Griffin 50th Anniversay

A Shelby Publication 2016

years of service of the Northeast

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a Shelby Publication

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The Griffin Report 50th Anniversary

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Congratulations to our good friends at

of the Northeast

a Shelby Publicatio

Thanks for the great partnership!

www.ImperialDistributors.com | 508.756.5156

www.ImperialDistributors.com | 508.756.5156

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Changing Times Mark Years Of Publishing Activity

by John H. Griffin Founding Publisher

(This was the last published article

by John Griffin. It appeared in 2011 when The Griffin Report celebrated its 45th anniversary.)

When I was first asked months ago to prepare a column that would highlight the times we covered in some 540 issues of this newspaper, I became worried that there were simply too many developments in the Northeast food market to report on in such a wide region over such an extended period of time.

The single biggest change I have noticed since our first issue came out in March 1966 is the transformation of what was a personal business to one where giant corporations dominate the scene.

Practically all of the food chains and other industry firms in the 1960s were owned by the people who operated them. In the case of Stop & Shop, for instance, the three Rabb brothers who founded the chain ran it on a day-to-day basis for more than 50 years. Sidney Rabb—“Mr. Sidney” to most everyone in the trade—was a hands-on working chairman for more than 60 years, and nothing of importance happened to Stop & Shop without Mr. Sidney’s approval. Only in the cases of First National Stores and A&P Stores were the men who operated the companies not the same people who were the principal owners.

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People who called on the major retail customers in the midcentury period prepared to call on the owner-operated stores because they usually would get product approvals from the key people rather than wait until out-of-store owners acted.

In the cast of both First National and A&P, delayed product decisions had much to do with the final demise of these retail names.

Our first year of publishing also witnessed the phenomenal growth and expansion of Stop & Shop, which became the dominant Northeast food chain and remains so today. A number of smaller retail chains operated by family companies (including Big Y Foods from the D’Amour folks; DeMoulas/ Market Basket out of the DeMoulas family; Roche Bros.

Markets, run by Pat and Bud Roche; and Price Chopper Supermarkets concentrating on Western New England and run by the top-rate Golub family) provided the leadership for food retailers throughout the Northeast.

Jumping back to my own activities during most of these 45 years, I might note that I started writing about the food business some 10 years before this publication was launched.

I got my first assignment with the old Yankee Grocer in March 1956, some 55 years ago. I had worked for the Boston Post, which then had the largest circulation of any daily paper in New England. When the Post shut down its plant for good in 1956, I was out on the street along with several hundred other Post people. Since I was the youngest of the editorial people looking for new work, I was the last one to be called by a prospective employer. But, on the bright side, I was the least-paid Post person taking home a few dollars less than 40 smackers for a full week’s work.

Though I have had success in running my own business, I had a good 10-year run with Shamie Publications, the company that owned Yankee Grocer, and moved around the country in the 1960s. It was at that time that I made an offer to buy the New England paper but was turned down by the family who owned it. In 1965 I returned to New England and made plans to launch my own food trade newspaper. It was the beginning of a great year for Mary Rose and me, both for our new business and for our son, Kevin, who arrived on January 1, 1966. As most of you probably know, Kevin is now owner and publisher of The Griffin Report.

Despite hectic times with a new baby added to our growing list of sons and daughters, we now raced around the country to printers, mailers and advertising prospects in hopes of getting sufficient support to launch our first issue. We then set out to rent an office in the Back Bay section of Boston, hired a nice lady to answer the phone, and took care of the necessary legal and financial details that come with any new business. We were off and running with a million calls to make on old friends and new ones alike.

The very first business function vital to a hoped-for success involved building a new mailing list for the new paper. I set out each day to contact chains, wholesalers and independent markets to collect names and titles for all key headquarters people along with the individual retail markets run by these companies. For three months, I spent every night at my kitchen table with hundreds of store rosters in front of me as I typed out a list on my ancient Underwood manual typewriter. That’s how I was able to know hundreds of zip codes, a function that continues among my miscellaneous talents today.

Almost from the very beginning we had success in selling advertising and

getting positive response from the food trade throughout the region. Fortunately for us, the established Yankee Grocer ignored our efforts, allowing our firm to reach new heights in the field of advertising. We did well enough that first year that we were able to look for other activities to broaden our revenue base. That search for new business brought us to the thriving metropolis of Atlanta, Ga., which was not served by a single food trade publication even though it was among the nation’s fastest growing markets. We dashed, cold turkey, into the region there and opened an office in—where else— Peachtree Avenue in the heart of Atlanta.

Neither I nor my treasurer, Edward Pendergast, who went with me to Atlanta, had in-depth knowledge of business conditions in the Southeast, but we dug and dug, and came up with enough data and material to produce an interesting issue.

Following the first few issues of The Griffin Report of the Southeast, it became evident that a change in local leadership was necessary if our newspaper was to be the kind of product we were producing a few hundred miles north in our home territory. To make a long story a short one, we tried a number of different people to lead our Southeast paper but we couldn’t come up with the right combination of folks to produce consistent, interesting and profitable issues on a 12-month basis. After a number of years of ownership changes, the publication passed on to others who expanded the reach, readership and reputation of that paper.

Coming back to New England on a full-time basis, we were confronted with a major challenge to keep abreast of the many retail changes then evident in the region. The single biggest change involved the two traditional retail chains, both of which were watching their volume slip away to the many major food retailers that were emerging at that time.

All around the region we became aware that aggressive food store owners were tying up the choice store sites that were once snapped up by First National and A&P. These two retail giants virtually sat still with their hundreds of inner-city stores while other retailers, led by Stop & Shop, Star Market and DeMoulas, scrambled to build exciting new stores filled with new products and new equipment designed to be userfriendly.

It was clear, even in the 1960s and 1970s, that it was just a matter of time before First National and A&P were retailers of the past with little or no hope of regaining their long-held dominance of the market. The enthusiasm of the new people coming along wasn’t about to be dampened by the tired old retail giants who didn’t get the story, when hundreds of others in food retailing were latching on to a hungry community ready for new ideas.

The poor performance of both First National and A&P was a bonanza for our new paper in the 1970s, as it became obvious that neither of these companies would be able to take on the aggressive newcomers and win.

In the case of A&P, our very first issue in March 1966 featured a lead story with this provocative headline: “The A&P Slide: How Could It Happen?”

The story went on to point out that the company’s failure to keep pace with the times brought its end closer and closer.

The critical weakness in A&P’s approach seemed to lie in its unwillingness to let young, talented people get ahead within the organization. Men were named to key division jobs and were often left in those jobs for 20 or 30 years, leaving no place for young and hungry men to get ahead. To be honest, I didn’t realize that we would get such positive response to this attack on A&P, but the trade said it was exactly what should have been reported.

We showcased the A&P feature in hundreds of copies of our first issue, which was distributed to everyone at a big evening reception we threw to introduce the issue to more than 500 people at Boston’s famous Pier 4 restaurant. We also didn’t back away from the dismal reports coming out of First National, which was still the largest food retailer in business the year of our first issue.

