wisconsingrocers.com | Summer Issue 2019
On the fence with Online grocery sales Page 14
Review in GROCERS the CAPITOLDAY Page 8
y str G du o n lf I y O r
e u
c
t
o
r i
n
G
g n
i
s
n
o
c s i SCW RE WGA’s Grocery Industry
Golf Outing Page 23
CHANGE SERVICE REQUESTED SERVICE CHANGE
10 W. Mifflin Street, Suite 205 • Madison, WI 53703 WI Madison, • 205 Suite Street, Mifflin W. 10 Wisconsin Grocers Association Grocers Wisconsin 2 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com 2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 3 4 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com 2019 Summer Issue
WGA Board of Directors Chair Jeff Maurer Maurer’s Market, Wisconsin Dells, WI THE PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE 7 MEMBER SERVICE Vice Chair Greg Hansen Hansen’s IGA, Bangor, WI Report Card REPRESENTATIVE 18 Secretary/Treasurer New Board Members Are you leveraging your WGA Membership? Michelle Harrington Albrecht’s Delafield Market, Delafield, WI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS FRESH SUMMER FRUIT 19 Steve Burkhardt Grocers in the Capitol Day: Approved 8 Guest Column Skogen’s Festival Foods, DePere, WI Grocers Day in Washington 9 Greg Cross THE HISTORY OF GROCERY 20 SpartanNash, St. Cloud, MN Friend of Grocers Awards 10 Bob Fleming Key Friend of Grocers Vote: Fox Run Sentry, Waukesha, WI WGA Position Papers 11 SCORE — GROCERY INDUSTRY Jim Hyland GOLF OUTING REVIEW 23 Roundy’s/Pick ‘n Save, ON THE FENCE WITH ONLINE Milwaukee, WI 5 TIPS ON VIDEO ADS 32 Bob Jaskolski, T.A. Solberg, Inc., GROCERY SALES 14 Minocqua, WI WGA BUSINESS PARTNER’S Steve Loehr Kwik Trip, La Crosse, WI ONLINE SHOPPING FOR Jeff McClure UNFI, Green Bay, WI GROWTH AND PROFITABILITY 17 PROFILES 33 Kevin Metcalfe Metcalfe’s Market, Guest Column Madison, WI MEMBER EVENTS AND Rick Roth HAPPENINGS 36 Great Lakes Coca-Cola, Plover, WI Robert Rothove Associated Wholesale Grocers, Kenosha, WI PROFESSIONAL CARDS 44-45 Dave Ryman Certco, Madison, WI Dave Spiegelhoff Advertisers Gooseberries, Burlington, WI Associated Wholesale H Brooks...... 43 Russ Davis Wholesale . . . . 3 UNFI ...... 12 Matt Swentkofske Grocers, Inc...... 2 MillerCoors, Milwaukee, WI Indianapolis Fruit...... 19 ShopHero ...... 15 Valley Cooperative Certco, Inc ...... 47 Kemps...... 21 Shullsburg Creamery . . . 37 Association ...... 16 Don Symonds DBS Group...... 6 Wisconsin Wins ...... 32 Lipari Foods, Warren, MI Lipari Foods...... 4 Sparboe Companies . . . . 10 Federated Insurance. . . . 48 Zone Mechanical Jeff Tate Tate’s Piggly Wiggly, Professional Supply. . . . . 40 SpartanNash ...... 31 Great Lakes Coca-Cola . 13 North, Inc...... 46 Watertown, WI Prairie Farms...... 46 T4 Solutions ...... 16 Dan Williamson Kemps, Cedarburg, WI Deb Yerkes Save the Dates Zone Mechanical North, Franklin, WI WGA Staff President/CEO Brandon Scholz Grocery Specific Executive Vice President Michelle Kussow Food Safety Events Director Cheryl Lytle Certification Classes Operations Director Sarah Decorah Foundation Leadership Member Service Representative Mark Stellpflug Grocers Innovation Expo Food Safety Institute Executive Director, Tuesday & Wednesday, October 1 & 2, 2019 Certification Class July 17, August 14, & September 18 WGA Education and Scholarship Foundation Kalahari Resort | Wisconsin Dells, WI September 4, 2019 Graduation at Dave Kotwitz WGA Grocers Innovation Expo Marketing Coordinator Maddy Harrison
Please help us conserve resources. If you are receiving multiple copies or wish to be removed from this mailing list, please EDITORIAL INFORMATION: Publication dates; March, May, August, December. Please submit all press releases and stories to call the WGA office at 888/342-5942. Brandon Scholz, Publisher, at the Wisconsin Grocers Association; toll free 888/342-5942; fax 608/244-9030. Wisconsin Grocer magazine is designed by Lorraine Ortner-Blake, [email protected]. Wisconsin Grocer is published four times a year by: Wisconsin Grocers Association, 10 W. Mifflin Street, Suite 205, Madison, WI 53703 • www.wisconsingrocers.com. ADVERTISING INFORMATION: Please submit all advertising material and questions to Cheryl Lytle, Wisconsin Grocers Association, 10 W. Mifflin Street, Suite 205, Madison, WI 53703, call 608/244-7150; fax 608/244-9030; email [email protected]. Toll free 888/342-5942; fax 608/244-9030. Materials in this publication may not be reprinted in any form without permission of the Wisconsin Grocers Association. The Wisconsin Grocer Magazine is printed at Thysse Printing, Oregon, Wisconsin.
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 5 6 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com THE PRESIDENT’S PERSPECTIVE Brandon Scholz WGA President and CEO
Amazon/Whole Foods deal sit? imagination at Whole Foods is something we’ve Report Card What’s the report card grade on seen repeatedly as the e-commerce giant this deal? experiments with physical stores. It takes time to Almost two years Did putting Amazon Lockers in every Whole change an established store chain and there may ago, August 28th, Food stores make a difference? Did prices be a broader vision for groceries that Amazon 2017, Amazon really drop to the point where Whole Foods hasn’t articulated. In fact it’s surprising just how announced that it saw a significant uptick on its customer little Amazon has said about why it purchased was buying Whole Foods. counts or new customers in the door? Whole Foods, what has changed under the hood, For some, it was simply too hard to comprehend or future plans for its jumble of food offerings.” The Atlantic magazine noted, “The purchase what it would mean. Others were stunned. holds implications for the future of groceries, “Shoppers haven’t been bowled over either. There were those who thought the grocery the entire food industry, and—as hyperbolic as Despite the feelings about Whole Foods prices industry was going to come to an end as we this might sound—the future of shopping for YouGov data shows that US consumers’ know it today. Many others said let’s wait and just about everything. But let’s not get ahead of willingness to consider purchasing at Whole see. ourselves; at the simplest level the deal Foods has settled right around where it was at The Business Insider reported just before the represents a straightforward confluence of the time the deal was announced,” noted the sale that, “The online behemoth’s purchase of interest. Amazon needs food and urban real analysis. the organic grocery will come with many estate and Whole Foods needs help.” It’s likely that the biggest impact the deal had changes for customers.” The report said, Whole Foods was Amazon’s portal into the was that it shook up the grocery industry and “Whole Foods will get cheaper for everyone brick-and-mortar business in the grocery world. forced it to accelerate online shopping and pick- starting Monday.” By buying Whole Foods, the e-commerce gorilla up/delivery plans. The battle with Amazon likely In the deal, Amazon replaced Whole Foods disrupted what was a competitive, but is more focused in cities and urban areas. Amazon current loyalty program with Amazon Prime traditional industry. is finding out that razor-thin margins and the and it’s estimated that half of American Amazon Fresh was Amazon’s expansion into the expense of the ‘last mile’ makes it tough to replicate households have an Amazon Prime its program in every market in the country. membership. And buying Whole Foods and online grocery world. But, as Amazon found putting their private label products on Amazon out, selling groceries online isn’t like selling Whole Foods is still pretty much, well, Whole Prime meant that sales for Whole Foods books, shoes, and underwear. Foods. Amazon doesn’t own the rights to fresh products would see a dramatic increase. Whole Foods was to provide Amazon with a fruits and vegetables. Just because Amazon has its products bunched together with Whole Foods Shortly after the sale, one WGA member told distribution network across the country. But stuff doesn’t make it all that much of a better me he was strongly advised to sell the stores were the 431 upper-income locations enough offering. The customer count isn’t much higher because today’s grocery business model was for Amazon? Probably not, because Amazon and the prices aren’t much lower. going away. With Amazon taking over, the recently announced that it was going to buy industry would be radically changed, the value several regional grocery chains to expand the At the end of the day, 365 Everyday Value of the business would seriously decline and the network. Sandwich Cremes aren’t going beat any flavor of store would go out of business. A Bloomberg Opinion analysis published by Oreos that you crave. So after almost two years, where does the The Washington Post says, “Amazon’s lack of IMHO, I grade this $13 billion deal a C+.
The WGA Comes to You! NEW WGA BOARD MEMBERS! Reaching out to members Kevin Metcalfe, Metcalfe’s Market in the northwest portion Kevin J. Metcalfe is Vice President and Owner of Metcalfe’s Market. he of the state, WGA started his career in the family grocery business as a 4th generation grocer in 1989. He was born and raised in Madison and attended President Brandon Scholz Madison College where he earned his degree in finance, Kevin and his wife, Tina, live in recently met with members in Amery. Monona with their three children. He is a member of the Wisconsin Grocers Association, the The luncheon was hosted by Doug Rinehart of Dick’s Fresh Market. Wisconsin Realtors Association and past president of the Monona Exchange Club. Kevin was Joining the luncheon were Alan Alden and Randy Roosa of Dick's Fresh named the Wisconsin Grocers Association Grocer of the Year in 2012 and has been active in Market; Jason Nilssen and Lester Halstead of Nilssen’s Foods; Mark the Monona community as a former city alder, planning commission co-chair and chamber Maloney and Tyler Neu from Russ Davis Wholesale and Greg Hansen of board member. Kevin enjoys boating, snow skiing, flying and co-organizing the World's Hansen's IGA and also the WGA's Board Vice-Chair. Scholz discussed a Largest Brat Fest founded by his father in 1983. (Since 2019) number of WGA legislative issues including home delivery of alcohol, Matt Swentkofske, MillerCoors curbside pickup and liquor licenses, 15-day credit laws on beer and 30 days for liquor invoicing and repeal of the remaining Personal Property Tax. Matt is the Senior Director for Regional Government Affairs at MillerCoors, a position he has held since July, 2018. His political career began in 2006, The group discussed how these and other state regulations impact their when he served as Chief of Staff for former Wisconsin State Senator Jim businesses. Scholz also discussed the current political climate in the State Sullivan, Since his days at the Capitol, he has worked as the State Affairs Capitol and in Washington, DC. Members were briefed on a number of Manager for WJ Weiser and Associates, where he directed the state government relations, WGA benefits including the new health insurance program from Lifestyle public relations and grassroots advocacy operations for a national urological association Health Plan, Federated Insurance's workers comp and P&C insurance and other state urological societies. Matt gained diverse experience lobbying at the federal, programs, Avalara's sales and use tax database relating to DOR audits, and state and local levels at PLS Financial Services, where he served as the Director of more. Look for the invitation for the next lunch in July for your area. Government Relations from 2013 until he started at MillerCoors in 2018. (Since 2019)
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 7 Government Affairs
The Wisconsin Grocers Association presents in GROCERS the By Michelle Kussow DAY WGA Executive CAPITOL Vice President Tuesday, May 14, and Wednesday, May 15, 2019 | MADISON, WISCONSIN
In May more than 50 Majority Leader Fitzgerald also The most retailers, warehouses discussed timely issues such as important the state budget and aspect of executives and allied transportation funding. Capitol Day is the members attended the Attendees also heard from opportunity for 2019 Grocers in the Department of Revenue WGA Secretary Peter Barca. Capitol Day. members to Secretary Barca formerly served speak directly as Minority Leader in the State The event kicked off with a to their elected Assembly and shared his new legislative reception Tuesday officials on perspective as a member of Brandon Scholz, WGA, discusses the issues prior to Capitol visits. evening with six legislators as issues of Governor’s Evers’ cabinet. special guests that were honored importance. Attendees are fully Brandon and Michelle’s shoes, as Friends of Grocers. The briefed on issues by WGA, and but more importantly they are honored legislators all have are also provided key talking able to weigh in on key issues. received one or more Friend of points to share with legislators. Legislators want and need to Grocers awards and all hold This year several timely issues hear from constituent grocers. leadership positions or are were discussed, including Input from retailers has helped members of the powerful Joint alcohol delivery and pick-up, amend bills positively, kill bills Finance Committee. 15/30-day credit law on alcohol that are bad and helped to pass and personal property tax. Full The following morning began Rep. Steve Doyle & Greg Hansen, Hansen's IGA important bills. This year we with a welcome from Senate position papers can be found had a more than 40 meetings Majority Leader Scott online. WGA Position Papers set up with multiple senators Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) and a follow on page 11. and representatives. recap of what is going on Legislative The WGA thanks the 50+ politically at the capitol. Senate grocers that participated in Office Visits this year’s Grocers in the The face-to-face meetings with Capitol Day! Time spent with legislators is the most important legislators WILL make a part of Capitol Day. It allows difference in the issues grocers to walk a day in important to all grocers! Jeff & Cindy Tate, Watertown/Waterloo Piggly Wiggly & Rep. John Jagler.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald
Secretary Peter Barca
8 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com DAY Karen Godin, Godins GROCERS Piggly Wiggly, receives IN WGA’s Grocers Care Washington Political Action Award Wisconsin grocers converged on Capitol Hill on May 1, 2019, for the annual Grocers Day in Washington sponsored by the Karen Godin previously served Food Marketing Institute and National Grocers Association. on the WGA The large group representing the Wisconsin retail food industry included: Board of Directors Brandon Scholz & Michelle Kussow, Wisconsin Grocers Association; Greg for six years, but Cross, SpartanNash; Jim Hyland, Roundy’s/Kroger; Michelle Harrington, whether she was Albrecht’s Sentry Foods-Delafield; Kirk Stoa & Brian Bauman, Festival Foods; a board member and Stephanie Becker & or not, she has David Smith, Associated Karen Godin,Godin's Piggly Wiggly, and Michelle consistently stayed Wholesale Grocers. Kussow, WGA involved in the The Wisconsin grocers group WGA and always was fortunate to meet face- pays close to-face with many members attention to the of our congressional legislative issues delegation this year affecting the including: Senators Johnson industry. and Baldwin; Congressmen The Award honors Gallagher, Grothman, Karen Godin for Kind, Duffy and Steil. Rep. Dan Knodl, Two Time Friend of Grocer her outstanding Recipient & Karen Godin, Godin’s Piggly Wiggly The group discussed card efforts and payment issues, the retail tax leadership in the areas of political, legislative and glitch and transportation government affairs benefiting the grocery industry concerns. One of our in Wisconsin. primary asks during Day in Washington was support for Retail Glitch fix legislation. Geoff Welch, The Shelby The Retail Tax Glitch issue Report, receives the refers to a drafting error in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act WGA’s Hero Award (TCJA) that has been preventing retailers from Geoff Welch of being eligible for full and The Shelby Report immediate expensing for interior remodels to stores. The Restoring Investment in recieved the first- Improvements Act (H.R. 1869 and S. 803) was recently introduced by Reps. ever WGA Hero Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN) and Sens. Pat Toomey Award on (R-PA) and Doug Jones (D-AL) to fix the retail glitch. During our meetings, Wednesday at we asked members of Congress to consider signing on to the bill. Rep. Grocers in the Sensenbrenner was already listed as a co-sponsor but due to our efforts both Capitol Day. Congressmen Steil and Duffy had agreed to sign on to the bill. Geoff is always the NGA has reported that the message on the retail glitch fix was heard loud and Brandon Scholz, WGA presents Geoff Welch, first to promote The Shelby Report, with the WGA Hero Award clear, and that in the two weeks following Grocers Day in Washington, co- WGA events and sponsors for H.R. 1869 has jumped from only 59 cosponsors to 105. Of the 46 news in the Midwest Shelby Report. He has assisted offices who signed on, more than half heard from grocers during Grocers Day with speaker suggestions for the Innovation Expo in Washington. In the Senate, the legislation, S.803, has picked up seven sponsors. and hosted the Great Wisconsin Bag-Off for three years in a row. Geoff is often heard saying “The As NGA said, “whether your meetings were with friends to our industry Wisconsin Grocers Association is the best state who needed a reminder of our priorities or if you walked in as grocers association that he visits.” The WGA is missionaries to offices who have not been traditionally friendly to our honored to present Geoff with the WGA Hero goals, you put points on the board. Day in Washington is our best Award and is thankful for all that he does for the opportunity on the calendar to gain a significant amount of ground in a association. short period of time, and it was a success.”
