OCTOBER 2016

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016 C DB l D ue na ss tio r I Na ina th m 48 Se Calendar OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DDBC of Southern California www.ddbcsocal.org In...
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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2016

C DB l D ue na ss tio r I Na ina th m 48 Se

Calendar OFFICIAL PUBLICATION DDBC of Southern California

www.ddbcsocal.org

In This Issue: 48th National DDBC Seminar The 48th National DDBC Seminar is scheduled to be conducted Sept. 9-11 at the Marriott Cliffs Hotel and Spa in Dana Point. The theme is “Staying Relevant in a Changing World” and the program features a host of heavyweight retailers and industry leaders who will lead attendees to where the industry is heading. Everything you need to know about the Seminar begins on Page 10.

Lifetime Achievement Award: The founders of Normark & Associates, one of the seminal Perishable Foods brokers in the nation, will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the October meeting. Three generations of the Levey family – Ralph, Mark, and Alan – will be honored, along with many former associates. Read about this pioneering group in the Southern California food industry on Page 24.

Also in this issue: Stories on two Big Cheese Award honorees in Nancy Tyler (Acosta) for September and Jim Wakefield (Smart & Final) for October; a look at Mexican Independence Day; news from various segments of the industry; an expanded calendar.

Advertiser index Acosta Cacique USA City of Hope DSW Distribution Evergood Sausage Florida’s Natural JTJ Sales La Mexicana

25 Cover, 29 31 4 2 9 38 5

Litehouse Foods 38 Marin Cheese 42 Mission Foods 7 Nasser Co., Inc. 39 Raymundo’s 37 Reynaldo’s Mexican Foods 29 Sierra Nevada Cheese 43 V&V Supremo 22-23

Advertising, editorial information For advertising information in the DDBC News, contact Dalva Fisher at 435-674-3504 or Pacific Rim Publishing Co., P.O. Box 4533, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. 714-375-3900. FAX: 714-375-3906.

Items to be submitted for editorial consideration should be sent to: Editor, DDBC News, P.O. Box 4533, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. All submissions are subject to editing for style and content.

DDBC NEWS (USPS 152-360, ISSN 00117862) is published 6 times per year for the DDBC of Southern California. Published by Pacific Rim Publishing Co., P.O. Box 4533, Huntington Beach, CA 92647. 714-375-3900. FAX 714-375-3906. The DDBC address is P.O. Box 1872, Whittier, CA 90609. Phone 562-947-7016. FAX: 562-947-7872. Subscription rates are $30 per year. Membership in the DDBC includes a subscription. Copyright 2012 by the DDBC of Southern California. All rights reserved.

September 5 – Labor Day. 9-11 – 48th DDBC National Seminar, Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa, Dana Point. Information: 562947-7016. 15 – Monterrey Food Show, La Costa Resort, Carlsbad. 16 – Mexican Independence Day. 25-27 – California Grocers Conference, Palm Springs. Information: www.cagrocers.com. October 2-4 – Rosh Hashanah. 8-11 – International Baking Industry Exposition, Las Vegas. Info: www.ibie2016.com. 11-12 – Yom Kippur. 13 – DDBC Membership Meeting, Embassy Suites Hotel, Garden Grove. Information: 562-947-7016. 15-18 – National Frozen and Refrigerated foods Convention, Washington, D.C. Information: www.nfraweb.org/meetings/nfrfconvention/details.aspx?MeetId=8. 22 – City of Hope Harvest Ball, Hyatt Regency Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach. Information: www.cityofhope.org/scfic-harvest. November 1 – DDBC Election Night, Embassy Suites Hotel, Garden Grove. Information: 562-947-7016.

More Calendar Page 42 About the cover Cacique® USA has offered only the finest quality cheeses and other Hispanic products for nearly five decades. You can see the purity in every Cacique® product that comes with the pride, dating from unrivaled tradition and exemplary service. All have combined to make Cacique® the largest Hispanic cheese manufacturer in the world. DDBC News, September/October 2016