The sad news of First National’s slide was also highlighted in issue number one. The Somerville, Mass.-based company Please see page 106

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once had as many as 3,000 food markets throughout New England, but that number was slipping and sliding as the company was forced to close hundreds of marginal stores. Things continued to worsen at First National, which tried to stem the negative trend by bringing in a new CEO from a successful New York food chain. Finast was too far gone by the time the company brought in Hilly Coan, and it was all over by the 1970s. Only the company’s name remains in the minds of old-timers in the grocery business.

A&P, which is currently operating under Chapter 11 of the bankruptcy laws, is effectively gone. What a sad end to what was once America’s premier food retailer with more than 16,000 stores in every part of the country.

With a hot new paper to cover the sad story of the decline and fall of two once-great food companies, we were probably the only people who stood to gain anything from the event.

Certainly, their many thousands of employees and countless suppliers who didn’t get paid for their goods were not happy with the outcome.

Flipping over to store coverage by the emerging class of modern retailers, we watched with fascination. As the Stop & Shop machine went through its positive rotation with dozens of new stores, innovative merchandising ideas and in-store promotions, it came to benefit its

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many thousands of shoppers. The big chain was typical of the many modern markets operated by stores such as: DeMoulas/Market Basket, Star Markets, Shaw’s, Roche Bros., Hannaford, Giant Value, Purity Supreme, Cerretanis, Adams, Almacs, Food Marts, O.K. Fairbanks, Big Bunny, Triple A, Price Chopper, Kings, McCrackens, Hodes, Guidos, Petits and dozens more.

This was during the mid-century before Walmart, BJ’s and Costco became big-time sellers of grocery products. Looking at the market today, it’s clear that Walmart superstores are now number one in food volume throughout much of New England. Stores doing a million dollars a week are now commonplace in our region, and there’s no evidence that the trend won’t continue.

Looking back over these 45 years of publishing activity, it is impossible to size up the marketplace without some comment on the sales and distribution phases of the food business. When I first set out to gather executive and store lists, there were hundreds of names that made up my initial roster.

In the world of wholesale grocers, more than 100 New England companies were included.

Virtually every New England city had at least a half-dozen such distributors. These were the people who delivered products to all New England independent food stores. The biggest of these distributors at the time was Springfield Sugar & Products Co. and its sister operation in Worcester, Mass., New England Grocer Supply Co. Among other key wholesalers in the region were: Cessey-Dockham & Co., Salem, Mass.; Roger Williams Foods of Providence, R.I.; and a whole family of companies that were cooperatives and thus owned by the stores they supplied. There are now none left from the dozens we did business with 45 years ago. Often called AG Companies, these firms operated in Boston, Providence, New Bedford, Worcester and Springfield, Mass., Hartford and New Haven, Conn., and Manchester, N.H. Only the AG in Manchester remains as an active distributor.

In addition to wholesale food distributors, many retail companies are no longer in business under their original names. First National and A&P were the biggest failures, but lots of other familiar names have gone by the boards.

They include: Purity Food Stores, Supreme Markets, Victory Markets, Big Discount Markets, Grand Union, Almacs, Motts, Food Marts, Martins, Triple A, Morses, Pegnataro’s, Kings, McCrackens, Hodes and Adams Markets. Of the 100-plus wholesale grocers on which we based our original data, only Bozzuto’s Inc. and C&S Wholesale Grocers remain as independent wholesale distributors.

There is no area in this review where big changes are more evident than a look at the food brokers of the 1960s compared with the food brokers of today. I can personally report that I physically called on more than 100 food broker offices. Not a single one of the top 10 brokers in our first issue is still in business. Look at these leading companies and where they are today: Geo Wm Bentley Co.; Abbott Hall & Co.; Food Enterprises; Barclay Brown & Jones; Morris Alper & Sons; Knott Sheehan Co.; A.H. Morse Co.; CurrenCrevier Inc.; J.H. Kavanaugh Inc.; and Daniel Mordecai Co. Winding down on this effort to cover some 45 years of the Northeast food business, we should note that the industry has changed from one dominated by colorful, outspoken people to a scene where individual people have limited power and a less-than-obvious presence in the business.

The earlier people had dozens of people who would be in the Hall of Fame, were they baseball or football players instead of food industry individuals.

Just think of the huge contributions made by such people as Stop & Shop founder Sidney Rabb or the wholesale grocer genius Ben Katz, or retailer Leo Kahn.

Also extraordinary were the late Gene Merkert, who made many other brokers look as though they were standing still; Lester Cohen of C&S and Adam Bozzuto, who survived in a field where most didn’t make it; Tom Stemberg, who left the chain store business to help found the office supply firm Staples; and Ralph Tedeschi, who brought commitment and enthusiasm to a new level.

Hardly a day goes by that I don’t thank the Lord for our good fortune both as a family and as an employer. Family wise, I am the father of seven youngsters, four boys and three lovely gals. All my sons and daughters have, at some time, worked at Griffin Publishing, and several have moved on to other enterprises and all appear to be doing well.

And finally on the great people department, let me just say that my hat comes off and my heart opens wide when I look at the wisdom of my youngest son, Kevin, and my oldest son, Stephen, during much of this difficult period.

Thank You, John H. Griffin

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Congratulations, Griffin Report, on your 50th anniversary!

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For 100 years, New England Coffee has been dedicated to one thing - the art of roasting coffee.

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Welcome To The 50th Anniversary Of The Griffin Report!

Kevin Griffin

Welcome to the 50th anniversary issue of The Griffin Report— the 600th issue of our newspaper! If you are a regular subscriber, welcome back, and if you are one of our newer readers, welcome aboard! My dad (and my hero) John Griffin started this publication the day I was born—Jan. 1, 1966. It took him three months to get the first issue onto the press in March of that year, and it’s been going strong ever since. I’ve personally been a part of The Griffin Report since I was 10 years old. I was developing photographs in our basement darkroom for this newspaper three times a week, long before the days of digital cameras. Way back when, my dad would take me (and my brothers and sisters) to food industry events and conventions, and he taught me the ins and outs of the business from an early age. I shot my first gun at the MFA convention at the Mount Washington Hotel when I was 11 years old; back then they offered skeet shooting as a recreational event. I met Frank Perdue when I was 9 years old when he came to visit my dad at our house, and he sponsored a chicken dinner at our church. This was before Frank started his memorable commercials that helped launch his business into the juggernaut it is today. I remember he and my dad discussing the marketing campaign he was about to launch. You remember… the one that made him famous: “It Takes a Tough Man to Make a Tender Chicken.”

I’ll never forget it!

A lot has changed since my dad started this publication 50 years ago, and even more has changed in just the last three years since I became part of the Shelby Publishing Co. family. It’s very important for me to acknowledge and thank our longtime company president and publisher, Ron Johnston, and CEO Dathan Mitchell and his wife and co-CEO Athaleen Mitchell for their patience, confidence, trust, generosity and graciousness in integrating our newspaper into their family of exceptional publications. In just a few short years, our company has grown exponentially, and I’m very proud to say that we now publish the most influential and most widely read food trade publications in the country.

