Greetings and I hope this finds everybody doing well. The country and the world have gone through a troubling and tension-filled few weeks. Let’s all hope that rational thinking and kindness can help us all heal and create a long lasting and peaceful environment for us, our family and friends.
By the time you receive this issue of Food Trade News the Jewish High Holidays will be in full swing (they start Monday night September 22 at sundown – L’shanah Tovah). The Met Council, America’s largest Jewish charity dedicated to fighting poverty, will be serving more than 200,000 Jewish individuals and families across New York and New Jersey this season. Through a network of more than 140 distribution partner sites across the metropolitan region, the organization will deliver more than 1.4 million pounds of kosher food, responding to growing levels of food insecurity in the Jewish community. Families receive traditional Jewish holiday foods with more than 800 volunteers from across area joining the Met Council’s staff to support the effort. For more information on how you can help call 212.453.9500 or go to metcouncil.org.
We were also reminded from our friends at Island Harvest Food Bank that September is Hunger Action Month, a powerful reminder that hunger is closer than we think, and that change can begin right here at home. As they say, if you’ve ever felt the urge to say, “Someone should do something,” Island Harvest reminds us that you are that someone. They invite everyone to volunteer your time, host a food drive or make a gift as just a few ways to help. Just take an action this month in a way that feels right for you. For example, just $1 provides two meals – and thanks to a generous challenge match, that same dollar will provide four meals to Long Island families in need throughout September, up to $50,000.
Every action we take brings hope to a neighbor in need in a time when many feel disconnected or powerless and taking action is the antidote. And also from Island Harvest, they will be hosting their Taste of the Harvest 2025 at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, Long Island on October 21. This unforgettable evening brings together more than 40 of Long Island’s top restaurants in a celebration of food, community, and giving back and is the charity’s biggest fundraiser of the year. It is a fun-filled evening and for more information go to islandharvest.org.
Now, truth be told, I never have been a big Bon Jovi fan, however, the band has a new catchy little tune out called “Red, White and Jersey.” It’s a fun song that I’m sure all the Joisey girls and guys will love, but I knew I liked it even more after watching the video of the song. About two minutes into the song, the group of young adults highlighted in the video are frolicking throughout a supermarket which turns out to be none other than Cedar Market in Teaneck, NJ! I was anxiously waiting to see if owner Aron Hirtz would pop up for a cameo, but I guess his “asking price” was too much for the production company. Congrats Aron on the video and the spotlight on your store. If you want to check out the video, click here.
Good news came out of the Totowa, NJ offices of RDD Associates (and soon to be the Rutherford, NJ offices) as the premier perishables sales and marketing agency announced they have been appointed by several manufacturers for representation in the region.
Recently added to the client portfolio were: Jar Joy – refrigerated single-serve, layered desserts; The Flying Meatballs – traditional, artisanal meatballs and restaurant quality prepared foods; Bagel Brands (Einstein Bros. Bagels) – quality, bakery-fresh bagels; Orontes Mediterranean A2A2 Yogurt – lactose-free yogurt and yogurt drinks made from A2A2 milk; Open Country Dairy – New Zealand grass-fed dairy; York Street Market – fresh foods company specializing in deli, food service (grab & go and boxed meal solutions); Better Butter – flavored butters made with 100 percent real butter (no oils); and Mamma Emma – fresh potato gnocchi.
Also, RDD has partnered with Lactalis Heritage Dairy (Kraft natural cheese, Cracker Barrel and Breakstone’s cultured dairy) and Wise Snacks to provide incremental retail support and enhanced execution of merchandising initiatives. Congratulations!!!
Bravo to the Kings of Staten Island, the Mannix family as they opened their fourth ShopRite store in the Great Kills section of the forgotten borough. Located at 150 Greaves Lane in Evergreen Plaza, the 62,000 square-foot marvel is in a space that at one point hosted a Pathmark store and later a SuperFresh. Currently, the neighborhood has been without a supermarket for nearly three years.