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VOL. LIII NO. 5 2016 • ISSN 00117862 Executive Director: Susan Steele OFFICERS: President: Silvia Quiroz (Cardenas Markets); First Vice President: Dave MacDonald (Hood Foods); Second Vice President: Sue Bargsten (DPI Specialty Foods); Third Vice President: Jim Veregge (Unified Grocers); Secretary: Emily Aguilar (Daisy Brand); Treasurer: Bill Mackie (Processor’s Marketing and Research); Advisor: Cheryl Van Den Hende (Monterrey). DIRECTORS: Robert Burke (Emkay Food Brokers); Donna Harkema (Farmer John), Matt Hebert (Insight Food Sales); Sokha Lim (Norseland, Inc.), Jaime Prager (Albertsons/Vons/Pavilion). Laura Taketomo (Food 4 Less), Nancy Tyler (Acosta), Damian Valdez (Super King Markets), Lulu Vargas (Magnolia Foods), Becky Villasenor (Cacique, Inc.), Miriam Welch (Albertsons/Vons/Pavilion). PAST PRESIDENTS: §Sydney Fisher, 1960; §Loyd Knutson, 1961; §Sam Freed, 1962; §Harry Schneider, 1963; §Earl Anderson, 1964; §Leo Cohen, 1965; §Art Jelin, 1966; §George Hobbs, 1967; §Eli Coleite, 1968; Bill Trapani, 1969; §Pete Uraine, 1970; §Otto Schirmer, 1971; §John Andikian, 1972; Ted Hopkins, 1973; §Stan Coop, 1974; §Ray Ferry, 1975; §A.A. “Bud” Moorman, 1976; Bill Schwartz, 1977; Eleanor Bennett, 1978; §Bob Garcia, 1979; §Harold Davis, 1980; Randall Chew, 1981; Gary Illingworth, 1982; §Ken Tisdell, 1983; John Vitale, 1984; Gary Provenzano, 1985; Joe Jimenez, 1986; Dick Schwebe, 1987; Diane Beecher, 1988; Joe Matyasik, 1989; Don Fisher, 1990; Mark Stringer, 1991; §Jerry Lewis, 1992; Mark Dixon, 1993; Kathie Porter, 1994; Jim Allumbaugh, 1995; Jim Veregge, 1996; Rona Reeves, 1997; Joy Sawhill, 1998; Debra Zimmerman, 1999; Peter Hejny, 2000; Jeff Merrill, 2001; Bill Hankes, 2002, Manny Marin 2003-04; Bob Dressler, 2005; Jon Amidei, 2006; Sue Bargsten, 2007; §Rigo Landeros, 2008; Rey Garza, 2009; Lisa Juarez, 2010; Stacy Gilbert, 2011; Neil Swanson, 2012; Bill Mackie 2013; Connie Thatcher 2014; Cheryl Van Den Hende 2015. HALL OF FAME: §Harry Schneider, 1983; §Sam Freed and §Ralph Levey, 1984; §Pete Uraine, 1985; §Al Berger, 1986; §Eddie Goldstein and §George Hobbs, 1987; §A.A. “Bud” Moorman, 1988; §Morrie Rosenfeld and §Claus Simon, 1989; §Otto Schirmer and §Andy Stylianou, 1990; §Ray Ferry, 1991; §Bob

4 DDBC News, September/October 2016

 

