Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association
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PFMA welcomes three new members to the association

2/18/2023

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The new associate members represent beverage retail and software systems management.

Canada Dry Delaware Valley is a proud locally-owned and operated bottler and distributor of various leading beverage brands. For over 60 years, customers from southern New Jersey through southeastern Pennsylvania and into Delaware and Maryland have been served by Canada Dry Delaware Valley.

Flashfood is an app that allows shoppers to browse food items approaching their best before date, buy them at a discount and pick them up in store. Helping to create a better world for future generations, while creating affordable access to food to everyone.
 

Keurig Dr Pepper is a leading beverage company in North America and the first to bring hot and cold beverages together at scale. Keurig Dr Pepper has annual revenue in excess of $12 billion and approximately 27,000 employees. The company offers 125+ hot and cold beverages designed to satisfy virtually any consumer need, any time, and available everywhere people shop and consume beverages. 
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Through its Drink Well. Do Good. corporate responsibility platform, Keurig Dr Pepper is committed to sourcing, producing and distributing beverages responsibly, while ensuring it makes a positive impact on customers, employees, communities and the planet.
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Legislator spotlight:  State Rep. Jordan Harris

2/18/2023

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What are your top three legislative priorities in 2023? My top legislative priorities mirror what our Democratic caucus is pushing for, and that is better jobs, better schools and safer communities. There are so many ways to achieve these goals, and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the House, Senate and our new Gov. Josh Shapiro to make that happen.

What are the important issues facing your district? The three most important issues facing our district would be the quality of education, decreasing gun violence and home affordability.

Where do you shop locally for food? I shop at the Fresh Grocer on Grays Ferry Avenue in the Grays Ferry Shopping Center in my district, which is not far from my home.

What is your favorite vacation destination? It’s actually not a vacation destination, but a mode of vacation. I enjoy cruises. We could cruise to anywhere; I just enjoy the experience of going on a cruise.

What are the biggest challenges for grocers in your district? I think getting and maintaining quality products, like fresh fruits and vegetables, and doing so at an affordable cost has been a problem for grocers in my community in the past. I think additionally, like most industries, grocers also have a need to train and grow a workforce, particularly a workforce that looks like and reflects the community the grocery store is serving.

What are your biggest challenges and successes as a legislator? My biggest challenge has been not being able to always help everyone who needs help. Understanding that what I can do and what my office can do has limitations is difficult. While my heart wants to help and solve every problem, it’s hard to not always be able to accomplish that. 
My biggest success has been the collective work of our caucus to be united and stick together over the last few years as well as the bipartisan success of our Clean Slate legislation and the fact that Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate law has become a national model that has led to second chances in numerous other states.

What is your favorite food or meal to cook? I make a really good parmesan chicken. It is by far my favorite meal to cook, but I also make an amazing seafood mac and cheese.
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What do you like to do for fun? I’ve grown up loving and I continue to love music. A lot of people don’t know that I grew up playing the piano in my church. I have a love for music, both listening and playing in my free time. Additionally, I’ve found myself more and more interested in writing. Not for any particular purpose or genre, but just writing out my thoughts.

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Combatting organized retail crime

2/18/2023

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Organized crime used to be the stuff made for movies: drug trafficking, money laundering, trafficking firearms and smuggling goods.
Now, it’s a growing problem with basic, daily needs. Shoppers might be surprised to see more items locked down at stores or limited quantities available for items including laundry detergent, energy drinks, medicine and fresh meat.

Organized Retail Crime, or ORC, has been on the rise since the height of the pandemic. In 2021, a National Retail Security Survey reported that ORC was up more than 26 percent, equating to nearly $100 billion in losses. 
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Businesses are left brainstorming ways to keep their goods secure, employees safe and customers satisfied.
J.P. Frattone, director of asset protection and safety at The GIANT Company, said their stores experienced an increase in shoplifting and ORC since the pandemic. These issues are impacting a wider geographical area, Frattone said, with ORC offenders traveling across states and hitting multiple stores in the same market.

“Offenders are taking larger amounts each time,” he said. “At times, we are seeing the criminals become aggressive in the ways which they take goods and toward team members and customers. The same criminals are hitting multiple stores within the same area once they are in a particular market. In the past we would not see traveling crews of ORC activity in the suburbs, but now the crews are impacting those areas.”