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 9 Government Affairs Friend of Grocer Awards The May 14th legislative reception held in conjunction with Grocers in the Capitol Day honored some of the legislators that have received the WGA Friend of Grocer Award. The Award is presented every two years to legislators who receive an 'A' grade on the WGA Legislative Report Card. The Wisconsin Grocers Association was honored to have these Friend of Grocers attend the Tuesday night legislative dinner.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, (R-Burlington) Sen. Dale Kooyenga, (R-Brookfield) Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam)
Rep. John Nygren (R-Marinette) Rep. Dan Knodl, (R-Germantown) Sen. Tom Tiffany (R-Menoqua)
10 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com Key Friend of Grocers Vote: WGA Position Papers
Repeal Personal and ask for them to support full themselves answering to Support Clarification of repeal in the budget. customers on why alcohol cannot Property Tax be delivered along with their Alcohol Pick-up Laws In 2016, the WGA created a other groceries. Online grocery shopping is coalition consisting of 51 business Repeal Cash or Credit continuing to grow as consumer’s The answer is that in Wisconsin it groups that all supported repeal of shopping habits change. Specific to Regulations on Alcohol is illegal to deliver alcohol. the personal property tax. In the pickup of groceries, customers want Wisconsin law requires that 2017-2018 State Budget, the WGA Wisconsin law states that retail to be able to pickup alcohol along alcohol sales occur at the licensed and the Coalition to Repeal licensees can only purchase alcohol with their groceries. premises, with the buyer and Wisconsin’s Personal Property Tax for cash or on credit terms not to seller face-to-face at the time of Wisconsin law does not clearly define successfully advocated for a $75 exceed 15 days for beer and 30 sale. alcohol pickup, but the Department million exemption for machinery. days for liquor. In addition, the law of Revenue has determined that states that licensees may not buy Rep. Gary Tauchen (R-Bonduel) The remnants of Wisconsin’s pickup of alcohol is legal as long as liquor if they are in debt to any would like to make it legal for personal property tax leave an the retailer does not charge the liquor wholesaler for more than 30 grocers and restaurants to deliver extremely unfair tax on small and customer’s credit card until the days, or beer if they are in debt to alcohol to their customers. main street businesses. Essentially, alcohol is picked up and the any beer wholesaler for more than Tauchen is circulating legislation the personal property tax is now a transaction is face-to-face. 15 days. Finally, the law states that with his colleagues asking for tax on furniture, fixtures, boats and a person may not be issued a their support of the bill that Licenses are issued by the a few random items unintentionally license if he or she exceeds these includes the following: municipality and require that retailers left out of previous exemptions. limits. include a definition of licensed • Allows retailer to deliver alcohol The most recent exemption on premises where alcohol will be sold Rep. Dan Knodl (R-Germantown) directly or through a third party machinery was clearly defined by and it cannot be sold outside of will be introducing legislation that when order is placed online or the Legislature, however the those areas. If the initial description would fully repeal the 15-day via phone. Wisconsin Department of Revenue requirement on beer and 30-day of licensed premises did not include did not provide guidance to requirement on liquor. • Deliveries can be made during parking stalls, retailers and the assessors leaving interpretation up the same hours as on-premise municipality can mutually agree to to municipal assessors and TALKING POINTS: sales. amend the description to designate businesses. This added to the specific parking stalls for pickup. • No such provision exists for any • Payment must be received on inequity and non-uniformity of the However, in many municipalities this other Wisconsin product and the licensed premises at the personal property tax by creating a request has provided an opportunity there is no other Wisconsin time of order. This can be in situation where a cooler, or other for the municipality to review industry that is guaranteed to person, online or via credit card personal property that falls under existing license requirements and be paid for their product. over the phone. Payment the definition of machinery, could impose new and onerous restrictions • The short timeframe does not cannot be accepted at delivery. be taxed in one municipality but on these sales, such as age allow for retailers to make not in another. • The person receiving the restrictions on driver of vehicle corrections to inaccurate invoices order must be 21 years old (regardless if they were the alcohol Previously, grocers were one of the or product replacements. and provide proof of identity purchaser), and maintaining photo largest payers of the personal • In order to receive volume and age. records of vehicles for 30 days. property tax due to the high discounts, small retailers are assessed value of coolers and other • It is the licensee’s responsibility The WGA is working with Rep. Gary required to make large alcohol expensive equipment necessary to to ensure the customer making Tauchen (R-Bonduel) to draft purchases. The cash and credit run a grocery store. The exemption the order is 21 or older at the legislation that will clarify state law to provision creates a cash flow on machinery has benefited many time of sale and the delivery allow for alcohol pickup without issue for these retailers by grocers able to exempt coolers and person’s responsibility for doing additional municipal approval. requiring them to pay up front equipment, while others are still the same at time of delivery via Specifically, the bill would: for products sold at a later date. paying the personal property tax electronic scan. • Change the definition of premises on these items. This is • The regulation forces Wisconsin • The delivery personnel must be to include all areas where alcohol is unacceptable and another strong Department of Revenue to be the 21 years of age, must ensure the stored or sold, i.e. premises may argument for full repeal. enforcer of private agreements recipient is not intoxicated and include designated parking spaces. between businesses and to be Eliminating the personal property must complete “TIPS” training or the debt collector when invoices • Specify that the order is tax creates an equitable tax code - equivalent. are unpaid. consummated when order is treating everyone equally under • If order is not completed, alcohol picked up. the property tax law. We believe Action Requested: Ask your can be returned to the store. it’s time to end the unjust taxation legislator if they support repealing • Age checked online or via phone of small and main street businesses the cash/credit regulations on • The following information must and verification with ID is done at and fully repeal the personal alcohol, and if so, would they be be kept for 1 year after delivery: time of pickup. Signature of recipient; Quantity property tax. willing to co-sponsor the bill. • Hours for pickup include same delivered, Recipient’s name, hours as inside store sales. Status and Action Requested: Recipient’s address. WGA is seeking full repeal of the Support Alcohol Action Requested: Ask your Action Requested: Ask your personal property tax in the 2019- legislator if they support clarifying Delivery legislator if they support allowing 2021 State Budget. Please discuss alcohol pickup laws and if they the delivery of alcohol and would the issue with your legislator, As the demand for online grocery would be willing to co-sponsor they be willing to co-sponsor including inequitable tax treatment shopping and delivery continues to the bill. of coolers and other machinery, rise, Wisconsin grocers will find the bill.
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 11 12 2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 13 On the fence with Online grocery
Written Exclusively for the sales Wisconsin Grocer by Kat Boogaard According to Internet Retailer’s Analysis of the metro areas are elderly people, which I found a bit surprising,” U.S. Department of Commerce’s figures, explains Matt Garner, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ShopHero, an online shopping and ecommerce platform for grocers. ecommerce captured a 14.3% share of total “We have stores where the majority of their online shoppers are retail sales in the year 2018—and that number older people. Maybe not quite elderly, but definitely that age range is expected to keep growing. where they have difficulty getting to and from the store.”
But what about the grocery industry in particular? It’s true that Age aside, grocers also assume that their market size will limit the online sales still make up a relatively small portion of total grocery success of their online grocery sales—that there’s no way the sales. However, one report from market research firm Packaged program would take off in a smaller, more rural area. Garner Facts, revealed that online groceries more than tripled between explains that misconception is also false. 2013 and 2018. And, a separate study conducted by the Food “Some of our most successful grocers in terms of volume and repeat Marketing Institute projects that online grocery sales will capture customers are in small communities,” he says. “One of our highest 20% of total grocery retail as soon as the year 2025. volume grocers is in a rural Utah town that only has about 4,000 When it comes to making the move to online sales, the data is people and they do several hundred deliveries each week. I think our there to support the transition. Yet, many retailers—particularly smallest retailer in terms of community size is in a town of 900 independents or those in smaller markets—are hesitant to take the people.” jump. Webster’s Marketplace, a single-store, independent grocer in Ripon, Why? There’s no shortage of objections to getting online. But as it Wisconsin, is just one of many examples of an online grocery turns out, many of them are unfounded. program succeeding in a smaller market. They launched their program with ShopHero in January of 2019, and the results speak Let’s debunk some common myths about online grocery sales and for themselves. provide some compelling reasons for why grocers need to step into the digital age—provided they want to remain relevant and “The customer response has been very positive,” says Candie Baker, competitive. the second-generation owner and operator of Webster’s Marketplace. “We are averaging 60 orders per week through the system. The average basket size is $88.12, and per week we’re averaging about Objection #1: $5,300 in sales through the system.” My Market Doesn’t Demand Online Groceries “People think that smaller markets aren’t looking for this,” she adds. Of all of the possible rebuttals to online grocery sales, this one has “Our numbers certainly show that they are—it’s not just for the to be the most prominent. It’s tempting to subscribe to the “if it’s Madisons and Milwaukees of the state.” not broke, don’t fix it” philosophy. Grocers claim that their sales have been fine without offering online groceries—which must Objection #2: mean their customer base doesn’t want it, right? Online Groceries Sound Way Too Expensive That’s hardly ever the case. Especially as younger generations become a larger part of the consumer base, convenience has There’s no denying that there’s a cost involved when getting up and become a cornerstone of the shopping experience. running online. But that leads many retailers to count themselves out of the online shopping game way too soon. It doesn’t have to be But that often leads retailers to another objection: On the whole, nearly as expensive as they assume—particularly if they start small their customer base isn’t young, and they assume their older and pick the right program. customers have no desire to purchase their groceries online. “Our model is really designed for small retailers that can’t afford the “Systemwide, the biggest users of online shopping outside of the same thing as a large retailer,” says Garner. “Our program grows
14 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com with the retailer. So, if they’re not doing a lot of orders, they’re The good news is that online shopping platforms have advanced not really out-of-pocket. We have yet to find a community where leaps and bounds, making them both quick and painless for online sales just aren’t working. But, if that happens, the retailers retailers to use. don’t pay us anything, so we have a vested interest in helping them For example, ShopHero has information (including images, labels, grow their online business.” nutrition facts, and more) for more than one million items in their Baker explains that Webster’s did invest a bit of money upfront system, which makes it easy for them to get stores up and running for things like a staging area, an additional register, and even a full- online with almost no investment in time or effort required from time shopper. the retailer. However, they don’t charge a shopping fee to recoup costs—only a delivery fee. “There’s no extra charge to pick the groceries up,” Objection #4: We Don’t Have the Employees Baker shares. “They pay the exact same price as they would’ve paid or Resources to Manage This Program if they had navigated the store themselves.” And yet, their online Even once grocers manage to get their products online, they’re groceries program has been profitable and more than worth the concerned about how they’ll be able to manage the program. Will investment. it require a lot of extra budget and resources to keep running? “We make sure that we’re grossing the right amount on our Fortunately, both Garner and Baker say that retailers have the products and taking care of our guests, so they keep coming back flexibility to start small—there’s no need to jump in with both to shop our store,” she adds. feet right from the outset. Objection #3: “We have a lot of stores that get really worried about getting overwhelmed with online orders right out of the gate and building Getting Online Will Be Way Too Overwhelming special facilities in their building or hiring a bunch of staff,” says Take one look around your grocery store, and the very idea of Garner. “Really, what we’ve seen is that’s not necessary—especially getting all of those products onto some sort of online system is at the get-go. We have stores that grow and grow their online enough to make your head spin. That’s another major hang-up for program, and at appropriate times, they can make those retailers—the transition seems far too complex and overwhelming, adjustments.” both from a time standpoint and a technology standpoint. Baker explains that, while they did put in the legwork to start with “It’s not whether online shopping is good or bad,” says Garner. a slightly more advanced program, they also made use of a lot of “The concern is more, ‘Am I confident that—even if I have the their existing resources. Their pricing team and store director did a technology as a retailer—I can run it? Operate it? Figure it out?” lot of the work to get the program online, and their floral and deli teams did many of the early deliveries before they added a full-time Continued on page 16> 2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 15 On the Fence with Online Grocery Sales, continued
delivery driver. They also committed to a lot of cross-training. “We’ve trained a lot of our front-end team members so they can jump in and handle orders when needed,” Baker says. She also highly recommends starting with a beta testing period, which they did at Webster’s. During that two-month period, they had people like team members, friends, and family members place online orders and report any issues or glitches. That helped them wade in and feel more confident when actually launching the program to the public.
