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Breaking News from NJ’s Food Industry

NJ Food Council Announces 2016 Education Development Scholarship Recipients

Food Industry Announces Largest Education Investment

in Organization’s History

At their annual trade conference in Atlantic City, the New Jersey Food Council’s Education Development Scholarship Program recently announced its scholarship recipients for 2016.

The scholarship program was created with the goal to promote future leaders, create a benefit for NJFC members and their families, and support the food industry.  This year, NJFC and its members awarded 17 scholarships throughout New Jersey, totaling $55,000, which is the largest education investment in the organization’s history.

“On behalf of the food industry, we are thrilled to announce the recipients of our 2016 Education Development Scholarship Program,” said Linda Doherty, President and CEO of NJFC.  “As demonstrated by the growth of our scholarship program over the past several years, NJFC and its members are committed to investing in the education of its workforce and their families.  As future leaders of the food industry, these graduating high school students are well-deserving of this honor and we wish them the best of luck in all of their future endeavors.”

 

NJFC is pleased to award the following scholarships:

Bergen County

Acme Food Markets Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at Acme Food Markets.

Recipient:  Alan Abboud, Acme Food Markets, William Paterson University (Freshman), Mahwah, NJ

 

CBA Industries Scholarship – An award of $5,000 to an employee or family member employed at CBA Industries or an NJFC Retail Food Market.

Recipient:  Ashley Ward, CBA Industries, Susquehanna University (Freshman), Teaneck, NJ

 

Lawrence R. Inserra Memorial Scholarship – An award of $5,000 to an employee or family member of Inserra Supermarkets.

Recipient:  Brittany DeYorgi, Inserra Supermarkets, Rockland Community College (Freshman), Blauvelt, NY

 

Raymond J. Maniaci Memorial Scholarship – An award of $5,000 to a food marketing major student at Saint Joseph’s University.

Recipient:  Krista Harvey, Kings Food Markets, St. Joseph’s University (Junior), River Vale, NJ

 

Camden County

Wawa Education Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at Wawa.

Recipient:  Kaitlyn Lesinski, Wawa, Fairleigh Dickinson University (Sophomore), Magnolia, NJ

 

Wawa Education Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at Wawa.

Recipient:  Karey Fenning, Wawa, Camden County College (Junior), Bellmawr, NJ

 

Cumberland County

Perry Sumas Memorial Scholarship – An award of $5,000 to a student chosen by the Sumas family.

Recipient:  Erikka Wesley, Wawa, Norfolk State University (Freshman), Fairton, NJ

 

Essex County 

NJFC Student Award – An award of $5,000 to a graduating high school senior or college student who is a family member of a full time employee, NJFC employee or part-time student employee.

Recipient:  Matthew Dolce, Glass Gardens ShopRite, Lehigh University (Freshman), West Caldwell, NJ

 

Monmouth County

NJFC Founders Scholarship Award – An award of $2,500 to an employee in a food related member business or future industry leader.

Recipient:  Anthony Sofia, Wegmans Food Markets, TCNJ (Freshman), Clarksburg, NJ

 

NJFC Founders Scholarship Award – An award of $2,500 to an employee in a food related member business or future industry leader.

Recipient:  Zachary Sofia, Wegmans Food Markets, TCNJ (Freshman), Clarksburg, NJ

 

NJFC Thomas Infusino Scholarship Award – An award of $5,000 to one employee in a retail member business.

Recipient: Heather Flanagan, Saker ShopRites, Rutgers University (Senior), Union Beach, NJ

 

Morris County

Spires Family Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a Kings associate or family member chosen by the Spires family.

Recipient: Gabrielle Rumer, Kings Food Markets, University of New Haven (Freshman), Parsippany, NJ

 

Passaic County 

Cuellar Family ShopRites Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at Cuellar Family ShopRites.

Recipient:  Blair Travis, Cuellar Family ShopRites, William Paterson University (Freshman), Paterson, NJ

 

Grace Scaduto Memorial Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a student of Monmouth University who is a family member of an employee of NJFC or a member company.

Recipient:  Alyssa Alden, Kings Supermarkets, Monmouth University (Sophomore), Clifton, NJ

 

Union County

QuickChek Corporation Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to an employee or family member employed at QuickChek Corporation.

Recipient:  Olivia Del Vecchio, QuickChek Corporation, Fordham University (Freshman), Cranford, NJ

 

Spires Family Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a Kings associate or family member chosen by the Spires family.

Recipient:  Molly Tompson, Kings Food Markets, Penn State University or Virginia Tech (Freshman), Springfield, NJ

 

Spires Family Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a Kings associate or family member chosen by the Spires family.

