Food Trade News
Four Seasons Announces DC Expansion, Investment Into Higher Wages
Four Seasons Family of Companies, the Ephrata, PA-based diversified wholesale produce organization, announced that it has started a major expansion project at its distribution center on Wabash Road. Construction on the 131,000 square foot addition, which began this month to the existing state-of-the-art warehouse, will include a second dock, more multi-temperature cold storage rooms, plus more ripening rooms for bananas and avocados. It is expected to be completed by Spring of 2022.
The expansion will consist of: 48,000 square foot multi-temperature receiving dock with 39 added doors; 72,000 square feet of cold storage with 4-high racking with over 6000 more pallet spaces; 10 unique temperature zones suited for fresh produce, plus flex-temp rooms for seasonal peaks, and a 28 F degree “chill” zone for the growing organic & natural meat and poultry category.
The structure is designed with sustainability in mind: Four Seasons has a 3,900-panel solar array on its current building. The roof on the expansion is being prepped for future solar panels; the company is updating to energy-efficient Lithium-ion electric material handling equipment; an EPA-certified electric generator for demand-response and total power back up will be included; an energy-efficient refrigeration system will cool the expansion space; full LED lighting with motion sensors will be installed along with a total facility energy monitoring system.
With the enhanced capability and capacity, Four Seasons Produce, the company’s wholesale distribution business, hopes to be positioned to support the future needs of independent retailers, natural food stores, food co-ops, e-commerce, and other professional buyers in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast for many years to come. Likewise, Sunrise Logistics, the firm’s third-party logistics and freight solutions-provider business, and Earth Source, its importing business, will gain additional cold storage space to provide best-in-class supply chain services to growers and shippers of highly perishable products thanks to over ten unique temperature zones, and on-site quality control and ripening experts. Sunrise Logistics cross-dock and storage customers will benefit from even more access to a robust inbound and outbound delivery network with full-load and less-than-load capabilities throughout the East.
“At the Four Seasons Family of Companies, our mission is to ‘Help Others Succeed in Fresh.’” said CEO, Jason Hollinger. “Whether it is bringing the best and freshest produce to a retailer’s location and supporting their merchandising, or providing the freight and distribution services to allow a grower to get their product to the marketplace – we want to be capable and valuable for them; so that everyone can thrive.”
Added Hollinger, “Food distribution is a tight timeline, 24-hour business. One of the goals of this expansion project is to be able to ship and receive simultaneously using a second dock. This will allow us to bring a higher portion of work to daytime hours for our associates.”
Additionally, Four Seasons is investing over $3 million into higher wages for its operations associates and professional drivers in 2021 and is actively hiring. Adding more associates will help meet the increased demand from customers and prepare for the expansion.
“We are so grateful for our front-line associates who put forth so much effort all through 2020’s pandemic challenges and now through 2021’s labor crunch,” Hollinger noted. “We have the most committed and hardest working team that truly cares about our company and our customers and we want to show our appreciation to them. In 2020, we invested over $1 million in ‘on-site-required appreciation pay’ and other benefits to our associates, and we also distributed significant profit sharing to all associates in every area of the company. It is our associates’ commitment to excellent service and innovation that drives our business success and growth which then enables us to reinvest in our people. We are truly people-driven!”
Food Industry Continues Supporting Future Generations Of Industry Leaders With 2021 Scholarships
The Mid Atlantic Food Trade Organization (MAFTO) recently awarded four scholarships to students studying food marketing at Saint Joseph’s University’s Academy
of Food Marketing. Additionally, the Genuardi Family Foundation announced its scholarship winners for both 2020 and 2021. The primary MAFTO scholarship was Daniel Shell, announced John J. Brennan, chairman of the MAFTO scholarship committee. Shell is in the food marketing co-op program at Saint Joseph’s University and is double majoring in business intelligence and analytics. He is currently a commercial development co-op at Colgate-Palmolive on the Kroger team. At the end of this coop, he will return to campus for his senior year. After graduation, he intends to work in category management for a CPG company where he can leave a lasting impact on his team and in the community. This year, due to the continued generosity of the food industry contributing to MAFTO’s fundraising events, the 501c3 organization was also able to grant three secondary scholarships to other food marketing rising seniors.
Iqra Shahzad is a food marketing major/business intelligence and analytics minor. Currently she is working for Chick-fil-A in New York City. “I hope to earn my bachelor’s degree next year and start my own business after graduation,” said Shahzad. “I enjoy reading books and volunteering during my free time. Throughout the year, I have been volunteering at a resource center trying to connect broken people to a community of support by providing free resources and services that address immediate and long-term needs in the areas of homelessness, hunger, poverty, addiction, abuse, education, and human trafficking.”
Tom Francesconi is a junior food marketing and business intelligence and analytics double major. This summer he will be living in Chicago working as a sales leadership development intern for E&J Gallo Winery. After graduating in the spring of 2022, Francesconi hopes to begin his career in the food and beverage industry in either sales, marketing or analytics. Francesconi commented, “I hope to gain as much experience as I can early in my career so I am able to develop myself into the best person, leader and professional I can be. THWND!”
Kelly Camperson is a junior at Saint Joseph’s University where she is majoring in both food marketing and business intelligence and analytics. Her first co-op was at Giant Heirloom Market where she served as a team leader. She managed the ordering for the
meat and seafood departments and gained an immense amount of customer service experience. Her second co-op, where she is working currently, is at Kellogg’s where she is a temporary student support for the East region category management team. She recently transitioned into the sales internship and will be working there until the end of July. After graduation, Camperson wants to continue working on the food industry. As of now, she has many ideas as to what she exactly wants to do. One of them would be to continue working in category management for a big CPG company such as Kellogg’s. MAFTO’s goal to aid with those in need in the food and related industry and scholarships for its members’ families. The Genuardi Family Foundation announced four scholarships recently for both the 2020 and 2021 academic years. Since 2004, the foundation created by the Genuardi family that owned and operated Genuardi Family Markets, has awarded $800,000 to 45 students in the program in honor of the Genuardi Brothers.