Our 50th anniversary issue is indeed a great time to reflect upon our good fortune and to be thankful for the wonderful industry that we all share, and that provides for us and for our families. Each year, as I get older and watch my own four children grow up, I have a deeper appreciation for just how lucky I am to have my loving family, good health, prosperity and so much more. I want to take this opportunity to also thank all of our loyal readers, advertisers and associates who are the reason we are still in business after 50 years! I hope you enjoy this special 50th anniversary tribute, and please feel free to contact me with any comments, questions or concerns at kgriffin@ griffinreport.com.

A Welcome Addition To Our Company Dathan L. Mitchell Chairman & CEO Shelby Publishing Co., Inc.

When we officially acquired The Griffin Report on Feb. 28, 2013, we knew we were merging a successful media brand into the Shelby stable.

After all, the history was there. For you trivia buffs, the late John Griffin launched The Griffin Report in 1966, literally the day his son Kevin was born. A year later, John expanded down south with The Griffin Report of the Southeast, and some six years after that, the late Gary Shelby purchased the paper, thus The Shelby Report.

Since buying Shelby Publishing on May 20, 2005, my wife Athaleen and I have enjoyed every minute of the journey. To witness the growth of The Griffin Report beyond New England to cover the entire

Northeast and achieving our goal of a national footprint has been most gratifying! We couldn’t have done it without Kevin and his talented team of Mike Berger, Karen Harty, Trish Happel and Jack Walsh.

Along the way, our readers across America have seen steady improvements and upgrades within our regional model of publishing. There are too many to list here, but I cannot emphasize enough our commitment to regional content, whether in our print or digital products.

Whether it be news, features, columns, photos, sections, product or share data... well written, timely, targeted, accurate and responsible content continue to validate our brand of journalism and regional expertise for the national good.

We hope you enjoy reading this special edition commemorating The Griffin Report’s 50th anniversary. Thank you to our advertisers for your support and loyalty to our brand!

Some Things Stand Out After Nearly 20 Years Of Reporting Mike Berger Senior Editor, The Griffin Report

It seems like yesterday that I clipped a help wanted ad out of The Patriot Ledger looking for editorial help for The Griffin Report.

After nearly 20 years, I can say it was well worth my while.

All the events I’ve attended— ceremonies, speeches, Hall of Fame dinners, etc.—it’s been a lot of fun.

I’ve met some great people along the way, including John, Steve and Kevin Griffin, and the entire Griffin family, which has treated me so well. My mentors and friends, such as Jack Walsh, Karen Harty and Trish Happel, have kept me laughing, and the list of new friends extends to the folks at Shelby Publishing Co. There are a few things that stand out clearly.

Every day I would pass John Griffin in the hallways and he would say to me: “Hey, what did you learn about the food industry today?” And I can honestly say it’s been something different every day.

In 2001, Steve Griffin gave us a mandatory weekend reading

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assignment: “Who Moved My Cheese?” The book essentially said things were about to change in society, especially in the media, and you had to change with them. Technology changed, and while there are new instruments, the need for information still exists. People still need information; it’s just delivered in a different fashion now.

Kevin Griffin, a great mentor to me, continued to repeat the same message. He came up with a new look for The Griffin Report and realized the importance of websites and email. But despite the modern devices, he often says, “Treat The Griffin Report like it’s your hometown newspaper. Never underestimate a new supermarket opening.”

There are three events I will never forget in 20 years of reporting news in The Griffin Report.

• The summer-long saga of Market Basket in 2014, when the regular worker beat the odds and big money to get the return of Arthur T. Demoulas to the helm.

• The unfolding of 9/11 on a sunny Tuesday morning in 2001. Told not use our cell phones, we all huddled in front of the television, aghast at what was happening and wondering what was going to happen next.

• A few days ahead of the Memorial Day weekend in 2001 and the MFA Family Convention which began June 1, news began to break that bankrupt Marketing Specialists, one of

the nation’s largest sales and marketing agencies, would transition its business and at least 1,700 employees to Acosta Sales & Marketing in Jacksonville, Florida. The sudden move left the retail food broker trade in an upheaval and left Marketing Specialists’ employees in limbo, with many not knowing if they had a job or if they would be paid for past services and expenses.

The great thing about The Griffin Report and The Shelby Reports is we have the space to delve into both regional and national events and issues as well as the people in the trade, which is what this business is all about. The news is definitely directed at the operator, whether it’s a supermarket, foodservice outlet, convenience store, organic/natural/specialty store, big box store or drugstore. No other publication can give you the latest news in all these trade channels.

And we do it every day. Through our Shelby Report and Griffin Report e-newsletters, you get the latest information, Monday through Friday. And within minutes of reading our e-newsletters, we think you will be up to date on what you need to know to start your day. Of course, our print publications continue to cross your desk, too, every month, with expanded coverage of industry issues and events.

I will never be the next John Griffin; I don’t think there will ever another like him. But I sure aim to give you all the latest news, just like he did. And I know that would make him proud.

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Congratulations on 50 years!

Rosina “Mama R osie�

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The Griffin Report 50th Anniversary Editor’s note: We reached out to all members of the food industry, asking leaders to reflect how the past 50 years have changed their company; the biggest changes they have noticed in the industry; and their outlook for the future.

TGR: A Benchmark For Food Merchants Arthur T. Demoulas Market Basket

I would like to congratulate The Griffin Report on their 50th Anniversary of delivering valuable information about the retail grocery industry in the greater New England region.

Over the years The Griffin Report has been a benchmark for food merchants to keep abreast of new industry trends, gain viewpoints of industry leaders or to get fresh ideas. The publication provides a concise array of reports, charts and graphs assisting companies to gauge their standing in the marketplace.

I am proud of our relationship with The Griffin Report and would like to thank them for all of their support throughout the years as well as wish them continued success in the future.

Reflecting Back 50 Years Michael Sleeper Imperial Distributors

As we celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Griffin Report, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on the past and to consider today’s challenges and the outlook for the future. It was also about 50 years ago when I joined our family business. Little did I know then how dramatically our business and the industry would change over the next 50 years!

When I started at Imperial, hundreds of distributors specialized in non-food categories: pet wholesalers, soft good suppliers, HBC distributors, hair notion, cosmetic, toy, housewares and other specialty rack jobbers. Today, we are fortunate to be one of the few non-food service distributors remaining—not only in the Northeast but in the country. And “service distributor” does not define who we are today. Words like “value-added,” “full line” and “merchandising and marketing services” better define the Imperial of 2016.

During those early years, a large number of supermarkets, chains and independents as well as discount and drug stores purchased product from non-food and specialty suppliers.

Today, through consolidation, many of those retailers are no longer with us. Fortunately, a good number of the best and most innovative chains and independents have continued to thrive.

New retailers with different formats have also emerged.

Specialty natural/organic food stores, box stores, club and dollar stores have redefined the competitive landscape.

Over the past 50 years, we have seen a dramatic expansion in the supermarket footprint, with tremendous growth in product offerings. As more space has become available, nonfoods has emerged as a category that boosts retailer profits while enhancing the consumer’s one-stop shopping experience.

