Odds of winning: $50: 1 in 10.00; $75: 1 in 15; $100: 1 in 12; $200: 1 in 15; $500: 1 in 88; $2,500: 1 in 11,112; $50,000: 1 in 81,000; $6,000,000: 1 in 2,700,000. Overall odds: 1 in 3.05. Odds of winning a second chance prize depend on the number of entries received before the deadline for each of the 10 drawings. Knowing your limits is always the best bet. Call the Michigan Problem Gambling Helpline for confidential help at 1-800-270-7117.
President’s Message
Five observations from our Retail’s Night Out event william j. hallan
MRA President and Chief Executive Officer
Business owners and other decision-makers from around the state gathered in Lansing on June 9 for MRA’s Retail’s Night Out. Knowing that your time is stretched very thin right now, we planned a half-day event packed with interactive educational sessions followed by the opportunity to connect further over drinks and dinner. We’ve got photo highlights on pages 10 and 11. Here, I’d like to share with you some of my observations from the event.
shared tips for protecting businesses; and, the Legislative Panel stirred lively discussions about current and potential legislation. Sometimes just hearing that other businesses are facing the same obstacles can make it easier to cope. As one attendee said in her feedback, “Hearing from in-the-know speakers and hearing what different types of retailers are facing was interesting and helpful.”
1. Everyone was eager to reconnect in a live setting. After more than two years of mainly making virtual connections, people were energized and excited to gather in person. A highlight for me was seeing so many genuine smiles shared throughout the day. People seemed truly happy to be there, and there was a natural energy in the room with attendees sharing their experiences and insights from the past two years.
4. MRA members are passionate about their businesses. Thinking about the last two years, I find it incredible how fast businesses responded to the pandemic’s constant challenges. Listening to the attendees’ first-hand accounts of the many smart, creative ways they adapted confirmed my belief that retailers and suppliers have done an impressive job finding ways to continue to sell products and serve their communities; and they continue to do so as we move from pandemic to endemic.
2. Attendees are looking for events that keep them engaged. A common refrain in the feedback we received is that the day’s constructive, open exchanges were extremely valuable. MRA’s team planned an event where attendees were up on their feet, moving around and interacting with each other. Presentations were part information sharing, part conversation, with questions asked and stories shared. My takeaway: Facilitated peer-to-peer conversations are an effective way to provide relevant, actionable content.
5. The event was a success. This new half-day-into-night format, designed to optimize informational opportunities and business relationships without keeping you out of the store or office for too long, was effective. Throughout the afternoon sessions into the after-five food and fun, attendees took advantage of the many opportunities to interact with speakers, panelists and colleagues, bringing added value to everyone who attended. See pages 10 and 11 to read some of the feedback we received.
3. A quick solution to our current challenges simply does not exist. Throughout the afternoon, presenters, panelists and peer participants addressed some of today’s business pain points. It’s clear that there isn’t one simple fix; however, retailers and suppliers are eager to hear and discuss new ideas to, at least, make tomorrow better. Our keynote speaker, Shawna Suckow, provided insights on how customers evolved as a result of the pandemic. An Organized Retail Crime Panel
Good events are not easy to pull off, so let me conclude by thanking all of our attendees for your time and valuable insights; thank you to our speakers, panelists, staff and prize donors. Most importantly, the event would not be possible without the generous contributions of our sponsors: Kroger, Amazon, Meijer, SpartanNash, DTE Energy, Lipari Foods, McLaren, Philip Morris International, Walgreens, CVS Health, National Retail Federation, The Home Depot, Delta Dental and Retailers Insurance Company. Thank you!
Michigan Grocers Division Advisory Board
William J. Hallan Publisher
William J. Hallan, President Michigan Retailers Association
Rachel Hurst Kroger Company of Michigan
Bryan Neiman Neiman’s Family Market
Craig Diepenhorst H.T. Hackney
Nick Lenzi Lipari Foods
DJ Oleson Oleson’s Food Stores
Lisa J. Reibsome Editor, Design & Layout, Ad Sales (517) 449-2256; LReibsome@retailers.com
Jim Gohsman SpartanNash
John Leppink Leppink’s Food Centers
Thom Welch Hollywood Markets
Publisher does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers in business competition.
