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T O B E PA R T O F E V E R Y F O O D E X P E R I E N C E atalanta + camerican + de medici + finica + khi + jf braun + swiss chalet fine foods + tipico
UPDATE 2019-Q1
HIGHLIGHTS 02
GELLERT CORE VALUES
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LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
FABI 2019 AWARD
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GELLERT GLOBAL GROUP
GG G L AU N C H E S CO RE VA L U E S This February, the Gellert Family and Senior Leadership presented the 2018 Year in Review and GGG’s Core Values Initiative at a Town Hall Meeting in Elizabeth, NJ. The sales and business development departments shared success stories and achievements with GGG employees. Following up on GGG’s Mission/Vision statement of 2017, Tom, Andy and Amy Gellert presented GGG’s Core Values. The values reflect the family’s ideas about the ingredients for success on both a professional and personal level. A docu-video of the GGG Core Values was shown, with each of the Gellerts interviewed about the values. Key Objectives for 2019 and Human Resource Initiatives wrapped up the town hall. Mark your calendars for September 2019 for the next town hall in Elizabeth, NJ for those who are local.
GGG HUMAN RESOURCES L AUNC HES
MO ST VA LUA BLE PE R SO N
R ECOGN IT ION AWAR D PR OGR AM Human Resources will be introducing a new MVP Recognition Award Program in the 2nd Quarter. There are seven values and seven opportunities to recognize those of us who stand out! Every 6-8 weeks, we will recognize employees who go above and beyond, who offer their unique contributions, and who have a significant positive impact on their community.
LOOK FOR MORE CORRESPONDENCE FROM gellertvalues@ gellertglobalgroup.com
3 K E Y O BJE CTIVE L AUN CH E D
E N T E RP RIS E R E SO UR CE P L A N N IN G (G ER P )
From George G. Gellert, Chairman of Gellert Global Group
March officially kicked off the implementation of a company-wide committee, ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning). This plan will effectively support our business for future growth and acquisitions. The project is referred to as GERP (Gellert/Group ERP). In the past 15 years, Gellert Global Group has achieved significant growth with a dozen acquisitions. In 2018, GGG sales revenue reached $1.3 billion and became one of the largest privately held food distribution companies in North America. Yet our ERP solution has been based on out-of-date technology and paced far behind business growth, which has gradually become a bottleneck. It is time for a new group ERP solution which will enable all our business units to operate on the same platform, which will harmonize our business processes, analytics and reporting. We have established the GERP Project Team and officially kicked off on March 13th, 2019. There are four teams by module: P2P (Procurement to Pay), O2C (Order to Cash), Finance, and WMS (Warehouse Management System) • Michael Chiu, Justin Destefano, and Jake Weiner are Business Leads, and IT Lead for P2P • Cristina Sotolongo, Mavir Bernal Villamizar, and Sandra Neno are Business Leads, and IT Lead for O2C
• John McLennan, Joann McRoberts, and Paul Jijak are Business Leads, and IT Lead for Finance • Justin McManus and Sonia Mazzaraco are Business Lead, and IT Lead for WMS Our project timeline is to establish a project team, define business requirements, evaluate vendors and solutions, and decide new ERP solutions by the end of 2019. Then we will begin a new ERP implementation by stage, starting in the year 2020. Each stage kicks off from February and goes live in October in the same year. This approach will reduce business risk, help with the learning curve, minimize the impact on end-of-year sales/closing, and give the project team a break to enjoy the holiday season. Our target goal is to implement all business units to the new ERP platform by 2023. This is a business project and one of the top priorities in supporting our future growth. Shen Lu, Chief Information Officer, will partner with the business executives in leading this important project. The GERP Project Team consists of about 50 associates from seven companies and four warehouses. If anyone has any suggestions on the GERP project, please email gerp@gellertglobalgroup.com
KE Y O BJ E CTIVE L AUN CH E D
N E W P E R F O R MA N CE M ANAG E M E N T Human Resources conducted Performance Management training across all of GGG. Managers and employees learned the importance of performance management, setting goals and the process of ongoing feedback. This new program rolls out in April 2019 for Performance Management reviews in 2020.