Retailers expect a certain amount of shrink each year, but ORC is more than small theft. It carries with it different characteristics. Dawn Roller, director of loss prevention for Brown’s Shoprite Superstores, said offenders are bolder and more brazen. They disguise themselves to avoid facial recognition and can be armed. Frattone said thankfully their stores have not experienced violent behavior, but other retailers have seen increased aggression toward employees and customers.

“The bad actors are becoming bolder in their behavior,” he said.

So what changed? Roller surmises that many existing factors have bubbled to the top since the pandemic: the news cycle, poverty and education issues. Frattone adds that inflation, fewer law enforcement resources, prosecution thresholds and bail reform are impacting higher rates of crime.

The ways that criminals can pawn stolen items also has changed, making ORC easier. “Online marketplaces have been a growing channel as an outlet for retail theft,” he said. “Typically, we would see pawn shops and corner stores as an outlet; however, online marketplaces have grown as an outlet for retail theft.”  

Lisa Dell’Alba, president and CEO of Square One Markets, Inc., and PFMA Board president, said a change or increase in in-store theft is less of a problem for their locations. They still experience petty theft and issues with health and beauty products or items like Advil and Tylenol.

For years, they were combating skimming. “What we see now is not an increase but a shift,” she said. “That shift has gone to people breaking sensors and trying to steal fuel again.”

At Square One locations, more people are attempting to steal and syphon gas. “We’re kind of back to some of the old school stuff, in a way,” Dell’Alba said. 

Employees also have been targeted by gift card scammers. People have called store locations claiming to be Dell’Alba, asking the cashier to purchase $1,000 in gift cards and call back with the card numbers. These scammers are taking advantage of employees who typically work quiet, overnight shifts and don’t know Dell’Alba, the owner, well. 

In grocery stores, ORC is targeting a wide variety of everyday items. Roller said laundry detergent, health and beauty products, fresh meat, seafood and baby formula are popular items. Frattone said their stores experience similar losses, noting that targeted items don’t vary by store location. A recent Business Insider article listed thieves most-wanted items, ranging from appliances to razors to housewares to pet medication.

And theft is one issue, but the effects of ORC are much broader.

“Certainly, this is an impact to everyone who shops and works in our stores. Beyond the potential impact to safety, ORC can also impact pricing, the availability of goods for our customers and the experience they have in stores,” Frattone said.
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Certainly, this is an impact to everyone who shops and works in our stores. Beyond the potential impact to safety, ORC can also impact pricing, the availability of goods for our customers and the experience they have in stores."
Retailers are now tasked with implementing new strategies and technology to combat ORC. Some stores are locking up popular items or putting fewer products on shelves. Others are holding special training for team members. Most have had to invest in new security and technology.

Roller trains her team to be observant and use good customer service. “Customer service is key. If you walk up to someone and ask, ‘Are you finding everything you’re looking for,’ they do not want to be identified. They will leave fast.”

But, she is quick to note, “Don’t be a hero.” Dell’Alba feels the same way. Report what you see, but stay safe. “I can replace a Snickers. I can’t replace a team member,” she said.

On the more technical side, Frattone said GIANT locations have implemented new technology that does not impact customers’ shopping experiences, but helps to keep team members safe. “We also implemented third-party security guards, police officers, anti-theft fixtures and mobile parking lot cameras in select locations,” he said.

In addition to increased training, Roller said their stores have implemented new cart technology and self-checkout intelligence that help to resolve ORC problems at checkout. Roller and Frattone also provide their teams with de-escalation training and resources. 

Another beneficial tool is collaborating with other retailers and working through PFMA, said Roller and Dell’Alba. Building relationships and sharing information play a major role in combating ORC. Frattone added, “We can leverage resources and bring cases together, versus acting as singular entities. This will allow for a more successful outcome on taking down large criminal enterprises.”

