PFMA’s Alex Baloga, left, and Rich McMenamin, McMenamin Family ShopRite, right, thanked Rep. Acosta for organizing the meeting with the members of the 197 Merchants Association. At the invitation of Representative Leslie Acosta (D-Philadelphia), the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) met with members of the 197 Merchants Association in north Philadelphia, which includes representatives for 900 food retailers of Dominican heritage.
Board member and former Chairman Rich McMenamin, McMenamin Family ShopRites, Philadelphia, spoke to the group about his start in the grocery business and explained how PFMA has helped him achieve success. He operates two supermarkets in Philadelphia.
“For me, PFMA offered a chance to have a voice in Philadelphia city council; a voice in Harrisburg, so that I could go to Harrisburg and tell legislators what my individual problems were,” McMenamin said.
He mentioned several issues that PFMA has worked hard to prevent, including bottle bills, item pricing, plastic bag bans and taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and sweetened beverages.
Gary Lauer, PFMA director of membership development, brought materials about PFMA and explained how to join the association.
He also explained that PFMA works with retailers on issues with SNAP and WIC. Association staff has developed good relationships with regulatory groups, so that they can call on them to discuss issues.
Members of the 197 Merchants Association talked about the language barrier and asked that PFMA consider translating its materials into Spanish to provide a better understanding to members. Representative Acosta graciously translated the discussion for members of the group.
Caroline Friel, food safety regulatory compliance manager; and Stewart Duarte, quality assurance product manager, Wawa, Inc. offered insight into food safety issues for the group.
Friel said that whether the business is large or small there are basic food safety issues that apply to all retail food businesses.
Healthy employees are vital to proper food safety.
“If you are sick, you cannot handle food,” she said. Other issues such as maintaining proper turn times, temperature control -—keeping hot food hot and cold food cold; proper hand washing technique and pest control.
Stewart Duarte translated the information in Spanish for the group and provided hand outs for the representatives to share with the grocers. In addition, Friel stressed the importance of developing good relationships with the local health departments, so that when they have questions, they have someone to call. Durante also recommended they visit the FDA site online where many resources are available in Spanish.
The group plans to meet again in January.
Board member and former Chairman Rich McMenamin, McMenamin Family ShopRites, Philadelphia, spoke to the group about his start in the grocery business and explained how PFMA has helped him achieve success. He operates two supermarkets in Philadelphia.
“For me, PFMA offered a chance to have a voice in Philadelphia city council; a voice in Harrisburg, so that I could go to Harrisburg and tell legislators what my individual problems were,” McMenamin said.
He mentioned several issues that PFMA has worked hard to prevent, including bottle bills, item pricing, plastic bag bans and taxes on alcohol, cigarettes and sweetened beverages.
Gary Lauer, PFMA director of membership development, brought materials about PFMA and explained how to join the association.
He also explained that PFMA works with retailers on issues with SNAP and WIC. Association staff has developed good relationships with regulatory groups, so that they can call on them to discuss issues.
Members of the 197 Merchants Association talked about the language barrier and asked that PFMA consider translating its materials into Spanish to provide a better understanding to members. Representative Acosta graciously translated the discussion for members of the group.
Caroline Friel, food safety regulatory compliance manager; and Stewart Duarte, quality assurance product manager, Wawa, Inc. offered insight into food safety issues for the group.
Friel said that whether the business is large or small there are basic food safety issues that apply to all retail food businesses.
Healthy employees are vital to proper food safety.
“If you are sick, you cannot handle food,” she said. Other issues such as maintaining proper turn times, temperature control -—keeping hot food hot and cold food cold; proper hand washing technique and pest control.
Stewart Duarte translated the information in Spanish for the group and provided hand outs for the representatives to share with the grocers. In addition, Friel stressed the importance of developing good relationships with the local health departments, so that when they have questions, they have someone to call. Durante also recommended they visit the FDA site online where many resources are available in Spanish.
The group plans to meet again in January.
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