Do You Really Need to Get Online? Here’s the short answer: yes. Online shopping isn’t going away anytime soon, and today’s consumers—even the ones who are in smaller markets or of an older age demographic—have come to expect the convenience of shopping online. While a slight level of intimidation or concern is normal, it’s important for retailers to realize that getting online offers numerous benefits for their stores, including increased sales, a boosted reputation, and an improved relationship and level of service for their customers. That makes it well worth getting past their misconceptions and taking the leap. “To be perfectly honest, at some point you just have to rip off the band-aid,” concludes Baker. “Once you feel you have it pretty well operational, then start shouting and just go for it.”
Keeping pace with a changing industry. • Providing “Final Mile” E-Commerce Delivery Solutions to Grocers Temperature Controlled across America. • Improving your customer’s experience Grocery Lockers by providing greater time flexibility, more convenience and faster pickup transactions. • Delivering multiple grocery orders to a single location on a single trip provides maximum delivery efficiency, reduces labor, and develops a profit center for delivery.
How it works! Where They Go
1. Customer orders their • In front of your store for groceries online Buy-Online-Pick-Up-In-Store 2. Store receives and picks the • Food Deserts and Towns without order Grocery stores • High Density Residential buildings 3. Store delivers groceries to appropriate locker • Large Employers and Corporate Campuses 4. Customer receives • Colleges and Universities T4.Solutions.com | (262) 226-2200 x102 access code via text and email • Senior Living N27 W23588 Paul Road, Suite 200 Pewaukee, WI 53072 • Transit Stations 16 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com GUEST COLUMN
Online shopping for growth and profitability
Steve Mehmert About two years ago I received Lockers can also be placed remotely from your store Managing Partner, for growth and shopper convenience. As we meet T4 Solutions a call from a client. with retailers, the ideas for locker locations He owns one store in a smaller town with continues to grow. Apartment buildings, condos, substantial competition and was preparing to senior living, college campuses, schools, large launch online shopping. He knew he needed to employers, and business parks are all locations that continue to provide currently trending services to have been brought up as opportunities for growth. his customers. He felt that if he did not participate Another great opportunity for growth lies in in online shopping it would be the equivalent of communities that either don’t have or have lost asking his customers to go shop somewhere else, their store. Food deserts in large communities can ... if he did not giving up volume that he could not afford to lose. also provide a non-typical way to serve a need He said to be successful he could not afford to lose while growing your market share. A locker is a small participate in fraction of the cost of a new store and can be a substantial amount of money experimenting with online shopping online shopping like the giant chains were doing. placed in markets where there is volume to gain but He asked if I would help develop a method where not enough sales to warrant a store. This is truly a it would be the online shopping would become a profit center and non-typical growth opportunity. equivalent of provide growth through market expansion. His Consider a business model that goals included an improved customer experience incorporates all the above. asking his while reducing the traditional labor costs for online. And, the delivery method had to generate profit One locker at your store, two located in town at key customers to go locations, and another three in communities nearby rather than losses. shop somewhere that don’t have a store. Orders come in online, get The process began by researching non-typical picked, and are loaded into the locker at the store else, giving up products and methods for ecommerce in other or into the temperature-controlled truck. The truck parts of the world. We knew what was being done makes an efficient route to the remote lockers. Each volume that he here in the U.S. and we were pretty confident a path locker receives multiple orders, each with its to profitable growth was a ways down the road. As could not afford individual delivery fee. Technology notifies the we searched, we struck up a conversation with a customer that their order is ready and can be to lose. company in Australia called Click n Collect Global. picked up at their convenience. This scenario hits all They were producing temperature-controlled, targets; growth and market expansion, improved technology-driven grocery lockers for customer customer experience, labor efficiencies, and a pick-up, and working with retailers in Australia, profitable delivery process. Canada, and parts of Europe. If you are already providing your They shared that a locker has a customers with online shopping, multitude of benefits for online congratulations! shopping. You are among the leaders who believe online is a It can be placed right at the store, indoors or out, to must to maintain and grow your business. There are reduce labor and improve your “buy online, pick-up new and innovative ways that can change the way in-store” customer’s experience. Online orders are you are going to market in ecommerce. We hope picked and then placed in the lockers. Technology you will join us in seeking out these innovations. notifies the customer that their order is ready and provides them secure access. Customers can pick- If you are not providing your customers with online up their order at their convenience with no shopping yet, we hope that you will evaluate your additional labor required from your staff. Orders can decision carefully. This service will be provided by even be picked up after closing if you are not a someone at some point in your market. We 24-hour store. So, the locker reduces labor and sincerely hope it will be provided by you. improves the customer experience. See more about T4 on page 16.
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 17 MEMBER SERVICE UPDATE
Are You Leveraging Your WGA Membership?
Mark Stellpflug WGA Member Service Representative
To be successful in business when regulators and legislators make time So if it can be demonstrated that personal today requires many disciplines in their schedules to attend the briefing engagement of legislators by their including wise use of resources, establishing sessions and seek interaction with their constituents (you and me) does have value, and nurturing relationships, efficiency, constituency, and the number of attendees then consider the influence a larger number getting the most bang-for-your-buck, is small, it leaves an impression. But likely of contacts with legislators could have. A leadership skills, vision casting, effective not the impression all involved desire. case in point: a few years ago I was standing in the rotunda while Grocers in the Capitol communication, avoiding the trap of As a retailer, I routinely attended Grocers in Day was taking place, when suddenly a complacency, being curious and engaged in the Capitol Day, and something I heard large contingent of men and women entered the market and business changes going on from legislators time and time again was the the rotunda for a group photo. I recognized around us. fact that one-on-one dialog and my local credit union president in that relationships with constituents meant the The Grocers in the Capitol Day recently group, and asked him what was going on. most to them and had the most influence took place, and the lack of grocery retailer He said it was the credit union association’s on them when they determined their participation in the event was evident to Day in the Capitol. Wow, that was positions on upcoming legislation. Because even the casual observer. In fact, other than impressive! Over 300 credit union staff and the fact is, it’s one thing to have a lobbyist grocery retailers that are current members of management had converged on the Capitol pay them a visit, it’s an the WGA Board of Directors, fewer than for issue briefings and visits entirely different thing to five WGA member stores were represented with their legislators. The actually interact with a at the event! “... the WGA and result was obvious! Not constituent—and one only did every legislator in In the days following the event I was that also employees 50 to the grocers we the Capitol know that the reminded of a comment I routinely hear 150 additional credit unions were engaged from retailers when I visit stores as your constituents! Member Service Representative. serve can operate in the issues; but everyone A common misconception in the building did, too! “I’m glad to be a WGA member, and I know about politics and how separately; but In closing I will circle back I can rest easy knowing you guys are things get done in to my opening paragraph. watching out for us in Madison; but I’m Madison is that a single they only truly Are you leveraging your really not interested in attending WGA voice is meaningless in the membership in the WGA to events. Keep doing what you’re doing in midst of media and become effective get the most bang for your Madison; I’m busy running my store.” corporate influence. Yes, buck? Are you working that’s a common refrain, when the two As I pondered this oft repeated comment it with, and engaged and—yes—there may be occurred to me that many of us may be are actively and alongside, WGA staff to a sliver of truth to it. But missing something relating to the role of the achieve maximum impact ask anyone who is actually WGA and the grocers we serve; that missing regularly working in Madison and personally engaged in the link is the fact that the two entities are not Washington DC? intended to operate separately, but rather legislative process on a together as one.” symbiotically. In other words, the two can day-to-day basis and you Are you intentionally and operate separately but they only truly will hear a far different purposefully getting become effective when the two are actively story. Even at the national outside of the four walls and regularly working together as one. level this is true. Talk to anyone who of your store to interact with your fellow recently traveled to Washington DC with retailers for the purposes of networking, To illustrate the point, consider Grocers in the WGA, and you will hear a common and developing lifelong relationships, and the Capitol Day. Yes, it is somewhat message from each of them. “This trip was effective for a number of warehouse and well worth the investment of time; I truly to be informed and educated on the allied member personnel, and a small felt that I was heard!” trends and issues affecting your store? number of retailers to attend the event. But
18 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com GUEST COLUMN FROM INDY FRUIT Outdoor Summer Fruit Sales
The smell of fresh “An apple is an excellent thing – individually, or you can barrier, so may need to compress margins in order summer fruit is in the until you have tried a peach.” create a fill your bag to maximize customer incentive. However, you promotion where they buy still need to price in order to cover potential – George du Maurier air once again! a bag and fill it to their shrink. As long as the event has a great turnout The fruit blossoms are hearts desire with all your and you come out a little ahead you have blooming in fields and offerings. A key to success succeeded in creating customer interest. Hopefully orchards, berries are hitting with these promotions is that includes some customers that are first time promotable prices, melons are promoting. Start letting shoppers or shoppers returning after a long hiatus, to starting to roll in, and customers know what to as that will create lasting sales benefits. vineyards are coming to life once again. expect several weeks or even a month before the Lastly, there are a lot of additional ways to add to Fruit plays a key role in produce departments date. As the day draws near you can let them in the theatre, and create benefits for other throughout the year, but especially during on the items that will be available to help renew departments in the store. Break out the grill and sell freshly prepared brats and corn. Offer samples summer months. Several customers have gardens, their interest. If you choose to run it multiple on the produce items that incorporate additional make regular trips to farmer’s markets, or days, introduce 2 or 3 different items each day to ingredients customer can find inside the store. Put subscribe to CSA’s, all of which primarily consist encourage repeat visits. complimentary products on sale in the store to of vegetables. In order to maintain sales in the With large sales where customers are encouraged help draw people through the doors. For example, face of those seasonal competitors you have to to stock up, inventory control leading up to and if you have strawberries in your tent sale, have incentivize customers to continue shopping your after the sale is crucial to help reduce the risk of short cake and whipped cream on sale inside. produce department. Focus promotions and lead shrink, which can offset the financial benefits of Creating those meal (or dessert) solutions will add displays on things that they are not able to your promotion. Customers may hold off on to the overall sales impact. regularly get from those seasonal sources, such as purchasing your promoted items in the days stone fruits, berries, grapes and melons. If you need assistance creating this type of event leading up to the sale, and it could take a week reach out to Indianapolis Fruit. Their team of You can also entice them by bringing the theatre for them to start coming back for more afterward. merchandisers has a wealth of experience putting outdoors. If you have the space for it, outdoor Keeping inventory on those items tight will help together and executing these types of promotions sales are a great way to capture attention. Create a minimize excess shrink. for customers, and will gladly help to guide you small farm stand with 10 to 15 of your best Pricing on the items is another key aspect to through to the big day. When it comes to selling priced seasonal offerings. These can be priced driving success. You don’t want price to be a more produce to more people they will always go the extra mile.
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 19 FOUNDATION
Wisconsin Grocers Association Education and Scholarship FOUNDATION The History of Grocery
David Kotwitz Executive Director, While sitting Grocery stores in the late 1800s and early living room), family-run, and carried a very WGA Education and through 1900s were small (think the size of a large limited variety of items. Canned goods and Scholarship Foundation leadership classes for the last few years I am always struck by the age diversity in the classes. There has been a mix of very young leaders and more “seasoned” leaders in each class. The seasoned leaders have a broader view of the changes that have taken place in the industry over the last 40 years and how different the landscape looks now. Often when some old practice or system is brought up, the look on the younger leaders’ faces is priceless. In order to help the younger students understand the roots of the industry I have put together a short PowerPoint to show them and I would like to share some of it with you. PHOTO 1
Grocers have been gathering for conferences for over a hundred years!
The Wisconsin Grocers Association formed in 1900, which was then called “Wisconsin Food Dealers.” Here is a photo of the Wisconsin Grocers Conference in Stevens Point on June 7, 1928; over 90 years ago! Thank you Kevan Oberdorf for the photo.