Illicit trade and organized retail crime remain PFMA priorities. The association supports federal work on this issue and is encouraging Congress to pass the Inform Act, which aims to address the national issue of reselling illegally obtained goods online. PFMA also is working at the state and local levels on a multi-pronged approach to combatting the problem: strengthening partnerships between retail and law enforcement agencies and helping facilitate open lines of communication to ensure criminal activity is prosecuted in an intelligent and systematic fashion, and also pushing for policy reforms where gaps or deficiencies in current retail theft laws exist. 
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To assist with PFMA’s efforts, or to get involved in the association’s Loss Prevention Committee, email associationservices@pfma.net.
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Talent reimagined. A staffing solution that’s making a difference

12/30/2022

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While working in higher education, Kathleen Houlihan recognized a major problem. One student after another graduated with a mountain of debt and no true pathway to a career. “There’s a disconnect between the workforce and education.”

Houlihan sought to change that. In 2017, she launched Dream2Career, a staffing and recruiting organization out of Wilkes Barre that aims to attract, retain and inspire talent. 

The key word is inspire.

“Staffing is what we do. A lot of businesses are struggling to fill site-based, entry-level positions,” she said. “You fill out an app, you’re hired, you work on a contract position. The business tests them out. But these people are not motivated.”

That’s where Houlihan’s services are different. When employers work with Dream2Career for their staffing solutions, they benefit from Operation Dream Landing. This program provides on-site, entry-level employees with quality-of-life benefits that help them feel valued and motivated. Bottom line—these are employees who want to stay and grow with the company.

Dream Landing is an onramp, but it’s not the end of the road, Houlihan said. “The idea is that they can evolve. We can help them with that… They can get the education they need to reach their aspirational goals.”
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Post-pandemic, many employers continue to struggle filling on-site jobs. According to recent data from FMI—The Food Association, 46% of supermarket executives believe the pandemic made recruiting and retaining talent more difficult. Nearly 90 percent of the workforce now favors work-from-home jobs, and 40 percent of workers want “meaningful” careers, according to the Dream2Career website. Houlihan said it’s all about building a better community, providing networks, finding resources and uncovering opportunities.

“They need the opportunity to live, to learn, to grow and to become the best versions of themselves. They need to see what the job is about, learn about the industry and decide if they love or dislike it,” she said.

Operation Dream Landing provides a holistic approach to workforce development by onboarding new employees, creating pathways to fuller careers and providing support that helps employers and employees succeed. 

The program uses the 10-point Horizontal Industry Framework (HIF) to help match someone’s personality with an appropriate job. This is a strategic advantage for Dream2Career. HIF connects Department of Education standards with those of the Department of Labor. An employer completes one version of HIF to describe the characteristics they prefer for a particular job; the potential employee’s version of HIF helps them to define their personality traits to connect with the right positions. 

“It’s a temperature check to match personality and career signals,” Houlihan said.

The HIF might tell an employee they are a “protector,” meaning they will succeed in government, law and public safety roles. Or, for example, a “maven” excels in arts, media, communications and hospitality (see below).

This strategy places employees in positions where they are more likely to succeed. The business, in turn, gets motivated talent to fill their openings. Employees are contracted through Dream2Career for a certain amount of time, where both the employee and business can determine if it’s a good match. 

“Contract-to-hire is the easiest way,” she said. “It’s like ‘try before you buy.’ And the business can grow the employee into what they need. You can see a culture change. People are more motivated.”

Through this program, the minimum contract is six weeks. Most range from six to nine months. If the employee or employer determines it is not a good match, Dream2Career will provide the next person in the pipeline. If the employee stays, they shift into pathways. 

Dream2Career also provides benefits packages with these contract-to-hire positions. These benefits help employees to feel valued, which in turn, motivates them to continue with the company.

“We really make a difference, it’s not just another warm body,” Houlihan said. “People just need a chance. We’re going to help them be successful.”
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What’s your personality career match?

The Horizontal Industry Framework (HIF) works to match a person’s values and interests with the requirements of available jobs. A match will lead to a happier and more positive work experience.