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S WI S S C H A L ET F I N E F OO D S J O I N S ATA L A N TA CORPOR AT I O N “The combination of Swiss Chalet Fine Foods and Atalanta will better enable us to be a part of more food experiences,” says Tom Gellert, President of Atalanta. “We will leverage the strengths of both organizations—our people and our products— to achieve greater success.”
In 2019, Swiss Chalet Fine Foods will be fully integrated into Atalanta. Throughout its history, Swiss Chalet has been known to bring quality ingredients and specialty foods to chefs nationwide and is a crucial ally to foodservice operators and in-store bakeries in upgrading their product offerings. The move will further strengthen Swiss Chalet’s position as a top specialty ingredients supplier to the foodservice industry. Together with Swiss Chalet’s diverse portfolio and Atalanta’s highly respected standing, the company will be well equipped for long-term success. Atalanta plans to enhance its reach across various channels, such as national chain restaurants, retail and manufacturing. The Gellert Global Group continues to grow and leverage its companies to better meet the needs of the food industry.
G EL L FAM O P E N S T H E I R F I R ST AUN TI E AN N E ’ S Gellfam Management Corporation is a subsidiary of Gellert Global Group. The company operates Five Guys, Cinnabon and Carvel locations in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and New Hampshire. In April they will open their first Auntie Anne’s in Queens Center Mall in Elmhurst, NY.
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WELLNESS TEAM PROVIDES BENEFITS TO EMPLOYEES In January, the GGG Wellness Team kicked off the Financial Wellness program. Through our partnership with Bank of America, Meryll Lynch, employees now have access to a variety of Financial Wellness tools such as their website, quarterly e-newsletters, various webinars and onsite workshops. Atalanta successfully hosted the first onsite seminar on March 12th. Topics included budgeting, planning for the future, and strategies to manage and pay down debt. The Wellness team partnered with Atalanta HR to host a benefits fair at Atalanta Corporate in Elizabeth. Representatives from Horizon, Delta Dental and VSP were there to answer employee questions on open enrollment. They even raffled off four prizes - three different kinds of water bottles and a pair of sunglasses (won by Amelia Albero, Elizabeth Hyslop, Ira Weinberg, and Jacque Folts, respectively).
GELLERT GIVING SUCCESSFUL BLOOD DRIVE HEART HEALTHY MONTH Keeping with the theme of Heart Health Month in February, the Giving Team organized a blood drive with the Red Cross, Atalanta HQ, and Swiss Chalet Gellert South.
TAKE YOUR KIDS TO WORK DAY APRIL 25!
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ATALANTA LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2019
AWARDS BLACK & WHITE NIGHT
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LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2019 MANAGING UP To continue the Leadership training and initiative, Keynote speaker Mary Abbajay, President of Careerstone Group, hosted several training sessions on “How to Manage Up.” Mary’s training was fun, interactive and informative. The goal was to help our leadership team and suppliers better interact with each other and create a more efficient workplace.
ATA L A NTA E XCE L L E NCE SA LE S M A NAGE R S B E NJA M I N FEI GENBUT Z C H R I S T I NE DA M O UR M I C HEL E BEI R AO E L L I E BROW N C H R I S A L D ER ET T E AMY COO K AN T HO NY T UFA NO
ATA L A NTA E XCE L L E NCE BDMS LEADERSH I P CATEG ORY T RAIN IN G Atalanta’s Business Development Managers and Account Specialists focused on specific brand and menu concepts. The sales team was presented with strategic selling techniques that incorporated the breadth of what Grocery, Cheese, and DeMedici has to offer from a foodservice and retail perspective.
