NJ Food Council elects new board members, sets 2023 theme (updated)

Dawn Furnas//February 8, 2023//

Listen to this article

The New Jersey Food Council held its annual membership meeting Jan. 31 in East Brunswick. Click here for more photos of the evening. – NEW JERSEY FOOD COUNCIL

The New Jersey Food Council rang in the new year with two new board members and a new theme for 2023: Beyond Essential.

During its annual membership meeting Jan. 31 in East Brunswick, NJFC welcomed to its board Todd Ferrera, vice president and district manager of food market operations for Wegmans Food Markets, and Pete Contino, store manager of Weis Markets.

During its annual membership meeting Jan. 31, New Jersey Food Council members elected the 2023 officers, including a second term for Chairman Andrew Kent of Glass Gardens ShopRite. – NEW JERSEY FOOD COUNCIL

During the event, NJFC members also elected 2023 officers, including a second term for Chairman Andrew Kent of Glass Gardens ShopRite, the organization announced Feb. 6.

Sworn in by former Gov. Donald DiFrancesco, the additional officers are:

President and CEO: Linda Doherty, NJ Food Council
Vice chairwoman: Suzanne DelVecchio, QuickChek
Associate vice chairman: Nicholas Brown, Kraft Heinz Co.
Treasurer: Michael Rothwell, Pennington Quality Market
Secretary: Michael Styer, Acme Markets

“I would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all of the members who unselfishly volunteered their time, talent and expertise to help strengthen the New Jersey Food Council over the past year,” Kent said in a statement. “I am impressed by the way the Board and members united for all we accomplished in 2022. I am optimistic as we have set a strong agenda through our Strategic Plan for 2023.”

The theme for the new year, Beyond Essential, was inspired by the industry’s role during the pandemic.

“The COVID pandemic fully recognized our food industry now as something we have always known: we are a lifeline and cornerstone of the community,” Doherty said.

Did you know?

Since the single-use bag ban went into effect May 4, 2022, NJFC members have saved more than 4.8 billion plastic bags and 96 million paper bags from entering landfills.

The organization noted achievements from 2022, including navigating the single-use bag ban that went into effect in May 2022; a “slip and fall” legal case; increased membership; a growing scholarship fund; and saving participating members $24 million in electric utility costs.

“While we are proud of these victories, the food industry will still face policy and regulatory challenges in this upcoming state election year when all 120 legislative seats are up for election,” Doherty said. “However, your Food Council is prepared and positioned to tackle these obstacles in our united effort to better our industry and preserve our reputation as Beyond Essential.”

NJFC also kicked off its 2023 Education Scholarship Program, offering 30 scholarship awards totaling $97,500.

Editor’s note: This story was updated at 3:19 p.m. ET Feb. 8 to include a photo of the 2023 officers, below.