Rob Schell, CFE

🇺🇸 During the Summer Fancy Food Show (Specialty Food Association), Ace Endico was on home turf. Based in New York, the company is a leading distributor in Westchester and Putnam counties, with 43 years of experience. Its business is evenly split between foodservice and retail — serving restaurants, schools, hospitals, and more. 🗣️ We spoke with Beck Bolender, marketing director at Ace Endico, who shared: “Today’s consumers are increasingly informed and aware. Younger generations have a deeper understanding of food, and origin matters more than ever. Italy is a key partner for us: around 40% of our customers are Italian restaurants, and nearly all of our international suppliers are Italian”. #TheItalianFoodMagazine

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Family-owned foodservice distributor Schiff's Food Service, Inc., acquired R&R Provision, another distributor located in Easton, Pennsylvania. “R&R Provision has been a fixture in the Lehigh Valley for over 90 years,” said Mike Yeager, chief executive officer of SFS. “We are honored to continue the legacy as a family-owned distributor and to continue building on their solid foundation.” See other details about acquisition ⬇️ https://ow.ly/6biR50WnNTj #Pennsylvania #foodservice #CEO #people

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Yeadon-based Philly's Best Steak Company is partnering with Restaurant Depot to take its steak products nationwide, marking a major expansion for the longtime local supplier. Click here to read 👉 https://ebx.sh/mpWVGC

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34 restaurant executives on the move in March, including new CEOs at Jersey Mike’s, Red Robin, and P.F. Chang’s. McDonald’s and Subway both also made multiple changes to the C-suite http://ow.ly/8Zrh1068lnO

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Konala Franchisee Secures First New Jersey Drive-Thru Location in Belleville https://lnkd.in/e4k6sKqt Konala, the fast-growing healthy fast-food concept with high-protein bowls, is officially bringing its quick drive-thru service to New Jersey, with the first location secured by franchisee Anthony Menicola in Belleville.

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A Dunkin Donuts and Taco Bell franchisee has agreed to pay more than $1.5 million to settle an investigation by the city that found the coffee giant systemically violated local scheduling laws at 24 Manhattan and Queens locations. https://lnkd.in/eehX-EBt

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Weis Markets has remodeled its East Stroudsburg and Stroudsburg stores, enhancing bakery and seafood departments, adding market-style produce sections, and updating decor. Dennis Curtin, Director of Public Relations, highlighted that “Weis Markets is dedicated to providing healthy and affordable options to the communities we serve, and these renovations help make these items more easily accessible.” In celebration of each reopening, Weis Markets presented donations to East Stroudsburg Fire Department, East Stroudsburg Little League, Angels of Light Work, The Friends of Stroud Region Open Space & Recreation, Stroud Township Volunteer Fire Department, and Pocono Family YMCA. The Stroudsburg store is on North 9th Street, while the East Stroudsburg location is on North Courtland Street.

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💵 How does the PFMA member Pennsylvania Lottery reward retailers? In this clip, Deputy Exec. Director Eric Grubb explains how the Retailer Incentive Program helps stores boost sales and earn extra cash. 📺 Watch now: https://loom.ly/jCcYOsA #PALottery #RetailSuccess #ShelfConfidence

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Weis Markets Brings a Next-Gen Supermarket Format to Waldorf, Maryland Key Points • New Store Opening: Weis Markets opened a new 65,000-square-foot store in Waldorf, Maryland, located in Fairway Village at 4535 Fairway Village Place, with a ribbon cutting on Feb. 18 and public opening on Feb. 19. • Convenience-Led Features: The location includes a Starbucks café (with mobile ordering), a full-service drive-thru pharmacy, and a six-pump Gas N’ Go fuel center tied to Weis Rewards points. • Full Fresh and Prepared Offerings: Market-style produce (including organic), full-service meat and seafood, daily in-store sushi, deli with heat-and-serve meals, bakery, and floral. • Modern Sustainability Design: The store maximizes natural light, uses energy-efficient LED lighting, and deploys CO2 refrigeration systems to reduce environmental impact. • Digital and Value Programs: Weis 2 Go Online ordering supports curbside pickup and delivery with trained personal shoppers, alongside Price Lock, Low, Low Price (10,000+ products), and weekly Hot Buys. • Community Investment: Weis marked the opening with $7,500 in total donations to local organizations and donated the store’s first Weis 2 Go order to LifeStyles of Maryland Foundation. What It Means ✅ Convenience is Becoming the Baseline: Pairing a drive-thru pharmacy, fuel, and a branded café in one box reflects how grocers are competing for time-starved shoppers, not just price. ✅ Store Experience Still Matters: Fresh departments plus in-store sushi and meal solutions reinforce that winning formats blend perimeter strength with quick meal occasions. ✅ Omnichannel Execution is Now Table Stakes: Curbside and delivery supported by trained pickers signals that operational discipline, not just digital access, is key to protecting loyalty and basket size. ✅ Sustainability Choices Can Reduce Operating Load: Natural light strategies, LED, and CO2 refrigeration can help manage energy use and refrigerant impact while maintaining a modern shopping environment. ✅ Local Goodwill Supports Long-Term Traffic: Early community donations help anchor the store as a neighborhood asset, which can translate into stronger loyalty in a competitive trade area. Progressive Grocer | https://lnkd.in/g9GSVhCh #retail #supermarkets

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THIS JUST IN... A report is circulating that Northeast Grocery, the parent company of the Tops Markets, Price Chopper and Market 32 banners, is looking to be acquired: https://lnkd.in/gRcz2UR9 #grocery #foodretail #northeastgrocery

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🚨 Anheuser-Busch Announces It Will Close Two Breweries and Sell Another Anheuser-Busch InBev (ABI) will close two of its breweries and sell another, Brewbound reported today. ABI is selling its Newark, New Jersey location to property developer Goodman Group and will end operations at its Merrimack, New Hampshire and Fairfield, California facilities next year. The shutterings will lower the beverage conglomerate’s brewery count to nine. ABI cited updates to production at other facilities as the reason for the consolidation. More details at the link in comments...

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A great message for many legacy brands today: “We need to run them better. We need to be faster, more accurate,” Chairman Patrick Doyle, Restaurant Brands International said. “I think the biggest opportunity for Popeyes domestically is execution in the restaurants."

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AI has the potential to play a major role in the convenience, food service industry. As the upcoming. Convenience Foodservice Vision Group Vision Report will tell you, the correct use of AI assist mis d programs will help retailers cut costs, increase productivity, and reduce spoilage while, at the same time better meeting customer demand. Thank you to Mike Weber 🛒 at Upshop for his excellent presentation. Be sure to download this FREE Vision Report when it comes out next week!

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TZG’s Eric Orlando, Director of Government Affairs for the Brewers Guild of New Jersey (formerly NJ Brewer's Association), talked with Albert Gattullo’s Craft Beer Cast to unpack the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control’s (ABC) proposed regulations that would undermine the hard-won legislative victories from last year. Huge thanks to Al Gattullo for shining a light on this issue and having Eric on the show. Catch Eric’s full interview here 👉 https://lnkd.in/eFAj63Ff What’s next: The ABC is accepting public comments until November 1. Email abcpublic@njoag.gov to share your thoughts and perspective. Need more information on these latest proposals or more insights on alcohol regulation in New Jersey? Contact Eric at eorlando@tzgrp.com. In the weeks ahead, Eric will be speaking about these regulations and what’s happening in New Jersey’s craft alcohol beverage industry at the NJICLE’s Liquor Licensing Update 2025 on October 28. Stay tuned.

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