The six HIF clusters are:

MAVENS—Art, communications, marketing, hospitality, tourism, entertainment, leadership, sales

SPECIALISTS—Architecture, manufacturing, construction, information technology, trades

VISIONARIES—Innovation, entrepreneurship, technology, science, engineering, math

NATURALISTS—Agriculture, health care, human services, social sciences, education, training, food resources

PROTECTORS—Security, law, public safety, government, historians, librarians

​PROCESSORS—Finance, accounting, management, transportation, supply chain
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ON A MISSION WITH DREAM2CAREER

Operation Dream Landing’s mission is to work with local businesses and vetted learning providers to offer high-quality personal and professional experiences that positively impact businesses, employees and the world around them. Dream2Career finds success when:
  • Businesses have a talent pool made up of educated, innovative and diverse employees that exceed expectations and excel at all KPIs.
  • Students and displaced workers have easy access to on-ramps and experiences that lead to dream careers.
  • Communities work effectively, share resources and have a common purpose.

Operation Dream Landing aims to onramp employees, enter a pathway and find a career. Providing quality-of-life benefits and education helps to retain and inspire new talent. Visit dream2career.org to learn more.
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Legislator spotlight:  State Sen. Lisa Boscola

12/30/2022

 
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What are your top three legislative priorities in 2022? Reforming the way we pay for our education system. In my district we are far too reliant on property taxes and do not get our fair share from Harrisburg through the funding formula. This needs to change. Our homeowners are hurting and our students are getting shortchanged. I am also looking forward to helping get statewide investment in a very successful First in Math Program to help students in K-8 improve their math skills. And while the clock ran out on this last round of redistricting, I remain committed to changing the system to ensure that the voters choose their legislators and not the politicians choosing their voters.

What are the important issues facing your district? The No. 1 issue facing my district is property taxes. Not a day goes by where I don’t get  phone calls or emails asking about reforming the system.

We need to continue toward strengthening our supply chains and producing food products in Pennsylvania to help keep costs low for grocers and customers.
Where do you shop locally for food? I love farmers markets.   When it comes to grocery stores, I usually go to Redners or Shop Rite. Both are well run stores with great employees and a great selection.

What is your favorite vacation destination? I love the beach.  I love to swim in the ocean and relax in the sun.

What are the biggest challenges for grocers in your district? I think the two biggest challenges for grocers across Pennsylvania are the same: inflation and finding good quality employees. We need to continue toward strengthening our supply chains and producing food products in Pennsylvania to help keep costs low for grocers and customers. We also need to help our job creators invest in their employees, by pursuing policies that help them cut costs, so they can retain the dedicated staff representing our community grocers.  

What are your biggest challenges and successes as a legislator? My biggest challenge has been trying to find a solution to the property tax issue in Pennsylvania that can move through the legislator and to the governor’s desk. I have had quite a few recent legislative success: my snow and ice bill requiring people to remove snow from trucks and vehicles became law this year, as did my bill to get Pennsylvania into the nursing compact. I also was prime sponsor of the legislation that brought us no excuse mail-in voting.

What is your favorite food or meal to cook? Tomato sauce with pork brasciole and meatballs.  
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What do you like to do for fun? In the summer, I enjoy swimming, being out in the sun relaxing. Over the winter, I am taking bowling in a league with my husband, Ed, which has turned out to be a lot of fun.

PFMA welcomes seven new association members

11/21/2022

 
This fall, new members represented products ranging from beaded ice cream to craft dog treats to flexible packaging
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation’s largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets. The company serves over 1,100 member companies and over 3,100 locations throughout 28 states from 8 full-line wholesale divisions. 

Dream2Career, LLC, handles direct hire, seasonal staffing, pathways recruiting, contract staffing, payroll, workers compensation, onboarding, skills training, background checks, time management, benefits management, rewards programs, educational reimbursement program management and quality-of-life programs. 

The Masser Family of Companies have grown and delivered quality potatoes to retailers and foodservice operators for more than eight generations. The Pennsylvanian business combines years of potato growing experience with advanced technology and a personal touch to ensure they deliver the quality product to best meet their customer’s needs. The company’s culture focuses on extraordinary service from extraordinary people.  Grown where it matters.

As a beaded ice cream pioneer, Mini Melts manufactures some of the most delicious premium ice cream on the market. Founded in Philadelphia, Mini Melts can be found in retailers and entertainment venues nationwide. 

