Metro Beat

Season’s greetings everyone and all the best of the holiday season to you and yours!

Nearly one year after acquiring the Waldbaum’s in Rocky Point, Long Island, PSK Supermarkets unveiled their 14th supermarket, a 60,000 square foot Super Foodtown. The store had been going through continuous and extensive remodeling and Sydney, Daniel and Noah Katz were eager to cut the ceremonial ribbon on the spectacular location. “We are very excited to serve the area with the best shopping experience available,” Noah Katz, co-president of PSK Supermarkets, said at the opening. “This is a world class store with low prices and we plan to be the best supermarket in all of Suffolk County!” He continued, “The store opening and remodel would not have been possible without the tremendous help and support of the PSK operations team, store associates and the Allegiance Retail Services team. This was truly a group effort.” Noah’s enthusiasm was palpable throughout the evening and once you view the store you will see why. Expanded departments throughout the store provide wide open access with plenty of staff available for hands-on service. And in case Noah and PSK VP Ed Hunt are looking for other business opportunities, they might be able to fill in for any drive time radio stations looking for new hosts. Check them out on their regular podcasts at http://supermarkettalk.libsyn.com.  Good stuff guys! And best wishes on the store!

Congratulations to Spencer An and the entire team at Bogopa Service Corporation on the opening of their newest Food Bazaar location in Fairview, NJ. The site was a former A&P and is the fifth Food Bazaar location in New Jersey for Spencer and his team and their 24th site overall. If anyone remembers the previous A&P, don’t even think that this site is remotely anything like that desolate store. Bogopa closed the site for 11 months before re-opening the current 45,000 square foot store. As with most Food Bazaar stores, the perimeter is unparalleled: spectacular seafood, produce, meat, deli and bakery departments, along with magnificent décor. At the ribbon cutting Spencer and Bogopa EVP Edward Suh announced they, along with supplier Bozzuto’s, were donating more than 20 tons of food to various local charities. Kudos and well done!

Congratulations to Jim Kervick who is now the northeast regional sales manager for Garland Foods. Jim had a long run with Kraft Foods (37 years) and after some paring back by the new Kraft-Heinz Company he wound up with Garland, which is a major supplier of garlic and fresh produce. Good luck, Jim.

Associated Supermarket Group (ASG) announced the launch of Avenue A, a multi-category brand developed exclusively for the independent supermarkets served by ASG. A select number of Avenue A products will be available to stores in this month, including evaporated milk, sour cream and mayonnaise. When completed, Avenue A will include more than 700 products – from frozen foods to dried grocery goods to paper goods, among other provisions – and will be available at Associated, Compare, Met, Met Fresh, Pioneer, and Metropolitan Citymarket, as well as the 400 independent stores served by ASG. The introduction of Avenue A will provide national brand quality at a value price with the first roll-out concentrating on 30 of the highest volume items. The remaining Avenue A line will be released in phases during 2017, subsequently replacing products that currently carry the Super A brand, and provide continuity to ASG’s private brand offerings. “Avenue A is created exclusively for the local, independent grocery store,” said Bob Striano, ASG’s president and CEO. “Avenue A is based on simplicity. It is a proud mark of the diversity in the stores and consumers we serve.” ASG will promote the brand, which tends to be priced about 20 percent less than brand-name equivalent products, in its weekly advertising circulars, online and in stores. The brand will also be part of ASG’s marketing plan, which includes radio, television, social, and print advertising to consumers. “Our new private brand represents our commitment to deliver innovative products to meet consumers changing preferences and tastes,” said Zulema Wiscovitch, ASG EVP.

And the Jorge family opened their fifth Gala Fresh Supermarket, this time in Passaic, NJ at the site of a former Food Basics. This makes 24 total supermarkets for the family under their Aurora Grocery Group name. With sites in the Metro New York and New Jersey and the Carolina markets, Omar Jorge, Franky Jorge, Ursula and Francisco Jorge and Jenny Jorge are really building a solid empire. The newest site is a 32,000 square foot store that has been significantly overhauled by Aurora. They opened up the entire perishables area so one can see clear across the expansive produce, bakery, deli, seafood and butcher/meat departments. A huge assortment of international goods will go a long way in serving the multi-cultural neighborhood as well. Job well done and best wishes for success!

We recently received word that John McGuckin has been named chief executive officer at Tribe Mediterranean Foods, a subsidiary of Nestlé SA and the OSEM Group. The company is best known for its Tribe hummus products throughout the market and is headquartered in Taunton, MA. John brings a wealth of experience to Tribe having held executive positions with Maya Kaimal Fine Indian Foods, The Chia Co., Sabra and J&J Snackfoods. (Heck, I first met John when he was working back at the old Lenders Bagel Company for the infamous Murray Lender and Barry Ansell, but I digress….) John is known for his team-building and brand expansion skills. “I’m very pleased to join the team at Tribe, which brings ‘the Mediterranean’ to the deli case with a growing portfolio of authentic, tasty, and nutritious hummus products. In a way, Tribe helped to change the way America snacks!” said McGuckin. Best wishes John.

Kudos to Eggland’s Best (EB), the number one selling branded egg in the U.S., as they continue their support in the fight to end breast cancer with a two-year partnership extension with Susan G. Komen that includes a $100,000 donation, regardless of sales from 2017-2018. This will be the eighth year of the company’s commitment to helping fund Komen’s mission to save lives by meeting the most critical needs in our communities and investing in breakthrough research to prevent and cure breast cancer. In an effort to heighten awareness and encourage action from millions of consumers in the fight against breast cancer, the red EB stamped eggs are going to be stamped in pink with the addition of the signature Susan G. Komen running ribbon during each October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During this time, EB eggs also come in special pink packaging. “We are excited to extend our partnership with Susan G. Komen for an additional two years to help in the fight against a disease that affects hundreds of thousands people each year,” said Charlie Lanktree, president and CEO of Eggland’s Best. “We are committed to making an impact with the goal of saving lives, just like we are committed to providing consumers a better egg that provides better nutrition, better taste, and better freshness.”

While at the Key Food vendor meeting last month, one of the final points made by COO George Knobloch was Key Food’s pledge to assist the The Rancheros Unidos Foundation (Los Rancheros) in a variety of ways. Los Rancheros is a group of 50 independent supermarket owners, representing more than 150 supermarkets trading under a variety of different banners, who for the most part originate from the province of Santiago in the Dominican Republic. The majority of the stores are located in the metro New York/New Jersey area and together The Rancheros group members employ close to 4,000 and generate almost $1 billion in annual sales. The Ranchero group concentrates a large part of its humanitarian efforts by helping to bring some basic needs to the hometown where most of the members come from (Los Ranchos de Babosico). In previous years the group has provided such necessities as a proper and clean water supply, improved roads and most recently, housing to the impoverished area. George mentioned how touched he and Key Food members were in hearing of the terrific efforts The Rancheros have provided and pledged $50,000 to the cause on behalf of Key Food. Outstanding and magnanimous gesture!! For anyone looking to learn more or contact Los Rancheros contact Nelson Eusebio at 516.424.3861 or nelsr61@hotmail.com.

Here’s wishing everyone a joyous holiday season and all the best for a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! Please feel free to contact me at 201.250.2217 or kgallagher@best-met.com