T E D DY I GNAT SA R A H M YLOD S COT T FEGL ER
ATA L A NTA SA L E S P E R S O N & BDM O F TH E Y E A R
JAM ES HARRI T Y
EMIL RU FOLO
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DE M E D I C I W I N S 2 019 FAB I AWA R D FOR A L’ O L I VI ER B ASQ U E P E P PER FRUI T V INE GA R
THE FABI AWARD 2019 Each year, The National Restaurant Association Show names the winners of the Food and Beverage (FABI Awards), recognizing food and beverage products that innovate in taste, creativity, packaging and profit potential. On March 7, the 2019 FABI award winners were announced. These important products will shape the future of taste throughout the industry for years to come. De Medici’s A L’Olivier Basque Pepper Fruit Vinegar was honored with this distinction. This is Atalanta’s 10th FABI Award since 2014.
ATALANTA’S EXCLUSIVE BRITISH CHEESE BRAND BELTON FARM LAUNCHES NEW RANGE
Since 1822, A L’Olivier has been a purveyor of extra-virgin olive oils and vinegars to refined Parisian palates. Crafted with bell peppers and the famous Piment d’Espelette pepper of the Basque region, it’s a mix of 40% fruit pulp and premium white wine vinegar. The fresh fruit pulp’s vibrant flavor delivers until the bottle’s last drop, whether it’s used to glaze a rack of lamb, add a pop of flavor to roasted chicken, or brighten up grilled calamari. The fruit vinegar also makes a great salad dressing when paired with extra-virgin olive oil and sea salt, and a fun addition to a Bloody Mary.
Belton Farm Great British Cheesemaker Belton Farm is excited to introduce a new branded range of six, regional British cheeses. These cheeses are handcrafted by the skilled Belton Farm Cheesemakers who use freerange local milk from small family farms and pride themselves on their cheesemaking heritage and provenance. Their skills and knowledge were confirmed after defeating over 5,000 dairy entries to be crowned Supreme Champion at the 2018 International Cheese Awards held in Nantwich, Cheshire. These are the new products on offer, available in a 6.3 oz pre-pack from the Belton Farm Great British Cheese Brand: • Cheshire: Light and crumbly texture with subtle hints of fresh citrus • Double Gloucester: Smooth texture with a creamy, buttery flavor • Sage Derby: Creamy Derby cheese marbled with a delicate sage infusion • Double Gloucester Onion and Chive: Smooth and buttery Double Gloucester infused with onion and chives • Port Wine Derby: Creamy Derby cheese marbled with a delicate Port infusion • Saxonshire: A delicious combination of the Brit’s five favorite regional cheeses: Cheddar, Derby, Double Gloucester, Red Leicester and Cheshire layered to perfection - a true taste sensation
CAFFE V SPONSORS GELATO FESTIVAL
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Gelato Festival America kicked off in Miami Beach this March, and our very own Caffè Vergnano USA is the official coffee sponsor. The Gelato Festival is a touring festival, traveling around Italy, Europe and the United States. At Caffè Vergnano’s booth, customers can live the authentic Italian coffee experience with three iconic coffee-based drinks, from traditional espresso to cappuccino and macchiato.
WINTER FANCY FOOD SHOW JANUARY 2019
PIACENTINI LAUNCHES DOP SPECIALITY MEAT COLLECTION Atalanta has launched the first ever DOP cured meat line in the USA from Piacentini. This fabulous assortment includes Coppa, Pancetta, and Salami, both in retail and bulk formats. We are expecting this line to take off and be one of the most delicious launches of 2019.
PIZZA EXPO MARCH 2019
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CHEESE UPDATES
NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATORS Arthur Khayat is our new Business Development Coordinator working on French, Italian, and Spanish cheeses and meats! Liz Lopez is a Business Development Coordinator working under Scott Fegler on Tipico projects and English cheeses. Congratulations to Scott Fegler who has stepped into his new role managing sales of products and services at Tipico.