Poly Craft is a manufacturer of flexible packaging, including roll stock, pouches and bags with and without lamination. The company also uses recyclable and sustainable film options.

Saint Rocco’s Treats was founded in May 2020 by two brothers with a passion for entrepreneurship, a love for dogs and knowledge of dog treat craftsmanship, thanks to their dad and grandpa. The company aims to foster transparency and quality in the dog treat and food industry through vertically integrated gourmet dog kitchens, human-grade ingredients and five-ingredient recipes Saint Rocco’s Treats are fresh-baked in small batches each week and crafted using an artisan production process. Saint Rocco’s Treats are available in 120+ independent retailers in the tri-state area and online nationwide.
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Sharing Excess delivers surplus food to communities in need. Its mission is to bridge the gap between excess and scarcity by partnering with grocery stores, restaurants, wholesalers and farmers to deliver surplus food to a network of nonprofits, food banks and community organizations, alleviating local food insecurity.
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Legislator spotlight:  State Sen. Lisa Baker

11/21/2022

 
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What are your top three legislative priorities in 2022? As chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, my top legislative priorities are advancing the reforms recommended by the Juvenile Justice Task Force, pushing comprehensive changes to Pennsylvania’s probation system, enacting comprehensive reform of guardianship laws and prioritizing passage of a constitutional amendment opening a window for adult victims of child sex abuse.

What is your biggest motivator as a legislator? My biggest motivators are cutting red tape, making government more accountable and eliminating unnecessary barriers to deliver positive results for individuals, organizations and communities. My staff and I work very hard to help to solve problems, answer questions, and respond to concerns about state issues and legislation and connect people with available services, resources and assistance.

Where do you shop locally for food? My husband Gary and I shop at various local supermarkets, including Weis Markets, Gerrity’s, Mountain Fresh, Wegmans and Price Chopper.

What is your favorite vacation destination? We enjoy vacationing in the Outer Banks region of North Carolina, taking in the scenery, riding bikes and fishing along the beaches of the Cape Hatteras National Sea Shore.

What are the biggest challenges for grocers in your district? Like many employers, local grocery stores have experienced challenges with recruiting and retaining workers as well as the lack of availability of products due to supply chain issues.  The pandemic has also shifted the way consumers shop, and the growing demand for curbside pickup and other online features has placed an added burden on the industry.

What are your biggest challenges and successes as a legislator? Because of my responsibilities as chair of a key committee, and as someone who spends a lot of time negotiating complex legislative solutions, time is always a challenge.  The 20th District encompasses all or parts of five counties, representing 116 communities and 22 school districts, so there are unique challenges in the physical distance that must be covered. I often have conflicting requests to attend events, but one of my fundamental commitments as a legislator is to be visible and accessible in all parts of the district.

I am proud of my record of service in the Senate and have worked collaboratively to enact 73 laws, including ensuring victims and families have the opportunity to provide in-person testimony at parole hearings; establishing the Veterans’ Service Officer program to make sure veterans have access to promised benefits, creating the Veterans Trust Fund to provide emergency assistance to needy veterans and their families and implementing ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) accounts to allow disabled individuals to save for their futures. I have also advocated on behalf of residents and local officials to secure the funding necessary for job creation, transportation improvements, and important community-identified projects, such as the newly announced Vosburg Neck State Park in Wyoming County.

What is your favorite food or meal to cook? Gary and I love to cook and entertain friends and family in our home. One of the most requested dishes that we make is Maine lobster macaroni and cheese, which features five varieties of cheeses. However, my favorite meal to cook is Thanksgiving. I always look forward to enjoying my father’s homemade stuffing recipe with our turkey and all the trimmings.
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What do you like to do for fun? When I’m not restoring and repurposing antique furniture, I enjoy walking with our English Setter, Finley, spending time with our grandchildren, Bryce and Blair, and relaxing on the deck with a good book.

Food is family: Nourishing communities & businesses for 70 years

11/21/2022

 
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Famed American chef, author and TV personality James Beard once said, “Food is our common ground, a universal experience.”
This commonality in the human experience makes issues surrounding food particularly significant. For 70 years, PFMA has dedicated its work to improving access to healthy foods, better jobs and more opportunities in the food and beverage retail industry.  
 