At Imperial, we have taken advantage of increased square footage by expanding our health & beauty and general merchandise into natural/organic HBC and GM kitchenware and nutrition bars. Today, we warehouse over 25,000 SKUs to meet the needs of our customers’ diverse demography. Who would have thought 50 years ago that we would be selling $500 patio sets or $399 pizza ovens in supermarkets?

As we increase our product mix, we have also expanded our geographic coverage from supplying a few hundred retail stores in New England to over 3,000 stores in 27 states.

Over the years, the retail business has become far more complex. Customer demographics, needs and expectations continue to change. At Imperial, we focus on not only non-food wholesaling, but also value-added service. We work closely and collaboratively with our retail partners to identify how best to meet their needs and the needs of their shoppers.

Together we keep abreast of new trends, product introductions and technology. Together we remain current, reliant and adapt to change through in-store service, strong promotional planograms, marketing and category management support.

While it’s fun and interesting to reflect on the last half century—and the many changes that have taken place—it’s important and exciting to look forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. We have been very blessed to have loyal retailers, brokers and vendors and to be part of an exciting and dynamic industry. We are confident that the best is yet to come!

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The Griffin Report Keeps Us Up To Date On The Ever-Changing Landscape Michael Bozzuto Bozzuto’s

The Griffin Report has served and continues to serve the supermarket industry in the Northeast by providing timely reporting on the food industry.

The quality of insight and information in The Griffin Report enables me and my staff to keep up to date on the ever-changing landscape that is the food business.

A Look Back 50 Years With John Griffin Joel Albrizio Adlife Marketing & Communications

The year was 1966 and supermarket retail was a different experience than it is in 2016. Let’s first look at the store owner.

In 1966, the market owner was a grocer. He or she had either grown up in a family business or put up everything they owned to finance that perfect location with the supplier, a grocery wholesaler.

In 2016, the supermarket owner has oftentimes had no actual supermarket experience. Today’s market owner is likely a private equity group or a public investment firm with a three- to five-year exit strategy, not an integral part of the community.

Supermarket wholesalers who were once on every corner willing to finance a qualified independent supermarket operator have, one by one, disappeared.

In this span of time where everything seemed to change at warp speed in food retail, the market became the supermarket, then the warehouse store, the marketplace and now every retailer seems to have their version of the fresh store concept.

One by one, the food retailer is in search of a branded identity.

The supermarket business has digressed and become food retail because almost every retail entity either now sells food or has a plan to sell food very soon.

The gas station wasn’t a competitor to the supermarket in 1966; he was a friend who did not sell all of the same products the supermarket did. A gas station was simply a place to get gas.

Fifty years ago, we did not recognize branding as an approach; we simply advertised.

The supermarket was in the center of town and, if you hurried, you could do your grocery shopping before they closed. Closed? Yes, in 1966, markets (as they were called) closed by 8:00 and never opened on Sunday.

Marketing is now evolving into branding, and the resulting advertising is the result of an overstored industry. Who would ever envision two or three major supermarkets in every community? Yet, today, even the smallest of communities across America often have multiple supermarket offerings.

Yes the supermarket has changed. Pain relievers in 1966 came in a simple bottle in the grocery aisle.

Today, Tylenol comes in a box; inside the box is a bottle with a wrapper around the rim.

Past the wrapper is a childproof cap. If you can open the cap, you find a foil barrier to be broken. Once past the foil barrier, you must remove the cotton and there, finally, is the Tylenol.

Every product is labeled to protect us with knowledge of almost anything we might need or have interest in. Everyone today is gluten “allergic” or at the very least gluten knowledgeable. We all have that relative who, no matter what is wrong, reminds us it must be caused by gluten.

In 1966, if you discussed gluten, only the obvious scientist might have any idea what this term might describe.

We scan our own items at the supermarket register to ring up the sale and communicate with the retailer instantly and digitally. Everything is at our fingertips in seconds, and we can shop in many food retail locations to round out the weekly grocery order.

In 1966, we lived in a world where the grocer’s name was on the back of a Little League uniform, much like that of the gas station and the local liquor store.

We all wanted to drive to the store in that “new to market” 1966 Ford Mustang.

The grocer was a special part of each of our communities, and for that reason we gave our grocer the entire weekly grocery order. We looked forward to the grocery shopping experience and liked most everything about “our local store.”

Yes, the supermarket world has changed, and with those changes we have lost the innocence of retail and the familiarity with that friendly grocer and the local color we were drawn to.

I, for one, would never mind living and shopping in 1966.

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The Griffin Report 50th Anniversary

By Mike Berger

The Best Grocery Ideas In The Past 50 Years

After looking at 50 years’ worth of issues of The Griffin Report, I have come up with my take on the ideas that have most impacted the grocery industry since 1966.

1. The Stop & Shop Concept For A Superstore

The Super Stop & Shop concept has survived the test of time. The idea has lasted more than 35 years and spurred many important themes of today, such as the buildup of perishables and fresh foods, the integration and importance of non-foods into center store activity, shopper excitement within the store and improved supermarket technology.

The Griffin Report described the first Super Stop & Shop stores as having everything, including 150 varieties of imported and domestic cheeses; 80 varieties of teas; 60 types of cookies; a bake shop; a hot foods department; a florist shop; a pharmacy; a Barnes & Noble bookstore; and scanners. While the architects talked about improving the four walls within the “box,” they still were ever mindful about the importance of service and being a neighborhood-friendly store.

2. Coupon Clipping Goes Paperless

Kroger, one of the nation’s leading retailers in terms of customer loyalty programs, launched a trial program in November 2007, partnering with Procter & Gamble, to offer consumers their choice of coupons. Consumers could, based on their choices, have the discount value of a particular item downloaded to their customer reward card. At the register, the coupon value was deducted from the total price with one swipe of the customer’s loyalty card.

This was the first step in the evolution from Sunday newspaper circulars and other “hard copy” offers to e-couponing. There have been other steps in between, including grocer websites and others specifically dedicated to coupons offering the then-available discounts for customers to print at home and take to their local supermarket. Then, retailers began conducting in-store or online surveys where consumers selected preferences. These prefer-

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ences translated into a customized approach toward offering discounts that included periodic emailing coupons based on consumer preferences.

The next step included a shift to paperless coupons where consumers registered their customer loyalty account with their favorite retailer who, in turn—based on selected preference or tracked buying preferences—would download the discount value for a particular item right onto the card.

Now, smartphones are increasingly being used to access discounts.

3. Sunday Blue Laws Repeal

In December 1982, Massachusetts’ Gov. Edward J. King signed into law a bill repealing the mandated closing of retail stores on Sunday. Since 1977, retail stores had been only allowed to open on Sunday between Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The bill had come up countless times before, only to go down in defeat. This time, however, the large retail chains, primarily in the mass merchandise class, joined together to push for the repeal, citing loss of business to neighboring states that allowed stores to open on Sunday.

Other proponents of the bill saw it as a revenue- and jobs-producing bill. In January 1983, economic researchers said opening stores on Sunday would produce 15,000 jobs and an estimated $40 million in tax revenue for the state. Opponents of the bill, led by the clergy, argued that Sunday openings would lead to a deterioration of the family life and would violate the sanctity of Sunday as a day of worship and rest.