Michigan Grocers is a division of the Michigan Retailers Association
© MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS 2022 MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
JULY/AUGUST 2022 3
At SpartanNash, our flagship exclusive brand, Our Family, was developed more than 115 years ago; the oldest and most well-established in the industry. The number one reason for this success and longevity is our commitment to keeping the customer first - listening, responding, performing. 2000+ SKUs currently available throughout the entire store Product quality guarantee for consumers Exclusive marketing support, including industry leading social media solutions Multi-tiered community support program Comprehensive merchandising program Associate engagement plan
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Contact Jim Gohsman (1-616-878-8088) | jim.gohsman@spartannash.com or Roger Delemeester (1-989-245-0337) | roger.delemeester@spartannash.com for more information.
CONGRATULATIONS
2022 scholarship winners Helen McCurry Platinum Legacy Scholarship Winner
Paul M. Felice and Al Kessel Memorial Platinum Legacy Scholarship Winner
Ethan Tennant will be a freshman at Aquinas College this fall. He plans to major in political science. He is eligible to apply for the award because his father, Steve, works for Kroger in Monroe. “I am honored and blessed to have received this award, and I hope to repay it forward,” he says. After graduation, Ethan plans to pursue a career in political science because he “would like to take steps to improve the lives of the people in our country,” he explains. “I believe politicians should focus on fulfilling the will of the people instead of trying to stay in office longer. While I may not choose to directly run for an elected position, I can use this degree to help support the campaigns of candidates that best represent a balanced perspective, bringing together both sides to make wellinformed arguments.”
Jacob Fetrow will be a freshman at Adrian College this fall with plans to study business management and sports science. He is eligible to apply for the scholarship because his father, Don, works for SpartanNash’s D&W Fresh Market in Grand Haven. “I am beyond blessed and honored to have been selected to receive this prestigious scholarship,” he says. “It will not only help me with my college expenses and reduce the stress of my financial burdens but also help me achieve my career goal.” That goal is to own or manage an athletic training facility. “The facility will be equipped with specialized trainers, counselors, various sporting and weightlifting equipment, as well as a retail store within,” he explains. “It will be dedicated to coaching, training and mentoring young athletes and families in my community.”
Walsh Family Platinum Legacy Scholarship Winner Jacob Flickinger will be a junior at Grand Valley State University this fall where he majors in accounting and law enforcement. He is now a three-time MRA scholarship winner. He is eligible to apply for the award because his father, David, works for Meijer in Grand Rapids. “I am very honored to receive the Walsh Family Platinum Legacy Scholarship. I am planning to use my degree in accounting to go into financial investigations,” he says. “I have always wanted to work in law enforcement, but after taking some accounting classes at GVSU, I realized that I had an interest in that, too. I want to take both of my passions and make a career out of it. I am currently aiming towards working for a federal law enforcement agency such as the IRS, FBI or Secret Service.”
About the scholarships n Michigan Retailers Association awarded 12 college students scholarships totaling $42,000 for the 2022-23 academic year. n Three of the one-year scholarships, all for $3,500, were awarded to students with ties to the grocery industry. n The awards are funded by the Michigan Retailers Foundation, whose mission is to continue to support the educational advancement of retail employees. n MRA’s scholarship competition begins each January. Applications are due by April 1. To be eligible, recipients must be an employee of an MRA member business or the dependent of an owner or employee of a member business. n Scholarship recipients are chosen by a third-party administrator – International Scholarship and Tuition Services. MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
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Is everything better with bacon? Alward’s Market thinks so by lisa j. reibsome If you are looking to buy bacon 10 different ways, Alward’s Market in Hale is your kind of place. The 15,000-squarefoot market, about 25 miles northwest of Tawas City, makes and sells sliced bacon, sandwich bacon, Canadian bacon, bacon ends and pieces, smoked beef bacon, chocolate covered bacon, maple bacon jerky, bacon sausage, ground bacon burger, bacon brats and more. “At the heart of our store is our bacon, along with our other home-cured meats,” says owner Terry Bovee. “We are a onestop shop built around that. So if someone comes in for thicksliced bacon to throw on the grill, they can also pick up the veggies, chips, drinks and dessert they need for a cookout.” Makin’ Bacon When the store opened in the 1940s, its founder, Jerry Wyatt, developed his own recipes for curing and smoking bacon using an open wood fire. “His recipes and smoking method are what we use today,” Terry says. “That’s why we’ve got the best bacon in the state.”
