Every year NJBIZ and ROI unveil their lists naming some of the most influential political and business leaders in the State of New Jersey. NJBIZ ranks the top ten then lists the remaining 90 figures in alphabetical order. ROI breaks up their Influencers by category.

Making this year’s NJBIZ Power 100 and ROI Influencers list once again is NJFC President Linda Doherty. Joining her on the NJBIZ list are NJFC members Mark Clouse of Campbell Soup Company, Joseph Colalillo of Wakefern Food Corp., Richard Saker of Saker ShopRites, and Bob and Peter Unanue of Goya Foods. The full list can be found here.

Also accompanying NJFC’s President on the ROI Influencers list are NJFC members Anthony Calandra of Calandra Enterprises, Mark Clouse of Campbell Soup Company, Joseph Colalillo of Wakefern Food Corp., Fabian Garcia of Unilever, and Bob Unanue of Goya Foods. NJFC President was named to the Association Leaders category while NJFC members were named to the Top Executives category. The full list of categories can be found here. Well deserved recognitions.

Supermarket employees have always been frontline heroes during all periods of crisis. In the face of natural disasters, and now even global pandemics, supermarket employees keep communities nourished and supplied.

That is why the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) is joining the Food Marketing Institute to celebrate Supermarket Employee Day on February 22. Supermarket Employee Day is a time for the food industry and customer to recognize and thank employees at every level for the work they do feeding families and enriching lives.

With the onset of the spread of COVID-19 and residents were forced to shelter in place, millions of supermarket employees came to work daily to keep shelves stocked and to provide communities with essential services to help them survive and thrive. Quite simply, supermarket employees have earned the gratitude of NJ residents and government leaders—which is why food industry partners are creating a holiday to celebrate them.

“Every day of every year, New Jersey’s supermarket employees work to enhance the health and well-being of each customer. They are the unsung hero of the community and deserve our appreciation” said Linda Doherty, NJFC president & CEO.

“This is our special day to demonstrate our gratitude for the supermarket team members, from the cashier to the baker to the butcher, shelf stocker to the cart attendant, who have made such a huge difference in our lives not just in New Jersey but across the country over these many difficult months,” Doherty said.

You can find out how to join the celebration on FMI’s website here. FMI and NJFC encourage all to get social and share messages of gratitude with hashtags such as #SupermarketEmployeeDay and #SupermarketHeroes.

Joe Sofia of Wegman’s has been handed the gavel for another year to serve as chair of the New Jersey Food Council during the association’s annual membership meeting recently, Also, during the virtual program, Gov. Phil Murphy, whose proactive policies in 2020 helped NJFC members’ businesses remain strong, amplified the sentiment, in a special video message.

In accepting the role for a second year, Sofia was quick to note that he became chair just before the pandemic hit the state. No one in the industry could have expected what would happen next, as the food supply chain faced an unprecedented and immediate challenge.

“I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all of the members who unselfishly came together to help strengthen and grow the New Jersey Food Council during this crisis,” Sofia said. “From protecting our lifeline workforce to pushing back against onerous new taxes and regulation, our members have never ceased to amaze me in their vision and perseverance.”

This year, the NJFC will see the expanded roll-out of the “Choose to Reuse” campaign to educate shoppers statewide about the need to bring their own bags. Moreover, supermarkets with pharmacies will soon be administering COVID vaccine, underscoring, again, their ongoing contributions to the communities they serve.

“While I am grateful for your confidence and support over this past year, there is still much work to be done,” Sofia said. “We continue to rely on industry engagement and inclusion, and your effort is needed now more than ever to stand together as business leaders, NJFC members and one voice for our food industry.”

During the meeting, NJFC members expressed their appreciation to Sofia for his leadership during such a turbulent time. He was applauded as a thoughtful, genuine and determined leader, as well as a remarkable ambassador.

