After three days of continuous monsoon rains, the sun shone on May 1 as the Mid Atlantic Food Trade Organization (MAFTO) golf outing went off without a hitch. There was no doubt that the weather would comply; it never rains on this outing…ever. Over 120 golfers enjoyed the unofficial start of the 2023 golf season at Commonwealth National Golf Club in Horsham, PA. Photos from the event are on page 21. Golf chair Bill Carter, Knauss Foods, and his committee put together an over the top, huge prize table and delicious dinner. Emcee Mark Phander, CAM Insurance, kept the evening moving since the Philadelphia 76ers had a playoff game later that night, so much so that he should consider emceeing as a side gig. Great job, Mark! Proceeds from the event go to the MAFTO scholarship program for college students. The other major focus for MAFTO is aiding in the fight to end hunger through the MAFTO Community Care Package. With vendor and retailer donations and corporate or individual purchases of the boxes, the funds raised go to local food banks which in turn supply the food insecure with ample healthy food. To date, this program has donated over $150,000 to Philabundance, Small Things and other food charities. To participate please reach out to Andy Marfopoulos, chair of the program, at [email protected].
Calling all advertisers! The 2023 Market Study will be published next month as it has been for the past 44 years. We take all channels of retail distribution in the 70 counties we cover, break them down and then put them back together in numerous forms. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to tell the trade what your company has to offer. Advertising in the Market Study issue also provides automatic online and print presence throughout the year. For more information, please contact me at [email protected]. We would love to include you in our coveted group of clients!
It is an absolute truth that people in the food industry are more than generous, but there is one independent retailer who stands above them all in terms of his generosity and goes about it without much fanfare. Ron Murphy, owner of Murphy’s Fresh Markets, was feted with a surprise 45th anniversary party on May 10 at Bishop Farmstead in Southampton Township, NJ. Ron was truly surprised (and almost speechless) by over 150 of his closest family members and personal and business friends. Even his wife Kathy was able to keep the secret! From humble beginnings as a grocery clerk at a Penn Fruit store in Philadelphia to today, Ron’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. He told the story, stopping at times to hold back tears, of how he found the last $10,000 needed to buy his first store in Medford Lakes. Tom Furia, who, at 96, was in attendance and doing quite well, founder of Penn Jersey Paper Company, heard that Ron needed the money, so he went to Ron and offered it. Five years later, Ron and Kathy had made enough money to pay him back. When Ron paid him, he said that he wasn’t sure how much the interest would be. Tom’s response was, “One day, when the opportunity presents itself for you to help someone, help them.” And the rest is history. Many of us know of Ron’s charitable work; and he considers it just that and not only a donation, because God has blessed him and his family in so many ways. Ron gives to his local community in many ways. In addition to the proceeds from his annual golf outing going to Saint Mary of the Lakes School, Ron sponsors an entire class at Sacred Heart Church School in Camden, NJ, and gives generously to Victoria Memorial Christian Schools, Medford Lakes Lions Club and the Medford Lakes Police Force, where a canine in training has been named “Murph” in Ron’s honor. Beyond that, he also gives to the global community. When he heard about a school in Ghana that needed a well for the children to have clean water to drink, done; Ron funded the construction. Ron has given to at least 143 charities over the last 40 years, and that doesn’t include what he and Kathy give personally. His son, Ron H., also gave an emotional speech about his dad bringing everyone to tears and a fabulous video was made featuring many Murphy’s Fresh Markets employees, past and present. Steve Carney, director of operations for the three-store chain, enlightened the guests with beautiful words defining who Ron Murphy is. He said, “Our faith teaches us that the definition of a saint is an ordinary person who does extraordinary things.” Ron, you have dedicated your life to the service of others, and yes, you are a saint. Congratulations on 45 years of success and continued blessings!