Above: Alward’s friendly meat cutters, Mark Doebler and J.R. Ellsworth, prepping for Memorial weekend, which officially kicks off the busy season each year. The store sells 25,000 to 28,000 pounds of bacon a year including their homemade sandwich bacon and bacon hamburger, shown here.
breakfast sausage, snack sticks, home-cured ham and more. After perfecting his recipes, he partnered with local grocer Dale Johnson to open Johnson & Wyatt for Finest Foods, later renamed Wyatt’s Friendly Market — in the same location that Alward’s Market is in today. In 1978, after 30 years of establishing a premier meat business, Jerry sold the store to his employee, Bob Alward, who he had carefully trained in all aspects of the business — including how to make Alward’s signature bacon. Renaming the store Alward’s Market, Bob and his wife, Kathy, continued to develop an outstanding reputation for making and selling unique, top-quality meats and other products.
For the last three years, Taste of Home — a national media company that produces specialty publications and cookbooks — has named Alward’s bacon “The best in Michigan!” Jerry also developed recipes for venison smoked sausage, bratwurst, mettwurst (a strongly flavored German sausage),
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continued from page 7
When the Alwards retired in 2018, they sold the store to Terry, who owned a nearby café. “This store is such an essential part of the Hale community that I wanted to make sure it retained its essence,” Terry says. “I didn’t want someone from out of the area buying it and changing it.” Bringing Home the Bacon Because the area is a popular vacation spot, the store is wellknown throughout Flint, metro-Detroit and other Michigan cities. Vacationers have a long-standing tradition of stopping in on their way to their cabins and cottages. “People have always come to Hale because of the lakes. We have about 60 in the area,” says Terry. “In the winter, we have about 3,000 residents, but that becomes 30,000 people every summer. May through October is when we make our money. And weekends are much busier than weekdays.”
Circa 1950
The Alwards
Terry reports that store sales triple in the summer. “We tailor the business to that cycle,” he says. To help maintain a healthy bottom line when summer ends and provide a much-needed service during hunting season, Alward’s processes approximately 500 to 600 deer into sausages, meat sticks or whatever custom-cuts a hunter requests. Masters of Meat Terry and his team remain dedicated to maintaining Jerry and Bob’s commitment to excellence. The original smokehouse was built in the 1940s and is still used today. “Most smokehouses nowadays are gas-fired, but we use an old-fashioned wood-fired smokehouse the way it was done 70 year’s ago,” Terry says. “Although we do use modern technology to make the process foolproof.”
Original smokehouse still in use
The team uses a computer to monitor humidity and temperature, with one smokehouse for bacon and sausage and two for their sought-after Smokie Stixs, which are beef and pork snacks with custom seasonings to create a variety of crave-worthy flavors such as Cajun, honey BBQ and teriyaki. More Sizzle For the most part, Terry’s goal is to stick with what works. “We will celebrate the store’s 75th anniversary next year, so I have no plans to change the many things that make this business great,” he says. However, that doesn’t mean he’s complacent. “One significant project that’s underway is that we are working to get USDA approval to make our bacon available for wholesale,” Terry says. “Right now, we can only sell it at retail, but we’d love for it to be in restaurants and other stores.” They are hoping to receive USDA approval later this year. Also new is the store’s in-demand dry-aged rib-eye. Meat cutter Ryan Prescott worked at a meat market outside of Chicago while attending college in Northern Illinois. “He learned so many awesome skills and techniques, and we’re so fortunate to have him on our team,” Terry says. “It was his idea to make and sell dry-aged beef, which is known for having a richer flavor and more tender texture than its fresh-cut counterparts.” Alward’s 35-day aged rib-eye is a huge success. “This past Memorial weekend, we had 40 pounds of it for sale,” Ryan says. “It sold out in 45 minutes.” 8 JULY/AUGUST 2021
MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
A new spin on Alward’s famous meats
Terry adds, “We’ve put the next batch in for 4th of July. This time we’re aging 120 pounds of rib-eye, so hopefully more of our customers will get a chance to try it.” The team is also in the process of renovating the back building to hold more pork belly. “We are very specific about the pork we buy for our bacon and other products,” Terry says. “It’s not always available, so when it is, we want to be able to purchase and store more.” Alward’s has approximately 12 employees, and they work with local schools to hire teens for the summer. “We’re running with a very thin crew right now,” Terry says. “It’s easier today to find workers than it was a year ago, but it’s still difficult to find great workers.” Store owner Terry Bovee is flanked by two of his meat cutters, Ryan Prescott and J.R. Ellsworth.
Alward’s makes a variety of tempting and unique products in the store and also partners with local producers such as The Farmers’ Creamery (below).