“Our business really is food. It’s bringing people together, it’s bringing issues to the forefront, it’s improving the quality and the climate of Pennsylvania business for the food industry,” said Alex Baloga, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association.

The business of food

When Christy Spoa got out of the U.S. Army in 1957, he headed back to the family’s grocery store in Ellwood City. As a 100-year-old, family-owned community business, every day was different. 

“As an independent particularly, as a single store operator, you wore a lot of hats. You might be dealing with the insurance agent in the morning, a buyer in the afternoon and some type of maintenance issue later on,” Spoa said.

“Being in an association, you had an opportunity to learn from others’ experiences. We all had the same issues, maybe in a little different way, but they were basically all the same. For me, it was an education.”

Spoa joined the PFMA Board of Directors in 1987 and was elected chair in 1993. Through his involvement, he realized the importance of his voice as an independent grocer. He had never been to Harrisburg or Washington, D.C., but quickly learned the impact he could make on legislators.

“There was no voice for the independent operator,” he said. “Most of us at that time thought the only people who had a voice were the large chains. And when you talked to the large chains, they were actually glad that the independents were getting involved, because they felt it was a necessary part of the equation.”

“Everybody in the food industry is extended family. We were competitors, but we were all willing to help each other. I don’t know if you find that in a lot of industries, but you do find that in the food industry.”

—Chrisy Spoa, past chair, PFMA Board of Directors

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Scott Hartman, president and CEO of Rutter’s Holdings, Inc., joined the PFMA Board of Directors in 1999, serving as chair from 2007 to 2008. His father, Stewart Hartman, was board chair from 1995 to 1997.

“This year is 275 years with our farm, 101 years with our dairy and 52 with our convenience store. We’ve been in the food industry a lot of different ways for a lot of years, and Pennsylvania Food Merchants kind of sums it up—that’s what we do,” Hartman said.   

Hartman’s board experience allowed him to lead, learn from and exchange ideas with other retailers and suppliers in the industry. “The good thing is, the people in convenience and grocery, for the most part, share, so it was a good opportunity to hear what other people are doing, hear what their concerns are and shape some of the issues of the day.”

While chair, one of Hartman’s priorities was improving technology. Websites and apps were new, and it took time to convince businesses to embrace them. “I remember doing the interviews with various industry magazines saying, ‘Explain what a website is, and why would anyone in the convenience store industry want one?’”

Over the years, Spoa helped to incorporate wholesalers into the association. He worked with the board to tackle food stamp and coupon chargeback issues. Hartman helped to establish and grow the PFMA Thomas R. and Laura Ridge Scholarship. He also focused on evolving PFMA into a self-sustaining association supported through member dues.  

The association has expanded in diversity, reach and impact through its history, working to improve and advance the priorities of the food industry in Pennsylvania, Baloga said. PFMA now supports retailers, wholesalers, small and large distributors, CPG companies, suppliers and others working through the food chain in the commonwealth. 

Strength in numbers

Whether attending a conference in Chicago or rallying with other associations in D.C., Spoa discovered a large, unified voice through PFMA. The association often organized a “day on the hill” for food retailers to gather and speak with legislators on timely issues.

“We’d all go in mass. Instead of two of us showing up, it was 25 of us showing up—it was strength in numbers,” Spoa said. I had no experience. I didn’t think they really cared about a single store operator, but I found out that they did, and the same in D.C. We all had a purpose, and we all knew what the issue was.”

PFMA comprises everything from single-store mom and pop shops to multinational companies. The association provides the same benefits and support to every member, Baloga said.

“We only succeed as a group. The food industry is very interconnected, very interdependent, because everyone goes there, so we’re all facing the same issues,” he said. “That’s become even more apparent over the years as the channels have bled into one another.”

The issues on PFMA’s agenda in recent years have included alcohol reform, labor, supply chain, new services, truck driver shortages, COVID-19 regulations and more, Baloga said. “All of those things have been challenges that we’ve tried to help tackle.”
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Lisa Dell’Alba, president and CEO of Square One Markets, Inc., and current PFMA board chair, stresses the value in networking through the association. Sharing best practices and working together to advocate for the industry are key. “It’s really important we are all a team. At the end of the day we all support each other in terms of providing necessary things for our customers and for the folks in the state of Pennsylvania.”

