Gary Capozzi Receives Prestigious Jimmy Ostling Trade Relations Award

Leaders from New Jersey’s food retail and distribution businesses gathered in Atlantic City to address the new world order of the food industry with data & digital revolutionizing operations.

NJFC 2021 Trade Relations Conference featured a presentation by Gary Hawkins, CEO & Founder of the Center for Advancing Retail & Technology (CART) on the future of technology in the food industry. Gary distilled the complexity of tech-fueled retail innovation into digestible and actionable insights.

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Additionally, the Conference featured an expert panel discussion moderated by Nick Brown of Kraft Heinz Company which consisted of Robert Jablonski of DoorDash, Ron Onarato of Inserra Supermarkets, and Caroline Masullo of Peapod Digital Labs.

“This forum is a unique opportunity for the state’s leaders in the food industry to discuss challenges, collaborations, and innovations in the food space,” said NJFC President and CEO Linda Doherty. “Our keynote speaker and panel really captured the minds of our member audience and provided a pathway for food industry members to evolve post-COVID-19 as new shopping habits such as online sales, home and personalized delivery, and curbside pickup are here to stay.”

Additionally, Gary Capozzi, Key Account Manager of PepsiCo, was honored with the first ever NJFC Jimmy Ostling Trade Relations Award. Doherty said, “Gary Capozzi represents outstanding leadership in trade relations. His partnership with the Food Council and the insights he provides as a member of the NJFC Trade Relations Committee are invaluable to the advancement of trade partnerships in the food industry.” The conference concluded with an industry-wide golf outing at Seaview Golf Club.

The New Jersey Food Council is the Garden State’s preeminent trade association representing almost 400 companies including 1,200 retail food stores, wholesalers, manufacturing and service companies that collectively employ more than 200,000 associates in NJ. For more information, visit www.njfoodcouncil.com.

The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) held its Annual Golf Outing on Monday, July 26 at the prestigious Suburban Golf Club in Union Township.

While it was a scorching day on the links, it was the perfect day for business and networking. There was a strong showing of food industry executives representing retail, manufacturers, brokers, wholesalers and convenience stores from across New Jersey. 

“This outing is always a great networking opportunity for food trade associates and retail executives,” said NJFC President Linda Doherty. “The generosity we receive from members who donate to our bountiful goody bags and robust raffle donations always makes this a popular event.  This year was no exception.  This year’s outing was one of our largest.”

The winning golfers:

• Best Team Score 1: Lawrence Inserra and Rich Chamberlain with Inserra Supermarkets and Herman Dodson and Brian DeLeon with Chase Bank

• Best Team Score 2: Don Parisi, John Agos, Michael Jordan and Tom DeLuca; Bennabis Health

• Closest to the Pin: Mike Mondello of PepsiCo and Joe Smith, C&S Wholesale

• Longest Drive (Men & Women):  Amy Cosmos of PepsiCo, and Richard Chamberlain, Inserra Supermarkets

Click here for the full album of event photos.

NJFC is appreciative of the Shelby Report for covering this industry-wide event.

Recently, the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) hosted a virtual reception and presentation to honor 2021 scholarship recipients from the Educational Development Scholarship Foundation. “This was a special ceremony to award our students with scholarships that will help further their dreams, goals and career aspirations,” said NJFC President & CEO Linda Doherty. “This virtual reception was our way of celebrating their achievement and recognition of their well-deserved efforts.” The winners and their families were joined by company sponsors of the individual scholarship awards and were delivered a box of goodies to enjoy during the presentations.

Since the inception of the Scholarship Program in 2011, the three NJFC scholarships have grown to 21 NJFC and member company scholarships totaling $62,000. This year, Allegiance Retail Services created a new $5,000 Robert Powell Memorial Scholarship.

“These scholarships are a rewarding benefit for our members and their families. Every year our program grows and is strengthened by the strong support of our members who continue to make meaningful contributions to the program. Each scholarship serves as an academic engine for the future generation of our member associates and their families,” said Linda Doherty, President & CEO of the NJ Food Council. “NJFC congratulates this year’s scholarship winners. We are so proud of their academic achievements, and hopeful for their future and all the possibilities.”