B E E M S TE R E N TE R S CO S TCO
J O HN RO DG ER HAS
“THE BEST EVER ” R E T I R E M E N T S E N D -O F F From a full production video staring Sam Kass and a cast of characters to several retirement parties and lots of toasts, John Rodger, was treated to the “best retirement ever” as he said in his own words. The entire company and the Gellert Family sincerely wish him happiness in his next phase and will miss him dearly. Thank you for all you contributed to Atalanta!
Starting later this year we are projected to sell 520,000 lbs. nationwide to our favorite club store!
TO F E ATUR E AL L ATA L A N TA GO UDA This includes both Beemster and commodity gouda.
BAL ADE SP R E ADABL E BUTTE R GE TS L AR GE R DI STR I BUTI O N
M E N U & ATAL AN TA C E LE BR AT E 1 5 YE AR PAR T N E R SH I P
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ATA L ANTA
NE W HIRES! Q1 20 1 9
Me g a n Corey
M arke tin g In te rn
M arke tin g In te rn
N i co l e Ec ke rt, B y ro n To r re s
Mi c h a e l Me ad ows
Are a S ale s M anage r
D e b o ra h P e te rso n
Re gio nal S ale s M anage r
A rth u r K h ayat
B usine ss D eve lo pme n t Co o rd ina tor
S teve n M illard
Vice P re sid e n t, B usin e ss D eve l opment
Ch e re n e Ad rio n
Exe cutive D ire cto r, Fo o d se r vice Divis ion
J o h n P e raz zo
Natio n al Acco unt M anage r
B usine ss D eve lo pme n t Co o rd ina tor
El i za b e th Lo pez
DAV E SCHI C H E RECE I VE S G O LD EN APPL E AWARD
Yard Jo ckey
I s ra e l Ag uile ra
L e roy H u ghe s
Ware ho use man - Carso n Ware ho use man - Carso n
A n th o ny Me n d oza J u s ty n a K ij e k
D a n i e l y n e P e tio n
Ware ho use man - Carso n Ware ho use Ad m in istrato r
Q uality Assuran ce In te rn
N E W RO L ES
Jon-Paul Ab ich, DeMedi c i Wa reh ou s e Su perv i s or Tracey Tho ma s , Recei v i n g Coordi n ator L ina Santo s, Sh i ppi n g Coordi n ator Pr iscilla Her na ndez , Sh i ppi n g Coordi n ator Jake Wei ner, E RP Bu s i n es s An a lys t
P ROM OTIO NS Rob Ste iner, A s s i s ta nt Ma n a ger- Ma i nten a n ce
WEL CO M E N E W EXE CUTIVE LEA D ER S H IP S T E V E M I LL AR D, VP O F BUSI NESS D E VE L O PM E N T
C HERENE ADRION, EX EC UT IV E DIREC TOR OF F OODSERV IC E DIVIS IO N
Steve Millard is Vice President of Business
Cherene Adrion joins Atalanta as the
Development for the Cheese and Specialty
Executive Director - Foodservice Division.
Deli Division.
With over 20 years of sales and marketing experience in the food and beverage industry,
He has skillfully worked in start-up, mid and
Cherene is a welcome addition to our Sales
large-size organizations in the consumer
Leadership Team.
products industry for more than 25 years with a focus in dairy (yogurt) at The Dannon Co.
Cherene held various sales and marketing
and in the specialty cheese category. Steve is a
positions of increasing importance with CPG
passionate leader and successful change agent
companies. These positions were instrumental
who quickly delivers profitable results across
in helping Cherene develop a strong working
branded, private label and co-manufactured
knowledge of the foodservice channel and a
products.
leadership foundation that fosters teamwork.