An extended family

Spoa and Hartman developed lifelong relationships through their work in the industry and with PFMA. To this day, they meet or bump into people they worked with on PFMA priorities.

“Everybody in the food industry is extended family,” Spoa said. “We were competitors, but we were all willing to help each other. I don’t know if you find that in a lot of industries, but you do find that in the food industry.”

Dell’Alba has relied on her PFMA relationships many times through the years. “I think it’s important to stay connected to others in the industry that do what we do, especially over the last two to three years, where there’s been a lot of uncertainty, a lot of trying times. Camaraderie is really important. I joined PFMA to make sure that I was meeting other folks that I could learn from, network with and commiserate with at times when it’s necessary.”

It’s also more than business. PFMA members work hard to serve their communities, supporting local sports teams, schools, fundraisers, charities and social events. 

“It’s a people business,” Baloga said. “I’m proud of the work that our members do and to be able to work with such a great group of people. They’re not only great businesspeople, they are even better people. …What really makes me the proudest is the work they do in the community to make Pennsylvania better.”

“I just enjoy being around food people. I miss the business, I miss the people,” Spoa said, “but boy it’s a whole new set of issues today.”

Future focused

With a solid foundation, PFMA is poised for future success. 

“The food industry isn’t going away,” Hartman said. “People eat—whether it’s through economic ups and downs or through pandemics. People eat things that we sell. The idea is to be advocates on how we can sell more stuff, and what that stuff is, because we’re very good at selling food and services.”

A history of strong leadership helps PFMA’s members stay aware of and involved in important issues, Spoa said. “I think we’ve always had good leadership from Al Vicks who started, to Dave McCorkle who I worked with for all the years I was on the board and now to Alex who is doing a bang-up job. I think the future is bright. I think the industry future is bright.”

PFMA boasts a growing membership with strong momentum, Baloga said. The association continues to tackle issues that matter to its members, and the public has a heightened sense of respect and appreciation for retailers thanks to their dedication during the pandemic.
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“Our future is very bright with this group of members behind us.”



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From pandemic to pup treats: Saint Rocco’s Treats fills the void for fresh & local

11/21/2022

 
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Make no bones about it, Kolby and Kaleb Rush were onto something when they cooked up a unique plan for a pandemic project.

The brothers from Bucks County were in college when COVID-19 hit, sending them home to learn remotely. Both had secured internships, but the pandemic derailed their goals. So, they set new goals. 

“We got sent home from both of our respective campuses,” Kolby said.
"We thought we should probably start doing something because we lost internship opportunities. …We thought starting a business—as small as it might be—would be an awesome resume line.”

That thought has grown into much more than a line on a resume. Today, Kolby and Kaleb Rush co-own Saint Rocco’s Treats, a Perkasie-based, small batch, craft dog treat company. But it didn’t happen overnight.

Kolby and Kaleb chose to focus on familiar territory. At the time, Kaleb had his sights set on a business degree at Temple, eventually settling with an entrepreneurship major and marketing minor. Kolby was in his senior year at Penn State focused on finance. They also had some industry insight.

“We were really fortunate because we’ve grown up, through our dad and grandpa, in the dog treat industry. We worked for our dad directly for a number of years, so we roughly knew how to make up dog treats,” Kolby said. “We knew about the backend of the industry, and we saw there really are no local companies making high-quality, meat-based dog treats.”

From there, the duo worked alongside their dad to craft recipes. (Cooper, the family’s Cavapoo, eagerly agreed to taste test.) Then it was full speed ahead with logo design, social media, website development, door-to-door samples and more. 

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It’s really cool. This isn’t anything out of the ordinary. We’re just doing it the way it should have been done."
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—Kaleb Rush, cofounder, Saint Rocco's Treats
Kolby and Kaleb were confident in the product. From their research and experience, they knew their treats filled an unmet need. They focused on fresh, locally produced, human-quality dog treats. “We really saw the issues within the system. Ultimately, that knowledge led us to what Saint Rocco’s is today and how we differentiate ourselves,” Kaleb said.

