As the 2022 golf season winds down, it bears noting that this was an exceptional season, with good weather, good food, and friendship. The outings also benefit many charities, giving back to those less fortunate, or fighting the good fight of a life altering mental or physical disease. The generosity of the food industry never ceases to amaze. Keep up the good work and don’t let your golf swings get too rusty in the coming winter months!
The fall of 2022 has continued to see more shows and events coming back to being in person. The industry is reacting with genuine gratitude, enjoying the camaraderie for which it is famous. One, Expo East, had a tough time in 2021 when COVID spiked just before showtime. Many companies pulled out, but the show went on. Expo East made a big splash this year at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia with over 1,100 booths, including more than 400 new exhibitors showing their products and services. The show went on for three days, from September 29 to October 1 and trust me, it took at least two of those days to cover it. Even with what seemed like an endless supply of plant-based energy drinks and newfangled bottled waters on hand, the need to hydrate was evident as attendees were lined up at the booths that had any kind of liquid to offer. With the move from Baltimore last year came exhibit floor space all on one floor with room to grow, and ample space to sit, charge devices and have meetings. A perk of being in Philly was the use of the famous Reading Terminal train shed, where musical acts performed for show weary guests. Last year, I wrote that the biggest downside to the show was the option to wear/lack of attendee badges. Well, the powers that be must have received more than just my complaint; the badges were back this year, bigger than ever. I can’t talk enough about the quality of the exhibitors and attendees at Expo East, even though it is much smaller than its sister show, Expo West. Yes, there are huge CPGs exhibiting who continue to scoop up the smaller companies and the investor badge is something seen only at the Expo shows, but overall, the natural, organic, vegan, gluten free, plant based, and non-dairy categories are well represented. The quality and taste of the products are light years better than they were in years past and continue to improve. One need not go anywhere else to find the next big thing in any of these categories. The 2023 show is September 20-24 in Philadelphia.
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention is the premier event of the frozen and refrigerated food industry, where attendees can discover new products, connect with business partners, and grow their business. The event, hosted by the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) took place on October 15-18 at the Orlando World Center Marriott in Orlando, Fla.
The NFRA Convention brings together top companies from every segment of the industry. Different than most, NFRA provides its retailer members with complimentary meeting rooms to hold appointments throughout the convention. Over 1,300 attendees held an estimated 3,000 business appointments with leading retailers from around the country. The convention also provided the opportunity to make new connections, sample frozen and refrigerated products, hear from valuable speakers, and network with industry leaders. The popular Taste of Excellence reception kicked off the event on Sunday, October 16, where over 50 manufacturers showcased their products and, in many cases, the corporate chefs prepared the offerings. Attendees had the opportunity to interact with industry colleagues, introduce themselves to new contacts and sample the newest items in frozen and refrigerated foods. Monday morning began with breakfast speaker Alec Ross, former senior advisor for Innovation, U.S. State Department, and author of New York Times best-seller “The Industries of Future,” which dives into economical and tech trends that will shape the next 10 years. Monday’s membership luncheon served as the NFRA’s annual business meeting with the installation of new officers and directors, as well as the induction of the 2021 Frozen Food Hall of Fame members, Ray Tarnowski, retired from Philadelphia Warehousing and Cold Storage, and Richard Graeter, Graeter’s Ice Cream. The evening wound down with a networking reception, which was an excellent opportunity for all attendees to make connections whether they are veterans of the industry or new members. Tuesday’s breakfast speaker was Ken Jennings, author, gameshow host and most notably, G.O.A.T. Jeopardy player of all time, accumulating $2.5 million in winnings over his 75-game streak. He had a lot to tell the audience and related it all back to being a contestant on Jeopardy, something that changed his life. Jennings has authored 12 books, something he always wanted to do as an English major in college. He spoke about change and made key points all in the form of the dollar valued category questions on the show. $200: confidence comes from preparation; $400: always