JANUARY 23, 2009

 

 

NJFC ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING KICKS-OFF NEW YEAR

 

This week, almost 200 NJFC members gathered for the Annual Membership Meeting at the Woodbridge Hilton. The large crowd was in good spirits as NJFC leadership addressed the association accomplishments in 2008, discussed plans for the coming year and heard from featured speaker Leslie Sarasin, the new FMI President who talked about her goals for the national trade group.

 

NJFC President Linda Doherty thanked the membership for their activism and personally acknowledged the talent and volunteerism of so many members who help us achieve our mutual goals.  “Our members are our most valuable asset and the glue that keeps the industry close and bonded as we work our way through the maze of government regulations and food industry challenges,” remarked Doherty.

 

During the event, Jim McCaffrey, President of McCaffrey’s Markets, was elected to serve a second one year term as NJFC Chairman of the Board.  Joining McCaffrey as association officers are Vice Chairman Phil Scaduto, Food Circus Supermarkets; Associate Vice Chairman, Peter Stigi, Tuscan Dairy/Dean Foods; Secretary Bruce Weitz; Kings Super Markets; Treasurer Michael Rothwell, Pennington Quality Market and NJFC President Linda Doherty.

 

The NJFC membership also elected the Board of Directors for 2009:

 

Representing the Retail membership are: Jeffrey Brown, Brown’s Super Stores; Joseph Colalillo, ShopRite of Hunterdon County; Rafael Cuellar, Cuellar, LLC; Linda Doherty, NJFC; David Maniaci, Nicholas Markets; Jim McCaffrey, McCaffrey’s Markets; Mike Murphy, Quick Chek Food Stores; Gerard Norkus, Norkus Enterprises; Joe Pagano, Inserra ShopRites;  Michael Rothwell, Pennington Quality Market; Richard Saker, Saker ShopRites; Phil Scaduto, Food Circus Super Markets; Jack Shakoor, HAJ Supermarkets, Len Sitar, ShopRite of Carteret; Joe Sofia, Wegmans Food Markets; Judy Spires, Acme Markets; William Sumas, Village Supermarkets; Mark Suprenant, Wawa, Inc.; John Wachter, Murphy’s Markets of South Jersey; Bruce Weitz, Kings Super Markets; Nicole Wescoe, Whole Foods Market;  and Bob Yager, Stop & Shop Supermarket Company.          

 

Representing the Associate membership are:  Jody Avallone, Edy’s Ice Cream; Michael Biase, Mission Foods; Dan Colegrove, Kraft Foods Global; Joseph Fantozzi, White Rose Foods; John Hernandez, Goya Foods; Mitch Klein, Krasdale Foods; Joe McCarthy, George Weston Bakeries; Frank Mastrangelo, SuperValu Eastern Division; Victor Rack, Advantage Sales & Marketing; Lee Sember, Unilever; and Robert Spires, Frank M. Vaccaro Associates.

 

Thanks to Pepsi, Mark Gastineau, former defensive end with the NY Jets and five time Pro Bowler, was on hand to meet members and sign autographs.

 

CALL TO ACTION: CARD CHECK

As most of you know, with a new Administration in Washington, the likelihood of several pieces of union-backed Federal legislation becoming reality is high.  The issue at the forefront of this legislation is the “Employee Free Choice Act”, also known as Card Check.  Union representatives are already mobilizing in stores in anticipation of the passage of this legislation.

 

This legislation would take away a workers’ right to a federally supervised private ballot when deciding whether or not to join a union.  It would replace the private ballot with a biased and inferior process called “Card Check” that allows a union to organize if a majority of workers simply sign a card.  Under this system, the workers’ votes are made public to the employer, the union organizers and co-workers. 

 

Those interested in fighting this proposal can visit www.SaveTheElection.com for more information on this proposal.  The website also provides a “tool kit” that can be utilized as a resource.

 

If you have any questions, please contact NJFC at 609-392-8899.

 

SALMONELLA OUTBREAK IN PEANUT BUTTER UPDATE

The FDA has identified that the sole source of the US salmonella outbreak involving contaminated peanut butter appears to be the Peanut Corp of America’s Blakely, GA processing facility.

 

More than 125 products including cookies, crackers, ice cream and some pet foods have been mentioned in connection with the outbreak.

 

In New Jersey, 19 salmonella cases have been reported and no deaths attributable to this latest outbreak.

 

For more information on the products affected, check out http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm.

 

NJFC will continue to monitor this situation and will provide members with any updates as they occur.

 

NEW JERSEY FOOD COUNCIL’S NIGHT OF DISTINCTION QUICKLY APPROACHING

The New Jersey Food Council will be honoring Lawrence R. Inserra, Jr. of Inserra ShopRites, Bill Donahoe of Foodtown, and Lawrence Rothwell of Pennington Quality Market with Industry Achievement Awards during its 2009 Night of Distinction event which will be held on March 19, 2009 at the Sheraton Meadowlands in East Rutherford.

 

Each year, NJFC honors a distinguished class of food industry leaders who have made a meaningful contribution to advance the mission of the Food Council, have achieved a significant food business success and have a history of civic service within the New Jersey food community.  NJFC is proud to pay tribute to these industry leaders who have helped NJFC to become one of the finest food trade associations in New Jersey and throughout the country. 

 

The event will also serve as a celebration for the 40th Anniversary of NJFC.  Please join us in celebrating these fine industry leaders and 40 years of progress on behalf of the food industry.