CAMP HILL, PA (August 2025) – The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) has appointed Steve Sandman, President of Klafter’s Inc., to its Board of Directors. Sandman takes over the role from Randy Silverman, who represented Klafter’s on the board for many years and is part of the fourth generation leading the family business. PFMA extends its sincere thanks to Randy for his dedicated service and contributions throughout his tenure.
Klafter’s Inc. was founded in 1897 by Hungarian immigrant Sam Klafter in Youngstown, Ohio. What began as a single store evolved over generations into a multi-location business operating across Eastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Through the stewardship of the Klafter, Storch, and Silverman families, the company eventually rebranded its retail outlets as Smoker Friendly and Cigar Express. Today, Klafter’s is headquartered in New Castle, Pennsylvania, and continues to be family-run.
Steve Sandman brings more than 40 years of experience in the tobacco and retail sectors. He has held executive roles at R.J. Reynolds, Altadis USA, and Republic Tobacco, where he served as President and Chief Operating Officer for North America. Sandman has also served on multiple national industry boards and played a key role in launching NATO’s first trade show, which generated over $1 million in its inaugural year.
“Steve brings deep industry knowledge and an incredible network to the board,” said Alex Baloga, PFMA president and CEO. “He’s a valuable voice for our members across retail and wholesale.”
PFMA’s board includes a diverse group of leaders representing every corner of Pennsylvania’s food and beverage industry. This includes executives from grocery chains, convenience stores, distribution companies, and product manufacturers. Together, they help guide PFMA’s advocacy efforts, member services, and industry partnerships that support thousands of businesses across the Commonwealth.
For more information about PFMA and its board members, visit: pfma.org/about-us/board-of-directors
About PFMA
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association, a statewide trade association, advocates the views of more than 600 convenience stores, supermarkets, independent grocers, wholesalers and consumer product vendors. PFMA members operate more than 3,000 stores and employ more than 300,000 Pennsylvanians. For more information on PFMA, visit pfma.org.
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