Terry shortened the store hours as a way to deal with the labor shortage. “But we are still able to staff our fullservice meat counter,” he says. “Our customers can have their steaks cut to their specifications, just like they did generations ago.” More than “Meats” the Eye Besides their famous meat products, Alward’s makes a variety of other specialty items including the pickled garlic shown here next to their Honey BBQ Smokie Stix, which are a fan favorite. Beyond the in-house items, Terry is happy with the store’s suppliers who include Lipari Foods, Great Lakes Foods, Williams Cheese and several local farms and artisans, such as milk from The Farmers’ Creamery in Mio, about 40 miles away. Alward’s local connection extends to its support of the community. “We participate in all the local parades and festivals,” Terry says. Alward’s sponsors dozens of events in the area each year and supports local schools and fundraisers.
Alward’s tagline: Makin’ Bacon
Go Big ... And Go Home With Bacon Terry soon hopes to announce that the store has come up with an unusual way for customers to get their Alward’s fix 24/7. “People like to stop in on Sunday nights on their way back to the city. We are working on a non-laborintensive way for those folks to get our products,” he says. “I’d like to install a bacon vending machine in front of the store that would carry our jerky, Smokie Stix and other signature items. It would be extremely convenient for all our vacationers.” While there are a few out East and one in Ohio, Terry thinks Alward’s will be the only store in Michigan with a bacon vending machine. “Some foods are simply iconic, and Alward’s bacon is one of them, so I would never change the way we make it,” Terry says. “Going forward, we’ll continue to ensure that any changes or product line expansions make sense with our current products.” As the team looks forward to next year’s 75th anniversary, Alward’s Market remains a good example of how a business can succeed by knowing exactly who they are and excelling in what they do best. MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
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B
usiness owners and other decision-makers from around the state gathered in Lansing on June 9 for the Retail’s Night Out event hosted by Michigan Retailers Association. The afternoon’s three educational sessions helped equip attendees to better meet current business challenges and prepare for what’s to come. First, Shawna Suckow, a buyer behavior expert, revealed which strategies and tools are working right now to help businesses stand out in today’s changed economy. Part presentation, part discussion, the session gave retailers and suppliers practical ideas to implement now. The Organized Crime Panel was up next, discussing ways retailers can help stop organized retail theft. Moderated by Field Investigator John Shuler with Target, the panelist were Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud; Michigan State Police Detective First Lt. Brad Cox; U.S. Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Randal Cummings, and Detective Lt. Michael Kennedy, supervisor of the Canton Police Department’s Detective Bureau.
Todd Buzzell with SpartanNash.
Legislative panel members: Senator Aric Nesbitt and Senator Stephanie Chang.
Sean Kennedy talks about the pandemic’s impact on Polly’s Country Markets with keynote speaker Shawna Suckow.
John Leppink and Arianna Meinke with Leppink’s Food Centers.
Retail’s Night Out Wrap Up The final panel discussed how current and future legislation could impact businesses. Moderated by Political Reporter Kyle Melinn with MIRS, the participants were Senator Aric Nesbitt, Senator Stephanie Chang, Representative Matt Hall and Representative Regina Weiss. Throughout the educational afternoon sessions into the after-five drinks, dinner and fun, the interaction among attendees, speakers, panelists and staff brought added value to the entire event.
As the raised hands indicate, the discussion with the Organized Retail Crime panel was interactive and engaging. Attendees also participated in the other sessions.
“It was nice to get together with other retailers and network again. Wearing my marketing hat, I really benefited from the first session — learning the different ways to market to our customers based on how the world has changed the last couple of years. From that, we are formulating a plan to implant more video on our social media pages to get more engagement.” — Arianna Meinke, Leppink’s Food Centers 10 JULY/AUGUST 2021
MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling’s Brenton Barczkowski and Hollywood Market’s Thom Welch.
Kroger-Michigan’s Rachel Hurst.
Meijer’s Andrew Martin.
“It was a great afternoon and evening — time well spent away from my business. I liked the format, keeping the speaker and panel discussions to a few hours in the afternoon, and following that with some much needed social networking at Lansing Brewing Company.”
—Scott Rumsey, Ed’s Orchard Market
Bobby Bauer and Bob Bauer with BMC and Scott Rumsey with Ed’s Orchard Market.
Amber Delcotto and Samm Pattison with The Campbell Group.
MRA’s Amy Drumm and Polly’s Country Market’s Sean Kennedy.
MRA’s Bill Hallan and Neiman Family Market’s Bryan Neiman.