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Garcia and §Art Jelin, 1992; §Lou Agrati, 1993; §Bernie Brener, 1994; Mark Levey, 1995; §Harold Davis, 1996; Eleanor Bennett and §Joe Malin, 1997; Gary Illingworth and §Ken Tisdell, 1998; §Jo Ann Benci and Ken Hanshaw, 1999; Tom Keyes, 2000; John Vitale, 2001; Bill Schwartz, 2002; Ted Hopkins and Dick Schwebe, 2003; Diane Beecher, §Stan Coop, and §Jerry Lewis, 2004; Don Fisher and Rona Reeves, 2005; §Bill MacAloney and Rob Willardson, 2006; Jim Veregge, 2007; Mark Dixon, 2008; Kathie Porter, 2009; John Brass, 2010; Jim DeKeyser and Burhan Nasser, 2011; Jack Taylor, 2012; Jeff Merill and Judy Norton, 2013; Dave Daniel and Cheryl Kennick, 2014; Jim Allumbaugh and Debra Zimmerman, 2015. RETAILER OF THE YEAR: §Stan Coop, 1975; §Bill MacAloney, 1976; §Eddie Goldstein, 1977; §Pete Uraine, 1978; §Art Jelin, 1979; §A.A. “Bud” Moorman, 1980; Ken Hanshaw, 1981; Eleanor Bennett, 1982; Gary Illingworth, 1983; §Harold Davis, 1984; John Vitale, 1985; Eddie Hoggatt, 1986; Don Fisher, 1987; §Fred Brandt, 1988; Diane Beecher, 1989; Les Taylor, 1990; Bob Johnson, 1991; §Jerry Lewis, 1992; Dave Wolff, 1993; Dave Fernandez, 1994; Kathie Porter, 1995; John Brass, 1996; Jim Veregge, 1997; §Bernie Brener; §Jean Dreshner, 1998; Cindy Mulvaney, 1999; Mark Miale, 2000; Mickey Gold, 2001; Andre Mesropian, 2002; Joe Rodriquez, 2003; Pete Hejny, 2004; Manny Marin, 2005, Jim Roesler, 2006; Sue Bargsten, 2007; Steve Nguyen, 2008; Matt Reeve, 2009; Robin Bell, 2010; Gayle DeCaro, 2011; Dennis McIntyre, 2012, Silvia Quiroz, 2013; Laura Taketomo, 2014; Miriam Welch, 2015. PRESIDENTS AWARD: §Don Lee, 1992; §Louis Vitale, 1995; §A.A. “Bud” Moorman, 1997; Diane Beecher, 1998; Eleanor Bennett, 1999; Mark Dixon, 2007; Debra Zimmerman, 2012. LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: §Walt Scheck, 1999; §Ken Tisdell, 2001; Larry English, 2001; Charlice Makowski, 2005; Mark Roth, 2006; Tom Ilharreguy 2006; John Vitale, 2010; Terry Fyffe, 2011; Mickey Gold, 2012; §Bill MacAloney, 2012; Gilbert de Cardenas, 2013; Eleanor Bennett, 2014; Kevin Davis, 2014; Tom Keyes, 2015. SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR: §George Hobbs, 1975; §Lou Agrati, 1976; §Chico Santillan, 1977; Mark Levey, 1978; §Morrie Rosenfeld, 1979; §Ken Tisdell, 1980; §Walt Scheck, 1981; Larry English, 1982; §Bob Garcia, 1983; Ted Hopkins, 1984; Bob Fetzner, 1985; Joe Wilson, 1986; §Claus Simon, 1987; §Joe Malin, 1988; Tom Keyes, 1989; §Creighton Wiggins, 1990; Gary Illingworth, 1991; Paul Yates, 1992; Rob Willardson, 1993; Mark Dixon, 1994; Dick Schwebe, 1995; Jim Allumbaugh, 1996; Paul Christianson, 1997; Rona Reeves, 1998; Bill Schwartz, 1999; Jim DeKeyser, 2000; Burhan Nasser, 2001; Jeff Merrill, 2002; Bill Hankes, 2003; John Brass, 2004; Debra Zimmerman, 2005, Jack Taylor, 2006; Jon Amidei and Bob Dressler, 2007; Paul Miller, 2008; Monica Stone, 2009; Judy Norton, 2010; Ann Dressler and Rey Garza, 2011; Lisa Juarez, 2012; Fred Rowen, 2013; Craig Covell and John Nielsen, 2014; Barbara Dolbee, 2015. § — Deceased.

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Mexican Independence Day

Difference between Mexican holidays is vast Independence Day (Día de la Independencia) is a Mexican holiday to celebrate the “cry of independence” on September 16, 1810, which started a revolt against the Spaniards. It follows from the day of the Cry of Dolores (El Grito de Dolores), on September 15. Mexicans celebrate their country’s Independence Day with fireworks, parties (fiestas), food, dance and music on Sept. 16. Flags, flowers and decorations in the colors of the Mexican flag – red, white and green – are seen in public areas in cities and towns in Mexico. Whistles and horns are blown and confetti is thrown to celebrate this festive occasion. “Viva Mexico” or “Viva la independencia” are shouted amidst the crowds on this day. Independence Day is a national public holiday in Mexico. Banks, schools, government offices and many businesses are closed. Some streets and roads may be closed or restricted in major cities to make way for large celebrations. People intending on travelling via public transport in Mexico should check with public transit authorities on any timetable or route changes. Independence Day celebrates the day Miguel Hidalgo is believed to have made the cry of independence (El Grito de la Independencia) in the town of Dolores, in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Hidalgo was one of the nation’s leaders during the War of Independence in Mexico. There is no scholarly agreement on what was exactly said by Hidalgo, but his speech, also known as the cry of Dolores (el Grito de Dolores), was made on Sept. 16, 1810 to motivate people to revolt against the Spanish regime. Hidalgo’s army fought against the Spanish soldiers in the fight for independence, but he was captured and ex-