20 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com bulk items made up most of the inventory manufacturing chain that they owned and along with occasional produce, salted beef controlled. By essentially starting their own and salted pork. See photo 1. private label, they could buy in large quantities giving customers better pricing. The typical shopper was a woman who That strategy morphed into the purchasing shopped almost every day. Entering the of canneries, bakeries, produce fields, and store she would present a list of items to the dairy farms—all owned and controlled by clerk and watch as he went through the A&P. All savings went directly to the cost store picking them off the shelves while of goods. keeping track of the total on a piece of paper or the back of a bag. The credit Although store footprints were small they balance was paid off every month. were everywhere, 300 in Chicago alone. Think Starbucks! The supply chain was highly inefficient and bloated with middle men and delivery costs In addition to lower prices the Hartford that made the food expensive. Nearly 30% PHOTO 2 Bothers were adamant about rules and of your income was spent on food. regulations for their locations. Store layouts, and Pacific Tea Company, from their stocking, displays and hiring- were all over After a visit to the grocery store, shoppers parents. See photo 2. They began to apply seen by traveling District Managers in order had to go to the Butcher, the Dairy Farmer, scientific methods to grocery distribution to rigidly enforce the brand. the Baker and the Produce stand (although and in 1912 developed a store profile that most folks grew their own produce in a This new concept put tremendous pressure was radical for the time. garden). This provided jobs and income for on non-A&P mom-and-pop stores. By many people. A&P stores were still small but had limited 1929 A&P had 16,000 locations in 39 store hours, no credit, no delivery, and few states. Wages were higher than average and The growth of cities and the need for employees. Because of those limitations if you were loyal to the company it was factory workers in urban areas began to prices were lower as all cost savings where loyal to you. Mom and Pops loudly change that dynamic. passed on to the customer. Customers complained to politicians about unfair Enter George and John Hartford, the sacrificed convenience for lower prices. competition. Vast assortments of anti-chain brothers who took over A&P, the Atlantic George and John started to develop a store laws were passed as well as punishing >
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 21 The History of Grocery, continued tax legislation. Still the concept flourished. bakery-deli, all under one roof. stores of the now, A&P—the largest retailer in the world—was no more. (Photo 6 below.) But…the stores were small and the lone King Kullen changed the dynamic of the clerk did your shopping for you. grocery industry. One location could do the volume of 100 smaller locations. Those In 1916 Clarence Saunders developed a economies of scale drove prices down new concept: the selfiservice grocery further and those savings were passed on to store. (See photos 3 and 4.) You entered the consumer. through a turnstile grabbed a basket, did PHOTO 6 your own shopping and a clerk tallied your By the 1950s mass relocation of city purchases at the end of a maze of aisles. dwellers to subdivisions near cities was in Innovation in pricing, displays, Because there were aisles there was more full swing. Residential development was departments, coolers, check out systems shelf space and more items to choose from. followed by commercial development on and more, continue to change the industry Baskets evolved into wheeled carts so you land that could house massive retail at an unimaginable pace. Credit could take advantage of…sale items … footprints. Innovation was occurring at transactions are normal. Delivery and another new concept. lightning speed. Drive-up, refrigeration convenience are the growing areas of advances, new products, new cart designs, competition. Bulk is making a comeback as carpeted stores with well as locally-sourced food of all kinds. elaborate store designs, all in an effort to grab The magic of a UPC scanner has replaced shoppers was the new the label gun and the ink Garvey and the model. Cash registers sticky price tag. (See PHOTO 7 replaced hand-tallied bags photos 7, 8, & 9.) and cash-and-carry was the Who, reading this, new way to do business. remembers price change day? Taking the price The 1950s and 60s were change cart into the the Golden Age of Grocery. aisles and scratching off A weekly sale item on a or erasing the old rotating basis was the prices to stamp on new industry norm which in PHOTO 8 ones. How many PHOTO 3 turn gave rise to a different remember marking a way of thinking: the load in the backroom discount format, low prices all the time before putting it on carts with a minimum of frills and no décor, that or pallets for stocking allowed a certain shopper to save even PHOTO 9 by aisle? more. Chains could now have multiple formats to fit economic locations. Soon supermarkets became mega-markets with pharmacies, banks, and credit unions inside. Nonfood items had space and the grocery store became the center of commerce. (See photo 5.)
PHOTO 4 What used to be a community center is now a time drain and the shopping Store footprints were becoming larger and experience is being redefined in order to were starting to be located on the edge of bring customers back into the store. towns surrounded by parking lots. The industry continues to evolve. By Locations now had “Ample Parking”. Cars examining where it’s been you can get a and shopper mobility collided. A&P stores PHOTO 5 glimpse into where it’s headed. That is the adopted many of the new strategies while message I will share with this year’s leveraging their manufacturing advantage By 1979 the third generation of A&P Leadership Students. I hope it helps open and in 1936 opened larger self serve stores. owners failed to ride the wave of innovation their eyes to the great tradition and In 1930 a grocer in New York bought an and sold the franchise to a group from foresight of the grocery industry. I hope old warehouse at the edge of town and Germany. After many attempts to right the the next innovator is someone who was remodeled it into a “Super Market” with a ship it ceased to exist in 2015. Unable to touched by the Wisconsin Grocers butcher shop, produce department, and match the Wal-Marts, Meijers and Mega Association.
22 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com
try G us stryo d u l G In d f o In l y O f r y r e u O
c e
c t
o
u
r o i
r n
t G
G
i
g
n
n
i
n s
i
g
n s
o
n
c
s o i
c
W s i W
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 • Evergreen Golf Course, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
y str G du o n lf I y O r WGA’s Grocery Industry
e u
c
t
o
r i
n
G
g n
i
s
n
o
c s i SCW RE Golf Outing It was a fantastic day for the WGA’s Grocery Industry Golf Outing at Evergreen Golf Course, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, on June 5, 2019. Here is a look at all golf teams and course activities.
Thank You, Major Sponsors
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 23 DIAGEO’S BIG PUTT MORE WINNERS! Ten golfers were picked to putt 50' for $1,000. Andy Lamb, Lamb's Thank you Green Sponsors for sponsoring the Hole Challenges. Market, missed it by about an inch, but he still won $100 for closest DONATED BY CHALLENGE WINNERS to the pin. Thank you to Toby Spangler, Diageo, for picking the names out of the ticket drum and for sponsoring the Big Putt! Dairy Farmers of WI Closest to pin in 2 David Krueger, Designer Greetings Bunzl Closest to barber pole Lori Fox, Fox Brothers Piggly Wiggly Andy Lamb, Lamb's Market Tim Plevak, Trig's- Wausau Roundy's / Kroger Closest to the pin Chad Vincent, Dairy Farmers of WI John Umhoefer, Dairy Farmers Bruce Weber, St. Germain of Wisconsin Sentry Great Lakes Coca-Cola Longest Drive Chuck Blied, Crystal Farms Ron Brock, Badger Inventory Pat Quinette, Pan O Gold Pan O Gold Closest to pin in 2 Matt Wall, Pan O Gold Heidi Hudziak, Anheuser- Mary Weber, St. Germain KeHE Longest Putt Mike Smits, Bunzl Busch Sentry Professional Supply Closest in 3rd Shot Mike Fleming, Professional Supply Craig Little, UNFI Don Symonds, Lipari Foods New Harvest Foods Longest Drive in Fairway Georgette Coppersmith, New London Chicago Baking Closest to the pin Mike Faustmann, Z.T. Distribution Indianapolis Fruit Closest to pin in 2 Rudy Young, Root River Market S & R Egg Farm Closest to barber pole Tim Spiegelhoff, J & B Group Old Dutch Closest to the Pin Matt Swentkofske, MillerCoors Kemps Longest Drive (Ladies) Shelly Zinkle, Piggly Wiggly Prairie Du Chien Zone Mechanical North Closest to the Pin Dave Regnar, Gooseberries Crystal Farms Longest Putt Scott Ostrom, Marketplace Foods Anheuser-Busch Closet to the Pin Dave Cook, UNFI J & B Group Closest in 3rd Shot Pat Fox, Fox Brothers Piggly Wiggly Prairie Farms Closest to pin in 2 Blake Daniels, Daniels Sentry Foods
Winners received a WGA golf vest!
Drink Sponsors Breakfast Sponsors
24 WISCONSIN GROCER wisconsingrocers.com ZONE MECHANICAL NORTH'S CERTCO'S CHOPPER DROPPER GRAND PRIZE It was a $10 investment to the WGA's Education & All golfers were entered to win the Wisconsin Dells Scholarship Experience, this year’s Grand Prize! Congratulations to Mike Foundation for a Prochaska, Tate's Piggly Wiggly, the lucky prize winner of: chance to win $500! $300 Kalahari Resort gift certificate $100 Trappers Turn Golf Course gift certificate Almost 300 golf balls were sold, $100 Wisconsin Dells gift certificate but only one was Pictured L to R: Mike Prochaska, Tate's Piggly Wiggly, the closest! Brandon Scholz, WGA and Deb Yerkes, Zone Mechanical North. Congratulations to Pat Fritz, Great Lakes Foods on having the lucky golf ball! Pictured L to R: Dave Kotwitz, WGA, Pat Fritz, Great Lakes Foods and Brandon Scholz, WGA.
PRAIRIE FARM'S JOKER POKER All golfers received two chances to make the best hand. Plus, all jokers Thank you for the roses, were wild! Krueger Wholesale Florists! Each golfer received Congratulations to a dozen roses to take home. Jeff Tate, Tate's Piggly Wiggly, who won with a straight flush 6 high and 3 jokers. L to R: Stacy Wand, Prairie Farms, Jeff Tate, Tate's Piggly Wiggly and Brandon Scholz, WGA. Emma Leuman and Jeff won a one night stay at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Andrew Hoeft, Pinpoint Dells. Software with their bean bag challenge. FOOD DONATIONS Breakfast, lunch and dinner was provided by companies who sponsored the WGA's Grocery Industry Golf Outing. Bruce & Mary Weber, St. Germain Sentry A Special Thank You to Dave Spiegelhoff and Chef Michael Lavin and the team at Gooseberries and Courtyard Catering, who developed, prepared and served the menu. Rick Breeden, Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice, providing juice samples and fruit cups from Indy Fruit. Anheuser-Busch - beverages J & B Group - sandwich meat, chicken & pork chops Arctic Glacier Ice - ice Kemps - Sundae Bar Berres Brothers Coffee - coffee Lipari Foods - cookies, salads, dips, condiments & more! Crystal Farms - cheese MillerCoors - beverages Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin - award winning cheese Old Dutch Foods - chips Gooseberries - staff, service, containers & more Pan O Gold - buns Great Lakes Coca-Cola - soda and water Prairie Farms - juice & milk & whipping cream Grebe's Bakery - donuts Russ Davis Wholesale - fruits & vegetables Indianapolis Fruit - potatoes & apples Menu Contributors
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 25 PINPOINT SOFTWARE WINNER GREAT GROCERY GOLF GIVEAWAY: 10 WINNERS Sponsored by UNFI Congratulations to Gary Moilanen, Arctic Glacier Ice for winning two tickets to Dick Clark, Bob & Kurt's Sentry, Nick Brock, Badger Inventory, Pat Fritz, Great Lakes Foods, Pete Olsen, the American Family Insurance Championship, provided by Pinpoint Software! Associated Wholesale Grocers, Cindy Tate,Tate's Piggly Wiggly, Patrick Geoghegan, Dairy Farmers of Andrew Hoeft, Cody Sheehy and Emma Leuman offered a great game of Wisconsin, John Carkoski, New Harvest Foods, Antonio Hernandez, Certco, Inc., Dave Speigelhoff, bean bags as well as some food samples. Gooseberries & Matt Stinebrink, Stinebrink's Piggly Wiggly
HIT THE GREEN & WIN BADGER INVENTORY Sponsored by BPI. Special thanks to Steve Mueller, BPI and HAUSSMAN-JOHNSON SPIN ‘N WIN Mark Stinebrink, Stinebrink's Piggly Wiggly, for A special thank you and shout out to HeidiKramer, Karen volunteering and tying the all-time high of money raised for Kopczynski and Jake Swanson and Badger Inventory for Rachel DeGrand and others provided a fun Spin ‘n Win for Hit the Green & Win! (record also held by Jeff & Cindy Tate, their donation to the Foundation. some great prizes. Tate’s Piggly Wiggly!)
FEDERATED INSURANCE BREW PUB PIZZA PRAIRIE FARMS JOKER POKER Thank you to Joe Werner and Braxton Weaver of Mike Smits, Bunzl, catches up with his ol’ friend, Matt Sarah Decorah, WGA and Stacy Wand, Prairie Farms deal Federated Insurance for donating the money made on their Selvig, Brew Pub Pizza. up Joker Poker hands. Each golfer is dealt two hands. hole back to the Foundation!
Green Sponsors
KRUEGER W H O L E S A L E
26 WISCONSIN GROCER wisconsingrocers.com Elkiee Water samples on the course from Millennial NA Beverages.
Diageo sampled Smirnoff Zero Sugar Infusions and handed out sunglasses.
Scott Sodke, Russ Davis Wholesale, serves up hot dogs with Crazy Fresh fixings!
Z.T. Distribution, shares the Utz’s brand of chips Jeff LeClair, Bernatello’s Pizza, Georgette & Mike Fran and Paul Riesgraf WGA’s Michelle Kussow offers on the course! (formerly of Paul & Fran’s a chance to win at Wine Toss! Coppersmith, New London Festival Foods, Kurt Stasler, Grocery) drove down from UNFI, and Andy Lamb, Lamb’s Market, take a great team Pepin to volunteer at the outing. photo by the BPI Color BIG chair. Thank you for managing the Ball Bag Challenge! MillerCoors offered Cape-Line samples. LIPARI’S MONEY IN THE BANK Working with Lipari Foods is like Money in the Bank! Just ask these five winners who walked away with $100! Winners Include: Bruce Weber, St. Germain Sentry, Diane Guerrero, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Todd Poss, DBS Group, Ron Brock, Badger Inventory, and Greg Hansen, Hansen,s IGA (not in photo), and Don Symonds, Lipari Foods.