Under the new law, stores with seven or more employees must pay workers overtime at time-and-a-half rates for Sunday work. The overtime provision applies if Sunday is part of an employee’s regular five-day workweek. No one could be forced to work Sundays. Convenience stores, however, would be exempted from the overtime provision of the law.

4. Computers At Checkout

In 1972, Professor Ted Leed from the Department of Agricultural Economics at the University of Massachusetts said that a country that could figure out the complexities of sending men to the moon could find a new and better way to stock shelves.

He indicated that the first breakthrough for the supermarket in greater productivity would probably come from computerized checkout. Tests showed that the new systems are almost 15 percent faster than previous methods and give instant inventory control.

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The Griffin Report 50th Anniversary 50 Years From A Manufacturer’s Retrospective

Associated Grocers of New England Salutes The 50-Year Milestone

Todd Blount

Mike Bourgoine

Blount Fine Foods.

Associated Grocers of New England

What has changed in 50 years?

As you are certainly reading in this 50th Anniversary Griffin Report, everything has changed. Strategies that once lived for decades now last just a few years.

Seeking insights into customer and consumer behavior and preferences is an exercise that never rests.

The competitive advantage of any one innovation is fleeting. News travels at the speed of a “click.” The competitive environment rewards those that grow, and time moves past the stagnant.

While the last 50 years have seen the product offering at Blount Fine Foods evolve greatly, the guiding principles of working hard to make a great product; standing behind those products and the promises you make; and investing in the people and processes that advance the business have not changed.

In 2000, when I became president (and the fifth-generation leader) of our family-run business, I started with all the ingredients for success: a resource of assets, an impeccable reputation, a going-forward business model, and a team of dedicated people that spanned generations. But how did we get there?

Fifty years ago, we were a 23-year-old company called Blount Seafood, run by my grandfather, Nelson, who invested in advancing the technologies used to harvest and process clams—the majority of which we sold directly to Campbell’s for use in their ubiquitous canned clam chowder.

In 1967, after my grandfather lost his life in a single-engine airplane accident, my father, Ted, took over leadership of our company and spent the next 20 or so years diversifying our customer and supplier bases. He also made our first move past being a commodity supplier, developing value-added products that included stuffed clams, stuffed scallops and three varieties of chowder.

Diversifying inbound supplies and outbound orders to customers created a growing logistical burden on the operation, which Ted stayed ahead of by investing in people, training and computerized systems. Ted’s investments in operations, and the innovations and efficiencies they led to, allowed “reliable” to be added to the list of words our partners used to describe our company.

In 2000, my father decided I was ready to handle the responsibility that came with taking the reins. I had spent the previous six years establishing a soup operation in a corner of our plant, while a young salesman named Bob Sewall pounded the pavement to generate sales.

My mark on the company (so far) has been to complete the transition from commodity supplier to manufacturer and marketer of premium, restaurant-quality soups, entrées, appetizers and sauces, which we do today as Blount Fine Foods, America’s largest and best maker of fresh, premium soups for restaurants and retailers.

Through all of this change over 50 years, one thing remains the same: quality, integrity, dedication and hard work still matter most.

Happy 50th, Griffin Report!

Jim Calvin New York Association of Convenience Stores

As The Griffin Report marks its 50th anniversary this year, NYACS is proudly celebrating 30 years of serving New York’s convenience store trade.

In 1986, a trio of visionaries—Bob Seng, the late John MacDougall and the late Dick Warrender— teamed up to bring forth a new organization dedicated to unifying, informing, representing and educating what was then a fledgling c-store industry in upstate New York.

Yet the co-founders could not have envisioned the degree to which chronically bad policy-making in Albany would handicap the trade at every turn, the breathtaking waves of consolidation that would transform the retail and supplier sides of the business, the advent of foodservice-centric c-stores as big as 6,500 square feet, or the marvels of pay-at-the-pump, paperless invoices, Facebook pre-ordering, Powerball and 5 Hour Energy.

The Griffin Report is not only a chronicle of the food industry, but a reflection of it. As the marketplace has evolved, so has the newspaper—diversifying coverage to additional trade channels, adapting to changes in reader preferences, embracing the digital age and quenching the industry’s thirst for statistical yardsticks.

But its biggest contribution has been its consistency, reliably covering all aspects of the trade with pride and enthusiasm. Dynamic, rapidly changing industries need anchors of stability like The Griffin Report—and, may I add, NYACS. On this, its golden anniversary, The Griffin Report shimmers like a diamond. May NYACS continue to strive to do the same.

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Congratulations to The Griffin Report on your 50-year celebration! Serving the needs of the independent retailers has long been the mission of Associated Grocers of New England. The Griffin Report is the most respected voice in the industry, and we at Associated Grocers of New England salute your 50-year milestone in providing news about the industry to our customers from Maine to Maryland.

The Griffin Report Has Been A Good Partner With The Greater Boston Food Bank Catherine D’Amato Greater Boston Food Bank

The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) has been grateful to be part of The Griffin Report, as it has been a significant mechanism for GBFB to garner strong relationships in the food industry.

Inclusion in this publication has been a positive way to connect us to food donors by informing industry leaders about GBFB’s good work and successes. In addition, Kevin Griffin has been a critical member of our Food Industry Council and has been instrumental in helping to “End Hunger Here” in eastern Massachusetts.

The Griffin Report & 50 Years Charlie D’Amour Big Y Foods

We are blessed to work in an industry that is dynamic and ever changing! At the same time, it is a business that is fundamental and basic to people’s food needs.

Fifty years ago, John Griffin understood that the grocery business in New England needed a voice, a forum to exchange ideas and information that was central to a dynamic industry that was always looking ahead to meet these basic needs for our customers.

Starting out in this business many years ago, I remember well the anticipation of waiting for The Griffin Report to arrive with the New England state and county Market Report. The Griffin Report was ever-present at important industry events, from MFA conventions to golf outings to industry and company celebrations and milestones. Other special reports were always well received. Throughout, they continue to try to represent all aspects of our industry, from brokers to manufacturers to suppliers and supermarkets.

Today, in this free flow of information, The Griffin Report is able to offer a human side and perspective to a business that can, at times, prove to be impersonal and detached.

My father, Gerry D’Amour, always said that we sell food but we’re in the people business!

Though our business today is more complex than ever and competition is as fierce as it ever was, we need to remember that, at the heart, it is about food and people.

Our company, Big Y, has moved beyond a “simple grocery store” with six basic departments to stores that include 14 to 15 departments including pharmacies, full liquor, Little Y Kids Klubs, etc., not to mention departments within departments like our Living Well Eating Smart sections, sushi, gift cards and café. And we now have dietitians, chefs and pharmacists to help educate and inform our customers to make their lives more healthful, tasty and enjoyable.

And now, our recent venture into gas/convenience begins another chapter in our everchanging opportunity to serve our customers. As our customers’ needs keep changing and adapting, we continuously strive to anticipate and meet those needs with solutions that resonate with them.

Our congratulations to Kevin Griffin and the entire staff at The Griffin Report as you celebrate 50 years of publishing. Continue to focus on the people side of our business as you provide a forum and venue for the exchange of ideas and news about this great and noble business!

