Daniel Katz, co-president of PSK Supermarkets and CEO and chairman of Allegiance Retail Services (ARS), died November 6 at the age of 57 after a battle with cancer. He passed away at home surrounded by family.
In a special board meeting following Katz’s passing, Lou Scaduto Jr., president of Food Circus Supermarkets, was elected to serve as Allegiance’s CEO and chairman of its board of directors. “Dan’s contribution to Allegiance as both an operating member and CEO and chairman can be characterized in one word – outstanding,” stated Scaduto. “His commitment to, and vision for the cooperative was inspiring.”
Along with his father Sydney, his brother Noah, and his associates at work, Katz and his family built a successful real estate company and a 13-store supermarket organization in the New York Metro region. The independent merchant was founded in 1956 by Katz’s grandfather Paul Katz. The retailer now operates stores under the Foodtown, Freshtown and Pathmark banners.
Dan leaves behind his PSK Supermarket family of more than 1000 associates, who he viewed as members of his extended family. He cared deeply about the well-being of everyone at PSK. He formulated bonus programs for the associates, safety protocols during the pandemic that led to procedures that were used across the country, and payments for people’s health care. He also crafted retirement plans for associates, personal loan programs, health care programs to better people, and so much more.
His peers noted that Katz was passionate about negotiating deals, striving to make every business deal a win-win for both parties. He always wanted to know how he could create value for not only himself and his family, but for the people he worked with and the communities, no matter what the endeavor.
In business, his biggest recent achievement was leading the company’s transition to becoming an employee-owned company (ESOP), which PSK achieved in September of 2021. This solidified the company for another generation. Katz was always concerned about the long term for the company’s associates.
Katz was also involved with many other business, civic and philanthropic organizations including his role as chairman and chief executive of Allegiance Retail Services, LLC, the buying cooperative of 30 supermarket companies across the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania region. His leadership included helping the co-op through critical transformational periods that resulted in significant growth for the members, the supermarket vendor community, and most of all, competitive shelf prices for his supermarket customers.
“This is a profound loss,” said John T. Derderian, president and COO of ARS. “The strength of Dan’s leadership, wisdom and insight can be seen in the confidence with which our co-op members operate. Dan believed in family – his own, his PSK family and that of our cooperative members. He continually looked for ways to strengthen bonds and to serve the best interests of the co-op.”
Katz was active in the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and he and his wife Laura have been extremely charitable, constantly donating their time and other resources to various organizations such as The Israeli FIDF and The International Rett Syndrome Foundation.
Katz is survived by his wife and four children – Jillian, Abigail, Victoria and Mitchell. He is also survived by his parents Susan and Sydney; brother Noah and sister-in-law Deborah; sister Meredith and brother-in-law Jay; and nine nieces and nephews.
In his free time, Katz enjoyed skiing, bicycle riding, exercising, spending time in nature, motorcycle riding, hiking, fishing and fixing up old cars. He was also an accomplished blues guitarist, spending hours writing his own songs and performing classics by Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page.