“We did a lot of research and really leaned into customer feedback to create this store,” said Tim Mannix, a second generation grocer and vice president of Mannix Family Markets, which also owns and operates ShopRite stores in the Graniteville, New Dorp and Charleston neighborhoods of Staten Island. “That’s why you’ll see an homage to all of the neighborhoods we serve, as well as a strong focus on the brands and foods that are popular with our customer base.”
The layout is impressive, offering all the usual grocery store staples, meat, seafood, produce and center store departments with a highlight and focus on fresh, perishable groceries. “Our team looks forward to delivering the very best in quality, value and service to the Great Kills community with our newest ShopRite,” said Mannix. “Staten Island has embraced us and we are so proud to continue to invest in the borough and neighborhoods that mean so much to our family.”
The Mannix family believes in giving back to the communities where their stores operate and their retail associates live and work. Mannix Family Markets supports food pantries year-round across Staten Island and makes a special annual Thanksgiving gift card donation to dozens of local organizations. Mannix Family Markets also sponsors the historic St. George Theater, Grace Foundation of Staten Island, Richmond University Medical Center, the Staten Island Children’s Museum and Staten Island Sunrise Day Camp. Best wishes to the entire Mannix family on their newest store! Can’t wait to see it!!!
Kudos to the Honickman Companies as they raised $600,000 at their sixth annual golf invitational held on September 8 at the Philadelphia country club in Gladwyne, PA. The event has now raised more than $2.6 million since its inception in 2020 and all proceeds benefit Volunteers of America-Greater New York (VOA-GNY), and UNCF (United Negro College Fund).
“Each year, this event reminds us of the power of community and the impact we can make when we come together,” said Reginald Goins, president and COO of The Honickman Companies. Well done by all involved.
And a quick roundup of the Southern states finds that Winn-Dixie is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Nostalgic pricing, special celebrations and a renewed commitment to fighting hunger will be part of the celebration. Anthony Hucker, chairman, president and CEO of Southeastern Grocers (SEG), said, “Reaching 100 years is an extraordinary milestone that belongs to everyone who has been part of Winn-Dixie’s journey – our associates, our customers and the communities we call home. For generations, we’ve been a trusted part of family dinners, holiday gatherings and everyday moments that matter most. That trust is our greatest measure of success. As we celebrate our centennial, we honor our lasting legacy of serving our neighbors with quality and value and look ahead with a renewed commitment to empowering people to feed and enrich our communities as we carry Winn-Dixie into the next century.”
Amid this celebration lies a less nostalgic and more corporate recent history. In August 2023, the German-based discount chain Aldi announced plans to acquire Winn‑Dixie and Harvey’s from parent company Southeastern Grocers in a sweeping deal covering around 400 stores across five states. The deal was finalized in March 2024 and by August, Aldi had begun converting some of these supermarkets to its compact shopping model. But the transition didn’t stay permanent. In a surprise move in February, a consortium of private investors, led by Hucker and longtime supplier C&S Wholesale Grocers, bought back 170 stores including grocery and liquor locations, returning them to regional hands. SEG will also mark its centennial with a $200,000 donation to fight hunger, half of which will go to Feeding America while the other half comes in the form of product donations to local food banks across the Southeast.
Here’s hoping to another successful 100 years for Winn-Dixie and the Southeastern Grocers organization.
And finally, a reminder that the Friends of the Food Industry will be hosting its annual charity reception on October 16 at Hackensack Golf Club in Oradell, NJ. This is one of our industry’s nicest events and this year’s honoree is Dennis Hickey, chief merchandising officer at Krasdale Foods Inc. Additionally, FOFI will be presenting lifetime achievement awards to Robert Cignarella of RDD Associates, Jim O’Brien of ASM, and David Deo of Crossmark. For more information email [email protected]. Hope to see you there!
