In & Around Food World

June 2008

by Dick Bestany

This issue is Food World’s 30th annual market study, still the most sought-after issue of the year. This issue, as our past June issues have been, is the most definitive study done on the East Coast of the Mid-Atlantic grocery industry. Retailers, food marketing companies, marketing consultants and manufacturers will be quoting this issue for the next 12 months. And, we can proudly boast, it will be used as the source for The Washington Post, The Baltimore Sun, The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other newspapers that cover the food industry on the East Coast.

The major beneficiaries of all this notoriety are all the wonderful companies who see fit to advertise in this all-important issue. We thank each and every one of them and urge all our retail readers to give them special consideration when they call on your stores.

Food World is read by just about every major retailer in the United States, and the June issue is the one issue that is read from cover to cover.

This issue takes a lot of work and knowledge of the food industry. The one person who plans the issue and puts it all together is Jeff Metzger. He oversees all the work and the talented team that assembles all of the statistical material. This issue could never be put together if it were not for the dedicated work of our editor, Terri Maloney, Matt Danielson of Electronic Ink, our production company, and his staff, and Beth Pripstein, a 12-year veteran of Best-Met Publishing who has the task of preparing the invoices and at the same time maintaining our mailing lists.

And of course, none of this could happen without our advertising sales staff, who are some of the most knowledgeable food trade people on the face of the earth, Nina Weiland, vice president and general manager of Food Trade News, Carol Cherington, vice president of advertising, and account executives Lou Rosenthal, and Mike Keba. Without these people this issue could never have been put together.

And of course we give a very special “Thanks” to our many faithful and loyal advertisers. They are the lifeline of our business and we are most grateful to them for their support. While the business has changed greatly in the 30 years of Best-Met’s publishing history, our advertisers realize that Food World and Food Trade News are the best way to communicate to their retail food customers, old and new.

And lastly, we thank our loyal readers, many who have been with us for all of the 30 years of publishing, and others who have just joined the ranks. Our circulation base keeps growing by some very large numbers year after year. And very few ever cancel their subscriptions.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the MDA (Muscular Dystrophy Association) Golf Classic sponsored by Mars Super Markets. This year’s event will take place on Monday, August 20 and Friday, August 24 at the beautiful Sparrows Point Country. The event helps to raise dollars necessary to support the great work of the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

If you have not received a registration form or would like to receive one, please contact Mars Super Markets at 410-342-0197 or call the Muscular Dystrophy Association at 410-494-7160. If you have already received your registration, fill it out because the deadline is July 13 to register.

Sincere sympathy is extended to Star Sales’ Pete Legambi on the death of mother, Linda Lee Legambi. Mrs. Legambi was a 41-year resident of Glen Burnie, and foodservice manager for Anne Arundel County Public Schools. She died at her home on May 1, after a long-term illness. Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Peter Legambi Sr., son Peter Jr., and two daughters, Lisa Dunay of Pasadena and Laura Kiefner of Glen Burnie. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Research Hospital, 501 St. June Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Associated Wholesalers Inc. (AWI) recently honored nine independent retailers for their 25-year participation in the member-owned cooperative. Recognized with plaques were: D&H Keystone Market, Pronio’s Market, Martin’s Country Market, Musser’s Market, Shaw’s Market, Ed’s Food Market, D& G Shopping Center, Varano’s Warehouse Inc., and Mike’s Market. With the addition of these nine retailers, AWI now boasts 90 family-owned retailers that have been members of the coop for 25 years or more.

Congratulations to Dana Metzger, daughter of Food World’s publisher Jeff and Audrie Metzger. Dana, a graduate of the University of Maryland who recently joined the public relations and advertising firm of Devaney & Associates, has been promoted to the position of public relations specialist for the Baltimore based communications company.

Acosta Sales and Marketing Company recently announced that it has acquired C. Lloyd Johnson Co. Inc., a leading military service sales and marketing agency. This acquisition officially marks Acosta’s entry into the military services business. With this acquisition, Acosta will now have the ability to service consumer packaged goods manufacturers’ business across all military channels.

A 62 year old company, C. Lloyd Johnson has more than 750 associates offering a wide breadth of military services. The company serves the U.S. military commissaries, exchanges, ships, veterans’ canteen service, prisons, and meals-ready-to-eat. Johnson is headquartered in Norfolk, VA, with offices in: San Diego; Dallas; Hopewell, VA; and Frankfurt, Germany. C. Lloyd Johnson will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Acosta.

Here’s some interesting news from the GMA (Grocery Manufacturers Association) announcing the launch of www.keepfoodsafe.org, a new food safety policy information resource for policymakers, the media and consumers.

“Food safety is in the news these days like no other time in recent history and is the subject of intense debate in Washington, DC,” said GMA senior vice president and chief science and regulatory affairs officer Robert Brackett. “Keepfoodsafe.org is intended to be a resource for Congressional staff, thought leaders and the media, helping to keep them informed and up-to-date on the public debate around strengthening America's food safety net.”

“There has never been a better time for Congress to pass and implement a new plan to modernize our nation's food safety system, prevent problems before they arise and strengthen the oversight of the agencies that regulate our food supply,” concluded Brackett. “Americans have a right to safe food.” For information visit www.keepfoodsafe.org.

Last month, the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the Network of Executive Women held its inaugural event with a spring networking luncheon that included a passionate panel discussion on leadership. The Mid Atlantic Chapter joins a national network of more than 2,200 members representing 400 companies that was founded in 2001. Food industry sponsors of the local chapter include Burris Logistics, Coca-Cola, DPI Specialty Foods, EMD Sales, Esskay, JO’H Atlantic Partners, Kellogg’s, Kraft, McCormick, Pepsico, Safeway, Shoppers, Giant/Landover, Pastore’s and Supervalu. The inaugural meeting was a big hit, with more than 125 attendees on hand for a panel discussion titled “Straight Talk From The Top,” keynoted by author Fawn Germer. Panelists fro the event were: Andrea Astrachan, vice president of consumer affairs for Stop & Shop/Giant Landover; Rosa Stroh, vice president and treasurer of The Hershey Co.; and Katharine Weymouth, publisher and chief executive of media for The Washington Post.

Happy birthday wishes go out to: Edy’s Mickey Parsons; Coca-Cola Enterprises’ Cyndi Ireland; H&S Bakery’s JR Paterakis; Agora International’s Jerry Shupack; and Food World’s Lou Rosenthal, Beth Pripstein, Terri Maloney, Jeff Metzger; and my granddaughter, Kathryn Dougherty Ireland, who will be celebrating her 2nd birthday!

Celebrating wedding anniversaries this month are: Edy’s John and Donna Plumhoff, their 27th; H&S Bakery’s JR and Emily Paterakis, their 27th; friends of Food World, Bill and Sandi Simpson, their fifth; display consultant Mike and Jennifer Keefe, their 20th; Utz Quality Foods’ Tom and Bekki Dempsey, their 27th; Star Sales & Marketing’s Randy and Debi Holland, their 29th; Quaker Maid Meats’ Tom and Janine Robinson, their seventh; and Coca-Cola Enterprises’ Cyndi and Bill Ireland, their fourth. 

You can e-mail Dick Bestany at