Tee Sponsors
H O L E W S A D L E E
T G A R I O C
C O
E
S
R
S S A DBS ROUP
R E D Design-Build Solutions T E A N I L E R O W
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 27 2019 Golfers
NORTH 1A NORTH 1B NORTH 2A NORTH 2B Mike Fleming, Professional Supply Scott Hauger, J & B Group Fran Vickman, Indianapolis Fruit Greg Schilz, Certco Inc. Dave Spiegelhoff, Gooseberries Dave Regnar, Gooseberries Doug Edwards, Miller & Sons Terry Everett, Certco Inc. Kyle Kelly, Gooseberries Tom Wiemer, Gooseberries Dave Ryman, Certco Inc. Steve Bodden, Sendik’s Justin Spiegelhoff, Gooseberries Tim Spiegelhoff, J & B Group Kevin Kling, Gooseberries Gary Moilanen, Arctic Glacier Ice Mike Spiegelhoff, Gooseberries Justin Manadeo, Gooseberries Evan Carney, Arctic Glacier Ice
NORTH 3A NORTH 3B NORTH 4A NORTH 4B Mike Tranel, Kieler Market Dave Wilson, Root River Market Mike Diedrich, Certco Inc. Pat Fritz, Great Lakes Foods Mark Carney, Certco Inc. Shane Adams, Zone Mechanical North Ron Brock, Badger Inventory Gene Mylener, Great Lakes Foods Porter Wagner, Kieler Market Robert Wilson, Zone Mechanical North Nick Brock, Badger Inventory Garth Alston, Altria Kevin Maly, Chicago Baking Rudy Young, Root River Market Toby Spangler, Diageo Matt Walker, Woodman’s Antonio Hernandez, Certco Inc.
NORTH 5A NORTH 5B NORTH 6A NORTH 6B Jerry Kronschnabel, Pan O Gold Matt Wall, Pan O Gold Matt Stinebrink, Stinebrink’s Piggly Dave Stinebrink, Stinebrink’s Piggly Pat Quinette, Pan O Gold Mike Davenport, Pan O Gold Wiggly Wiggly Chuck Nichols, Pan O Gold Randy Johnson, Pan O Gold Mary Stinebrink, Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly Jason Savatski, Stinebrink’s Piggly Wiggly Scott Aiosa, Pan O Gold Jeff Klug, MillerCoors Steve Fish, Crystal Farms Andy Berg, MillerCoors Chuck Blied, Crystal Farms
NORTH 7A NORTH 7B NORTH 8A NORTH 8B Pat Fox, Fox Brothers Piggly Wiggly Mike Prochaska, Tate’s Piggly Wiggly Adam Dilley, New Harvest Foods Tyler Lanier, Associated Wholesale Lori Fox, Fox Brothers Piggly Wiggly Brian Wohfeil, Tate’s Piggly Wiggly John Carkoski, New Harvest Foods Grocers Zach Carr, Baker Tilly Jeff Tate, Tate’s Piggly Wiggly Greg Hansen, Hansen’s IGA Diane Guerrero, Associated Wholesale Todd Bernhardt, Baker Tilly Cindy Tate, Tate’s Piggly Wiggly Nick Hansen, Hansen’s IGA Grocers Mike Smits, Bunzl Pete Olsen, Associated Wholesale Grocers Mike Ruge, Associated Wholesale Grocers 28 WISCONSIN GROCER wisconsingrocers.com 2019 Golfers
NORTH 9A NORTH 9B SOUTH 1A SOUTH 1B Mike Sprang, Valley Cooperative Ryan Retallick, Great Lakes Coca Cola Bill Remiker, S&R Egg Farm Craig Little, UNFI Association, Woodrow Nelson, Trig’s Tim Plevak, Trig’s - Wausau Michelle Harrington, Albrecht Sentry Andy Allar, Bernatello’s Pizza Don Theisen, Trig’s Tony Salza, Great Lakes Coca Cola Foods Jacob Wirag, Sean Roberson, Brad Miller, Valley Cooperative Dalton Tietsort, Trig’s Ryan Harrington, Albrecht Sentry Foods Jeff Maurer, Maurer’s Urban Market Association Matt Swentkofske, MillerCoors Paul Pearson, Manzana Products Jim Albrecht, Albrecht Sentry Foods
SOUTH 2A SOUTH 2B SOUTH 3A SOUTH 3B Al Schouten, Webster’s Marketplace Jeff LeClair, Bernatello’s Pizza Jim Flanagan, Designer Greetings Kevin Metcalfe, Metcalfe’s Markets Jeremy Schouten, Webster’s Georgette Coppersmith, New London Jim Sankey, Designer Greetings Vic Krueger, Berres Brothers Coffee Marketplace Festival Foods Mary Weber, St. Germain Sentry Roasters Mike Coppersmith, New London Dave Cook, UNFI Bruce Weber, St. Germain Sentry Rich Lewandowski, Metcalfe’s Markets Festival Foods Aaron Rasner, UNFI Kurt Strasler, UNFI David Krueger, Designer Greetings Mike Jankovich, UNFI Andy Lamb, Lamb’s Markets Ben Terpening, Upper 90 Energy
SOUTH 4A SOUTH 4B SOUTH 5A SOUTH 5B Todd Poss, DBS Group Colton Haas, Hausmann-Johnson Eric Bresser, Professional Supply Dave Kopetsky, Kemps Tyler Daniels, Daniels Sentry Foods Insurance Kevin Schnell, Skogen’s Festival Foods Keven Niemi, Kemps Eric Hausmann, Hausmann-Johnson Blake Daniels, Daniels Sentry Foods Tom Droegkamp, Skogen’s Festival Mike Campbell, DBS Group Insurance Foods Donovan Dettling, KeHE Dick Clark, Bob & Kurt’s Sentry Joe Walch, Skogen’s Festival Foods Mike Faustmann, ZT Distribution Jeff Helm, KeHE Bob Fleming, Bob & Kurt’s Sentry Cory Krisher, Skogen’s Festival Foods Tom Schreiner, ZT Distribution
SOUTH 6A SOUTH 6B SOUTH 7A SOUTH 7B Don Symonds, Lipari Foods Heidi Hudziak, Anheuser-Busch Jim Hyland, Roundy’s / Kroger Dave Gaiche, Russ Davis Wholesale Tony Franchi, Lipari Foods Bill Goff, Wisconsin Distributors Jeremy Dunn, Roundy’s / Kroger Chris Maloney, Russ Davis Wholesale Bob Palmateer, Lipari Foods Ruben Rendon, Beechwood Sales & Jeff Huebner, Bunzl Scott Richter, Richter’s Marketplace Tom Bingham, Lipari Foods Service Tony Brown, Roundy’s / Kroger Steve Robers, Richter’s Marketplace Scott Wittenwyler, Lipari Foods Tom Sugent, Richter’s Marketplace
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 29 2019 Golfers
SOUTH 8A SOUTH 8B SOUTH 9A SOUTH 9B John Tadych, Tadych’s Econofoods Tim Geske, SpartanNash Curt Zinkle, Piggly Wiggly Prairie du John Umhoefer, Dairy Farmers of WI Jerry Tadych, Tadych’s Econofoods Shane Nathe, SpartanNash Chien Don Hornung, Dairy Farmers of WI Dave Tadych, Tadych’s Econofoods Steve Olsen, SpartanNash Shelly Zinkle, Piggle Wiggly Prairie du Chad Vincent, Dairy Farmers of WI Dave Hervey, Old Dutch Foods Chien Patrick Geoghegan, Dairy Farmers of Mike Arntz, Old Dutch Foods WI Dave Turnquist, Old Dutch Foods
2019 Miller & Son Rick’s Piggly Wiggly Lauren Chromy Your Store Scholars Emma Furniss Hallie Lemke Molly Thomas Lexie Knudtson Paul Kobylorz Amanda Leder William Leskovar Sendik’s Market Andrew Mueller Liam Mlot Benjamin Wadzinski Sophia Heuer Woodman’s Markets Metcalfe’s Market Mia Helbig Emma Hermann Ashley Raisbeck Nick Bartholf Jillian Arbeiter Peyton Raleigh Emily Braun SCHOLARSHIP Mary Riker Rachael Reesman PROGRAM Kailey Meierl Kassie Vang
GOLF BALL BAG CHALLENGE FEDERATED INSURANCE GUESS THE TEES - PAN O GOLD Dave Regnar, Gooseberries, won the Golf Ball Bag 'Beat B & J' on the course raised over $1,000 for the WGA Challenge and received a Miller golf bag full of golf balls! This year's Guess the Tees winner was only off by 18 tees! Foundation, which is a record amount! Plus, the Yeti Cooler He’s in the center with Brandon Scholz and AndyBerg, Congratulations to Mike Smits, Bunzl for being this year's was won by Nick Hansen! MillerCoors. winner!! L to R: Joe Werner, Federated Insurance, Nick Hansen, Hansen's IGA, Braxton Weaver, Federated Insurance THANK YOU, DAIRY FARMERS OF WISCONSIN FOR THE AWARD WINNING BADGER INVENTORY CHEESE AT HIT THE GREEN & WIN Badger Inventory Challenge also raised funds for the WGA's DINNER! Successful drives in a circle on the green gave you an entry Foundation. Thank you for contributing to a great cause! into a drawing for a Smokey grill & grill accessories. L to R: Brandon Scholz, WGA, Karen Kopczynski, Heidi Congratulations to Sean Roberson, Maurer's Urban Market Kraemer, Jake Swanson & Ron Brock, Badger Inventory. on winning the grill! See you next year at the WGA Grocery Industry Golf Outing! 30 WISCONSIN GROCER wisconsingrocers.com 2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 31 WGA MARKETING 5 Tips to Create an Effective Small Business Video Ad
In today’s world, approximately how long the video is. This will let 4. Make it Look Professional them know ahead of time and will likely increase As with many areas of business, professionalism is video marketing views. Although it can limit your content it can key. This goes for videos as well. A professional also leave to your customers wanting to know more Maddy Harrison is a strategy that look can go a long way when it comes to about your business and researching the company advertisements. However this does not mean WGA Marketing Coordinator every small themselves. spending a lot. There are many sites which will business should be using. 2. Make the First Seconds Count provide a high quality look to your video for a low With the increase in advertising on Facebook, price. Some of the well known and user friendly The first few seconds of your video are the most sites that can bring value to your videos and that Instagram and other social media site, providing crucial seconds. Within these first few seconds, a customers with short and sweet videos can be more the WGA has used for our own videos are consumer will make the decision to move on or to Animoto and Fivver. informative than a simple newspaper ad. In many keep watching. Be sure to include something that cases, most consumers prefer an informative video will draw your audience in, whether it is a cool 5. Make the Video Loopable. about your business than to read through a bunch photo or attention grabbing graphic. Especially for As with any ad, the more eyes on the content the of text. This form of advertising is also easy to the WGA, our videos tend to use a catchy song better. This is completely true when it comes to produce and cheap to advertise. The average cost that is able to grab a viewer’s attention quickly. of a facebook ad is around $10- $15 depending on video advertisements. The more views a video how large you want your audience to be. Here are 3. Have a “Call to Action” for receives, the wider the audience. That is why 5 tips to help your small business succeed with Your Video making your video loop is of value. By looping, the video advertisements. video will start over on its own which will result in It is important to have a point to your video, a higher number of views. This can be done either 1. Keep It Short whether it is selling a product, promoting an event, through the creation of the video or posting on or just providing brand awareness. Although videos social media sites such as Facebook. Facebook will Nowadays it is difficult to keep an audience’s can be completed easily and advertised for a low attention. Overall, a short and sweet video is the now allow their users to post videos to their pages cost, their is still a cost. This means your business cover photo. When uploading a video as your most effective way to get your point across. When should get something out of it. Be sure to figure creating your video try to keep it between 30 and Facebook cover photo, make sure to select out what it is you want to advertise and stick with “automatically replay video in a loop” so that your 45 seconds. You will likely lose your audience’s that topic for the entire video. The WGA videos attention if your video becomes too long. Be sure video continues to play over and over while your tend to most focus on upcoming events and customers are on your page. to also let your consumers know right away include all we have to offer at the event.
32 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com WGA Business Partners GA BUSINESS DBS ROUP PARTNERS Design-Build Solutions
NEW!
WGA Business Partners support the WGA in events and programing to strategically promote themselves to WGA Members.
WGA BUSINESS PARTNER PROFILES
Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling Great Lakes Coca-Cola Bottling is a bottler and distributor of Community. At Great Lakes Coca- Coca-Cola products serving retailers throughout Chicagoland Cola Bottling, service is central to our and the Midwest. culture. Through caring hearts and hands, we represent the presence of We carry the best brands, led by Coca-Cola, one of the World’s most Coca-Cola and its compassion in recognizable brands and the biggest-selling soft drink in history. In addition, Chicago and the heartland. As a Reyes our portfolio also includes: sparking, still, water, energy and coffee brands will Rick Roth, General Manager Central WI Holdings company, we provide refresh anyone’s thirst! 2010 Jay Mar Road | Plover, WI 54467 ongoing support of nonprofit organizations throughout the Midwest. We operate numerous facilities in Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Northern (715) 490-2495 Indiana and Wisconsin manufacturing and delivering Coca-Cola products to We manage and coordinate our many over 65,000 locations across our territory, including restaurants, sporting service activities through our corporate Stewardship Program that encourages venues, businesses, healthcare facilities, schools, convenience stores and our employees to share their time, talents and treasures. Annually, our supermarkets. We know logistics and provide the latest on-board computers employees volunteer thousands of hours to make good things happen in our and navigation systems to keep our drivers safe and up to date while they're on communities. the road. We've developed centralized ordering and management systems for We also take great pride and care in our sustainability efforts. We partnered sales, warehouse, and driver reporting, keeping the entire team on the same with Coca-Cola to support Keep America Beautiful and the City of Chicago page. And most importantly, we have the experience to share our knowledge Department of Streets and Sanitation with a $2.5 million grant to provide and best practices for everyone's benefit and growth. 50,000 recycling carts for households across the city. Best in Class in Sales & Distribution. We are dedicated to delivering the best We are committed to growing our business and our people by creating an in class sales and service for our customers. Standardized practices make us outstanding work environment, working smarter than our competitors do agile in the warehouse, and integrated technology fuels collaboration, enabling today and smarter than we did yesterday, and contributing to the communities the entire team to deliver the highest level of service. in which we operate.
