METRO BEAT

Kevin is VP at Food Trade News with primary responsibility for covering the Metro NY/NJ and New England markets. He has more than 30 years of experience on the CPG side of the retail food business and in media. He can be reached at [email protected].

Greetings everyone and I hope this finds you all in good health and keeping your sanity as best as can be expected. Although we haven’t been able to attend trade shows, dinners, conferences, etc., there is still activity to report, so let’s get to it!

NetElixir, the retail marketing strategy company, created a new segment to its list of webinars – “Coronavirus Updates: Retail Superheroes.” And the initial retail superhero  they selected to kickoff the series was Parag Shah, VP-grocery division at Wakefern. NetElixir’s CEO Udayan Bose led an examination and discussion looking into COVID-19 related shopping patterns and purchases with Parag’s insights for current and future behaviors. It’s a good listen and you can find it at the NetElixir website.

Kudos to everyone at GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC , as the company has teamed up with New York Congresswoman Yvette Clarke and Jamaica Consul General Alison Roach-Wilson to provide assistance with food to more than 5,000 persons in need. “We know that it is a difficult time, and that food insecurity is an issue for many, so we’re working with the offices of members of the U.S. House of Representatives representing New York’s 9th congressional district to alleviate some of that pressure,” said Derrick Reckord, president and CEO, GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC.

Advertisement

The program started on May 2, with donations made to 12 churches in the New York Metro area. “We are providing food to those in need in the community, including stranded Jamaicans who cannot get home as a result of the COVID-19. The donations will be made every other week for the next two to three months, and during that time, we expect to serve over 5,000 people,” Reckord revealed. 

Grace Foods’ donation to the communities is in addition to assistance being given to first responders, and further work being done in the South East, with the Jamaican Consulate in Florida. Reckord advised that over the last two weeks, GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC had sent gift cards to assist at least 50 Caribbean students across the U.S. who had been displaced when their colleges closed, but were unable to make it back home. In addition to its efforts in the United States, the GraceKennedy Group has been rolling out COVID-19 response initiatives in Jamaica, Latin America and the Caribbean, Canada, and the U.K. “We are a Jamaican company but our reach is wide. We take our ‘we care’ responsibility very seriously, wherever in the world we operate. As such, we are doing what we can to try to make a positive impact in people’s lives, in what we know is a difficult time,” Reckord said. Kudos to all at Grace Kennedy!

One of the few nice things to see during this pandemic is how some of our elected officials are turning to the food industry for guidance and assistance on how and when we can safely return to some sense of normalcy. To wit, Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey has created a Restart and Recovery Advisory Council and has tabbed the following from the food industry to be a part of the manufacturing and supply chain council: Linda Doherty, president and CEO of New Jersey Food Council; Joe Sheridan, president and COO of Wakefern; and Campbell Soup general counsel Adam Ciongoli. “From our unique vantage point, this is an opportunity to share with my fellow council members the key initiatives that will strengthen the food supply chain as the state gets back on its feet as quickly as possible,” said Doherty. “I appreciate the governor’s faith in me and I look forward to serving as a knowledgeable resource from the perspective of the business community.”

And on the other side of the river, in New York City, Mayor Bill DeBlasio has formed several sector advisory councils that will guide the city’s efforts to reopen the economy and city life, and provide guidance to shape the City’s response to the pandemic. Jason Ferreira , CEO of Ferreira Family Foodtown has been appointed to Mayor’s Task Force which started in early May. And on the statewide front, Governor Andrew Cuomo has formed the New York Forward Re-Opening Advisory Board which will help guide the state’s re-opening strategy. The board will include more than 100 business, community and civic leaders from industries across the state. Chosen to participate from the food industry are: Elizabeth Peralta, executive director of the National Supermarket Association; Sabrina HoSang Jordan, CEO of Caribbean Food Delights; and Nicole Wegman, SVP at Wegmans. Congratulations to all, and good luck with your missions in helping our government officials.

Congratulations to Jacqueline Giz, 2020 winner of the seventh annual Eastern Produce Council’s $5,000 Nolan Family Foundation scholarship. The award is historically given out at the EPC’s annual BBQ sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Agriculture, but with COVID-19, and no event, the EPC held a ZOOM ceremony with the winner and her uncle George Moskal (member of EPC’s executive board and 2010 EPC Hall of Fame Recipient) as well as Theresa Nolan and EPC executive director, Susan McAleavey Sarlund. Jacqueline will attend Rutgers University this fall.

Unfortunately, we’ve had a few passings since we last caught up. It’s always a bit of a downer to pass these along, but in case you missed them, here they are.

