Well, we’re nearing the end of the summer and Labor Day weekend is closing fast and while our summers used to be hazy and lazy, that hasn’t been the case the last few years in our industry. Just look at the transaction that happened on Long Island with the sale of King Kullen to Giunta’s Meat Farms. When the news came out on July 30th, my phone was blowing up from not only food industry peeps, but the consumer press looking for insight and the “what and whys”?
I did share with one of the outlets, that although I was not surprised by the sale,
(KK had been attempting to sell for some time now & unsuccessfully to Stop & Shop in 2020) if you had asked me who the acquirer would be, Giunta’s Meat Farms, as I told the outlet, “was not on my bingo card”. However, after thinking it over and having conversations with both parties, I am really bullish on the opportunity for this deal and the future.
You have two Long Island family-owned companies that care passionately about their associates and customers, as well as fellow Long Islanders. Couple that with a common supplier (Bozzuto’s) who also cares deeply about their customer base and you have a nice recipe for success once the dust settles. “King Kullen is more than a supermarket company,” said Joseph Giunta, co-owner of Giunta’s Meat Farms. “It’s America’s first supermarket and a significant part of Long Island’s history. We’re honored to carry that legacy forward while delivering the strong everyday value that has long defined the Meat Farms experience.”
Tracey Cullen, President and COO of King Kullen Grocery Co., Inc., said choosing the right
organization to guide the future of King Kullen was driven by mutual respect and a common
commitment to Long Island. “As we looked toward the future, it was important to us to identify a local company that understood what makes King Kullen so special,” said Cullen. “We found that in family-owned Giunta’s Meat Farms. They appreciate our history and our people. We are confident they are the right steward of the King Kullen legacy, and we look forward to working
together throughout the transition.” Also, it was reported erroneously in some of the consumer press that positions will be eliminated due to the transaction. Read it here, NO positions will be eliminated at King Kullen. The media left the word “no” out of their reporting, which led to considerable consternation among the 4,000+ King Kullen employees. Happy to report that everything has settled down now, and we look forward to giving you more updates as they become available.
Associated Supermarket Group (ASG) welcomed two new supermarkets into its fold recently.
First up was a Met Fresh which celebrated the grand opening of its first Philadelphia location in early August when a full-service supermarket debuted at 2014 S. Broad Street in South Philadelphia. Owned and operated by Omar Hamdan, the supermarket expands access to fresh, affordable food, creates local employment opportunities, and provides residents with a convenient, one-stop shopping destination. “We are excited to officially open our doors and become part of the South Philadelphia community,” said Omar. “Our goal is to provide affordable, fresh and high-quality products, outstanding service and a neighborhood supermarket our customers can rely on every day. We look forward to building lasting relationships and serving this community for years to come.” The store will also offer free grocery delivery for seniors, helping improve access to fresh, nutritious food throughout the community. The second location added was the grand opening of The Market of Point Pleasant Beach at 505 Richmond Avenue in Point Pleasant on the Jersey shore. The Market of Point Pleasant Beach is owned and operated by Adam Shapiro and Shap Markets and represents the company’s fifth independent supermarket all in the state of New Jersey. Spanning more than 18,000 square feet, the store offers a full assortment of fresh produce, quality meats, seafood, dairy products, frozen foods, pantry staples, prepared foods, and everyday essentials, all supported by a focus on quality, value, and exceptional customer service. Throughout the Opening, local officials emphasized the importance of bringing a full-service supermarket back to a longtime neighborhood grocery location and highlighted the store’s role in serving year-round residents as well as the thousands of visitors who travel to the Jersey Shore each season. Good luck Adam!
Kudos to Goya Foods for their response to the humanitarian crisis following devastating earthquakes in Colombia. Goya donated more than 200,000 pounds of food to help provide essential nourishment to individuals and families impacted by the disaster. In partnership with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM), Goya is working to ensure that the food reaches communities and families most urgently in need.
“Our hearts are with the people of Colombia during this difficult time,” said Peter Unanue, Co-President of Goya Foods. “For 90 years, Goya has stood with communities in times of need. We hope this donation provides nourishment and comfort to families as they recover and rebuild. We stand with the people of Colombia and remain committed to supporting relief efforts.”
The donation consists of five truckloads of Goya products, packed with a variety of essential food items to help meet the immediate needs of communities affected by the earthquakes. Through its Goya Gives initiative and partnership with GEM, Goya is committed to helping ensure critical food supplies reach those who need them most as relief and recovery efforts continue. Well done to all at Goya.
There was Singing, there were Cannoli carts, charcuterie tastings and a cracking of a 10 year old Wheel of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese……..yes it had to be an Uncle Giuseppe’s grand opening! Uncle G’s unveiled their latest store in Greenvale, Long Island at the site that was originally a Pathmark (until the A&P bankruptcy). Then Stop & Shop that took over the lease, but they couldn’t make a go of it and closed and the site has been dark for nearly two years. As the recently departed Phil DelPrete told me after the S&S closing, the landlord for the shopping center contacted him and offered him a terrific deal for the lease, which as Phil said was a “no brainer.” So they signed the deal, started renovations, and here we are two years later. CEO and co-founder Carl DelPrete said at the opening, “Our team members are the heart and soul of every Uncle Giuseppe’s. We are a company that believes in made fresh, sold fresh every day in every store, and it takes hardworking, dedicated people who care about the food and care about the customers. We are always looking for the best people to join the team, become part of the Uncle G family, work hard, learn, grow, and be part of something special.” This brings Uncle G’s to 13 stores and a new Levittown, Long Island store is slated to open later this year. Buona fortuna to everyone at Uncle Giuseppe’s!
Wayne Pesce of the Connecticut Food Association (CFA) wants everyone to mark their calendars
for October 29th at the Mohegan Sun in Uncasville, Connecticut. That is the night of the CFA’s
Food Industry Champions Celebration and here are the honorees;
Gina Wasilefsky – Produce & Floral Merchandiser Trainer, Big Y,
Aaron Russel – Produce Manager, Geissler’s,
Scott Sabatino – Regional Director, Price Chopper/Market 32,
Darren Powers – Director of Operations, ShopRite and
Leslie Santiago – Bakeshop Produce Florist specialist, Stop & Shop. Also on hand that evening will be guest speaker, Phil Lempert, the Supermarket Guru. For more information on the evening contact Emily Clayton at 860-216-4055 or emily@ctfoodassociation.org
Well that’s a wrap for this month. I hope you all enjoy the remainder of the summer and have a wonderful Labor Day weekend as well. I look forward to seeing you at the events coming up this fall and as always you can reach me at 201-250-2217 or kevin@foodtradenews.com