Recipient: Robert Tompson, Kings Food Markets, Union County College (Freshman), Springfield, NJ

NJFC Statement Expressing Concern with Proposed Minimum Wage Increase

Linda Doherty, President and CEO of the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) released the following statement regarding S-15, legislation which would increase the minimum wage in New Jersey by 79 percent to $15 an hour:

“New Jersey’s food retail and distribution industry employs almost 200,000 workers annually.  This proposed 79 percent minimum wage increase is a drastic rise in labor costs that will result in the loss of food industry jobs and higher prices for New Jersey consumers.

“New Jersey’s food industry is shrinking and facing unprecedented competition from online retailers, big box stores, drug chains and dollar stores. Some food companies have been unable to survive these industry challenges, as illustrated by the recent bankruptcy of A&P/Pathmark headquartered in New Jersey and the Chapter 11 filing of Fairway Markets with several New Jersey locations.

“Minimum wage increases reduce access to entry level jobs, particularly in labor intensive industries such as food retail and distribution.  Additionally, this legislation does not take into account the fact that our members also provide generous health insurance benefits, 401k match savings plans, and fringe benefits like tuition reimbursement.  These benefits significantly add to labor costs and raise the current wage rate by approximately $8 an hour. If our businesses have to absorb dramatic increases in labor costs, our stores will face tough choices, including cutting the workforce, reducing hours or scaling back benefits.

“A critically important consequence of this proposal is the significant impact on job growth. Economists John Dunham & Associates are in the process of conducting a comprehensive economic analysis of New Jersey’s food retail and distribution industry.  Their initial findings show that New Jersey has lagged behind national job growth, both in lower-skilled jobs and in total jobs, in almost every year the minimum wage was increased.

“Currently, New Jersey is ranked 13th highest in the nation with a $8.38 minimum wage. In reviewing the historic data, New Jersey has lagged behind national job growth, both in lower-skilled jobs and in total jobs, in almost every year the minimum wage was increased. We reason that slow job growth is due to the higher minimum wage having a negative impact on business hiring decisions.

“Over this 25-year span, if New Jersey jobs had kept pace with national job growth, we estimate that there would be 18,000 more lower-skilled jobs and a staggering 620,000 more total jobs by year 2015. To put that in perspective, that is roughly 44 private sector jobs per municipality per year.

“Finally, an increase in the minimum wage will also have an impact on food prices. Since food retailers operate on very slim margins, they would be unable to absorb the entire cost of a 79 percent increase. Our economist’s research indicates that the price of necessities such as toilet paper would go up by 19 percent.  These price increases hurt all New Jersey residents, particularly those who will not see a corresponding rise in their salaries, such as seniors on a fixed income or those who already make above the minimum wage.

“Our stores are the anchor of almost every New Jersey community, and our industry has an impact on the health and wellness of every New Jersey resident. This drastic proposed increase will jeopardize new food retail investment and job growth and will raise prices for food and groceries for all New Jersey families.”

NJ Food Business Leaders Discuss Future of the Industry at NJFC Annual Conference

Debbie Pregiato Receives NJFC’s Prestigious
Max Stone Trade Relations Award

Discussing the latest market trends and innovations, over 250 leaders from New Jersey’s food retail and distribution businesses gathered in Atlantic City to discuss the future of the food industry.

The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) 2016 Trade Relations Conf
erence featured presentations from John Derderian, President of Allegiance Retail Services, on the “State of the Food Industry” and Tim O’Conner, Managing Partner of the Retail Performance Group on “Retail Transformation 2020.”

“We are thrilled to have so many of the state’s leaders in the food industry here with us in Atlantic City to discuss the latest trends, innovations and digital focus of the food business,” said NJFC President and CEO Linda Doherty. “John and Tim provided insightful presentations that bring a new perspective on retail challenges in the NJ marketplace. Both presentations provided an excellent opportunity for members to consider how to deal with ‘market disruptors’ and other future changes that are sure to impact our industry.”

Additionally, Debbie Pregiato, Customer Team Leader for Advantage Solutions, was honored with the New Jersey Food Council’s Max Stone Trade Relations Award. Debbie is the first woman to receive this prestigious recognition.

“Debbie’s role as a leader on our new member development campaign, business partnerships with NJFC members and her continuous dedication to the advancement of the Food Council’s mission made her an obvious choice,” said Doherty. “Debbie has forged long lasting food industry relationships and is a role model as a respected trade relations leader.”

