Hello, March! Spring is knocking on the door and winter is giving a last go at reminding us it will be back before we know it. Meanwhile, the Phillies opening day is an away game on March 30 against the Texas Rangers followed by the home opener on April 6 against the Cincinnati Reds. We Phillies Phans are hopeful for another run for the World Series this season, do you hear that Houston? The 2023 food industry golf season begins on May 1 with the MAFTO Golf Outing at Commonwealth Golf Club. For registration for this and all the other events coming our way, check out the Trade Calendar on page 37.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences wasn’t the only group giving out awards this month. The Giant Company (TGC) celebrated the achievements of its team members at its annual business meeting held earlier this month. Fifteen awards were presented recognizing the recipients’ commitment to the company and their efforts to connect families for a better future.
“The dedication of our team members to serve our customers and our communities never wavers, as they continue to demonstrate every day how nimble, agile, and resourceful they can be,” said John Ruane, interim president, TGC. “We celebrate and honor these outstanding leaders who are always eager to take care of each other, their customers, and their communities.”
Store of the Year was awarded to a store in each of the company’s operating divisions. In the Mid-Atlantic division, the Giant at 106 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster, PA led by Hasija Hodzic and her store team and in the Greater Philadelphia division, the Giant at 4377 W. Swamp Road in Doylestown. PA led by Alan Carcifi and his store team were both recognized as the top stores of the year. Other 2022 award recipients include: Category of the Year, in fresh, the poultry package team led by Jim Brinser, category manager, was recognized, and the breakfast, baking, and spice team, led by Jennifer Rush, category manager, was honored in center store; Retail Team Member of the Year was presented to Rachel Sell, store employee associate and floral lead, Giant at 180 Upland Square Drive, Stowe, PA; Distribution Center Team Member of the Year was presented to Seybou Harouna Issifi, trainer, Perishable Distribution Center in Carlisle, PA; E-commerce Team Member of the Year was given to Ana Rodriguez, quality control/rotation clerk at the Lancaster, PA-based Giant Direct fulfillment center; Transportation Team Member of the Year was awarded to Steven Kitner, driver, a 14-year veteran of TGC; Support Center Team Member of the Year was awarded to Bailey Lehman, analyst, e-commerce; Simplify Shopping was presented to Joseph Lacagnina, director, format and integrity at TGC support office in Carlisle, PA; Inspiring Fresh Ideas was given to Peter Conklin, manager, design at TGC support office located in Carlisle, PA; Creating Healthier Communities was presented to Holly Doan, RD, LDN, manager of wellbeing activation at the support office located in Carlisle, PA; Grow Through New Opportunities was awarded to Robert Weber, store manager, Giant at 5005 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg, PA; Make a Difference was presented to Eric Johnson, store manager, Giant at 4930 Edgmont Avenue, Brookhaven, PA; Be You was presented to A.J. Rollins, divisional human resource manager in Philadelphia, PA. The President’s Award, TGC’s highest honor, which is voted on by all of the company’s living past presidents, will be presented during a special 100th anniversary celebration later this year. Congratulations all around!
This month marks the three-year milestone of the COVID-19 pandemic’s invasion of the USA. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients have been temporarily receiving an “extra SNAP” payment each month to help with the tremendous challenges brought on by the pandemic. Under this relief measure, SNAP recipients’ benefits were increased to the maximum amount for their household size. Those who already qualified for the maximum received an additional $95. These extra SNAP payments – known as SNAP Emergency Allotments (EAs) – have been a lifeline to those served by local food banks. While they started as part of COVID relief, they have also been a critical support as historic inflation has increased the cost of food and other basic necessities. EAs have been distributed to states by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and have been 100 percent federally funded. In 2022, Congress put an end to EAs in its end-of-year spending package and final EA payments were issued last month. In March, SNAP recipients will receive only their regular benefit amount.
“This is a huge, difficult loss for the communities we serve,” said Loree D. Jones Smith, CEO of Philabundance. “The end of EAs is sure to exacerbate food insecurity across our service area, creating a looming hunger cliff. We are now purchasing more food and we especially want to make sure we’re providing healthier foods for people. They do cost more, things like fresh produce and lean proteins, so we’re trying to get more donated, and secure more funding so we can purchase more,” she added. In 2022 alone, SNAP EAs provided a total of over $2 billion to Pennsylvania households and nearly $1 billion to New Jersey households. Each month, over one million households in Pennsylvania and over 4,000 New Jersey households received SNAP benefits. With the end of SNAP EAs, every household enrolled in the program will see their monthly benefits shrink by at least $95. Some larger families could experience monthly reductions of $250 or more. Naturally, this is devastating for millions of Americans who are facing food insecurity. Now, food banks like Philabundance are seeing not only higher food prices, but also experiencing fewer donations, forcing them to use more funds to buy groceries. The loss of SNAP EAs will hurt not only SNAP recipients, but also charitable food providers like Philabundance, food producers, retailers and more. It will create extremely high demand on food banks at a time when they have far less government support; are facing higher food costs; and are already having difficulty meeting existing demand. Food banks alone cannot make up for a benefits’ loss of this magnitude. In addition, given SNAP’s economic multiplier effect of $1.50-$1.80 for every SNAP dollar spent, the ripple effect will be felt across our entire economy. Why am I telling you this and what can you do to help? If you are a part of this industry, you can contribute in some way. Instead of sending still good products to the landfill, make the call to see if it is viable for donation to the food bank in your area. Packaging discontinued? Make that call. Participate in the MAFTO Community Care Package Program by buying a box or two, or 10! Believe in the fight to end hunger, write that check. Whether it’s a food bank, pantry or community soup kitchen, they all need our help. The need has been high since 2020, but now it is critical that we do our part to help the food insecure have the nutrition they need to stay healthy.
In late February, NJBIZ, New Jersey’s leading business journal, released their 2023 Power 100 List. The list identifies individuals who, through their efforts, are helping to make New Jersey a better place to live, work and do business. Included in this year’s list are many New Jersey food industry leaders. We send congratulations to: Joseph Colalillo, chairman and CEO of Wakefern Food Corporation; Richard Saker, president and CEO of Saker ShopRites; Bob Unanue and Peter Unanue, CEO and executive vice president respectively, Goya Foods; Mark Clouse, CEO, Campbell Soup Company; and Linda Doherty, president and CEO of NJFC. Well done!
Celebrating another trip around the sun this month are: Dan Croce, Sprouts Farmers Markets; Bill Sumas, Village Supermarkets; Jeff Brown, Philadelphia Mayoral candidate; Sandy Brown, Brown’s Family Markets; Bob Unanue, Goya Foods; Bill Carter, Knauss Foods; Dave Andrews, Kreider Farms; and Ed Burda, retired Utz Snacks. Buon compleanno a tutti!
Happy Passover, Happy Easter and a generous Ramadan to all of our readers who celebrate these holidays.
Quote of the month: “A woman is like a teabag – only in hot water do you realize how strong she is.” Nancy Reagan
Maria can be reached at 443.631.0172 or [email protected].