Organized Retail Crime Panel: Michigan State Police Detective First Lt. Brad Cox; U.S. Department of Homeland Security Special Agent Randal Cummings; Detective Lt. Michael Kennedy, supervisor of the Canton Police Department’s Detective Bureau; Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud. Panel moderator: Field Investigator John Shuler with Target.
The event ended at Lansing Brewing Company with drinks, dinner and raffle prizes. Above: Prize winner Shane Smith with Ric’s Food Center. MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
JULY/AUGUST 2022 11
Enjoy Responsibly.
We’ll drink to that!
Research shows beverage sales are overflowing BY LISA J. REIBSOME, EDITOR
Beverages are big right now. Several reports released over the last few months that looked at what Americans have been drinking and what we’re likely to drink this summer all found that beverage sales are way up. New beverages set the pace Each year Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) analyzes CPG brand launches and designates the top sellers as “New Product Pacesetters.” According to IRI, these new products are responsible for significant store sales growth each year. On the 2022 pacesetters list, a remarkable eight of the top 10 products are beverages. Typically, pacesetter products account for about 33% of total store growth. This year they accounted for 44% of total store growth, despite supply chain issues and other challenges. Specialty beverages also lead Data from the Specialty Food Association notes that specialty beverages are growing faster than specialty food. The “State of the Specialty Food Industry Report” found that, during 2020’s initial height of COVID, specialty food grew faster (21%) than beverages (16%). However, that shifted in 2021 as specialty beverages grew twice as fast as specialty food. Three of the top 10 fastest growing categories are beverages: At the top of the list are ready-to-drink (RTD) refrigerated teas and coffees, followed by refrigerated creams and creamers. Rounding out the list are sodas/carbonated beverages.
U.S. Bottled Water Sales by Volume
2018: 13.8 billion gallons 2020: 14.9 billion gallons 2019: 14.3 billion gallons 2021: 15.7 billion gallons 2022 BMC data
Bottled water set a total volume record of 15.7 billion gallons in 2021, according to BMC. That total volume record eclipsed the previous total volume record held by carbonated soft drinks — 15.3 billion gallons — in 2004.
“Specialty products refer to foods and beverages that are of the highest grade, style and/or quality in their categories,” explains Denise Purcell, vice president of content and education for the Specialty Food Association. Their specialty nature derives from a combination of some or all of the following qualities — uniqueness, global origin, particular processing, design, limited supply, unusual application/use, compelling packaging, or channel of distribution/ sale. “The common denominator is high quality,” Purcell says. “The products in the various categories run the gamut of characteristics like organic but aren’t limited to any one attribute. And many are produced in small batches.” The report also notes that specialty RTD alcoholic beverages such as hard seltzer, hard kombucha and fermented functional cocktails are growing rapidly. Big news for soft drinks Beverage Marketing Corporation (BMC) reports that both beverage volume and retail sales “grew forcefully in 2021.” A surprise: Carbonated soft drinks achieved their first increase in volume in 17 years. While Coca-Cola and Pepsi Cola retained their usual first and second positions, all of the leading carbonated soft drink brands achieved volume growth. In fact, Sprite (at 8.1% volume growth) and Dr Pepper (6.6%) outperforming the overall refreshment beverage market total volume growth of 4.3% (see chart on page 15). Less surprising, bottled water — the largest U.S. beverage category by volume — also grew. continued on page 15 MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
JULY/AUGUST 2022 13
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U.S. Beverage Market Changes in Volume & Retail Dollars By Segment 2020 to 2021
continued from page 13
Volume enlarged by almost 5% and retail dollar sales jumped 11.2%, reaching $40.2 billion. And while still comparatively small in size in terms of overall beverage sales, some niche segments grew more robustly than traditional ones. Ready-to-drink coffee, energy drinks and value-added water moved forcefully, with all three segments experiencing double-digit growth rates for both volume and retail dollars. What’s to come? Drizly, a leading alcohol e-commerce and on-demand delivery platform, just released its annual “Consumer Trend Report” to uncover what Americans are poised to drink this summer and throughout 2022. Among this year’s highlights: n RTD cocktails ranked as the top adult beverage that survey respondents said they anticipate buying more of this year. n Gen Z and Millennials are saying yes to non-alcoholic drinks. Of the Gen Z and Millennial respondents, 38% and 25%, respectively, said they would replace at least some traditional alcoholic drinks with non-alcoholic versions. This differs significantly from of Gen X and Boomers of which only 15% and 8%, respectively, said they would do the same. n “Healthier lifestyle” (44%) was chief among reasons for the switch, outpacing “lower calories or sugar” by 10%. Men (49%) outdistanced women (36%) in citing health as their primary motivation for choosing non-alcoholic beverages.