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 33 WGA BUSINESS PARTNER PROFILES
KeHE Distributors KeHE Distributors is one of the We were founded in 1953 and up with a rapid, environ- converted into an employee- mentally-friendly distribution oldest and most respected natural owned company in 2001, we are network and advanced and organic, specialty, and fresh a state-of-the-art organization of 800.995.5343 performance metrics that 5,500 employee-owners and a 1245 E. Diehl Rd. Suite 200 assure goodness follows to our food distributor in the industry. vast 15 centers within our Naperville, IL 60563 vendor partners and retail distribution network across the grocers. KeHE Distributors is one of the oldest and most [email protected] U.S. and Canada. respected natural and organic, specialty, and fresh We invite you to learn more food distributor in the industry. Where we go, we spread the about the KeHE difference We’re natural. We’re authentic. And we’re passionate word on healthy eating, sustainable living, and including our KeHE culture by visiting our about high quality, wholesome foods produced in responsible business with integrity. And we back it website. Thank you for helping us SERVE to make sustainable ways delivered to a hungry world. lives better™!
Professional Supply In 1978 Professional Supply been supplying the grocery store grocery store needs. business for over 40 years. We For more information was founded and built on the started with small, independent Eric (920) 627-0084 on our products & grocery stores, growing to now, principle of providing excellent services, please contact current day, several larger Matt (920) 226-0578 our grocery reps Eric: customer service. grocery store chains. Customer Support (920) 627-0084, Matt: The ultimate goal of Professional Supply is to Today, we distribute nation- (800) 236-8675 (920) 226-0578, or provide you, our customer, with the highest quality wide with a customer base that customer support: products at the most competitive price. includes all 50 states. (800) 236-8675. Professional Supply is the leader in the distribution We truly look forward to the opportunity to “The people that take care of you after the sale” of janitorial and maintenance products and has help you find the best products to fit all your is not just our motto, but the way we do business.
Russ Davis Wholesale
Russ Davis Wholesale, a fruit larger distribution center in Crazy Fresh, with their lines of fruits, veggies, and vegetable wholesaler out Inver Grove Heights. 2006 found RDW adding a fourth dips, salsas, salads and of Minnesota, started out at distribution center in Merrill, many more, is looking to turn the produce Russ Davis’ trucking company WI, in order to better service partners in eastern Wisconsin aisle into the new snack back in 1955. and the U.P of Michigan. food aisle by proving LaCrosse Produce was acquired convenient foods can be Russ would take orders from customers while by RDW a year later with a fresh, wholesome and making deliveries during his route. Fast forward 60 new facility built conveniently full of flavor. Crazy years, and RDW has turned into a 100% Fresh is made to order, off of I-90 near the Minnesota employee-owned business that continues Russ’ 1200 Commerce Street, in single units… now and Wisconsin border. legacy by selling and distributing fresh fruits and Merrill, WI 54452 that’s Crazy Fresh! vegetables. In 2010, RDW was excited 2967 Airport Road, Russ Davis Wholesale Today, RDW has five distribution centers located to announce the launch of LaCrosse, WI 54606 Russ Davis Wholesale Crazy Fresh Produce which in Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. The 1940 Ridgeway Street, and Crazy Fresh Produce is located in Eagan, MN. warehouse in Wadena, MN, is the original Hammond, WI 54015 are proud to partner with distribution center and houses the corporate Most recently, RDW moved retail and food service accounting offices. Jamestown, ND, was added in its Twin Cities operation to PH: (800) 214-4981 customers to deliver fresh produce and specialty 1996 and services the majority of North and South Hammond, WI, making this www.russdaviswholesale.com products that keep Dakota. RDW then acquired North Country their third distribution center www.crazyfreshproduce.com customers coming back Produce in 2002 and relocated from St. Paul to a in Wisconsin. www.crazyfreshkids.com for more!
34 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com WGA BUSINESS PARTNER PROFILES Valley Cooperative Association Valley Cooperative Association’s (Valley) Valley was formed in 1949 by a purchasing system, primary focus is to maximize members’ group of retail bakers who climate-controlled wanted a more efficient way to warehousing, and a success with its exclusive business purchase ingredients and Rich Wise, Executive Vice President responsive distribution resources, superior product and service supplies during difficult W6470 Quality Drive | PO Box 437 network. The Cooperative offerings, and unmatched cooperative economic times. Still today, Greenville, WI 54942-0437 has grown to offer the ownership opportunities. Valley’s powerful business model industry a complete serves to reduce ingredient costs 800.242.6461 supply chain solution Based in Greenville, Wisconsin, Valley serves retail for its members through volume [email protected] with access to freight and wholesale foodservice businesses within the purchasing and efficient services, inventory state of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of distribution. management, and Michigan. The Cooperative’s members and multi-temperature warehousing. customers come from a broad range of retail Over the past 70 years, Valley has grown to offer a bakeries, supermarkets, restaurants, craft breweries, complete list of the finest baking and craft brewery The combined power of Valley Cooperative manufacturers, and institutional operations. ingredients and supplies through an extensive Association enables its members to share in what’s possible.
Zone Mechanical North LLC
No need to make multiple calls – • Offer timely advice, We are committed to Zone Mechanical North does it all! as experienced and helping our customers Dominating the industry with superior knowledgeable consultants reduce global warming service, cutting edge technology, who help you gain a by using natural competitive advantage. refrigerants that will also innovative solutions, and the highest Deb Yerkes, Business Manager reduce energy, • Periodically follow up, to motivated people. 9645 S. 54th Ave. | Franklin, WI 53132 maintenance and life ensure your satisfaction and (262) 347-4180 costs of refrigeration Schedule a Lunch & Learn to experience success. everything we can to help our customers achieve equipment while saving success. This “customer-first” approach is the Zone Mechanical North can our environment. Zone cornerstone of our company, and the driving force engineer multiple system types to fit the various Mechanical North has trained union technicians behind everything that we do. We pledge to: needs of our different customers. Our service who installed one of the first CO2 trans critical • Take time to listen, to fully understand your technicians can diagnose and repair not only Hill refrigeration systems in the USA. Phoenix products challenges, needs and goals. Your facility could also benefit from CO2 but a wide array of display case manufacturers, refrigeration systems. It is non-toxic, is non- • Effectively communicate, to be clear what’s refrigerated systems, and food service. We also have needed, what’s expected and when and how it flammable, lowers maintenance cost, elimates carpenters on staff capable of addressing many of will be delivered. refrigerant conversions, and provides relief from our industrial and supermarket customer needs leak and recordkeeping requirements. • Provide reliable service, from skilled and from aesthetics to structural issues relating but not courteous technicians who repair or install limited to walk-ins and various fixtures throughout Call (262) 347-4180 to schedule your free Lunch equipment right — the first time. a store/warehouse. & Learn.!
Thank You, to the WGA Business Partners!
Download the NEW WGA App! Create an account and automatically be entered into drawing for OCTOBER 1 & 2, 2019 TWO Registrations KALAHARI RESORT | Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin VALUED AT for the Deadline to enter drawing is July 31, 2019 $350!
2019 Summer WISCONSIN GROCER 35 MEMBER EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS
Grand Opening working for Carl, as he has shown a true The roundtable discussion covered topics like Meijer has opened a new commitment in assisting people with disabilities new ideas for recruiting/retaining employees 155,000-sf supercenter in reach their employment goals by offering a variety and improving employee work/life balance, Sheboygan bringing residents a of work tasks that match employees’ strengths and online shopping, and local promotions. The mix of innovation and interests. Share Group will meet again in August; details convenience that will feature home delivery and Continuing to Expand to come. Contact Sarah Decorah at pick-up, as well as a state-of-the-art shopping 608.210.3302 to learn more or be added to the The Wisconsin State Journal reported that Casey’s HR Share Group distribution list. environment. In addition to its traditional one- General Store, with more than 2,000 locations in stop shopping experience, the new supercenter also 16 Midwestern states, opened a Home Delivery features a FastCare Clinic, which will be staffed by 400,000-sf distribution center in Terre The Milwaukee nurse practitioners and physician assistants from Haute, Indiana, in 2016, which is Business Journal Froedtert & Medical College of Wisconsin. “Since allowing the company to push into reports Piggly Wiggly opening our first Wisconsin stores in 2015, we’ve more than just southwestern Wisconsin. The Midwest now offers same-day grocery delivery focused on providing the best retail experience company is building a store near High Crossing through Instacart to nearly all of its Wisconsin while also being a good neighbor in the Boulevard and Interstate 39-90-94 on Madison’s stores. The grocer partnered with the e- communities we serve,” Executive Chairman Hank East Side, has plans for a store in Blue Mounds, commerce platform to offer the delivery service Meijer said. recently built a store in Belleville and remodeled in as fast as one hour, according to a news its store in Verona. In all, Casey’s, which is known release. Customers of Piggly Wiggly stores for its pizza, has 36 locations in Wisconsin and is around Wisconsin can place their delivery building 12 others, including a store in orders online at Instacart.com/shopthepig or Reedsburg. “We think it’s a perfect state for us,” through the Instacart mobile application. said Mike Richardson, Casey’s vice president of Shoppers can select a delivery window for as marketing. “Obviously, there’s competition, but fast as an hour or up to five days in advance, getting the real estate is a big part of it.” according to the release. An Instacart personal WGA’s Brandon Scholz joined Hank Meijer and Pharmacy Opens shopper selects the items, packs the order and State Representative Terry Katsma at the ribbon- delivers the groceries within the designated cutting. The store also demonstrated its time frame. Gary Suokko, the chief operating commitment to the community by making officer of Piggly Wiggly Midwest, said in the donations to local organizations. Sheboygan Store announcement that his company is proud to Director Jeff Kietzman presented checks for provide its inventory, “now with (the) $10,000 to the Sheboygan Salvation Army and convenience of never leaving your home.” $15,000 to Sheboygan School District. As part of its ongoing community support, Meijer donates WGA Members Win WAMP Awards more than 6 percent of its net profit to charitable organizations annually, and each of its stores works T.A. Solberg & Co opened its Several WGA members were recognized for with local food pantries and banks to help fight sixth pharmacy in Tomahawk their products at the 80th annual Wisconsin hunger at the local level. in May. The pharmacy is inside Association of Meat Processors in Madison on the Trig’s grocery store at 662 April 4-7, 2019. Grocers Honored North 4th Street. Trig’s currently operates five Gempeler’s Supermarket in The Arc-Dane County recognized two other pharmacies and is known for its quick, Monticello featured their WGA member grocers at their award professional service, with an average wait time Gempeler’s Alpine Boy entries banquet this spring at the Concourse of under 15 minutes. Guests can look forward which received awards in four categories: Hotel: Rich Wipperfurth and Carl to a wide menu of services from Trig’s pharmacy Reserved Grand Champion for their precooked Miller, each with the Employer like affordable flu shots and vaccinations, Med Wisconsin style bratwurst, precooked veal Award. The Arc-Dane County works Sync, prescription delivery, a Gold Club Loyalty sausage and beef strips. Plus, they received to create opportunities for children program, Gold Club Maintenance 90 program, Honorable Mention for their precooked and adults with developmental medication therapy management, blister packing Hawaiian bratwurst. Six more Gempelers’ disabilities to reach their full potential services for assisted living facilities, diabetes entries were ranked in the top ten in their by creating acceptance, respect and testing, an online prescription refill service, respective product categories. texting alerts, and more. participation in the community through advocacy, Trig’s Smokehouse in Rhinelander education and information. Meeting Success! took in two awards for their Rich Wipperfuth is the owner of the Piggly Wiggly Hawaiian Brat (Grand Champion) The WGA’s HR Share in Waunakee and Pardeerville and has been making and Braunschweiger Liver Sausage (Champion).