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DE M E D IC I CEL E B RAT E S 4 0 YE AR S
“There are two things that make De Medici and our team unique,” states Steve Kaufman, Executive Vice President of De Medici Imports. “First, we have a strong foundation built on a philosophy of offering only the best of the best. Second, we have a dedicated commitment from management, staff and producers to live up to this responsibility.” For the last 40 years, De Medici has been a major influencer in specialty foods. De Medici was the first to introduce Tuscan extra-virgin olive oil to the United States retail market and has continued to lead in taste education. De Medici’s team of culinary and retail experts travels the globe to explore trends to discover the very best, and to bring it back to the United States.
De Medici will be celebrating their 40th anniversary at the Summer Fancy Food show in June. Promotions and a customer event are being planned to thank all those who have been with them for the past 40 years.
DE MEDIC I L AUNC HES
FR O MAG E ET HUILE d’O L I VE Check out our new A L’OLIVIER Infused EVOO pairing cards! Go beyond Honey & Jam and pair our Extra Virgin Olive Oils with Il Villaggio Burrata, Amedei Tuscany Chocolates, Celebrity Goat Cheese, Eiffel Tower Brie and Papillion Roquefort! Printed cards available ask Myste Snow: msnow@demedici.com
A L’OL I VI ER I S A FI RST TI M E SPONSOR AT L EADERS H I P CONFERENCE
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SWISS CHALET INTRODUCES
LEONCE BLANC FRUIT PUREES In 1892, Léonce Blanc founded his business and his first production site in Lubersac, Corrèze. His idea: to mechanize the processing and preservation of the natural, agricultural produce at the heart of a region rich in fruit, vegetables and mushrooms. The development of the Léonce Blanc recipes and packaging sizes continued, over time, to ingeniously meet the needs of each age. This is evidenced by the 35% fruit jam created during the post-war shortages and the initial sizing of the individual plastic pots of compote.
Carma Chocolate La Rose Noire A Hit! Nancy Slatsky showcasing our LRN products at the Women’s Food Alliance. Did you know Nancy is part of the Advisory Board for this organization promoting positive communication in the travel and culinary marketplace? And...of course, everyone loved our LRN products!
GELLERT SOUTH CELEBRATES ONE YEAR!
Training Thanks to our Chefs & Carma for hosting 3 Carma Classes in Florida. Here is Alexandra with our Orlando Chefs learning all about how to use that delicious Carma chocolate!
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CAMERICAN’S HERITAGE TUNA LABEL DEEP BLUE GETS UPDATED
The Deep Blue brand now has a contemporary feel, while also maintaining its heritage. The color scheme, layout, and design differentiate each variety (by color and fish icon). The new design makes Deep Blue a standout from its competitors and effectively communicates its unique attributes. With the rollout of this new design, the main focus is foodservice, with the potential for future expansion into retail.
AFFI SHOW – BIGGER AND BETTER From February 23rd to February 26th, the team attended the American Frozen Food Institute Show (AFFI) at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego. AFFI is the premier event for frozen food and beverage makers, industry suppliers, and logistical partners. It brings together over 500 companies and over 1,600 attendees in a single location, allowing Camerican to meet one-on-one to discuss current and future opportunities. It’s the most important show for the company this year and was a great networking success!
PRESIDENT, LARRY ABRAMSON CELEBRATES 70TH BIRTHDAY Larry Abramson, the Man of the House, turned 70 this past January! To celebrate, our team gathered at The Dog and Cask in Rochelle Park on Friday, January 25th for happy hour. All enjoyed tapas and drinks! Happy 70th Larry. We wish you health and happiness this year!
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CAMERICAN & KHI NEW HIRES CAMERICAN Sarah Villano, Part-Time HR Coordinator, will assist with recruiting, handle onboarding, and coordinate company social events, along with other responsibilities. Daisy Belza, Part-Time Accounts Payable Coordinator, will assist with various accounting tasks. Eileen Chen, Logistics Coordinator. Eileen will be responsible for the inbound logistics for all of the Walmart imports. Her focus will be on ensuring efficient service and closely collaborating with the entire Camerican team on customs brokerage and ocean freight. KHI Kelly Brown, Senior Operations Manager. Kelly’s career started in logistics and grew to encompass trade compliance and global operations. She is also a licensed customs broker. Kelly will be responsible for the overall leadership of the sales coordinators and logistics department.