Sworn in by state Agriculture Secretary Doug Fisher, the Officers include:

Joe Sofia, Wegmans Food Markets                              Chairman
Andrew Kent, Glass Gardens ShopRite                        Vice Chairman
Mike Biase, Mission Foods                                            Associate Vice Chairman
Michael Rothwell, Pennington Quality Market               Treasurer
Suzanne Delviccio, QuickChek                                     Secretary
Linda Doherty, NJ Food Council                                   President & CEO

“As we take a look back, 2020 was an extraordinary period of time,” said Doherty, NJFC President. “It will be remembered as the `Year of the Virus’ and how it unexpectedly unhinged our lives, upended the food business, challenged the food supply chain and changed the way members do business. It was through strength, resolve and innovation that NJFC members rolled with every punch and exceeded the needs of New Jersey customers.”

From food retailers, convenience stores, manufacturers, brokers, wholesalers and suppliers, every facet of the food business was overwhelmed by the spread of an unpredictable illness, an uncertain public and waves of government mandates and restrictions, she said.

“This inconceivable crisis is thought by some as our darkest days but in hindsight I consider our finest hours,” Doherty said. “The common thread was the resiliency of the essential workforce and the tenacity of leadership in the New Jersey grocery business. Our supermarket heroes, frontline manufacturers, food truck delivery services, supplier community and convenience store workers showed up every single day under the threat of an invisible enemy.”

Doherty also noted NJFC was successful in supporting a new law that will ban both paper and plastic single-use bags after years of hard work. NJFC also saved state Clean Communities funding during the budget cycle as well as stopped various proposed taxes.

During the event, the NJFC also paid tribute to a friend. After more than 40 years as a prominent and engaged leader in the NJFC and Food Council Committee for Good Government, Joe Pagano retired from the NJFC Board of Directors and PAC Board of Governors.

NJFC also unveiled its 2021 sponsors, a premier group of members who have made a financial and organizational commitment to advance the association’s mission in Trenton. Platinum sponsors include Acme, Allegiance Retail Services, Inc., Bimbo, Pepsico, Stop&Shop, Wegmans and Whole Foods Market.

By Steve Strunsky, NJ Advance Media

Lessons learned by food retailers, wholesalers, distributors and shoppers should prevent the same kind of shortages of paper towels, toilet paper, hand and surface sanitizers and some food staples that seemed to disappear along with other elements of normal life last spring, said Linda Doherty, president and CEO of the New Jersey Food Council, which represents 1,400 supermarkets, independent grocers, and convenience stores up and down the Garden State.

“Grocers have been enhancing inventory on key staple grocery items, toiletries and sanitizers as manufacturers have been discontinuing some products that are not as popular to ease up on supply chain pressures,” Doherty said in an email. “Many consumers already have a personal stockpile at home, so any virus resurgence is not expected to cause panic buying.”

That said, Doherty did note that the persistence of the pandemic will have an impact on grocers, especially as shoppers plan their upcoming holiday dinners.

“We foresee a subdued holiday season with smaller family gatherings, so there is a focus on smaller turkeys, hens and hams for modest get togethers,” Doherty said. “Supply chain has been sourcing additional suppliers, taking on new private label products and has advance stock of typical holiday favorites so our New Jersey customers will be in good shape to celebrate Thanksgiving and the seasonal fall/winter holidays.”

“Retailers could place limits on high demand inventory if item-demand becomes too great,” Doherty added. “But that would be on a case by case basis.”

Supermarkets and other food retailers were among the few businesses deemed essential after New Jersey confirmed its first coronavirus case on March 4, and Gov. Phil Murphy declared a health emergency five days later.

Read the full article here.

The New Jersey Food Council (NJFC) is thankful to NJ Governor Phil Murphy for signing A-1978/S-864 today, in what becomes the most prolific single use disposal bag ban law in the nation. NJFC has continually advocated for a uniform statewide standard to phase out single use plastic and paper bags and encourage the use of reusable bags in New Jersey.  The action taken by the Governor today does just that.

The ban on both paper and plastic bags is critically important as paper bags have just as significant of an environmental impact as plastic bags. Without this ban, consumers would have simply moved to paper single-use bags, failing to address the underlying goal of reducing our reliance on single-use products.

Most importantly, this law ends the proliferation of varying local ordinances. The unworkable patchwork underscored the importance of having this smart, uniform statewide law that preempts all local ordinances.

The New Jersey Food Council extends its appreciation to Governor Murphy, Senate Sponsor Bob Smith and the State Legislature for creating this uniform standard for the entire state.

The above statement can be attributed to Linda Doherty, President & CEO, New Jersey Food Council