Segments Ready-to-Drink Coffee Value-added Water Sports Beverages Energy Drinks Carbonated Soft Drinks Bottled Water Ready-to-Drink Tea Fruit Beverages Total
Percent Change Volume Retail Dollars 20.6% 20.7% 16.1% 21.8% 5.2% 15.6% 12.3% 14.9% 3.1% 12.4% 4.7% 11.2% 2.5% 6.8% -0.1% 6.7% 4.3%
Source: Beverage Marketing Corp.
12.3%
An older Drizly study from January found that sales of nonalcoholic beer, wine and other alternatives are up 120% on the company’s app since 2020. Beer makers have taken note of this. For instance, this year Anheuser-Busch launched its first zero-carb beer, Bud Light Next, which has 80 calories and 4% alcohol by volume per 12 ounce can. Confirming Drizly’s findings, new research from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis — a global data/analysis firm — reports that the no/low alcohol segment in the U.S. is forecast to increase by a 28% volume compound annual growth rate by 2025. According to the IWSR, 43% of adults who have purchased no- and low-alcohol beverages say they are substituting those products in place of higher alcoholic beverages, instead of simply abstaining from alcohol. Among adults who have purchased no- and low-alcohol products, 37% of people say that the reason for doing so is to avoid the effects of drinking alcohol. A third of drinkers report that they buy no/low alcohol products simply because they enjoy the taste.
Banner at Dublin General Store
July is Michigan Craft Beer Month
Michigan legislators annually recognize July as “Michigan Craft Beer Month,” noting craft beer’s impact on both the tourism and agricultural industries as well as its ongoing contribution to the economy. The Michigan Brewers Guild reports that this year’s celebration promises to be the biggest and best yet because the guild is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Commemorating the occasion are several promotions including the release of a special beer series — “Grand Crew Ale” made with Michigangrown ingredients and aged in Michigan distillery barrels. The Michigan Brewers Guild is on a mission t o help locally brewed beer attain 20% of all beer sales in the state b y 2025. Retailers may want to ask their distributors what new Michigan beers they can supply this summer.
The Brewers Association (BA) recently released the top brewing companies in the U.S. — both craft and non-craft companies — based on beer sales volume. BA Reports Top 15 Brewing Companies 6. Diageo 1. Anheuser-Busch 11. New Belgium Brewing Co. 7. D. G. Yuengling & Son Inc. 2. MolsonCoors 12. Duvel Moortgat USA 8. FIFCO USA 3. Constellation 13. Founders Brewing 9. Boston Beer Co. 4. Heineken 14. Gambrinus 5. Pabst Brewing Co. 10. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. 15. Bell’s Brewery MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
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Tom Baumann retires after 43 years at Ric’s
Shane Smith and Tom Baumann at MRA’s Retail’s Night Out event on June 9.
Dairy Foods Awareness Day: To celebrate Michigan’s $15.7 billion dairy industry, legislators, industry representatives and the public gathered on June 8 at the state Capitol for Michigan Dairy Foods Awareness Day. MRA Member Country Fresh was one of the vendors distributing free dairy products. Shown here are Country Fresh’s Don Young, events coordinator, and Matt Diotte, sales representative.
On June 24, Tom Baumann retired as Vice President of Operations at Ric’s Food Center after 43 years of service. He is succeeded by Shane Smith, who had been Director of Marketing and Sales for the company. Tom’s held several positions within Ric’s after joining the company in 1979 including Dairy Manager, Store Director and VP of Operations, where he oversaw operations at all three Ric’s locations in Mt. Pleasant, Rockford and Ithaca. In addition, he’s been a longtime supporter of the association and the entire food industry. “Tom’s played a critical role guiding our company for over four decades, helping us adapt to the significant changes we’ve faced in both the supermarket industry and local marketplaces,” says Ric’s Owner Andy Woodrick. “Tom’s father had a grocery store in Remus, so he was steeped in retail from an early age. His ability to create, motivate and execute has made an indelible impact on our organization. He will be greatly missed, but we wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement and thank him for all of his outstanding contributions!”
©2022 The Coca-Cola Company.
16 JULY/AUGUST 2021
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In August 1981, store founder Ric Woodrick (left) and Tom Baumann, who was Ric’s Dairy Manager at the time, were featured in a Country Fresh ad in the Michigan Food News.
