There’s a Lot to Look Forward to in Grocery This Year

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to 2026!

As we usher in the New Year, I want to thank you all for being part of our journey here at Food Trade News, as well as for the role each and every one of you plays in our operation. In the year ahead, we will remain focused on delivering quality and reliable reporting and research that can help you stay informed about the Northeast retail food industry. Thank you for being an important part of our story and I wish you and your families a healthy, happy, and prosperous New Year.

Now that schools are back in session after the holiday and winter break, our industry’s scholarship programs as well as growth and learning projects are kicking up. First to let us know about their particular program is the Eastern Produce Council (EPC) Leadership Program. It is a professional development experience for produce professionals who have less than ten years of experience in the industry. The goal is to provide those selected for the program the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from both classroom and field experience. For more information go to their website at www.easternproducecouncil.com or better yet, email them at [email protected]. The deadline for application submission is January 30, so don’t delay!

The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) will hold its annual Trade Relations Conference on April 14 at Caesars Atlantic City, New Jersey. The big state group also announced that the recipient of this year’s Jimmy Ostling Trade Relations Award, one of the organization’s honors recognizing leadership and dedication in advancing trade relations within the food industry will go to Ken Scher, SVP-business development at Associated Supermarket Group, LLC.

“Ken’s work has helped strengthen collaboration and engagement across all sectors of the food industry, making him a most deserving recipient of this prestigious recognition,” NJFC president and CEO Linda Doherty said. 

Ken has more than 45 years of experience in the grocery and food industry. After years on the brokerage side of the business (The Boerner Company, Pezrow and Advantage Sales) in 2017 he transitioned to Associated Supermarket Group, where he works with senior leadership to drive business development initiatives and strengthen retailer and supplier relationships.

Doherty also cited Scher’s vision to aid those in the food industry. She added, “Scher is deeply committed to giving back to the industry. In 2013, he helped found Friends of the Food Industry, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting food industry professionals facing personal or financial hardship.” 

“One hundred percent of the funds raised go directly to those in need, with zero red tape,” Scher said of the organization. “In some cases, it is a matter of two days from when we hear of a problem and a check is in the person’s hand.” 

Over the past 13 years, Friends of the Food Industry has raised more than $1.5 million and distributed more than $1.2 million in assistance. Which Scher proudly serves on the executive board. Congratulations, Ken, on the honor and we’ll see you in Atlantic City in April.

We heard from Wayne Pesce, president at the Connecticut Food Association (CFA), who asked us to remind everyone that CFA annual meeting and installation of officers will be held on March 24 at the Farmington Polo Club in Farmington, CT. For more information call 860.216.4055 or go to www.ctfoodassociation.org.

And as we going to press we learned that two of the more successful local Hispanic food companies would now become one. Tropical Cheese in Perth Amboy, NJ has acquired  Cibao Meat Products, a leading manufacturer of premium Hispanic-style meat products, including the Induveca and Campesino brands. Cibao will be integrated into Tropical Cheese as its Cibao meat products division, enabling Tropical Cheese to provide a more complete portfolio of branded Hispanic refrigerated food products.

Founded in 1982, Tropical Cheese has become the category leader in Hispanic cheeses across the Eastern seaboard serving retail channels through a network of direct-store delivery. Backed by Avance Investment Management and AUA Private Equity, the company is focused on expanding its reach, growing its portfolio, and becoming a leading brand across the full spectrum of Hispanic refrigerated food products on the East Coast. Through the acquisition, Tropical Cheese will deliver a broader set of high-quality products to customers and consumers.

“This acquisition accelerates Tropical Cheese’s growth by uniting two category leaders in Hispanic foods,” said Vic Mehren, CEO of Tropical Cheese. “With Cibao, we will significantly strengthen our meats division, expand our Hispanic foods platform, and broaden our reach across the food industry and Hispanic community. This combination provides our customers with more high-quality offerings, stronger support, and additional resources behind service and execution. Cibao’s premium ingredients and authentic recipes help us bring more authentic Hispanic foods to more consumers.”

Mehren continued, “At Tropical Cheese, we are highly intentional about pursuing partnerships and opportunities that support our long term growth and align with our culture, which we found in Cibao Meat Products. Like Tropical Cheese, Cibao is a family-built company with a legacy that reflects our shared values of having pride in what we do, providing quality products to our customers, and supporting the dedicated, hardworking team members who are the key to our success.”

Founded in 1969, Cibao Meat Products is a third-generation, family-owned business headquartered in Rockaway, New Jersey, that offers a wide selection of flavorful products tailored to Latin American tastes. In addition to its reputation for delivering top-tier meat products, Cibao has a cold-chain logistics operation that prioritizes freshness and consistency, supported by strong customer service and a disciplined, high-touch commercial team.

“Joining the Tropical Cheese family represents an exciting next chapter for Cibao Meats,” said Heinz Vieluf Jr., president of Cibao Meat Products. “We are both family built businesses with brands that are rooted in tradition and trusted for their quality. Joining Tropical Cheese gives Cibao access to greater resources and capabilities, enabling us to further invest in the business and deliver for our customers. We look forward to working with Tropical Cheese to continue bringing together the products that have long been staples in the households and communities we grew up in and proudly continue to serve.” 

These are both terrific local companies that have long standing in the Hispanic community. I am happy for both families and employees and I am sure it will be successful as it creates a strong Hispanic Foods platform which should position the company for continued growth.

As I said earlier, I wish you all a very Happy and Healthy New Year, and hope it brings nothing but success to everyone reading this. As always you can reach me at 201.250.2217 or [email protected].