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Category leadership through regional representation!

New England, Upstate NY, Metro NY, and the Mid Atlantic States

Julius Young Market 1910

Harold W. Young, Inc. Family Owned and Operated since 1927 1 Tech Circle, Natick, MA 01760 508-655-2300 www.hwyounginc.com • info@hwyounginc.com

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Harold W. Young, Inc. 2016

Harold W. Young, Inc.

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1 Tech Circle, Natick, MA 01760 508-655-2300

www.hwyounginc.com

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Looking Back: John Dixon Transformed The New Hampshire Grocers Association John Dumais New Hampshire Grocers Association

By 1966, the New Hampshire Retail Grocers Association had already been in existence for 33 years.

Jim Mahiney, retired editor of the Manchester Union Leader, was the executive director, and John Dixon, a grocer from Newport, was serving as the association’s elected president.

That same year, Dixon was elected as a director to the national association NARGUS, the predecessor to the National Grocers Association (NGA). That same year, John H. Griffin, publisher of The Griffin Report, gave a “Blunt talk on grocer faults” at the state’s annual convention.

The 1970s was a time when the association was playing an ever-increasing role in representing grocers on state and national issues. It was also a time that saw John Dixon completing his term as the elected president of NGA, electing Frank Register as the new CEO and leading the transition to a larger national trade association. While still on the NHRGA Board, the failing health of Jim Mahoney became a concern for the increasingly active association.

In late 1971, John Dixon sold his supermarket and Jiffy Mart convenience stores to his son Barry. At the same time, Dixon accepted the responsibility as the new executive director. Energetic as ever, he immediately created a monthly magazine, established a coupon program, expanded the annual convention and grew membership.

By 1972, the organization had moved into the building at 110 Stark Street in Manchester. This time, it was with lease

with option to buy and was large enough to accommodate the ever-increasing number of employees.

That same building was purchased in 1974 and became the permanent home of the association. It was also the year that a young, independent grocer named John Dumais became Dixon’s assistant after selling his family’s business.

The next 10 years were some of the most memorable.

The annual state convention grew and alternated between

My Trip Down Memory Lane In The C-Stores Scott Hartman The Rutter Companies

Congratulations to Griffin Publishing for celebrating their 50th anniversary. I am also celebrating my 45th year working in c-stores. It feels like we grew up together.

Thinking about everything that has changed in our industry and company over the past five decades, I am amazed and proud. Here goes my trip down memory lane looking at the main pillars….

Real Estate Location, location, location is as true today as it was 50 years ago. The primary difference is that the land, store size and cost have all grown dramatically. Eighteen years ago we were selling an old store site so we could move across the street to a bigger parcel. The old store was built in the early ’80s. It sat on 1 acre and was 2,400 square feet…a big store for the 1980s. The new store would be on 3 acres and 5,300 square feet….we called it a super store. In December 2015, we opened a store sitting on 11.5 acres and 9,100 square feet. To summarize the cost transition, I really need a deep breath. The 1980s store had a book cost of $60,000; the 2000s-era replacement store cost $2 million; and the 2016 store amazingly topped out over $10 million.

Customers We have always sold time to our customers. When we started, it was from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., and we closed on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. During the decades that followed, we began selling more hours of time—7a.m. turned to 4 a.m.; 11 p.m. turned to 1 a.m. Eventually, it all moved to 24 hours and 365 days a year. Our customers value time now more than ever, and our business has responded.

Food Offers Our first stores in the 1960s were focused on selling boxes of cereal, milk, cans of stuff, some soft drinks and candy. Today, we have more than 20 cooler doors of drinks and literally billions of fast food combinations you can order on our touch-screens.

Fuel Offers In Pennsylvania, it was illegal to have self-serve gas in the 1960s. That law changed in 1972 and we opened our first store with fuel…two pumps, no canopy and no pay at the pump. Fast-forward to our 2015 new store: eight gas and seven truck diesel MPDs all under our newest canopy design that changes color from day to night—our Vegas look.

As I look forward to many more years in this industry, I am very optimistic. Our industry can change faster than any other, and we are having another record year. As long as time remains valuable, we are truly in the sweet spot. Cheers to the next 50!

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the Mt. Washington Hotel and the Balsams Resort. These were the only two locations that could house all attendees.

The accompanying Trade Show had to be fitted into a 200 x 40-foot tent. In addition, with numerous programs successfully started, the staff was increased to over 25 dedicated employees.

John Dixon retired in 1984, leaving the association to continue with John Dumais. Today, the New Hampshire Grocers Association represents all segments of food and beverage distribution system and remains true to what John Dixon initiated.

What’s Special About The Griffin Report?

By Jeremy, David, and Mike Isenberg

The Griffin Report is the leading authority in the food industry. We have worked with the Griffin Report for over 20 years to cover our trade show, recognize our milestones and celebrate our successes.

What is special about The Griffin Report is their people. They truly care about the companies they cover. They take pride in their work and made our 40th, 45th and 50th anniversary celebrations very special.

I also appreciate how they have broadened the recognition in our industry.

The “40 Under 40” and “Women of Influence” features have been a great way to support the next generation of leaders in our industry.

Congratulations to the Griffin team for 50 great years. We look forward to the next 50 and thank the team for their efforts and passion in covering our industry.

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Congratulations to our business partners at

on your 50th Anniversary From your friends at

THE

DAVIDSON Specialty Foods

CO.

Thank you for your years of service and news! www.davidsonspecfoods.com • 860-655-1127 • 367 Alumni Rd • Newington CT 06111 Davidson_03_GR_50th.indd 1

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Happy 50th anniversary to our friends at The Griffin Report.

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Congratulations To The Griffin Report On 50 Great Years!

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To advance women, grow business and transform our industry workplace through the power of community.

NEW New England is proud of our 12 years in the food industry and hopes to make the golden milestone of 50 like the Griffin Report!

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Happy 50th Anniversary to the Griffin Report – Thanks for helping NEFF to be successful for the past 50 Years!

50 Years of Leaders

Paul Beane John Tully John Livoti Harry O’Hare Richard Clark Frank Norton Frank Norton William Huxley Ralph Lordi George Greer James Derba Joseph Carroll Alfred Ponte John Kavanagh Jr James Davock Matthew Hunt John Cerretani Earl Wallace Paul Lane William Hanberry Leo Sutera Charles Mundt Peter O’Brien Bill Tuck Joseph Cerretani David Trucchi Richard Ponte Robert Trumbour

1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1984 1985 1987 1987 1988 1989

Wayne Dick Peter Barone Daniel Sullivan Chip O’Hare Frank Cacciapouti Bill Mello Rick Daley Nick Matook Jim Lacourse Jack Young Phil Scolley John Saidnaway Gary Pfeil Gene Mahoney Chris Darmody Jim Walsh Bob Turcotte Jerry Larsson Kim Richardson-Roach Greg Lane Bill Breheny Jim Fowler Bob Goodwin John Gentile Kevin O’Brien Kevin Tassinari Gayle Baker

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1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016

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The Leavitt Corperation is proud to have over 90 years in the food Industry�

Happy 50th Anniversary Griffin Report!