Government Affairs News MRA applauds legislative action to curb organized retail crime
Michigan legislators approved legislation and a state budget with initiatives to crack down on organized retail crime: n The Michigan Senate unanimously approved the INFORM (Integrity, Notification and Fairness in Online Retail Marketplaces) Act, House Bills 5486-5487, on June 30. The act will require online marketplaces to verify their high-volume, third-party sellers and provide the seller’s contact information to purchasers. The bills mirror pending federal legislation (HR 5502) and legislation signed into law in 10 other states. n In addition, the Michigan House approved Senate Bill 691, which adds organized retail crime to the list of crimes that can be charged as a racketeering offense. The legislation gives prosecutors the ability to charge criminal ORC rings with up to 20-year felonies and require forfeiture which will help fund future investigations. All three bills were enrolled and sent to the governor. n Lawmakers also approved the fiscal year 2023 budget, which includes $3.5 million in one-time funding to be used over three years for the attorney general to create an Organized Retail Crime Unit dedicated to investigating and prosecuting ORC statewide. This unit will be critical in cracking down on criminal rings who send boosters into retail stores to steal items that are then resold, often online, for profit. “By taking these three actions, the Michigan Legislature sent a clear message that Michigan will not be a home for continued organized retail crime activity,” says MRA President and CEO Bill Hallan. “It’s a trifecta win for retail.”
MRA designates state legislative candidates as ‘Friends of Retail’
MRA designated 99 legislative candidates — 66 running for the Michigan House of Representative and 33 running for the Michigan Senate — as “Friends of Retail,” which means they have earned the support of MRA members. The designations were approved by MRA’s Legislative Committee and are based on an analysis of voting records and candidate questionnaires. Please check out the list at retailers.com/news before voting in the Aug. 2 primary.
Gov. signs bills to lower age to work at alcohol wholesalers
On June 29, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed House Bills 5696 and 5726 to help address staffing shortages at alcohol wholesalers. The bills are now Public Act 122 of 2022 and took effect immediately. They allow employees age 16 and older to handle alcohol products on the job including building displays, pricing products or placing/rotating products. In addition, employees age 16 and up can now get work permits to work at places where alcoholic beverages are distributed, even if the sale of food or other goods makes up less than 50% of the total gross receipts. Minors had been prohibited from working in establishments where alcoholic beverages were distilled, rectified, compounded, brewed, manufactured, bottled, consumed, distributed, sold at retail or sold for consumption on the premises unless the sale of food or other goods made up at least 50% of the total gross receipts. Please note: To date, no legislation has been passed to permit employees under age 18 to sell alcohol at a business licensed to sell alcohol for off-premises consumption, such as grocery, convenience or liquor stores. As introduced, HB 4232 was written to allow this. However, the Senate changed the bill so that it no longer applied to businesses with a license for off-premises alcohol consumption. Instead, the bill — which was signed into law as Public Act 101 of 2022 on June 14 — allows 17-year-old waitstaff to sell and serve alcohol at restaurants and other businesses licensed for on-premises alcohol sales. The individual must have completed a server training program as required by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. During a shift when a 17-year-old employee is selling and serving alcohol, there must also be supervisory personnel on the premises who are at least age 18 and have also successfully completed a server training program.
Legislature approves bills mirroring federal tobacco purchase age
House Bills 6108-6109 to raise the state’s legal age to buy tobacco, vapor and alternative nicotine products from age 18 to 21 passed both the Michigan House and Senate. The bills mirror the 2019 federal law changing the age to 21, which would maintain state funding from the federal government and give the state greater enforcement authority. The bills are tie-barred to Senate Bill 720, which reduces the state’s tobacco tax on certain lower-risk products and expands mail delivery of tobacco products. That means the bills increasing the age to buy tobacco would only become law if SB 720 also becomes law. All three bills have been enrolled but not sent to the governor yet. MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
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MDARD News
Planning and preparation, at all levels, are key to having an effective emergency response By Tim Slawinski
Food and Dairy Division Director, Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
Michigan retail food businesses have faced a variety of disasters over the past couple of years, from the floods in Midland and tornadoes in Gaylord, to fires and severe storms across the state that led to power outages or structural damage. Disasters can strike without notice at any time of year, but the summer months in Michigan, in particular, are ripe for severe weather and the challenges that come with it.
online Incident Command System courses, and hundreds of others have received advanced training to be able to effectively serve on an Incident Management Team when disaster strikes. Employees continuously train, plan and practice what to do in a variety of possible disaster scenarios to create depth in our response capacity, increase our skills and shorten our reaction time in actual emergencies.
