also said the average dollar amount stolen by a thief in one visit is between $120 -$200. They mostly steal laundry detergent and meat, followed by frozen shrimp and then sell the goods to other stores on a quasi “black market”.
His shelves are becoming bare and he doesn’t know if he is going to order more of these items.
Additionally, with the crime escalating in the boroughs and these aggressive shoplifters in his store, his staff is becoming afraid to come to work. He continued, “My staff are hard-working class people, they should never be exposed to danger at the work site.” He worries that residents of his neighborhood are not aware of what’s happening to their local businesses, and that if nothing is done, stores could and will close. “We employ over 65 people in the store,” he said. “That’s 65 families. Many of them have worked here for years. It really upsets me that the people in my store were heroes for two years during COVID and this is how the city of New York is paying us back!”
In speaking with others, we found out that some stores are starting to hire off-duty police to stand in their establishments with firearms visible to thwart any potential shoplifting. However, that is just another additional cost that the majority of independent owners cannot afford. What’s behind the surge in crime? Arguello believes that New York’s bail reform law is a major factor behind the surge in repeat offenders. “We are begging the governor of New York to review the bail reform,” he said. “The crime in my store has increased so much that we are hiring security, putting cameras all over the store.” In 2019, New York State adopted bail reform, ending the levying of cash bail in most cases involving misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies. The law went into effect in 2020, just as the pandemic devastated the economy and crime increased nationwide. There may be no easy answers or quick fixes to the situation, but Ivan has rallied a number of other business owners to address and press borough district attorneys and New York City staff for a swift resolution. Yet Ivan remains skeptical while he and others wait for a concrete plan of action from the city. He stated, “What kind of security is the DA going to offer us? Being patient is not enough.” Here’s hoping Ivan and all of the inner-city independent owners and businesses DO receive a swift and positive response and resolution to the situation, and we will keep you updated on the progress.
Congratulations to Bridget Maloney, manager of shopping marketing and events at Krasdale Foods, on the birth of her first child, Kennedy Mae, a healthy and beautiful daughter on May 12. All the best wishes and welcome to parenthood, Bridget!
And finally, I have been sworn to secrecy, so I do apologize, but there are a few industry execs and family members who are in grave health, and if we could all say a few silent prayers for good health for all us in this industry it might go a long way with the Big Guy upstairs.
That’s all for now, everyone. As I originally stated, it has been really great to see so many of you
out at all of the events and dinners. I look forward to all of the upcoming affairs and hopefully we can connect in person. If not, give me a shout at 201.2502217 or email me at [email protected].