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Congratulations on your 50th anniversary!

Honey Farm

Honey Farms today s 50 years a

go

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Here’s to many years of growth together with a wonderful partnership! from

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Over 100 Years, Stop & Shop Has Placed Customers First Mark McGowan, Stop & Shop New England Division

Don Sussman, Stop & Shop New

York Metro Division

Since the opening of our first store in Somerville, Massachusetts, in 1914, Stop & Shop has been helping customers save time, save money and eat well.

In the last 50 years, our shoppers have seen incredible technological changes and are busier than ever.

In response, we have adapted into an omni-channel grocer focusing on how we can make the lives of our customers easier and healthier.

Stop & Shop helps customers save time in numerous ways, including grocery delivery and pickup via Peapod in participating communities, offering ready-made meal options, ready-cut fruits and vegetables, plus providing seamless technology like our Scan It! Mobile app and self-checkout lanes.

We help customers eat well and save money with an everexpanding selection of more than 800 Nature’s Promise products.

From handcrafted artisan breads and fresh meats to healthy snacks and yogurt, customers can trust Nature’s Promise products for their family’s health and wellbeing at a great value every day.

And Stop & Shop’s award-winning digital content platform and maga-

zine, Savory Fast, Fresh and Easy™, pulls it all together by making meal planning and fresh food preparation easy.

Stop & Shop is deeply committed to being a better neighbor by feeding the hungry and supporting organizations that advocate for good nutrition and exercise for children.

In 2015, Stop & Shop donated over $29 million in product and cash to food banks and charitable organizations in New England and the metro New York markets with the help of our associates, customers and vendors. And, over the past 25 years, we have raised $75 million to support pediatric cancer research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City.

Lastly, our customers have become more ecologically minded. And here, Stop & Shop has embraced green ways to help the earth. In order to reduce our environmental footprint, we have invested millions to save energy by installing solar panels and new refrigeration units in stores, and have made great progress in our bag reduction program.

For over 100 years, Stop & Shop has put customers first, and we believe that value is timeless.

Milestone Years For TGR & JOH Chip O’Hare Johnson O”Hare

Few trade publications have done more for the food business than The Griffin Report.

Through countless industry transformations and consolidations, The Griffin Report has conveyed the vital information Northeast businesses need to operate and market effectively.

For 50 years you have flourished because of the dedication, talent, hard work and professionalism of your staff. We commend you for all you have achieved.

2016 is also a momentous year for JOH. Since 1956, JOH has worked diligently to become one of the strongest regional brokers in America. As we celebrate our 60th year, we are proud to have established an unrivaled presence along the East Coast, offices in the Midwest and broker partners throughout the country. However, none of this growth and expansion would be possible without JOH associates exceeding the expectations of our clients and customers on a daily basis.

In our continuously changing industry, stability and vision

are vital to a company’s success.

We are thrilled to have a thirdgeneration O’Hare in the company who is rising to a leadership position. Alongside John Saidnawey, current JOH president and COO, Matt O’Hare will help to nurture JOH’s mission of delivering excellence in value-added results and core values: ethics, passion and the importance of family.

Harry O’Hare Sr. would have been inspired that the Bostonbased food broker he founded in 1956 has not only survived, but blossomed into a full-service sales and marketing company with 580 associates and 14 offices. It is with great pleasure that JOH shares this anniversary year with The Griffin Report. Congratulations.

Kudos On 50 Years Congratulations to The Griffin Report on 50 years of publishing on the food industry!

Their spotlight features on the various companies and people that make up this vibrant industry are second to none.

Not only have they kept us up to date on the ever-changing happenings in our world, their focus is on the people that make that news. It takes dedicated energetic people to face the challenges of today and into the future.

Dave Murdock Honey Farms

The Griffin Report, Congratulations on

50 YEARS! from

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From The Shaw’s And Star Market Leaders...

Roche Bros.: ‘Treating Others As We Would Want To Be Treated’

Rick and Ed Roche Roche Bros.

For over 100 years, Shaw’s and Star Market stores have been proudly serving customers across New England. And, a very important part of our longevity is our employees staying informed about the latest developments in the supermarket industry.

Whether I am walking into a store director’s office, employee breakroom or the waiting area of our corporate office, a copy of The Griffin Report can always be found/ On behalf of the entire Shaw’s and Star Market team, congratulations to The Griffin Report on your 50th anniversary.

Jim Rice President Shaw’s & Star Market

Fifty years ago, in 1966, Roche Bros. had two stores. Roslindale, the original market, had been open for 13 years. The store on Chestnut St. in Needham had been open just shy of one year. The success of the new Needham store was enough that the little company was finally making a profit, so that year Pat and Bud started a profit-sharing fund for their associates.

Since then, Roche Bros. has seen terrific growth. Fresh and new ideas always seem to abound here, and we have been fortunate to put many of them into place with great success.

In 1970, the Westwood store opened.

Unlike anything the supermarket industry had previously seen, it had a dedicated bakery and florist departments, and a cafeteria. It was the supermarket of the future.

Another novel format, and a new banner, came along in 1980. Sudbury Farms—a store with a farmer’s market feel that offered extensive perishables, a bulk produce department and a kitchen with prepared foods to take home.

2014 saw the addition of another banner and another first step toward the industry’s wave of the future—Brothers Marketplace. This smallformat store, with a nod from the original Sudbury Farms concept, offers a new way for quality, convenience and community to come together.

And in 2015, Roche Bros. returned to its

Happy 50th Anniversary to The Griffin Report from a friend of John Griffin

My career in the food industry began in 1985 when I started working at Purity Supreme. That was when I was first introduced to The Griffin Report. And, for more than 30 years, the publication has been instrumental in keeping me informed about news related to food retailing and grocery manufacturing. As the food industry continues to evolve and grow, I know that The Griffin Report will continue to be a great information resource for another 50 years.

Joe Kelley Vice President, Marketing and Merchandising Shaw’s & Star Market

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roots as the Downtown Crossing store opened in the heart of Boston. Created with the urban customer in mind, we are proud that this store has garnered national attention for both concept and design. With expansion space coming, it will continue to serve as a model for innovative merchandising and customer service.

Keeping up with the times is, and has always been, a challenge welcomed by our Roche Bros. family of dedicated associates. As both the world and our industry experience constant evolution—most notably of late in the areas of technology and social media/marketing—Roche Bros. is always looking ahead and making efforts to be on the forefront of change, so we can continue to bring our customers the absolute best.

Today, Roche Bros. is a family of 20 stores and over 4,500 associates. As second-generation owners, Ed and I are dedicated to operating on the same foundation as Pat and Bud—focused on quality and service while treating others as we would want to be treated.

“Discover the Dennis Difference”

CONGRATULATIONS! TO OUR FRIENDS AND BUSINESS PARTNERS AT

on your

50TH

ANNIVERSARY! www.dennisexpress.com 3/21/16 DennisPaper_03_GR_50th.indd 4:31 PM 1

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To The Next 50 Years Of Finding Ways To Retain Customers & Attract New Ones Leo Vercollone VERC Enterprises Half a century, five decades, however you say it—hitting the 50-year mark is significant, and as The Griffin Report celebrates this momentous occasion, it’s time to reflect on the many changes the c-store industry has experienced since 1966.

