Industry Moves, Milestones & Memories Across the Grocery Trade

Greetings everyone. Cross your fingers and make a wish that this brutally cold winter may finally be ready to leave us behind us and spring will be right around the corner. Here’s hoping for the warmer weather.

Congratulations to the National Supermarket Association (NSA) which recently held a swearing in of its new board of directors. Taking the reins as the newly elected National president is Anthony Peña, vice president is Frank Felix Zapata, secretary is Jorge Guillen, and treasurer is Pedro Goico. The balance of the board consists of JD Azcona, Ivan Bueno, Anthony Espinal, Jason Ferreira, Angel Rafael Nunez, Jose Arturo Payamps and Frank Pimentel. The big group held the inaugural swearing-in ceremony at their offices in Whitestone, NY and are very excited for a new chapter of leadership, responsibility, and vision for the Association. Good Luck!!

We were sorry to learn that Maura Kennedy La Bella formerly of King Kullen, passed away on January 25 at the age of 73 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She is the daughter of former King Kullen president and chairman Bernie Kennedy. Maura is survived by her sons Randy and Chris (Maria), and by her grandchild Emma. She is also survived by her four brothers Don (Ruthann), Terry (Liz), Bernie (Lisa), and Gene (Michelle).

The family asks that anyone wishing to remember Maura please consider donating to the Lustgarten Foundation, lustgarten.org., the largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research in the world. May she rest in eternal peace.

And also leaving this world was a local fixture on the weekend news, Produce Pete. Peter Napolitano passed away on January 26 at the age of 80 and was known to many in the local food industry, as well as his legion of fans. “For more than 30 years, WNBC viewers tuned in on Saturday mornings to watch ‘Produce Pete’ offer his fruit and vegetable recommendations as well as cooking tips on ‘Weekend Today in New York’. He was a beloved member of our station family and our viewers felt the same way”, said Amy Morris, SVP of news for NBC 4 New York and Telemundo 47. Pete was also a fixture at many of the produce industry events and dinners over the years and we send our prayers to his family.

And finally a good soul and solid person has left us too early. Mike Harten of Bake ’n Joy, passed away on January 28 at the age of 61. He leaves behind his wife Joni Harten and his three children Elizabeth (Joseph), Margaret (Jonathan) and Charles, and a grandchild. They were the center of his world, and he showed it by jumping into every moment with them. May his soul rest in peace.

Congratulations to everyone at Affinity Group, which announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire Perishable Sales, Inc. (PSI), a respected Midwest based sales agency. PSI has extensive coverage in perishable categories across Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. The acquisition will give PSI the opportunity to leverage Affinity Group’s syndicated data, advanced systems, and a full suite of tools that PSI, as a standalone company, could not offer. As part of the transition, PSI founder Greg Pellegrino will step into the role of executive vice president – Midwest, leading the combined operations and reporting directly to Bill Chiodo, president of Affinity Group Retail.

“This is more than an acquisition – it’s the joining of two strong organizations with shared values and a shared vision,” added Enzo Dentico, CEO of Affinity Group. “We are thrilled to welcome Greg and the entire PSI team into the Affinity Group family.” 

“This partnership reinforces our strategy to establish Affinity Group as the leading Retail sales agency throughout the U.S.,” said Chiodo. “Our clients and customers will benefit from a unified organization backed by our retail reporting system, syndicated data, and category-selling model. Greg and his team bring unmatched market knowledge that strengthens our ability to deliver results across the Midwest.”

Stauffer’s, the York, PA-based manufacturer has rebranded it Iconic Animal Crackers as “Simply Animals.” The rebrand is meant to strengthen shelf clarity, brand recognition, and long-term category growth. Stauffer’s (a wholly owned subsidiary of Meiji America) and the category leader in animal crackers and cookies, will make its national debut on shelves in mid-to-late April 2026. “Simply Animals will continue to deliver what families have trusted since 1871 – great-tasting crackers with the same flavor and crunch that have made Stauffer’s a family favorite for generations. This isn’t a departure from who we are – it’s a natural evolution,” said Ken Vlazny, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Stauffer’s. Recent consumer research revealed that while shoppers strongly recognized and loved the product, many referred to it simply as “the red bag” or struggled to pronounce the Stauffer’s name. Simply Animals solves this challenge with a clear, descriptive name. Consumer feedback also revealed that families want to purchase snacks free from artificial ingredients. Simply Animals will be made without high-fructose corn syrup and artificial colors in a peanut-free facility here in the U.S. And with a clearer, more powerful on-shelf presence, it will be easier than ever for shoppers to recognize, connect with, and enjoy the same crackers they’ve loved for 155 years.

Best wishes for a happy retirement go out to Debbie Kultzow of RDD Associates, who is hanging it up after more than 45 years in the industry, the last 30 of them at RDD as a senior business and client services manager. As she told us, “Better to go out on top, and now it’s on to the next chapter.” As she also shared, the next chapter includes all the cliché items such as time with the grandbaby, travel and volunteerism. Best wishes Debbie!

Big goings on in the Sunshine State as C&S Wholesale Grocers has recently made headlines by striking a new supply agreement with Sedano’s Supermarkets. Sedano’s is a solidly established player in the Hispanic grocery sector in Florida and this partnership marks a significant milestone for both companies as C&S steps in as the primary supplier for Sedano’s 32 supermarket locations. Sedano’s had previously been supplied by UNFI, Pompano Beach.

Sedano’s Supermarkets has served the Hispanic community for more than 60 years, and by joining forces with C&S, the retailer aims to enhance the shopping experience for its diverse customer base. C&S’s CEO, Eric Winn, highlighted the excitement surrounding this collaboration, stating, “We’re thrilled about our partnership with Sedano’s Supermarkets. The Southeast region continues to be instrumental in our long-term growth, and this agreement broadens our influence in the area.”

Agustin Herran, CEO of Sedano’s Supermarkets, echoed this sentiment by emphasizing his enthusiasm for enhancing the quality shopping experience for their customers through this collaboration. As we previously reported, C&S Wholesale Grocers is not a stranger to expansion efforts in the Southeast. In 2025, the company made a substantial investment by acquiring The Winn-Dixie Company, which further emphasizes its commitment to growth in this region.
Further solidifying its strategic position, C&S’s recent acquisitions included the entire SpartanNash Company. Through these ventures, the grocery giant aims to integrate wholesale supply solutions that not only benefit retailers in the Southeast but also extend services to markets in the Caribbean, Central, and South America, and independent retail customers in Florida. And also in Florida, Walmart is expanding its footprint, this time in the state’s largest city. Walmart (which currently operates 390 stores in Florida) has opened its newest next-generation supercenter in Jacksonville’s Oakleaf Plantation master-planned community. Walmart said the store offers a broader assortment across key categories, and blends the “best of physical and digital” to create a seamless omnichannel shopping journey. This follows the opening of a new Walmart supercenter in Apollo Beach and a Neighborhood Market in Ocala last month and is part of the plan to build or convert more than 150 stores in the coming years. 

Well, that’s a wrap for this time. Here’s hoping Spring-like weather is right around the corner and I look forward to seeing you out and about. As always you can reach me at 201.250.2217 or [email protected].