Paul Margarites passed away at the age of 85 in early April. He worked in the industry dating back to the 1960s, when he and his brother opened Foods of All Nations gourmet stores on Long Island and Westchester. In the 1970s, they expanded and opened up the Gourmet Galley, a two-store chain with stores in Westport and Greenwich, CT, introducing consumers to unique European specialties. After selling the business in 1978, Pau went on to grow and develop the specialty cheese business at Long Island Provision. During this time, he imported cheeses to the U.S. from all over the world, including raw milk cheeses from France, cheddar from England, gouda from Holland, and cheeses from Switzerland. He later went to work for Daitch/Shopwell to help design and launch The Food Emporium. Paul is survived by his wife Margo, four children (Jim and daughter-in-law Nikki, Steven and daughter-in-law Dawn, Philip, and Dina and son-in-law Greg), six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. Any donations made in his memory may be made to the St Paraskevi Grotto Shrine Restoration project, 1 Shrine Place, Greenlawn, NY 11740.

We were saddened to learn the of the passing of Marie Parisi, mother of Joe Parisi, COO at Kings Food Markets on May 5. Marie was born in Calabritto, Italy and immigrated to the US at the age of 17. She was the beloved wife of the late Louis Parisi and also leaves behind her daughter Donna Orlando and husband Tom, and Joe and his wife Gina, and four grandchildren. The family asks that any donations in her memory be made to the Dementia Society of America, P.O. Box 600, Doylestown, PA 18901 or online at https://www.dementiasociety.org/. Messages of sympathy may be sent to Kings Food Markets, Human Resources Department, 70 Lanidex Plaza, Parsippany, NJ 08054 and they will be forwarded to the Parisi family. Due to the pandemic, a celebration of Mary’s life will be held at a later date. May her soul rest in eternal peace.

Charles “Charlie” Shakoor passed away on May 17 at the age of 77. Charlie started his food industry career early, when he began working at age 12 in a neighborhood grocery store. He held various positions while he was employed by ShopRite and Pathmark and attained the position of director of operations for Wakefern ShopRite stores in 1980. He owned the Hillside IGA Supermarket before becoming owner/operator of ShopRite of Old Bridge from 1995-2012. Many who grew up in Old Bridge will remember “Mr. Shaquarter” from ShopRite where he would give them quarters for the candy machines and rides outside of the store. Charlie is survived by his wife of 20 years Julie (Bishop) Shakoor, his son Jeffrey Shakoor, his daughter Aimee Kierney and her husband Scott, and his brother Jack Shakoor of Jack’s Foodtown as well as many other extended family members. For those who desire, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to the American Diabetes Association at www.diabetes.org.

And lastly, we were crushed to hear that Juan ‘Morel’ Estevez, passed away on April 20 at the age of 68. Morel was born in the Dominican Republic and owned and operated 10 supermarkets in the metro New York/New Jersey market with his three sons John, Robin and Billy. He was a self-made businessman and a man of faith who loved his family and friends more than anything. I’ve walked several of the Estevez family supermarkets over the years (even the pre-Allegiance Retail Services ones) and I swear, every time I was in one of their stores, no matter where, it seemed as though Morel was always there working diligently in all aspects of the store… and with a smile on his face! The man truly led by example, and you knew that every associate working for him truly looked up to him. I last saw Morel at the opening of the Estevez’s GreenWay Markets in Cross River, NY             and he couldn’t have been more proud and happier for his sons. When I teased him that I still saw a lot of “Morel” in the store, he just smiled and laughed, and said, “No, it’s all the boys”. Always humble to the end. Due to the COVID-19 restrictions there was not a full funeral service, but we would like to share with you the words of the eulogy as passed along to me from one of his sons, Bill.

Dear Papi, I wish that you could be here with us. But though we were separated by land and sea, you have to know that we will always be together. 

You were never alone, not even for a moment. God was at your side during each day of your life and now he’s at your side in Glory. 

Many people knew you as Homeboy, Bomba, and even Juan. But only the closest knew you as Morel. They knew you as a fighter, a shoe shiner, who walked with your feet on the ground but your head in the clouds. Because only from there could you see the highest peaks. You were a father who created a future bigger and more abundant for us, your kids– John, Maggie, Billy, and me, Robin. 

You helped create opportunities for others so that they could get a better future for their loved ones. Even though we’re in a time of masks, your example teaches us to give face. You taught us the privilege of our obligations and how to carry them with gratitude. You taught us how to be men and women of value, with faith in God. You taught us to be workers, contributors, and to love each other. 

You taught us to be united. And I promise, Papi, that we’ll always do that. You left seeds and fruits for us to cultivate. Jonas Morel, who carries your name. Magdaline and Emmanuel who you raised as your kids. Priscilla, Amber, and Matthew who have the same energy and creativity as their grandpa. And Isabella, who has the same tireless work ethic as you. 

But the greatest treasure you left us is Mami, (his wife Maria) your wife, friend, and confidant. She is and will always be the love of your life. I promise you that Mami will be taken great care of and full of love forever. 

We love you Papi. Rest in peace in the eternal Glory of God Almighty.

The family asked that any donations in Morel’s memory be made to www.famiy-to-family.org/donate or www.maestrocares.org. Rest in peace, Morel. The industry will miss you.

That will wrap it up for now, everyone. Our next issue of Food Trade News is our annual Market Study. It is a solid issue filled with proprietary information that is referenced throughout the year, and if anyone is interested in getting involved with a marketing message, give me a ring at 201.250.2217 or email me at [email protected]. Stay healthy and keep the faith.