The following scholarships were awarded this year by NJFC:

1. NJFC Scholarships – Six awards of $2,500 to a graduating high school senior or college student who is working for a member company and who is pursuing food policy, government affairs or a food industry related career, or an NJFC employee.
   Recipients:
   Miriam Nicole Ayala Bonilla, ShopRite of Elizabeth, Kean University (Freshman)
   Zachary Dougherty, Saker ShopRite, Monmouth University (Junior)
   Sarah Drongoski, Somers Point ShopRite, Atlantic Cape Community College (Junior)
   Tamara Farrow, Wawa, Stockton University (Junior)
   Lina Maria Larrotta Moya, ShopRite of Elizabeth, Kean University (Freshman)
   Matthew Villapiano, Wakefern Food Corporation, Stevens Institute of Technology
   (Freshman)
2. Acme Markets Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at Acme Markets.
   Recipient: Samantha Taylor, Acme Markets, Rutgers University (Sophomore)
3. CBA Industries Scholarship – Two awards of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at CBA Industries or an NJFC Retail Food Market.
   Recipients:
   Haley Fasano, CBA Industries, Marist College (Sophomore)
   Alexander Hodanovich, CBA Industries, Bergen Community College (Freshman)
4. Cuellar Family ShopRites Scholarship – An award of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at Cuellar Family ShopRites.
   Recipient: Tatiana Carolina Guzman, Cuellar Family ShopRites, Hudson County
   Community College (Freshman)
5. Lawrence R. Inserra Memorial Scholarship – An award of $5,000 to an employee or family member of Inserra Supermarkets.
   Recipient: Matthew Pluzsik, Inserra Supermarkets, Ramapo College of NJ (Junior)
6. Raymond J. Maniaci Scholarship – An award of $8,000 to a student of St. Joseph’s University who is a food marketing major.
   Recipient: Kelly Camperson, St. Joseph’s University (Senior)
7. Robert Powell Memorial Scholarship – An award of $5,000 to an employee or family member of Allegiance Retail Services.
   Recipient: Connor Aleksandrowicz, Allegiance Retail Services, Rutgers University (Senior)
8. QuickChek Corporation Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to an employee or family member employed at QuickChek Corporation.
   Recipient: Anijah Missouri Franklin, QuickChek Corporation, Howard University (Freshman)
9. Grace Scaduto Memorial Scholarship – An award of $2,000 to a New Jersey resident student or spouse/family member who is employed by Food Circus Supermarkets.
   Recipient: Selene Ramirez, Food Circus Supermarkets, Brookdale Community College (Sophomore)
10. Wawa Education Scholarships – Two awards of $2,500 to an employee or family member employed at Wawa.
    Recipients:
    Maxwell Goldman, Wawa, Stockton University (Sophomore)
    Emily Morton, Wawa, Moore College of Art & Design (Senior)
11. Whole Foods Market – Four awards of $2,500 to a team member employed by Whole Foods Market.
    Recipients:
    Justin Baraona, Whole Foods Market, Columbia University (Junior)
    Evgenii Ignatov, Whole Foods Market, CUNY (Junior)
    Erin O’Connor, Whole Foods Market, William Paterson University (Senior)
    Ndey Touray, Whole Foods Market, CUNY (Senior)

The New Jersey Food Council is the Garden State’s preeminent trade association representing almost 400 members serving the retail, wholesale and manufacturing segments of the New Jersey food distribution industry.

The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) was awarded a $149,400 grant from the Customized Training Program in the state Department of Labor to support food handlers and provide safety training for New Jersey supermarkets, grocers and convenience stores.

The grant will support the partnership between the NJFC and the Office of Continuing Education at Rutgers University, which administers the grant project.  Training is offered to NJFC member companies to provide food handlers with extensive and required state and federal food safety and sanitation training.

“We are pleased to offer this training to improve the skill set and employment opportunities for our workforce.  This grant for New Jersey food retailers ensures their employees are trained in the latest food safety and sanitation requirements,” said Linda Doherty, NJFC president & CEO.  “As New Jersey reopens from the COVID crisis and more workers are needed to feed New Jersey residents who are shopping for food, this grant reinforces strong food safety practices, principles and qualifications.”