Advances in technology have been life-altering for our industry; communication “back in the day” was pretty much limited to the telephone compared to now, when fax, email and texting lead the way in interaction between management, employees and stores.

Over the years, we’ve seen both escalation and reduction in

gas prices—and a few fearsome times when the dreaded “out of gas” sign appeared on pumps.

That’s when many of us were inspired to add products and services because keeping our customers satisfied has, is and always will be the priority.

In the past 50 years we’ve come a far distance in what we can offer patrons: self-service pumping stations, credit card payment, food items that can be microwaved in-store, the availability of e-cigarettes, lottery tickets, just to name a few.

Staying on top of trends and adjusting inventory to reflect what’s in vogue is another hallmark of the convenience store industry.

But we can’t rest on present laurels. The imperative is to continue to find ways to retain customers and attract new ones. The price at the pump and the range of available products has much to do with customer satisfaction, but often it’s who’s behind the counter that keeps people coming back.

So, it has become increasingly important over the years to acknowledge and reward the people who are part of the VERC “family.”

Now rounding the corner to our 40th anniversary, we will say that while our employees have always been important to

us, the benefits offered and the opportunities for advancement within our organization have increased over the many years.

Along the way, several in the industry have recognized the importance of workforce diversity. At VERC, we’re proud of the advances we’ve made in employing those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

As we look to the future, it is our hope and desire to continue to think creatively, keep a watchful eye on consumer trends and treat our customers and employees with the respect they deserve.

Thanks are extended to The Griffin Report for advancing the causes, acknowledging the challenges and being an advocate for all of us in the c-store industry. To the next 50 years.

The Griffin Report Helped Us For The Future Robert Rowe Sr. The Davidson Co.

Wow, 50 years. Congratulations on 50 years of great reporting by incredible people.

I was one of six boys and only 7 years old when the GR started publishing and 15 when The Griffin Report became a big part of my family’s newly started business, The Davidson Co. My dad, Dave Rowe Sr., would sit and read every issue cover to cover, highlighting anything he felt pertained to our business. He would sit us all down and point out things he thought we needed to know to shape us for the future.

The Davidson Co. and the Rowe family became deeply involved in organizations such as Knights of the Grip and the Connecticut Food Association that supported the food industry, as we are today. What I enjoy the most are the relationships with the great people at the GR my family have built over our 40-plus years—Jack Walsh, Mike Berger and Trish Happel, to name a few.

The three anniversary inserts honoring my company and my family were top-notch and a testament to the knowledge and professionalism The Griffin Report delivers.

As we enter our 42nd year, so much has changed in the food industry and, like my father, I look forward to every issue.

The Griffin Report helps the industry and gives us a window into tomorrow while always honoring milestones of the past. Giving honor to the achievers, innovators, the up-and-comers and the shining stars in the industry.

They bring attention to the trade shows, the charities and the award ceremonies honoring the industry’s longstanding leaders. Not an event goes by without a Griffin Report representative interviewing and snapping photos.

If I were to sum up the last 50 years of The Griffin Report in a word, it would be “Outstanding!” I look forward to the years to come, your paper and your friendship, which has become a steady in my life.

A Resource To Generations Of Grocery Leaders Rick Cohen C&S Wholesale Grocers

In an industry led by continuous change and evolution, The Griffin Report has served as an indispensable resource to generations of grocery leaders.

My father, Lester Cohen, was CEO of C&S Wholesale Grocers when The Griffin Report debuted in 1966. By the time I joined the family business in 1974, the publication was an industry mainstay and has continued to grow ever since.

Congratulations to The Griffin Report on its 50th anniversary!

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Changing Times In Rhode Island: Hospitality Is Top Revenue Producer Dale Venturini Rhode Island Hospitality Association

The Rhode Hospitality Association (RIHA) represents more than 650 foodservice, hotels, vendors and hospitality members in the state of Rhode Island and has been the voice of the hospitality and foodservice industries in the state since 1963.

Rhode Island is often lauded for its amazing culinary scene. We have wonderful agriculture and aquaculture here, and many of our restaurants are committed to using locally-sourced ingredients.

We are fortunate to have Johnson & Wales University, one of the best culinary schools in the nation, and it attracts some of the best young talent entering the industry. We also have a wealth of amazing restaurants, award-winning hotels, attractions, beaches and a rich, storied history. I often say, for the smallest state, we have the biggest appeal.

I am fortunate to have spent the last more than 27 years at the helm of Rhode Island’s only trade association dedicated to further advancing and strengthening our hospitality industry.

Over the past two decades, much has changed. The industry itself has evolved and professionalized. We are now rightfully recognized as a top revenue and employment generator and are a critical cornerstone of the state’s economy.

In Rhode Island, our industry largely comprises small businesses that successfully employ and provide meaningful career paths for more than 70,000 people. These are good, upstanding small business owners who continuously face an onslaught of regulatory and legislative issues that keep cutting the razor-thin margins on which they operate.

The industry’s biggest challenge comes from out-of-state, organized activists who are being paid to try to completely change the hospitality business model through legislation. From compensation and wage bills, to scheduling mandates and everything in between, this organization is well funded and has made disrupting a successful industry its top priority.

My outlook on the future is cautiously optimistic. The hospitality industry is a driving force in job creation locally, regionally and nationally. We want to remain a vital part of the economic landscape. To do so, we need to overcome these organized activists and their agenda. We cannot outspend them, but we can certainly outnumber them with all the good that our industry does for our employees, our community and our state.

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To our long term partners at The Griffin Report Thanks for your many years of support and food industry news Congratulations on your 50th Anniversary

Jerry Young Harold W. Young Co,

So much has changed. Fifty years ago there might have been more than 50 brokers selling confectionery products in this market alone.

It took a whole week for me to call on all of the customers in just the state of Maine. Penny candy was actually penny candy, and we wrote our orders on whatever paper or cardboard we could find, sent the orders by “mail” to the manufacturers, and some of the products were actually shipped in wooden crates. Our business meetings might have been at our customer’s homes for dinner, and all of us peddlers would meet along the way and enjoy each other’s company.

Like all other industries, technology has allowed for faster, more precise work. But the beauty of our business is that when you put your customer first, your relationship still matters. Happily, some family business have endured, and we are blessed with second and third generations in both our customers and manufacturers that continue to bring the passion and enthusiasm that has allowed them to grow and innovate.

When my father, Harold Young, started the business, he alone had the whole territory from Erie, Pennsylvania, to Boston.

Today at Harold W. Young Inc., we have returned to my father’s initial regional territory expanding from New England to Upstate New York to New York Metro and now to the Mid-Atlantic region.

We have grown in an effort to better serve our ever-consolidating wholesalers and retailers.

The old saying, that the only constant is change, is really true. I am currently writing a short history of the candy business, and as I recall the wonderful characters I have met through my journey, I am grateful to those friends and associates that were true partners.

Even though everything changes, the one thing that doesn’t is our love and respect for each other. Best wishes.

And best wishes for 50 more!

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