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) held its annual conference on May 9 and 10 at the Marriott at Penn Square, Lancaster, PA. The two-day session, led by president and CEO Alex Baloga, covered many topics of interest to retailers. In addition to the board of directors, wholesalers, and annual meeting on day one, The Trailblazer Award was given to Andrea Karns, VP sales and marketing at Karns Foods, during dinner that evening. Together with her sister, Megan and her cousin Mat Rudderow, Andrea is the third generation of the Karns family to run the 10-store supermarket chain that began as their grandfather David’s butcher shop over six decades ago. She spearheads various initiatives throughout the chain, including the company’s rewards card program, execution of promotional events and managing the production of weekly and monthly ads. In addition, she interacts with customers through various platforms, ensuring their questions, comments and concerns are recognized. Outside of her work obligations, Andrea is on the board of the Center of Dairy Excellence and is a member of the Elizabethtown College Leadership Council. Congratulations! Association members also honored the 2022 Thomas R. and Laura Ridge Scholarship awardees with a special message from Governor Tom Ridge. Day two consisted of three panel discussions: a WIC update; Tracking Trends and Loyalty Earned, which I was honored to moderate. The conference finished off with a “State of the State” lunch and learn with PA State Auditor Tim DeFoor. All good content for those in the retail food business in the state of Pennsylvania. A tip of the hat to the PFMA staff who worked diligently to make this conference a success. The PFMA Fall Legislative Conference will be held at the sweetest place on earth, the Hershey Country Club, October 10 and 11.
May 4 was the one-year anniversary of New Jersey’s Single-use Bag Ban and Plastic Law. Over the past year, the Garden State has eliminated approximately 8.4 billion single-use bags from its waste stream. The New Jersey Food Council is satisfied with the astonishing results of the bag ban, as billions of single use bags this past year no longer litter New Jersey’s waterways, parking lots and waste streams. With approximately 2,000 grocery stores in the state, they estimate this law has helped eliminate 13.7 million paper bags and 688 million plastic bags per month from food stores.
“As we reflect on the one-year anniversary of the law, we are amazed at the cumulative effect, as well as the enormous public support received statewide from individuals who recognize the environmental and sustainable success as shoppers moved to reusable bags,” said NJFC CEO and president Linda Doherty.
Earlier this year, NJFC and the NJ Clean Communities Council created a “Blueprint for a Reusable Bag Redistribution Plan” comprised of numerous local and county solid waste agencies, non-profits, foodbanks, civic groups, the NJDEP, business groups and other interests that will offer drop-off sites for excess reusable bags to be collected, sanitized and recirculated for residents in need. NJFC supports that idea, and in conjunction with the redistribution plan, the law is working and achieving significant environmental results for today and generations to come. Good work, NJFC! Looking forward to next year’s numbers.
Speaking of food industry generosity, we send a shout out to Gerry Schreiber, founder of J&J Snack Foods for his $30 million donation that will create The Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine of Rowan University. The 108,000-square-foot building is expected to open in 2025 at the university’s Glassboro campus and will include academic classrooms, educational and diagnostic laboratories, a teaching hospital, and administrative and faculty offices. “New Jersey is home to some of the top medical care programs in the world. Our commitment to training world-class health care providers in all areas of the medical community will continue with the creation of our state’s first veterinary school,” said NJ Governor Phil Murphy. Gerry’s donation is the third-largest donation in Rowan’s history. A self-made man, he is one of the most generous in the industry.
It seems as though each day on the calendar marks a “national something day,” from “the day the music died day” to “kite flying day” to food…lots of food.
So, here’s a fun food fact: April 26 was national pretzel day. The twisted treat is believed to have been created by monks in Italy (of course) back in 610 AD. The first commercial bakery in the United States started in Lititz, Lancaster County, by Julius Sturgis and his family. Today, Pennsylvania is home to 80 percent of the nation’s pretzel production. And now you know.
We send condolences to Bill Carter Sr. of Knauss Foods and his wife Dory on the unexpected passing of their son William E. Carter Jr., 52, on April 24. Bill Jr. grew up in North Hills and graduated from Bishop McDevitt High School with the class of 1988. He was a talented baseball player and was well known for his outgoing personality, considered by all as a great people person. He will be greatly missed. In addition to his parents, Bill is survived by his daughter Amanda Carter and her mother Karen Carter, his brother Brian Carter and countless extended family and friends. Donations may be made in his memory to The American Heart Association, 1617 John F Kennedy Blvd # 700, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Rest in peace.
Taking another trip around the sun this month of May are: George Endrigian, George’s Market at Dreshertown; Bill Hinderer, National Food Sales; Bob Kilpatrick, Bimbo Bakeries; Rita Neczypor, retired from Procacci Brothers; JM Procacci, Procacci Brothers; and Beth Pripstein, FW/FTN office manager. Buon compleanno a tutti!
Quote of the month: “Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open.” John Barrymore
Maria can be reached at 443.631.0172