Breaking News from NJ’s Food Industry
Want to learn more about New Jersey’s bag ban? Watch the video above to get the inside scoop on everything you need to know in order to prepare your business for the May 4, 2022 single-use bag ban. NJFC President Linda Doherty moderates this podcast with help from NJ Business Action Center Executive Director Melanie Willoughby and NJ Clean Communities Council Executive Director JoAnn Gemenden.
The full list of resources are available here:
www.business.nj.gov/recent/disposable-bag-ban
In just one year, a new state law will go into effect that bans the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products, as well as single-use paper carryout bags, in most stores.
NJFC and New Jersey Clean Communities Council (NJCCC), two of the lead proponents of the legislation requiring this ban, are applauding the efforts of the state Department of Environmental Protection and the NJ Business Action Center, which launched a statewide education campaign geared toward the business community.
That effort features the launch of a website that explains the law and how it affects New Jersey. The website can be accessed at business.nj.gov/recent/disposable-bag-ban
“The state outreach dovetails with NJCCC’s mission to combat litter,” said NJCCC President Linda Doherty, who is also President & CEO of the NJ Food Council. “We are fortunate to have this growing partnership with the state, as we roll out a three-year communication and marketing campaign to educate every shopper in this state about the new law.”
Doherty has worked closely with the state in promoting the law; she said the website provides the absolute latest information about compliance. This is of ideal importance for owners of supermarkets and other businesses that rely so heavily on the need for bags, she said.
Another key component of the state’s educational effort will be a vendor clearinghouse that connects manufacturers and suppliers who provide reusable bags and other products that comply with the new state standards.
The state is also planning to conduct roundtables to prepare businesses and their customers. Groups interested should reach out to Melanie Willoughby, executive director of the NJ Business Action Center, at melanie.willoughby@sos.nj.gov
JoAnn Gemenden, executive director of the NJCCC, said the non-profit group is also creating a three-year, consumer-based campaign, known as “Reusable Bag Education campaign,” geared to educate and prepare New Jersey residents ahead of the law going into effect.
“The Reusable Bag Education campaign is the perfect compliment to the state’s business outreach plan, as our focus is consumers,” she explained. “We are reaching out to the individual shopper with a very simple ask: When you go to the store, bring your own reusable bags. It’s that simple.”
As part of the comprehensive roll-out, the state is asking businesses to include the following link on newsletters and social media to help educate more New Jerseyans about the law. It reads:
“Counting Down to NJ’s 2022 Plastic Carryout Bag and Polystyrene Foam Ban New Jersey businesses can start preparing now for implementation of a new law, which takes effect May 4, 2022, which ends the use of single-use plastic carryout bags and polystyrene foam food service products at retail stores and food service businesses and replaces them with reusable bags and recyclable products. The use of single-use paper carryout bags will be prohibited at grocery stores greater than 2,500 square feet. Plastic straws will be limited to by-request-only. The New Jersey Business Action Center and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection are working together to help businesses comply with the law. Read the law, a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions (FAQs), an easy-to-read chart explaining how to comply, and many other resources at Business.NJ.gov.”
You can also learn more about the law at: https://www.nj.gov/dep/dshw/plastic-ban-law/
NJFC Vice President Mary Ellen Peppard was named as a Women of Influence in the Food Industry in the 16th annual edition of The Griffin Report. These honorees represent food companies coast to coast with various backgrounds and levels of experience. Those selected play a significant role in their company through leadership, expertise and dedication. They are passionate about supporting their family, friends, colleagues and community.
Mary Ellen is being recognized for her steadfast role as a food industry advocate and voice for our community in Trenton and throughout NJ. Please join me with our wholehearted appreciation to Mary Ellen for all she does to support the Food Council agenda and our membership. Also named was NJ Food Council Board Member Debbie Pregiato with Advantage Solutions, who serves as chair of our Membership Development Committee. Well done ladies!
You can view the full report here.