The training is a collaboration with ServSafe, through the National Restaurant Association, as well as SafeMark Supermarkets through the Food Marketing Institute.

Classes approved in the grant include:

• A 16-hour food safety training through ServSafe or Safemark
• An 8-hour course through ServSafe or Safemark
• A four-hour food handler training through ServSafe.

NJFC members participating in the grant include: Brookdale Shoprite, Inc., Eickhoff Supermarkets, Food Bank of South Jersey, Food Circus Super Markets, Heritage’s Dairy Stores, Inc., Inserra Supermarkets, Murphy’s Fresh Market, Nicholas Markets, Pennington Quality Market, Perlmart Inc., QuickChek Corporation, Ravitz Family Markets, Ronetco Supermarkets, Shoprite of Hunterdon County, Shoprite Supermarkets Inc., Stew Leonard’s, Village Supermarket, Wakefern Food Corp., Whole Foods Market and Zallie-Somerset Supermarkets Inc.

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. 

NJ Department of Environmental Protection Acting Commissioner Shawn LaTourette urged the public in a video message to switch to reusable shopping bags in advance of the state’s new law protecting New Jersey’s environment against certain single-use plastics. This law takes effect next year.

The nonprofit NJ Clean Communities Council, a longtime NJDEP partner that oversees the implementation of municipal and county litter abatement programs funded by Clean Communities grants, will also play an important role as the state implements the new bag law. The group has launched a Reusable Bag Education campaign, which urges consumers to use reusable bags when they shop.

$20.7 million in Clean Communities Grants

NJ DEP Acting Commissioner Shawn LaTourette announced the award of $20.7 million in grants to help municipalities and counties implement programs to clean up and reduce litter in communities across New Jersey. Over the years, the DEP has provided municipalities and counties hundreds of millions of dollars in Clean Communities grants to implement litter cleanup and abatement programs, including adoption and enforcement of local anti-littering ordinances; beach cleanups; public information and education programs; and purchases of litter collection equipment such as receptacles, recycling bins, anti-litter signs and graffiti removal supplies.

In the video, NJDEP Acting Commissioner LaTourette presents the grant to NJ Clean Communities Council’s Executive Director JoAnn Gemenden and Board President Linda Doherty. This year, the DEP has awarded $18.4 million in municipal grants and $2.3 million in county grants. The total of $20.7 million represents a $1.3 million increase from last year due to an increase in revenues. The program is funded by a legislated user-fee known as the Litter Tax on manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors that produce litter-generating products. Disbursements are based on housing units and miles of roadways within a municipality or county.

Municipalities receiving at least $100,000 this year are:Newark, $430,941; Jersey City, $397,992; Toms River; $223,521; Paterson, $192,797; Hamilton (Mercer), $189,554; Elizabeth, $177,438; Edison, $178,108; Woodbridge, $175,036; Brick, $169,773; Middletown, $153,512; Franklin (Somerset), $131,997; Cherry Hill, $150,990; Monroe (Middlesex), $94,060; Trenton, $142,013; Clifton, $138,044; Vineland, $133,385; Berkeley, $130,529; Camden, $126,314; Gloucester Township, $124,173; Old Bridge, 119,697; Lakewood, $119,795; Jackson, $114,806; Howell, $117,155; East Orange, $110,384; Parsippany-Troy Hills, $111,066; Manchester, $110,261; Egg Harbor Township, $104,183; and Bayonne, $107,049, Wayne, $107,384.

County grants were awarded as follows:Atlantic, $126,674; Bergen, $150,409; Burlington, $171,897; Camden, $134,898; Cape May, $71,946; Cumberland, $183,538; Essex, $72,938; Gloucester, $140,808; Hudson, $18,910; Hunterdon, $82,518; Mercer, $60,734; Middlesex, $107,081; Monmouth, $128,957; Morris, $97,181; Ocean, $209,457; Passaic, $83,782; Salem, $122,231; Somerset, $84,476; Sussex, $106,658; Union, $59,594; Warren, $88,998.
For a complete list of municipal and county grant awards, visit www.njclean.org.