Gary Rosenthal Receives Prestigious Jimmy Ostling Trade Relations Award
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ — Leaders from New Jersey’s food retail and distribution businesses gathered in Atlantic City on March 30 to address the growing consumer focus on health and wellness in the food industry, following a lingering pandemic that put the neighborhood supermarket on the front lines of “essential” services.
The NJFC 2022 Trade Relations Conference featured a well-received presentation by Stew Leonard, Jr., President & CEO of Stew Leonard’s, a unique family-owned farm fresh food retailer recognized as one of Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work for in America” for 10 consecutive years.
In addition, the NJFC welcomed other talented and accomplished leaders who discussed emerging “Health and Wellness” consumer trends in a post-COVID world and what it means to the business model.
“We took a deeper look at a customer’s cart, both online and through the checkout lane,” explained NJFC President and CEO Linda Doherty. “Throughout the pandemic, customers have shifted their purchasing habits and focused on health and wellness. Today, food is medicine and a way to enhance the nutritional wellbeing of themselves and their families. Our event shined a spotlight on this pivotal moment and how we navigate the needs of this modern consumer.”
Additionally, the Conference featured an expert panel discussion featuring Ron Bonacci, Vice President of Advertising and Marketing, Weis Markets; Jacqueline Gomes, RDN, MBA, a dietician, Allegiance Retail Services; Stephan Henig, Chief Customer Officer, Wakefern Food Corp. and Joe Kaszuba, Regional Sales Manager, House Foods North America, moderated by Nick Brown of Kraft Heinz Company.
“This annual program demonstrates our commitment to encouraging trade partnerships and providing a better understanding of supplier and retailer business models to strengthen and grow our businesses in good times and crisis situations,” Doherty added.
Additionally, Gary Rosenthal, Executive Vice President & General Manager, JOH Metro Division, was honored with the NJFC Jimmy Ostling Trade Relations Award for his support of industry trade partnerships and activities, and his long standing career as an effective food broker.
Gary was recognized as a trade leader who has made a significant impact on the food industry in this region and is an outstanding role model in trade relations. Doherty said, “His style and ability to forge partnerships between the supplier and food retail community is admired, appreciated and respected.”
The conference concluded with an industry-wide golf outing, held this year on March 31 at Galloway National Golf Club in Galloway Township.
Members can view the full event photo gallery here.
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 250,000 associates in NJ. For more information, visit www.njfoodcouncil.com.
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