Preparing for a disaster before it strikes is always your best bet. This can help reduce risk, minimize damage and speed up response time and recovery efforts — all of which can impact your bottom line.
Those training sessions include sampling teams that participate in multidisciplinary emergency preparedness exercises, focusing on collecting and testing various products. Every three years, MDARD conducts a series of Sampling Team Exercises around the state. The exercises are geared toward department field staff and other partners, including local health departments and other state and federal agencies to increase awareness of and preparedness for emergency operations and the use of the Incident Command System.
PREPARING FOR STATEWIDE EMERGENCIES MDARD doesn’t just preach preparedness to you, our industry partners, we practice, train and prepare for emergencies ourselves. All MDARD employees are required to complete four
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MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
Exercise scenarios have included: n Emergency sampling, trace-back and trace-forward, and recall effectiveness checks during food and feed emergencies; n Consumer protection blitzes including sampling of insect repellents for proper formulation and checks for credit card skimmers at gas pumps; n Field surveys for plant pests including Balsam Wooly Adelgid and Asian Long-horned Beetle; and n Animal health emergencies including Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza and Foot-andMouth disease.
MDARD staff training for a mass sampling deployment as part of the agency’s commitment to respond quickly and effectively to any foodborne, animal disease or other emergency. Photo courtesy of MDARD.
These exercises are key to ensuring MDARD staff understands emergency response concepts so the department maintains surge capacity. By testing capabilities, stretching capacity and trying new strategies, MDARD remains prepared. As a bonus, the exercises serve as a unique opportunity for networking across programs and divisions. They also provide a chance to engage with response partners across federal, state and local governments. While the exercises take a lot of staff resources to plan and execute, results are tangible in the department’s ability to respond to real emergencies affecting the Michigan food and agriculture sector.
Think about your specific business and what you can do to prepare for and respond to different situations. n What do I need to do if disaster strikes? Have an emergency action plan and follow it when disaster strikes! How do you protect food not damaged by the initial disaster? How do you keep yourself and your employees safe during a disaster and the response that follows? MDARD created a sample document, “Emergency Action Plans for Retail Food Establishments,” available at michigan.gov/mdard. Take time to review and tailor it to your specific needs.
n Who do I notify if my business has been affected by a disaster? If there is a possibility the food products in your business have been affected by the disaster, you are required to notify MDARD. Call your food inspector or MDARD’s call center at (800) 292-3939. Food affected by water, smoke, chemical exposure, damage to packaging or loss of temperature control for safety are all considered adulterated. Your food inspector can assist in determining which While the exercises foods are still safe for sale and which need to take a lot of staff be disposed of properly.
HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLAN FOR YOUR BUSINESS Planning on a state level is great, but it’s extremely important for you to have an emergency action plan for your business and to prepare for any emergency. It could save your business and the lives of you and your employees. It could also reduce the economic impact a disaster can have on your business. Here are some things to consider: n What type of disaster am I at risk for? You should consider the type of hazard(s) for which your establishment is most vulnerable and take precautions to minimize the impact of such occurrences. Most businesses have some level of risk for fire, power outage, sewage back-up, water service interruption, or even a foodborne illness outbreak or intentional contamination event. Others may be in a floodplain or an industrial area or near a nuclear power plant. Think about where your business is located and what the risks to your business may be.
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resources to plan and execute, results are tangible in the department’s ability to respond to real emergencies affecting the Michigan food and agriculture sector.
n What can I do to mitigate the risk? It is important to plan ahead and be prepared for any emergency situation that could affect your food establishment. Simple things like making sure your equipment is in good working condition or having a back-up generator can help. A staff trained to respond to disasters and an emergency contact list also help.
If your business is required to close for any period of time due to a disaster, your inspector will need to reinspect to authorize reopening. Your MDARD food inspector is a resource to help keep your loss to a minimum and help you recover as fast as possible.
Your local municipality may also have requirements you need to meet to continue operating your business or to reopen if you have been closed for a while. Become familiar with these requirements and know who to call before disaster strikes. Keep the information in a place you can access it, even if your business is not accessible during an emergency.
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I hope everyone stays safe and enjoys a prosperous summer! MICHIGAN FOOD NEWS
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603 S. Washington Avenue, Lansing, MI 48933 (800) 366-3699 www.retailers.com
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Lansing, MI Permit No. 846
Workers’ compensation insurance with automatic cyber security coverage Our policies also have a $2 million employers liability limit, much higher than the standard $500,000. Find an agent at RetailersInsurance.com or call 800.366.3699