PROMOTIONS & NEW ROLES CAMERICAN DAN TUFANO promoted to Key Account Manager SANG YI promoted to Senior QA Manager LISA YANG promoted to Controller NANCY CHEN has a new role as Procurement Manager
KHI WINS KEY SUPPLIER AWARD FROM TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFÉ Tropical Smoothie Café invited KHI to attend a vendor meeting in Orlando, FL in March. Michael Goldberg and Karen Cardenas represented the company. During the meeting, KHI was recognized as a key supplier by an announcement and presentation of an award.
KHI WINS RECORD AWARD FROM CUSTOMER FOR 3 MILLION POUNDS OF ORGANIC APPLE PUREE KHI’s Peter Blackston contracted a sale of over three million lbs. to an existing baby food customer, Nurture – Happy Family. The contract represents a significant milestone for KHI and the organic customer, who have been working together for over five years – as the business is the largest contracted volume between the two companies. Just as significant, Nurture – Happy Family performed audits on the grower and packer that work with KHI to supply the product, and successfully evaluated them for Chinese organic markets, boding well for future business!
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MADE IN IRELAND PROGRAM On March 21, Finica attended the Made in Ireland Marketplace, hosted by the George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts in Ontario. The marketplace showcases the very best of Irish food, drink, crafts, art, tourism, music, and dance. Our team presented Guinness Cheddar and Glenstal Vintage Irish Cheddar to both chefs and the general public. It was a successful and fun event for all!
GFS WORLD OF CHEESE SHOW On March 20, Finica attended the GFS World of Cheese Show. Finica presented new product applications to foodservice buyers in the theme of an elevated bistro. Held at the Toronto Congress Centre, this is an event where you can explore cheeses from around the world, check out Canada’s finest varieties, and taste selections from local Ontario producers. It’s a must visit, with new flavors for your menu and the chance to chat with a passionate group of vendors.
FINCA & SNOWDONIA PRODUCT TRAINING Finica continues to emphasize product training for seasoned and new employees, welcoming Snowdonia Cheese Company and Volpi Foods to host a product tasting at monthly sales meetings.
FINICA NEW HIRES Usman Butt, Inventory Analyst Ryan Ferrie, Key Account Manager
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GELLERT GLOBAL GROUP PERSONAL NOTES CO N G R AT UL AT I ONS TO ALL OUR B RI DES & GR OOMS!
Atalanta’s Dominick Sollazzo & wife Alessandra married in December Camerican’s Nancy Chen & Alvin married in December Atalanta’s Sneha Dewani & Rohit married in December
GGG’s Mike Bodnar & Natalie married in February Atalanta’s Christine Park & husband Michael Yeon
CO N G R AT S TO ALL OUR NEW BORNS!
Atalanta’s Carlos Ortega, Camilia Aleiandra BORN: JANUARY 10, 2019
Atalanta’s Christian Stuart Xander Joseph BORN: JANUARY 29, 2019
Atalanta’s Elizabeth Ackmann Lorelei Elizabeth BORN: FEBRUARY 7, 2019
Atalanta’s Anthony Abad Austin Christopher BORN: FEBRUARY 9, 2019
KHI’s Juan Cepeda Adrian BORN: FEBRUARY 15, 2019
Atalanta’s Joao Neno Miles Quentin BORN: FEBRUARY 26 , 2019
KHI’s Karla Alas Lissette Eunice BORN: FEBRUARY 16 , 2019
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DO YOU HAVE UNIQUE STORIES TO SHARE?
The Giving Team wants to highlight our employees that take time to work with nonprofit organizations, mentor children or volunteer at their local charities. Inspirational stories and acts of kindness can make a difference in the lives of people. We want to share these stories with everyone. Please send information to: givingteam@gellertglobalgroup.com