WGA Share Group held their first a difference in the lives of people with disabilities meeting of 2019 and Nilssen’s Foods in Clear Lake also by providing opportunities with the vocational and HRGroup although they didn’t solve all of the world’s pulled in awards - Grand social skills taught in his business. He works with problems, they sure covered a lot of issues that Champion for Bacon, Cheddar, & Waunakee schools to smooth the transition from grocers are dealing with! Pickle Bratwurst, Frankfurters/Wieners, the school environment to the work environment. Smoked Polish Sausage and Pepperjack Snack Rich has hired many people with special needs, Representatives from many WGA member stores Sticks. Nilssen’s also took four Reserve Grand including one who has worked for Rich for almost attended including: Austin Vogler, Coborn’s; Champion awards, two Grand Champions and 20 years! Cyndie Kaczmarek, Delafield Sentry; Joe Kuplack, one Honorable Mention. Festival Foods; Sheree Larson and Mary Lieblang, Carl Miller, owner of Miller & Sons in Verona and Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly; Curt Schmidt, Mayville Fox Bros. Mt. Horeb, has always been open to offering work Piggly Wiggly; Georgette Coppersmith, Kim Piggly Wiggly in opportunities to many individuals with disabilities. Weber and Beth Coppersmith, New London Oconomowoc took Carl and the staff provide an atmosphere of Festival Foods; Rick Smejkal and Paul Whaley, Honorable Mentions for their Stuffed Chicken positive teamwork and acceptance. Clients enjoy Randy’s Neighborhood Markets and Dorene Breast and Cooked Summer Sausage. 36 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com Spatchek, Tadych’s Econofoods. 2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 37 MEMBER EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS
Congratulations!! leader in the independent supermarket Cheese for The Win Festival Foods industry,” noted Peter Larkin, president and Congratulations to Crave announced in CEO of Arlington, Va.-based NGA. “Trig is Brothers Farmstand Cheese and spring that Russ admired by co-workers and industry peers for Westby Cooperative Creamery, Davis Wholesale his dedication and commitment to his stores, who each won recognition at is its 2018 Business community, and his colleagues and peers in the the US Championship Cheese Partner of the Year. industry.” Contest. Festival Foods This biennial national competition was held presents the award New Leadership at Certco March 5-7, 2019, at Lambeau Field in Green annually to a business partner that positively Congratulations to Bay. Organized by the Wisconsin Cheese impacts its ability to provide outstanding Amy Niemetscheck Makers Association, the U.S. Championship customer service. According to Festival Foods who has been Cheese Contest is the largest technical cheese, Vice President of Fresh Foods Troy Vosburgh, named the new butter, yogurt, and manufactured dairy Russ Davis Wholesale shares Festival Foods’ five President & CEO of components product competition in the values of community involvement, associate Certco Inc., to country. Crave Brothers placed both first and development, service, execution, and servant succeed Randy second for their fresh mozzarella, making this leadership. “Every one of Festival Foods’ values Simon (who retired at the the second year in a row that they have won. shines through in the associates at Russ Davis beginning of March), and Dave Wholesale,” Vosburgh said. “They are servant Ryman, Director of Sales, who And Westby Cooperative Creamery took the leaders, and I believe that’s the common has been promoted to Vice First Place, Best-of-Class and Gold Medal denominator between our two companies. It President with a seat on the Award in the product class category of Cottage sets the tone for a winning business relationship. Certco Inc Board of Directors. “In my new Cheese. We are very pleased to present the Russ Davis role, I will never lose sight of the reason Certco Wholesale team with this recognition and we is here, but will continually challenge our look forward to building an even stronger operations, merchandising and other services IN MEMORIUM partnership in the coming years,” Vosburgh provided to ensure we are supporting our retail said. Recent recipients of the Festival Foods customers and owners to be successful” said Thomas L. “Tom” Okey, Business Partner of the Year award include Niemetscheck. “I am excited for the years ahead age 59, of Cassville, MillerCoors, Kemps, SuperValu, KeHe, and honored to be named the new Certco Wisconsin passed away on Gannett Wisconsin Media and John’s President and CEO.” April 14, 2019 at Refrigeration. Crossing Rivers Health Niemetscheck added, “Dave’s seventeen years of Care in Prairie du Chien, experience at Certco and previous retail Well Done! surrounded by his family. experience made him a clear choice to be my He was born February 25, 1960 in Progressive Grocer right-hand Vice President.” recently presented the Dubuque, Iowa to Walter and Mercedes winners of the (Burkett) Okey. He married Patricia Bay Poynette Piggly Wiggly Changes Hands seventh annual on June 9, 1990. He owned and operated Outstanding Poynette Piggly Wiggly is under new ownership Okey’s Market in Cassville. after Bob Saftig Independents Tom was a devoted family man and a decided to sell the Awards, recognizing lifelong member of St. Charles Parish. He grocery store this independent grocery was active in the Knights of Columbus. spring. Saftig had retailers that excel in Tom believed in the importance of been the owner of their operations, offerings supporting one’s community and he did the Piggly Wiggly and—most importantly—their that throughout his life. He served for nearly 14 unique connection to their multiple years as the St. Charles Sports years, with a respective community. A big congratulations to Boosters president and volunteered as a tenure of 29 years in the grocery business. He Gooseberries Fresh Foods Market for winning coach for youth baseball, basketball, and said it’s the right time in his life to make this the award for Outstanding Single Store and football. For several years he was also a move and he’s ready for the next chapter in life. Sendik’s Food Market for winning the awards member of the volunteer fire department “I feel life is like a book with many chapters for Store Brand. and rescue squad. inside,” Saftig said. “It is time for this chapter of my life to come to an end.” He is survived by his wife Patricia “Patty” Award in Excellence Okey of Cassville, his children Isaac The new owner, Brandon Sosinsky, started The National Grocers (Cassandra) of Cassville, Isaiah (Elizabeth working at Piggly Wiggly in Princeton when he Association (NGA) has McCullick) of Wauzeka, Elijah, Andrea, was 14. The 26-year-old was most recently a presented the Thomas K. Ezra, and Erasmus all of Cassville, store manager in Markesan and said he was Zaucha Entrepreneurial brother Louie (Amy) Okey of looking to own a grocery store. “It’s always been Excellence Award to Birchwood, sister Barbara (Tim) Willis of a goal of mine to own a grocery store,” Sosinsky independent grocer Cassville. His mother-in-law Monica Bay said. “It looked like a good opportunity.” Saftig, Trygve “Trig” Solberg, of of Cassville, along with many nieces and who said he was impressed with Sosinsky, T.A. Solberg Co. Inc. The nephews. He was preceded in death by remarked, “For him, he’ll kind of walk right in award ceremony took place during The NGA his parents. Show in San Diego in February. “NGA is and continue on in the small-town ways of honored to present this award to such a strong doing things,” Saftig said. “I have absolutely no reason to believe he won’t do a great job.”
38 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com Register today at wisconsingrocers.com/innovationexpo
Welcoming Retailers from Around the Midwest
October 1 & 2, 2019 The Kalahari Resort WISCONSIN DELLS | WI Tuesday, October 1
1 pm Store Security Panel WISCONSIN GROCERY INDUSTRY Grocery Industry TRADE SHOW 2 pm Working with Trade Show nd Millennials y I us Over 150 grocery industry booths with r t Jerry O’Brien e r c 629 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 130 new and innovative products and services. Over y
o 627 128 T 3 pm Grocer Roundtables r
626 525 526 425 426 325 326 225 226 125 125
150625 r
G
• Cost Efficiencies 623 624 52a 3 524 423 424 323 324 223 224 123 124
ths!d
WGA Awards 622 521 522 421 422 321 322 221 222 121
• Security Boo 621 e 122
S w o 620 519 220 119 Congratulate the 2019 Grocer and Vendor of 6h 19 120 618 517 518 417 418 317 318 217 218 117 the Year and recipients of the Excellence in 617 118 5-7 pm Innovation 615 616 515 516 415 416 315 316 215 216 115 116 Happy Hour Operations and Community Service Awards. 613 514 413 414 313 314 213 114 612 510 512 410 412 310 312 210 212 110 Kalahari Resort 611 112 609 610 509 210 109 110 Grocery Education 607 608 507 508 407 408 307 308 207 208 107 108 Wednesday, October 2 605 606 505 506 405 406 305 306 205 206 105 105
ing 604 503 504 403 404 303 304 203 204 103 104
and Roundtables t
ra o
Keynote speaker John Ross, IGA, will present c 102 ke De ke
a 18 17 16 15 12 11 10 C 8:30 am TBD C 100 Thriving Independents. Learn more about Entrance store security and working with millennials, and 9:30 am Industry Keynote share your ideas on cost efficiencies and Thriving ACCOMMODATIONS Independents security tips. John Ross, IGA Industry Networking 10:45 am WGA Grocery Industry Build new relationships and connect 1305 Kalahari Dr, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965 Summit | Annual WGA with industry friends. Membership Meeting Hotel Reservations 877-525-2427 Room Rate $114 Exciting Grocery Contests Block held until September 7, 2019 Noon-4 pm Wisconsin Grocery Enter the Great Wisconsin Bag Off and Industry Trade Show Wisconsin’s Cake Decorating Championship to For more information, win prize money and store recognition. contact Cheryl Lytle: 4-5 pm Great Wisconsin Bag-Off Contest Win Prizes! 608.210.3303 Your chance to win $500 in cash prizes with [email protected] 5 pm Chairman’s Reception Trade Show Bingo and over $1,000 ($100 each) 6:30 pm Chairman’s Awards with Trade Show Cash. You also can Banquet bid high and often to win pallets of product.
KEYNOTE: WISCONSIN’S Thriving CCakehampionship Decorating Independents, John Ross, IGA CEO 2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 39 40 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com TRANSITIONS MEMBER EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS
Randy Simons, President & CEO of Dennis Nowack (store manager) and his wife Certco Inc. announced his retirement Teresa. Carole’s grocery history started in 1980. Long Time Grocer Comes to Wisconsin in March. Jeff Klotz was the assistant manager at the Red The Barron News-Shield reported that Owl in West Bend and Carole was a part-time Randy was hired at their former Gordy’s stores have been cashier. It was wasn’t long the two started Certco as a meat sold from current owner SpartanNash dating and were married in 1982. Jeff became order expediter to KJ’s of Wisconsin Inc., and be branded KJ’s Fresh Market. the store nanager and later, Carole became the under George KJ’s recently announced it had entered into an agreement head cashier. The Red Owl switched banners Porter. He left after with SpartanNash to acquire the existing Gordy’s stores in to SuperValu in 1987. Six years later, in 1993, a year, almost to the Barron, Chetek and Cornell. KJ’s Fresh Market, and its Jeff and Carole purchased the store and day in 1988, and as related company Johanneson’s Inc., operate grocery stores converted it to Piggly Wiggly. In 1997 they he says, he second guessed himself under the Marketplace Foods and Drug banner, MP Wine closed the store to relocate into a Piggly immediately. Randy returned to Certco on and Spirits stores, MP Gas and Convenience stores in Wiggly located in nearby Barton. In 1998 they May 8, 1989 and worked buying for grocery. Wisconsin, Minnesota and North Dakota. CEO Keith expanded their business by purchasing the When George Porter retired in 1992 and Johanneson is excited about the opportunity to invest in the Piggly Wiggly in Campbellsport. They Randy moved back to the meat department. communities to bring stability and superior grocery proceeded to open a new, replacement store In 1997, he moved into the VP role and operations to Barron, Chetek and Cornell. “We look forward two years later. Next, they started planning to became the Director of Merchandising/ to building relationships with our retail team members, store open a new, replacement in West Bend which Procurement and in 2004 he was named guests and local partners, listening and learning about how they did in 2001. They expanded their Executive Vice President and then we can better serve each of these three unique communities’ business again in 2016 when they purchased President/CEO in 2008. needs,” Johanneson said. Marketplace Foods and the Fond du Lac Piggly Wiggly, their third Johanneson’s Inc. history spans 79 years. The company was According to Amy Niemetscheck, Randy’s store. Carole and Jeff remained great business founded by Keith Johanneson’s parents, Thelma & John passion for Certco independents was evident partners during their 26 years in business. Johanneson, in a small country grocery store in Edinburgh, when he wrote Certco’s mission statement Carole and the business faced its biggest N.D. in 1940. Looking to expand the business, they moved that will live on beyond his retirement. “To change last October when Jeff unexpectedly to Bemidji, Minn. in 1957 and opened their first store in Provide the Independent Grocer with the best passed away. Obviously, this played a major Northern Minnesota. available services in Wholesale Grocery. Offer part in Carole’s decision to retire. Carole and the greatest variety and the best delivered cost her husband Al, have six children with Trucking Facility Fire with a staff who understands the urgency of grandchild number 13 expected in August— Trig’s Trucking & Recycling Facility on service needed to supply a successful Retail she is looking forward to spending more time Grossman Avenue in Rhinelander started Organization.” Niemetscheck continued her with them. Also, Carole has accepted a part- on fire one early May morning. The fire tribute to Randy by saying, “He is a man time position at Gramma Day Care. started in the recycling area and no one behind his words and demands action upon Bill and Mary Schleh, owners of the was injured, but the Trucking & an issue. He was never happy to hear a Howards Grove Piggly Wiggly store Recycling Facility has been lost. Trig’s Central Bakery, which customer complaint or issue but would stay #190, have announced they are retiring is connected to Trig’s Trucking & Recycling Facility, was not in the trenches long enough to ensure and are selling their store to Mark and directly damaged by the fire, but had some level of water and someone took ownership and created a plan Robin Tietz. smoke damage. “The most important thing is that everyone to mitigate it happening again. He is, and is safe. We are very fortunate to have a team that can was, a cheerleader for success. The Schleh’s last day was May 18, 2019. Bill accomplish great things, even in the face of adversity,” said started as a stocker in his Dad’s New Holstein Randy is someone that takes the blame for Bob Jaskolski, President & COO of T.A. Solberg Co., Inc. store in 1967 and held many positions the bad, yet let’s those who create the success “This group really pulls together when they need to get including produce manager, meat cutter, meat be in the spotlight. He is one of the best things done and we have a number of great resources with manager, assistant manager and store manager. leaders I’ve worked for due to this quality. our in-store bakeries so I am confident that we will be able to Bill and Mary met at the store, where Mary And then you add in the fact that he has a overcome this obstacle and take care of our guests.” was a cashier, worked at the service desk and very down to earth personality coupled with was a night lock-up person; they were married Pizza With Police a great sense of humor, he creates from the in 1973. Then in October of 1990, Bill and top, the Certco Family culture that we as Brew Pub Lotzza Motzza Mary bought the Bitter Neumann Piggly employees are so lucky to be a part of.” Pizza was busy honoring men Wiggly in Howards Grove from Harold Bitter, and women in blue during Carole Hohl, owner of the West Bend, the store they have operated ever since. Bill National Law Enforcement Campbellsport and Fond Du Lac Piggly and Mary are looking forward to spending Week and held several pizza Wiggly stores, has announced she will more time with their three children and ten parties in select communities be retiring and selling her three Piggly grandchildren as they enjoy their retirement across the upper Midwest. On Saturday, May Wiggly stores. together. The Tietz’s currently have two 11th, they teamed up with the Sioux City, franchise Piggly Wiggly stores, both in Carole’s last day Iowa Police Department to help raise funds Sheboygan. was Saturday, for Friends of the Sioux City Police June 8, 2019. Steve Gilliame is retiring after 32 years Department which helps pay to send officers to the funerals of those who have lost their lives in the line of The West Bend with Old Dutch Foods and 37 years in the duty. The event featured a slice of Brew Pub Pizza along with store will be sold grocery industry. a beverage from Hy-Vee for $5. On Wednesday, May 15th, to Pat and Lori Steve was a huge supporter of Brew Pub Pizza, in collaboration with the Edina and Fox; the the WGA and is pictured here Bloomington Police Departments, held a similar event at Campbellsport store will be sold to Kevin with fellow golfers at the WGA Rosland Park in Edina, MN. MN LEMA (Minnesota Law Harvey (store manager) and his wife Kelly; annual Grocery Industry Golf Enforcement Memorial Association) benefitted from this and the Fond du Lac store will be sold to Outing. event, while the Museum of Valor in Madison, WI will be getting the proceeds from a May 17th event with the Wausau Police Department in Wausau, WI. 2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 41 MEMBER EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS See more events and happenings each week in the President’s Letter, the weekly WGA e-newsletter. Sign up at wisconsingrocers.com.