The big hurdle was getting others to see and taste the difference in the midst of a pandemic. They cranked out small batches of treats in their family kitchen, then started their masked, door-to-door tour of the neighborhood. As dog owners and lovers, they knew they had to win their neighbors’ hearts and minds.  

“To create something, people have to be aware of it,” Kaleb said. “From there, we went to thousands of homes in our neighborhood, delivering free samples and introducing ourselves.”

Once a furry friend tried the product, the Rushes got nothing but rave reviews. They quickly outgrew their home kitchen operation, relocating to a family member’s barn with a kitchen. What started with a small, countertop meat grinder expanded into a commercial kitchen.

Now about two years into their business, Saint Rocco’s Treats can be found in more than 130 independent retailers. Kolby and Kaleb are gaining plenty of fans by attending local events where they can interact with pet parents and their pups. In October, they hosted a grand opening at their store, providing tours of the facilities, offering dog photographs and partnering with a local brewery for refreshments. 

As new PFMA members, they look forward to connecting with retailers, learning more about distribution and creating greater awareness of their products and brand.

Kolby and Kaleb attribute their success to like-minded customers. “Our mission is to provide the best quality and service for our fury friends and what they deserve,” Kaleb said. “Those like-minded consumers really want to be better for their furry friends.”
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“It’s really cool. This isn’t anything out of the ordinary. We’re just doing it the way it should have been done,” he said. 

Crafting the Saint Rocco’s story

While diving into a new business venture, Kolby and Kaleb Rush knew that it was important to build a strong brand. They knew their customers wanted local, fresh, high-quality dog treats. They also recognized customers valued a local business that invested in its community.

The brothers wanted a brand and a product with meaning. They discovered the lesser-known story of Saint Rocco of France. Born into a wealthy family, Saint Rocco became an orphan at a young age. He distributed his wealth to the poor and, when a terrible disease struck Italy, he traveled there to help heal the sick. When he, too, contracted the disease, he was banished from the city. A dog found Saint Rocco in a cove and faithfully brought him food from a nearby nobleman until the nobleman came to Saint Rocco’s aid and eventually he was cured.
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“This was such a cool representation of love and loyalty,” Kolby said. “Our Saint Rocco’s Treats also give back for love and loyalty.” Saint Rocco’s donates $1 to local dog rescues for every 1 pound of treats sold.
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Four members join PFMA

9/8/2022

 
PFMA welcomed associate members this summer that specialize in bakery products, smoke-free products, smoked meats and consulting and tech solutions for retailers.

bakerly began with founders Julien and Fabian from Northwestern France who combined their passion and love for good food to create a happy company. Their goal is to create the same high-quality bakery products that they enjoyed as children in France. bakerly relies on skilled artisan bakers who use French tradition and clean ingredients for their products while avoiding artificial colors, flavors, preservatives and high-fructose corn syrup.

Philip Morris International (PMI) is in the midst of a profound corporate transformation—with the ultimate objective of becoming a smoke-free company, driven by science and technology, and they are making rapid progress. 

They are fully committed to this transformation, and their investment is unmatched in the industry. Since 2008, PMI has centrally invested over $9 billion to research, develop and commercialize a portfolio of smoke-free products. For the first half of 2022, these products account for more than 30 percent of PMI’s total net revenues—their goal is to be a majority smoke-free company in 2025. PMI’s future will be smoke-free. There is no going back.   

As part of its smoke-free journey, PMI is excited to enter the United States in a meaningful way and unlock the significant opportunity across other smoke-free categories over the coming years.

Since 1902, Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats has delivered 100% all-beef, naturally smoked meats. This fourth-generation Palmyra-based business uses Old World butchering, curing, and sausage making skills to craft the world’s finest smoked meats. Attesting to its reputation for excellence, all of Seltzer’s smoked meats are prepared with typical Pennsylvania Dutch quality and pride. 

STCR provides consulting, analytics and technology solutions for retailers including planning and training. Learn how STCR can help with retail innovation such as self checkout, registers, scanners, label printers, software integration and more.
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    Liz Kemmery, director of communications

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