The Max Stone Award is named in honor of the longtime trade relations leader for Best Foods, CPC in recognition of his accomplished career in trade relations in New Jersey.

The Conference began with a highly-anticipated Supermarket Chef Cook-off and concluded with an industry-wide golf outing sponsored by NJFC.

NJ Food Council Holds Inaugural Best Chef Cook-Off Challenge

Food Circus Supermarkets Wins “Best Chef 2016” Award

Food Circus Foodtown Supermarkets last week won the highly-anticipated Best Chef 2016 award at the New Jersey Food Council’s inaugural “Supermarket Chef Cook-off Challenge” during the Trade Relations Conference in Atlantic City. The cook-off provided an opportunity for New Jersey retail food industry chefs to showcase their culinary skills and compete for NJFC’s highly-coveted cooking award.
Culinary teams from four New Jersey supermarkets participated in the competition, in which they created an entrée and dessert in the Viking Kitchen at Harrah’s Resort within a specified amount of time. Each entrée and dessert was scored in three categories – plating, taste, and creativity. Taking top honors at the competition was Miguel Morales and Marisa Ricardo from Food Circus Foodtown Supermarkets of New Jersey. The winning chef’s served the judges Pan Seared Sea Scallops with Mole Sauce and for dessert Plantains and Apple Walnut Crepes.

“This was definitely one of the highlights of this year’s Trade Relations Conference,” said Linda Doherty, NJFC President. “The chefs did an amazing job and their creations were both beautiful and delicious. We expect this filling and exciting competition to become an annual tradition.”

Also competing were Chef Daniel Arturo and Sous Chef Rocco Tesorito of ShopRite of Greater Morristown, Village Food Garden; Chef Denny Siswanto and Sous Chef Preston France of Wegmans Food Market; and Chef Anthony DeBerto, Jr. and Kimberly Sullivan of Kings Food Market. Judging the competition were members of the 2016 Leadership Development Class, and Alfredo Varela, Executive Banquet Chef at Harrah’s.

The New Jersey Food Council is the Garden State’s preeminent trade association representing 1,200 retail food stores, wholesalers, manufacturing and service companies that collectively employ more than 200,000 associates in NJ.

Less than One Week until Food Industry Conference Highlights “Retail Transformation 2020”

J Derderian PictureIn less than one week, leaders from throughout New Jersey’s food retail and distribution industry will gather in Atlantic City to discuss the future of the food industry.

The 2016 Trade Relations Conference will be held on May 11, at Harrah’s Casino and Resort in Atlantic City, NJ, and will feature presentations from John Derderian, President of Allegiance Retail Services, on the “State of the Food Industry” and Tim O’Connor, Managing Partner of the Retail Performance Solutions on “Retail Transformation 2020.” The reception and program will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Debbie Pregiato, Customer Team Leader for Advantage Solutions, will be honored with the New Jersey Food Council’s Max Stone Trade Relations Award.  She will be the first woman to receive this prestigious recognition.

“Debbie’s role as a leader on our new member development campaign, business partnerships with NJFC members and her continuous dedication to the advancement of the Food Council’s mission made her an obvious choice,” said NJFC President Linda Doherty.  “Debbie has forged long lasting food industry relationships and is a role model as a respected trade relations leader.”  The Max Stone Award is named in honor of the longtime trade relations leader for Best Foods, CPC in recognition of his accomplished career in trade relations in New Jersey.

The Conference will also feature our inaugural “Chef Cook-off Challenge;” an opportunity for retail food industry chefs to showcase their culinary skills and compete for the award as NJFC Best Chef 2016.  The contest will be held in the Viking Kitchen at Harrah’s which features four cooking stations.  The chefs will be judged by members of the NJFC Leadership Development Class.  The four chefs who have entered the contest represent Food Circus/Food Town, Kings Food Markets, Village ShopRite and Wegmans Food Markets.

In addition to the Max Stone Award, NJFC will be announcing the recipients for the 17 scholarships being awarded totaling $55,000 to promote future leaders and to support the workforce and families of the food industry.  This year’s scholarships are records for both recipients and total amount awarded by the Food Council.

As is tradition, the event will conclude with a ‘curtain closer’ golf event at Galloway National Golf Club on May 12 at 9:00 A.M. in Galloway, NJ.

Contact NJFC at 609-392-8899 to register for the event or go to http://njfoodcouncil.com/register-today/.

The New Jersey Food Council is the Garden State’s preeminent trade association representing 1,200 retail food stores, wholesalers, manufacturing and service companies that collectively employ more than 200,000 associates in NJ.