The first Genuardi Scholarship for 2020 went to Kelly Ann Camperson, who is noted above as a MAFTO scholarship recipient. The other 2020 Genuardi scholarship recipient, Dewey H. (Ben) Bunch IV, graduated in 2018 from Central Bucks High School West in Doylestown. He is a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s University and is studying to receive a bachelor of science degree in food marketing and leadership, ethics and organizational sustainability (LEO) in 2022. Bunch was honored as the rookie of the year for men’s cross country at Saint Joseph’s University where he competes on their division 1 team. His other activities include membership in Delta Sigma Pi and serving as an orientation leader for the class of 2024. Bunch is presently employed as a customer service manager at Shan-Gri La Farm, where he is learning to make effective management decisions. He has also recently been hired as a part time retail merchandiser intern at Mondelez, where he is fulfilling the merchandising needs of customers. The 2021 Genuardi scholarship winners are Jack Failing and Maggie
Nowlan. Failing is a sophomore food marketing co-op major at Saint Joseph’s University. In his senior year at Abington Senior High School, he was a co-captain of the soccer team and an overall director of mini-THON, which raised more than $54,000 for pediatric cancer research and support. At St. Joe’s, Failing recently finished his first co-op experience with Brown’s Super Stores, part of the sixth largest owner group within Wakefern. He was an operations/management Co-op throughout a major remodel at ShopRite of Bensalem, PA. He was also responsible for constructing centralized merchandising schedules for the remodel, as well as creating a packaging and processing solution for a new e-commerce segment in frozen desserts. Failing was recently inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma, the International Business Honor Society. He is also an active member of Delta Sigma Pi, a business fraternity on campus, the Food Marketing Association, and the Dean’s Leadership Program. After seeing three siblings graduate from the food marketing co-op program and excel in their professional careers, he looked to navigate his own career path.
The second 2021 scholarship recipient is Margaret Nowlan, also known as Maggie, who graduated from Hammonton High School in 2019. She is currently finishing up her sophomore year at Saint Joseph’s University where she majors in food marketing,
along with finance. Nowlan accumulated over 500 hours of community service in
high school by volunteering for an organization called PALS, which supports the Down syndrome community. At SJU, she has been inducted into the International Business Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma. Since only the top five percent of Haub’s business sophomores get invited, this was a huge accomplishment for her. She is also an active member of SJU’s chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, which has helped her form
great friendships all over campus.
Trade Kicks Off Golf Season At Mid-Atlantic Food Trade Organization’s 17th Annual Outing
Herrick and Hoffheins Join JOH
JOH announced two new additions to the company: Patricia “Patti” Herrick and Shelly Hoffheins.
Herrick has been named a director in company’s metro division based in Paramus, NJ. In her new role, Herrick will help the our leadership team, drive sales for clients and customers and lead JOH’s initiative to shape best practices across all center store.
Herrick brings over 34 years of sales and leadership experience to her new role. Prior to joining the company, she was responsible for successfully developing and executing multi-year strategic business plans for various CPG brands that led to increased sales in the Northeast and beyond. She will be working with JOH clients and customers to produce the same outstanding results.
“Patti is a terrific addition to our team as she brings a wealth of experience and what it takes to deliver success to our key stakeholders,” said Gary Rosenthal, EVP-JOH Metro. “As we plan for our future, Patti’s leadership skills and her strong background in building top performing sales teams will accelerate JOH’s growth. We are thrilled to have her onboard!”
Hoffheins has joined the company’s Mid-Atlantic team as an account executive/account manager. She joins JOH with significant experience in the brokerage business. She has a great understanding of the food industry and is adept at using data to manage and inform strategic and tactical plans to increase sales.
“We’re very excited to have Shelly on our team,” said Pete Legambi, EVP, JOH Mid-Atlantic. “She’s a wonderful asset for our clients and customers as we continue to help them grow.”
Hungerbuhler And Perillo Join RDD Associates
RDD Associates recently announced that Steve Hungerbuhler and James Perillo have joined the company.
Hungerbuhler has been named a business manager with the fresh division. An accomplished retail food industry professional, Hungerbuhler has an extensive background within procurement and retail merchandising. During his career, he has held various management positions at Twin County Grocers, Foodtown Inc., White Rose and Allegiance Retail Services.
In making the announcement, RDD said, “Steve’s comprehensive cooperative supermarket experience within Dairy, deli, in-store bakery and frozen departments will serve him well as he transitions into the brokerage side of the business.”
Perillo has joined the company as director business development for fresh foods and produce. In his new position, he will be responsible for providing business management direction and services for several significant RDD client businesses, and closely collaborating with the RDD Fresh Foods and Produce management on business growth strategies for existing client brands.
Perillo’s food industry career includes eight years of progressive procurement and merchandising positions at Wakefern Food Corporation. His experience includes assignments in perishables analytics, deli/foodservice/seafood procurement, produce sales and category management, and has served as product manager for fresh foods in Wakefern’s expanding Own Brands division. Prior to joining Wakefern, Perillo worked for Village Super Markets, performing a variety of roles in several of their largest stores.
Perillo is a graduate of Marist College, where he received a BS in business administration and marketing.