As New Jerseyans look to the day the state is fully reopen for business, gatherings and life in general, one thing has remained constant throughout the ordeal: the trip to the local grocery store.
Since we surpassed a year of grappling with this lingering health crisis, it is important to reflect on the early uncertainty from this invisible enemy. The grocery and food retail stores wobbled initially, but then quickly stood as a critical lifeline for both shoppers and employees.
The lightning-fast outbreak and dramatic impact of the coronavirus created panic and emptied store shelves. There was no template for this sudden pandemic. The food industry worked closely with the Governor’s Office and other state leaders to address the many challenges, shore up the supply chain, inform the public and support our brave and dedicated workforce.
The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) led a statewide communication effort to provide critical information and resources to New Jersey shoppers and the food industry workforce, ensuring people were still able to get food and supplies despite tight government mandates and restrictions.
Gov. Phil Murphy described the work of the food industry as “mission critical.” It has been an incredible year with great change to the shopping experience, implementation of safety protocols, unprecedented growth in online shopping and inspiring industry stories in serving our most vulnerable populations and food banks.
Let’s fast forward to today. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) just released a new report titled Receipts from the Pandemic: Grocery Store Investments Amid COVID-19 and the Resulting Economics of an Essential Industry that highlights the massive $24 billion investment the food retail industry made in response to the sudden challenges to the nation’s shopping and food consumption habits as a result of the stay-at-home orders and restrictions.
Grocers’ dramatic and unanticipated actions included significant safety, workforce and technology investments that enabled them to service their communities during this unpredictable health crisis.
The report, based on a survey of 52 FMI member companies representing almost 40% of the nation’s food retailing industry, offers the first comprehensive cost analysis of the actions taken to safely keep grocery stores open throughout the pandemic.
Overall, the report found that food retailers have spent approximately $24 billion for pandemic-related expenses since March 2020.
Here are a few insights into ways grocers nationwide responded to the pandemic, fed our communities and invested in protective and sanitation products:
And now, food stores play another vital, lifeline role during this pandemic. In New Jersey, grocers with pharmacies are fully engaged in the vaccination distribution effort.
As more supply becomes available, an increasing number of our local supermarkets will be able to vaccinate customers and their workforce. Our supermarket members with pharmacies are now coordinating with their grocery competitors to vaccinate their workforce to protect our frontline workers.
There is probably no industry other than healthcare that has played such a meaningful and critical role in supporting our residents during this health crisis. We look forward to reopening New Jersey and supporting the state’s economic health and recovery as a proud frontline industry.
The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) applauds the unwavering support expressed by Gov. Phil Murphy for the passage of a Resolution that honors all front-line workers, including the food and grocery workforce, as part of a COVID-19 Heroes Day.
“Our lifeline food industry workforce heeded the call, serving our state in a time of crisis to keep New Jersey residents fed and supplied during the tremendous uncertainty of this global pandemic” said Linda Doherty, president & CEO, NJFC. “The NJFC is in full support of Governor Murphy’s action to create ‘Covid-19 Heroes Day,’ serving as a constant reminder of the service of these professionals at a time when their dedication and spirit was needed most.”
Doherty added: “Our neighborhood grocery store associates and suppliers consistently display compassion, strength, and leadership, remaining focused on customer service and community support. This resilient workforce truly deserves to be honored and recognized with this day.”
NJFC is also pleased that Governor Murphy last week announced grocery and food industry workers are eligible for vaccination after being recognized as an “essential industry” in the state. This is a significant and meaningful action by the Murphy Administration to support our workforce as we stand at the frontline to feed and provide nutrition for 9 million residents of New Jersey.
The bi-partisan Heroes Day Resolution sponsored by State Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth) and Sen. Anthony Bucco (R-Morris) demonstrates the unified support of all parties to celebrate and pay tribute to the grocery workforce.
Doherty is pleased to note that New Jersey’s supermarket workers were also honored as part of a national “Supermarket Employee Day” on February 22.