Greetings everyone and welcome to the holiday season. Can you believe that we are already at the end of the calendar year? This year more than others seems to have sped right by and brought us to the doorsteps of the holidays. And in that light, some customers have started the festivities by holding celebrations on large scales.
The team at Krasdale Foods pulled out all stops and put on a top notch event with their 114th Anniversary Gala. Held at Pier Sixty on the Chelsea Piers in New York City, the Halloween-themed celebration had more than 500 attendees and the majority of the guests went all-out with their getups! (See the photos on page 19 of this issue, or go to foodtradenews.com to see some extras). Kudos to Bridget Maloney, marketing manager at Krasdale Foods, and the team of associates that she orchestrated to pull off one heck of a stellar event! Well done!
Also at Krasdale, the big wholesaler is teaming up once again with the New York Yankees to help feed those in need in the communities they serve with their annual holiday food drive which will be held December 7 at Yankee Stadium. Any person who donates 30 pounds of non-perishable food will receive two tickets for a Yankees game in 2023. Additionally, the Yankees will be distributing more than $200,000 to area residents in the form of $25 shopping vouchers to be used at C-Town and Bravo supermarkets. This highly successful program has been in place for many years and continues to bring good will and smiles to all involved during the holidays. Great job by all at Krasdale and the Yankees organization. And, maybe I’ll see some of you up at Yankee stadium on the 7th.
Wayne Pesce, president of the Connecticut Food Association (CFA) and his team held a very successful CFA Retailer of the Year dinner at Foxwoods Resort and Casino in Ledyard, CT. The Nutmeg State association honored all ShopRite Supermarkets in Connecticut and, boy did the crowd show up. More than 350 attendees were on hand to witness the parade of ShopRite groups and owners, including Cingari/ Grade A, Cohen/Waverly, Capano/Five Star Supermarkets, Garafalo/Milford Markets, Joseph/Joseph Family Markets, and Drust/Drust Markets. Additionally, Bob Unanue of Goya Foods accepted the Community Service award and Mike Noel of Tomra NA received the Next Generation Leadership award. Congratulations to all!!!
After a three-year hiatus, the Friends of the Food Industry (FOFI) gathered once again at the Hackensack golf club in Oradell, NJ for its annual gala. FOFI was formed 10 years ago to provide financial assistance to people employed in the food industry and/or their families that have fallen on difficult times. More than that, the group has done a terrific job in bringing together all corners of the trade to support their directives to give back to our own people in the industry. At the recent event, Mike Ryan, former executive director of the Eastern Frosted Refrigerated Foods Association (EFRA) made a significant donation to FOFI to help its efforts. The EFRA (originally the EFFA) was founded in 1937 and was one of the premier trade organizations in the area. Unfortunately, as has happened in our industry, groups find they have a lifespan and a timeline and the EFRA ceased operations several years ago. On behalf of the defunct organization, Mike donated the remainder of the group’s funds to FOFI – $288,000.00! As he told the gathering, “Much like FOFI, the EFRA identified a need in the industry. Tonight, I’m here for the sole purpose of sharing the results of the hard work of countless men and women of the frozen and refrigerated foods business with you. It is with great honor and a bit of sadness that I present this check on behalf of the board of directors of the EFRA. Our hope is that it helps your group to continue to do the good work you have started.” A very nice ending to a once proud and influential organization.
Associated Supermarket Group (ASG) took off to another universe with its ASG annual holiday dinner. The event was held at the TWA Hotel at Kennedy Airport and, for those who have not been there, it is a time warp back to the days of the old air travel of the 50s and 60s, with a little bit of the Jetsons thrown in. Trust me, you have to see and experience it to believe it. More than 500 guests were on hand to mingle and network and to witness Anas Alamry and Musleh Alomari, owners of an Associated Supermarket and Prospect Market in Brooklyn, respectively, be recognized as the organization’s Retailers of the Year. Also, Luigi Vitelli and its broker representative B&A Food Brokers were awarded the ASG Vendor Partner of the Year. Special recognition to Michelle Mendoza, vice president of marketing and customer experience at ASG, (and her team) for putting a unique and spectacular evening!!
Congratulations to Jose and Ramon Urena on the opening of their new supermarket in Brentwood, Long Island. The new Compare Foods on Islip Avenue is 8,000 square feet and will serve a community that has been in need of a supermarket. The Urenas were raised in the food business, working in their father’s bodegas in Queens. The heavily Hispanic-Latino area of Brentwood (more than 75 percent of the population) offers the Urenas a good opportunity for success. Zulema Wiscovitch, co-president and co-CEO of ASG said, “Specialty and ethnic stores have been able to keep growing while mainstream chains have folded because they weren’t able to respond and adapt to changing customer needs. The diversity of Long Island has been growing for a long time and not just in the last couple of years. These ethnic stores respond to the changes in the neighborhood.”
And finally, on a sad note, we extend our deepest condolences to the Katz family and the extended family at PSK Supermarkets on the passing of co-president Daniel Katz. It is an absolute tragedy when someone passes at the young age of 57. Please see page one of this issue for the details if you hadn’t heard. Our industry will miss his intelligence, sincerity, leadership and likeability. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
That’s all for now. I wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday and hope that you are able to spend it with loved ones, family and friends. I’m looking forward to finishing out the year at the remaining trade functions and look forward to seeing many of you while we are out in the field. All the best and, as always, you can reach me at 201.250.-2217 or [email protected].