play to your strengths, find what makes you hardest to replace; $600: don’t take a paradigm for granted; $800: and most important, adapt or die (he spoke about how he had to change his approach to the game when he went against professional poker player James Holzhauer in the tournament of champions – he won using Holzhauer’s strategy) ; and $1000: knowledge is power, use your curiosity and attention – one can live a life in the form of a question. He was funny, self-deprecating, humble and wise. Made my day. The Tuesday awards luncheon recognized the 2022 Golden Penguin winners for the March Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month and June/July Ice Cream & Novelties promotions. Award winners with the highest scoring entries were revealed as “Top Marketers” during the luncheon. NFRA promotions help the industry drive traffic in the frozen food and dairy aisles and increase sales for many categories and brands. In recognition of those efforts, NFRA awarded 22 Gold awards and 16 Silver awards for June Dairy Month and 30 Gold awards and 31 Silver awards for Summer Favorites Ice Cream & Novelties. The Golden Penguin Awards provide an opportunity for companies from any segment of the industry to be nationally recognized for excellence in merchandising and marketing frozen and refrigerated foods. Entries were judged on their own merit taking into consideration organization size and/or program budget. Winning retailers representing our marketing area were Acme Markets and Safeway, both part of Albertsons Mid-Atlantic, and Weis Markets, and a winning manufacturer was Mrs. T’s Pierogies. The 2023 NFRA Annual Convention will be held in San Diego from October 7-10.
The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) celebrated state lawmakers and business leaders who are making a substantial difference in the food industry, as the Food Council Committee for Good Government held its 48th-Annual “Good Government” Breakfast October 6 at Forsgate Country Club in Monroe Township. As is the tradition, state lawmakers and food industry leaders discussed key issues and honored industry professionals and policy makers making a huge difference for New Jersey consumers. Attendees were updated on the statewide roll-out of the reusable bag campaign developed by the NJFC, the New Jersey Clean Communities Council and the New Jersey Business Action Center. The new law requires consumers to bring their own reusable bags to the store, rather than relying on single use plastic and paper bags that are often littered. Despite some hiccups along the way, most people are adjusting. As is the tradition, the event included bi-partisan comments about more productive civic discourse between government and business as all eyes look to the November 8 election, when all 12 House seats in New Jersey will be on the ballot. The annual event is sponsored by the Food Council Committee for Good Government, a non-profit political action committee that aids and promotes the election of state lawmakers who support the priorities of food retailers. “Food Council members are the anchor of our communities,” said Linda Doherty, president/CEO, NJFC. “New Jerseyans depend on our members for health and wellness, their generous charitable giving and support of our foodbanks and civic groups, and our community assistance during emergencies. That is why we possess a unique relationship with the public sector to promote business prosperity, support the health and wellness of New Jersey consumers, and advance a strong political agenda in New Jersey,” she added. Attendees saluted five honorees in business and government who are making an impact in the state’s food industry. This year’s winners are: Good Government Award – Jennifer Sweeney, head of government affairs and public liaison, Campbell Soup Company; Outstanding Legislator Award (Senate) – Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz (D) representing District 29 (Essex County), and Senate Majority Leader; Outstanding Legislator Award (Assembly) – Assemblyman John DiMaio (R), representing District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren Counties), and Assembly Minority Leader; Thomas W. Kelly Government Service Award – Nancy Scotto-Rosato, PhD, who recently accepted the role of interim assistant commissioner for the division of family health services; and Good Government Partner Award – JoAnn Gemenden, executive director of the New Jersey Clean Communities Council. The Food Council Committee for Good Government was formed in 1973 with the support of the NJFC to aid those responsible elected state officials and candidates who share a common objective for good government. Congratulations to all!
Celebrating birthdays this spooky month of October are: Chad Vilotti, Liscio’s Bakery; Frank Nardi, retired from Wakefern; Ray Nemeth, Snyder’s/Lance; Justine Giordano, Vincent Giordano Company; and Nina Weiland, FTN alumna. Buon compleanno a tutti!
Quote of the month: “I never regretted what I turned down.” Angela Lansbury
Maria can be reached at 443.631.0172