33 & 34 Growth Continues Best Place to Work The Wisconsin State Journal The Gordy’s Market The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel recently reports that Skogen’s Festival location in Eau Claire awarded its Top Workplaces to companies in Foods has announced that has officially become a Hansen’s IGA Market southeastern Wisconsin based on a survey of its long-awaited store in Verona will be grocery store, according to a recent story in the workers. constructed this year and open this fall. The Eau Claire Leader Telegram. Hansen’s IGA, Congratulations to 67,000-sf store is planned for a site next to with its headquarters in Bangor and already Frank’s Piggly Wiggly Blain’s Farm & Fleet on the city’s east side and operating 11 grocery stores in western in Elkhorn (Medium 150-499 employees)! The adds to the highly competitive grocery industry Wisconsin, announced that it acquired the store store posted this FB message, “Frank’s Piggly in Dane County. That includes Verona-based at 1031 W. Clairemont Ave. back in March. Wiggly is honored to be selected as TOP Miller’s Market, which was founded in 1902 “The new location has a lot to offer, but our WORKPLACE for the fifth year! A BIG thank and now has a 52,000-square-foot store in the dedication to customer service will remain the you to our employees who nominated us, as it city’s downtown plus a location in Mount Horeb. same,” said co-owner Nick Hansen in a press us their effort and fantastic customer service release. “This expansion will allow us to serve The store would be the 33rd location in that makes Frank’s such a great the surrounding neighborhoods with quality Wisconsin for Onalaska-based Festival and its place!” products, friendly employees, and be involved in second in Dane County. The Verona store the Eau Claire community.” Co-owner Greg Congratulations also to Kwik Trip would employ about 250 people, operate 24 Hansen said, “The Eau Claire location will and Aldi who placed in the Large hours a day and include a scratch bakery, hot allow our entire organization to grow and give (500+ employees) category and to food and salad bars, organic foods, fresh sushi us the opportunity to provide even more quality Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly finishing and a catering department, Mark Skogen, fresh-for-you products, our award-winning in 10th place in the large employee President and CEO of Festival Foods, said in a smokehouse items, value, personal service and category of Top Workplaces. news release. The company also recently convenience to all customers.” Owner Pat Fox says, “We are announced it will expand their business to Hales ALDI honored that our Team Members Corners, Wisconsin, with the construction of a have chosen Fox Bros. as a Top 67,000-square-foot store, also set to open this New Store Coming Work Place for the 4th year in a fall. The company has purchased a vacant Hy-Vee is planning a Hy-Vee row. We thank them for all they building located at 5600 S. 108th Street, which Health Market selling fresh, do every day to make Fox Bros. a was previously home to a Kmart. They will organic healthy foods and drinks, sports and successful business.” demolish that structure, build a new one and nutritional supplements and skin products, and open the new store in the fall, which will be the offering a pharmacy, health care clinic, and 34th Festival Foods located in Wisconsin. fitness studio, as well, according to the New Store Open “Hales Corners represents a key opportunity to Wisconsin State Journal. Hy-Vee owns about six expand our business and to better serve the acres of land near the booming Prairie Lakes growing number of our guests throughout the business development in Sun Prairie. The state. We are excited about the opportunity to grocery chain opened a similar store in West offer area guests value-driven pricing, a wide Des Moines last year, and could open as many selection that includes healthy options and a as 60 around the country. Already approved by The Milwaukee Business great shopping experience, “ said Skogen. the city, construction began in April. A Hy-Vee Journal reported that the Fast & Fresh convenience store with fuel pumps newest grocery store in Clean Food will also go up on the property. downtown Milwaukee opened on May 22nd. Urban Market by Madison-based Maurer’s Midwestern food Foods is located inside Northwestern Mutual’s distributor and Lipari Foods is Named Distributor of the 7Seventy7 luxury apartment tower, at 777 N. grocery retailer SpartanNash is capitalizing on Year Van Buren St. Jeff Maurer, owner of Maurer’s two trends with its latest initiative: the growth Shelby Publishing Foods, said the store’s size at 10,500-sf required in private label products and the increased named Lipari Foods his company to choose the best items within demand for “clean” food. Through the effort, the Distributor of each category and commodity. He said his dubbed a “Clean Ingredient Initiative,” the the Year for 2019. company studied market data to narrow down retailer will simplify and reduce ingredients to Geoff Welch, VP of its selection. Urban Market does not carry 24- offer “free from” products with fewer processed Sales at Shelby, can packages of soda, for example. Inspired by ingredients and easier-to-read labels. The shared the four main the diversity in downtown Milwaukee, Maurer company has already reformulated products and categories determining this said he worked with a specialty produce vendor redesigned packaging for more than 425 honor are: Innovation to offer cultural items, like jackfruit. As the products since last year under the initiative and solutions for customers, grocery industry has evolved, Maurer said will add another 175 products in 2019. exception customer service, loyalty to vendors customers have come to seek more foods that SpartanNash has worked with manufacturers to and steady expansion. The April issue of the are prepared and ready to be consumed. He said remove MSG and synthetic flavors from soups, Midwest Shelby Report included an extensive he hopes options like made-in-house crepes and fruit-and-grain bars and more. The reformulated history of Lipari Foods and showcase of where fresh pasta differentiate the grocery store from products are designated with new packaging. the company is today, plus profiles on the Lipari its competitors downtown. Once the store has Our Family items, which includes more than family and leaders in the company. Geoff been open for a few weeks, Maurer said Urban 1,700 products, will have leaf icons while labels Welch, Paul Hynson and Terrie Ellerbee Market will offer online ordering for curbside for reformulated Open Acres products, attended the Lipari Foods Show in April and pick-up or home delivery. SpartanNash’s private brand for fresh foods, will presented Thom Lipari with the award and have a circular swoosh. framed front page of the April Shelby Report.
42 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com MEMBER EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS
It’s Official!! Mehmert Store Services sets plan Minnesota-based produce companies H. Brooks and Company and its for years to come affiliates and J&J Distributing are being acquired by New Harvest Foods. New Harvest Foods is controlled by the Dragonfly Group and its affiliates led by I suppose if you asked 100 business entrepreneur Jason Jaynes. This transaction brings together the complementary owners when the right time is to strengths of both organizations to create a new and stronger healthy foods transition their business to the next company called New Harvest Foods. leadership team, you would probably get 100 different answers. For Shelley “By combining the best of both companies with the strength of The Dragonfly Group, New and me, the list was pretty precise. We Harvest Foods is positioned to be a customer’s first choice for produce,” said Ron Carkoski, wanted the right team to be in place to lead the company who has been named CEO of the new company. Carkoski is a 42-year veteran of the produce into the future. We wanted a team that could take the industry and the 2019 recipient of the United Fresh Lifetime Achievement Award. company further than we did. We wanted a team with incredible creativity, innovation, and passion for retailers According to Phillip Brooks, a member of the family that founded H. Brooks in 1905, and their success. We wanted the transition to occur while combining the companies creates synergies backed by the quality and service for which both we were still young enough to participate in any way the combining companies are known. team needed to ensure success. And of course, all of these requirements needed to come together at the same time! Fortunately for us, everything did come together, and plans for a transition began to develop. In 2017 Brad Knab and Chad Ott joined us as partners in ownership of the company. It was a smooth process as both were members of the staff for many years and were already leading specific areas of the company. The strength of the overall team was excellent, and we set the goal for a two- year transition period. As we entered those two transitional years it became apparent to Shelley and me that our timing was exactly as it should be. My final project would be managing a remodel for the Spiegelhoff’s at Gooseberries in Burlington. The Spiegelhoff family was our first independent retail food client when we started the company. They have been supporters and friends for 30 years. It only seemed right that we would finish with the people that supported us most when we started. Then, much to my surprise, we were nominated in 2018 by Dave, Kathy, and Mike Spiegelhoff for consideration as the WGA Vendor of the Year. Not only did we receive this wonderful award, Dave Spiegelhoff was nominated and won WGA Grocer of the Year which meant we got to share the stage at the annual WGA Innovation Expo. And of course, no transition could have occurred without the incredible support and hard work of the Mehmert Store Services team. From those who have been by our side for many years to the newest team member that has just joined the company, we know this team has the talent and passion for the industry and its retailers to successfully move forward and take the company further than we ever did. As of January 1, 2019, Brad and Chad took full ownership of Mehmert Store Services. Shelley and I will continue to provide any input, support, or assistance that they request of us as they move the company forward to the next level. Additionally, Shelley and I will strive to continue to provide great service to the industry that has supported us for so many years. We have started a new company, T4 Solutions, LLC. T4 is focused on developing non-typical growth and profitability tools and methods for retailers who have moved into the e-commerce/online shopping world. Please take a moment and visit our website at www.T4.Solutions. We hope that through the knowledge you have helped us gain over the past 30 years we can continue to be a part of your business success through our efforts at T4.
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 43 PROFESSIONAL CARDS
Heidi Bruning KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER
CELL 312-623-0792 Get a free “proof of concept” review. Call 804-515-0359 [email protected]
H O L E W S A D L E E Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc.
T G A R I (AWG) is the nation’s largest O C
C O
E cooperative food wholesaler to
S
R
S S A independently owned supermarkets. 1-800-359-1032 R E D T E A N [email protected] • www.badgerinventory.com I W L E R O awginc.com Madison Office 608-839-5441 Brookfield Office 262.786.3446 PO Box 8456 Madison, WI 53708-8456
MEMBER EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS
Pig To Pig Walk Stoneridge Piggly Wiggly recently made a donation to Make A Wish Foundation for $42,000, which CRYSTAL FARMS was raised at this year's Pig To Pig Walk. Distributor of fine refrigerated products to This stellar amount raised will grant five supermarkets in over 40 states, including: local children their wishes. An estimated 900 walkers participated • Crystal Farms Cheese • Better ‘n Eggs in the walk on May 4, 2019, and the event was supported by • Simply Potatoes • All Whites many local vendors at different sponsorship levels. In the 21 years • David’s Deli Bagels that they have been sponsoring the walk, Stoneridge Piggly Contact [email protected] Wiggly (formerly Larry’s Piggly Wiggly) has donated (920) 648-3466 $502,900.00 to Make A Wish—which has made a lot of wishes come true! 2700 National Drive, Suite 101 Welcome, Placon! Onalaska, WI 54650 Placon is proud to be one of the newest Allied members of the WGA. For over 50 DBS ROUP Chris Walters, years, Placon has been a leading designer Design-Build Solutions President and manufacturer of custom and stock plastic packaging, [email protected] | producing innovative retail packaging, quality thermoformed and www.DBSG.com injection molded food packaging. Placon has manufacturing operations in Madison, WI; West Springfield, MA; Elkhart, IN; and Plymouth, MN, and is currently ranked inthe top 20 of Plastics News 2019 Thermoformer Rankings. Placon delivers packaging breakthroughs that inspire better engagement between people and products. With a focus on sustainability, they are bringing back post-consumer PET content to process and recycled to be made into food grade PET packaging. It is a great circular economy as they are able to use post-consumer recycled content and use it over and over again. For more information, visit www.placon.com.
44 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com PROFESSIONAL CARDS
Russ Davis Wholesale, Inc.
1200 Commerce St , Merrill, WI 54452 1940 Ridgeway St., Hammond, WI 54015 3145 Airport Rd., LaCrosse, WI 54606 Port Washington Rd., Milwaukee, WI russdaviswholesale.com | crazyfreshproduce.com | 800-214-4981
1-800-533-9594 www.shullsburgcreamery.com
1270 Energy Lane St. Paul, MN 55108 www.Kemps.com
St. Cloud Division Office 360 Hoffman Court • St. Cloud, Minnesota 56303 320•251•3961
Mike Mules Lipari Foods Inc. 26661 Bunert Road Warren, MI 48089 414.234.9867 [email protected] www.LipariFoods.com
Bakers of Country Hearth and Village Hearth Breads and Buns
The Wisconsin Grocers Association exists to serve its members.
PAN-O-GOLD Baking Co. What the WGA has to offer, you can’t get anywhere else. 1000 Wilburn Road • Sun Prairie WI 53590 • (608) 834-1816 www.countryhearthbreads.com Now at 10 West Mifflin Streen, Suite 205 | Madison, WI 53703 Carl Butzine • [email protected] • cell (608) 640-9441 (608) 244-7150 • Toll-Free (888) 342-5942 | WisconsinGrocers.com
Master Service Technicians on call 24 hours/7days a week
3510 Central Ave. Dubuque, IA 52001-9477 Zone Mechanical North We Focus On 9645 S 54th Avenue, Suite N (800) 397-9477 Your Success Franklin, WI 53132-9179 www.PrairieFarms.com ZoneMechanical.com (262) 347-4180
2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 45 46 WISCONSIN GROCER www.wisconsingrocers.com 2019 Summer Issue WISCONSIN GROCER 47