Greetings all and I hope the start of the autumn season has been good for everyone. The trade dinners, shows, outings and affairs have been happening in high gear and will continue to do so for the next several weeks through the end of the calendar year. Get out and network and support our industry during this time.
Late September saw the opening of a new Gala Foods in Centereach, Long Island and it now brings the number to 10 of Gala Foods Supermarkets in the Northeast marketing area. The new site which was originally a Pathmark back in the day, and most recently a Stop & Shop, is located at 1759 Middle Country Road. Gala Foods which is part of the Aurora Grocery Group and a Key Foods member, will offer plenty of offerings for the local community shoppers.
Highlights of the new store include fresh produce, freshly cut meats at a meat and seafood counter, grab-and-go meals, fresh bakery items, a beer cave, and a wide range of dairy, frozen and grocery products all complimented by the signature GALA private label brand.
“Our mission is to help families save on their weekly shopping without sacrificing assortment or quality,” said Edwin Gutiérrez, VP of Aurora Grocery Group and operator of the new Centereach store. “From leading national food brands to the most recognized products from our countries of origin, Gala Foods brings it all together with a strong presence of our own GALA private label delivering value and excellence in every aisle.” Aurora Grocery Group based in Charlotte, North Carolina, consists of a network of more than 40 supermarkets in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and North Carolina. In addition to Gala Foods, the company’s banners include Compare Foods and Gala Fresh Farms. Good luck and best wishes to the Jorge, Pena and Gutierrez families
And while we’re on the Island, Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Regional Food Bank has named Katherine Fritz as its new president and CEO, effective immediately. Fritz succeeds Paule Pachter, who was at the helm for the last 17 years. Having served Long Island Cares since 2019 as its vice president for development and communication, Fritz was the organization’s “unanimous choice to guide Long Island through the food-insecurity crisis,” according to a release about Fritz’s appointment. “After a nationwide search, the Board of Directors of Long Island Cares found its next leader down the hall from the boardroom,” David Herold, president of the Board of Directors at Long Island Cares, said. The appointment comes at a time of rising costs and growing food insecurity on Long Island. And amid the current federal government shutdown, food banks are bracing for new demands. Fritz will lead Long Island Cares forward, bolstering its role as both a safety net and an agent of change, according to the organization. Committed to the mission of uniting resources to fight hunger, she will keep that focus central to all decisions, partnerships and programs. She will emphasize stability during the transition while driving the vision of a hunger-free Long Island, the organization said.
She aims to strengthen collaboration with Long Island Cares’ 300-plus community partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, senior citizens’ residences, schools and homeless shelters. She will expand programs targeting the root causes of hunger and boost advocacy for equity and dignity across Long Island, the organization said.
Fritz served in development and leadership positions in the nonprofit sector for more than 30 years, working in environmental and healthcare organizations, including in three divisions with the American Cancer Society. She spent more than 12 years as director of development for both the Guide Dog Foundation and America’s Vet Dogs, where she managed national fundraising strategies and annual budgets exceeding $18 million. Founded in 1980 by singer-songwriter and activist Harry Chapin, Long Island Cares today distributes more than 16 million pounds of food and supplies annually to its partner agencies. With its main office and warehouse in Hauppauge, the organization operates seven food pantries throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties. To learn about Long Island Cares and its mission go to licares.org.
Associated Supermarket Group (ASG) had a couple of events during the month of September for the trade. The first up was the ASG Fall Buying Show held at Citi Field on September 11. Stayin’ Alive and Thrivin’ Together was the theme of the day and the attendees and vendors had the energy and enthusiasm to make the day a success. Post-show, ASG offered a special thank you to the vendors who provided food samples and to the ASG team members who worked with City Harvest to help rescue and redistribute over 12,000 pounds of food and beverages to communities across New York. Well done!! Next up for ASG was their Vendor Summit held at the Renaissance Meadowlands Hotel in East Rutherford, New Jersey on September 18. Several ASG execs took the stage to address the vendor crowd including Joe Garcia, Zulema Wiscovitch, Michelle Mendoza, Ken Scher and Jonathan D’onfrio. Their message to the vendors was “Your energy and engagement made it clear that together, we can unlock the next level of growth for independent supermarkets. We showed how we’ve grown in the marketplace, from shifting demographics and evolving customer behaviors, to the cultural drivers fueling the industry. We showcased the unique resources, partnerships, and programs ASG brings to the table: tools that help brands stand out on shelf, activate with impact, and connect meaningfully with today’s shoppers.” They continued, “Now is the time to invest deeper with ASG. Our independent supermarkets continue to lead with retail executions and marketing programs that accelerate product movement, build lasting customer loyalty, and deliver measurable results for our vendor partners. The opportunity is here and your commitment ensures we win together.
Next up for ASG is their 2025 Annual Dinner/Dance on November 15 at the Garden City Hotel in Garden City, Long Island. Jose Grullon will be honored as retailer of the year and Apple & Eve will be the partner of the year. For more information go to asghq.com.
That’s it for now everybody. There are multiple events happening over the next few weeks and usually I would say “see you out and about” or “see you out in the trade”, but fact is, I won’t be seeing you until after the New Year. Seems like this old vessel needs an engine overhaul so I have to take it into the shop for a bit of a tune-up so I will be able to come out of the gates ready to soar in 2026. As always though, you can reach me at 201-250-2217 or kevin@foodtradenews.com.