6 DDBC News, September/October 2016

ecuted on July 30, 1811. Mexico’s independence was not declared until Sept. 28, 1821. Hidalgo was a priest but was also known to have lived outside the parameters of celibacy. He was believed to have fathered children, including 2 daughters. Many in the United States confuse Mexican Independence Day with Cinco de Mayo (May 5), which is a totally different celebration at a different time in Mexico’s history. For more than 150 years, Cinco de Mayo, a bicultural celebration that has become synonymous with margaritas, cervezas (beer) and the occasional controversy, but most

people don’t know the real story behind this holiday. Here are five facts that may surprise you about Cinco de Mayo: 1. It’s not Mexico’s Independence Day: Cinco de Mayo commemorates the triumph of the Mexican army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. This victory occurred more than 50 years after Mexico’s Independence Day, which is celebrated on Sept. 16. “The significance of Cinco de Mayo is that it represents Mexican resistance to foreign intervention. It is a moment where Mexico as a young nation rallied to defend itself,” said Raul Ramos, Associate Professor of History at the University of Houston. “But it was not a struggle for independence. Instead, it represented a struggle against imperialism.” Ramos noted that prior to the first Cinco de Mayo, Mexico was a nation with strong regional differences, from the Pacific coast to Northern Mexico to the Yucatan. “The Battle of Puebla helped the country coalesce

around the idea of a unified Mexican identity.” 2. Cinco de Mayo commemorates a military victory over France – not Spain. Why was Mexico at war with France? Because the Mexican government had defaulted on its foreign debt to several European countries, so France invaded our southern neighbor. Napoleon III hoped to install a monarchy in Mexico (which he was able to do for a few years before Mexico ousted the French). “The French army was considered the best army in the world at the time, and they had not been defeated in decades,” Professor Margarita Sánchez of Wagner College told NBC News. “So this was a real David vs. Goliath situation that inspired Mexicans at home and in the U.S.” 3. Cinco de Mayo is a bigger celebration in the U.S. than in Mexico. “Recent Mexican immigrants are often surprised at what a huge thing Cinco de Mayo has become here,” said Sánchez. “They do celebrate the holiday in Mexico, but it is only a big deal in Puebla.” Los Angeles is host to what is routinely described as the largest Cinco de Mayo party in the world, a multiday event known as Fiesta Broadway. The scale of these festivities even dwarfs those in Puebla. “It (Cinco de Mayo) started out as a cultural celebration, then became bigger and bigger,” said Sánchez. “And at some point it became very commercial; with people taking advantage of the day to drink all the Coronas they can drink.” The evolution of Cinco de Mayo can be seen as a metaphor for Mexican-American assimilation. The first American Cinco de Mayo celebrations date back to the 1860s, Continued on Page 31

The BIG

CHEESE

Award

JIM WAKEFIELD

Congratulations from your partners at Mission & Guerrero.

President’s Message

DDBC year going out with a bang 2016 winds down with more to come after another exciting year By SILVIA QUIROZ Cardenas Markets 2016 DDBC President Another amazing year for the Dairy Deli Bakery Council (DDBC) of Southern California is coming to a close and all indications are it is going out with a bang. On deck this month is our 48th National Seminar, the annual highlight of our year, and this one promises to be one of the best as three dynamic Southern California retailers representing the best in our industry are keynote speakers on our theme of “Staying Relevant in a Changing World.” And the concluding business session on Sunday morning, featuring Sand Artist Joe Castillo, is something not to be missed. He has a unique presentation that is truly aweinspiring. One of the best things about the Seminar is for all of the perishable foods industry to come together in a spirit of camaraderie. There is no other organization in the nation like ours that fosters friendship among fierce business competitors. My heartfelt congratulations and appreciation go out to Laura Taketomo (Food 4 Less), who has stepped up for the past two years to take on the task as General Chairman. Her leadership has been exemplary in staging the highly successful Seminar in 2015 and which will be displayed prominently again this year. She has gone way above the call of duty for the DDBC and is certainly appreciated by me, the Board of Directors, and the entire membership. Speaking of the Board, this year’s group has made my term an easy one. I always have been … and continue to be … awed not only by the dedication of the individuals who serve us all, but also in the companies that support them in their efforts to serve the DDBC. We could not survive without the support of these companies. Looking back at this year brings fond memories. We started off this year with a

8 DDBC News, September/October 2016

Silvia Quiroz pair of back-to-back events that shine a light on our best. It began with our Dinner/Dance and Installation of Officers at the Orange Hill Restaurant in January. Next, it was our annual Awards Night dinner, honoring our Hall of Fame members Jim Allumbaugh and Debra Zimmerman, along with our Retailer of the Year Miriam Welch and our Supplier of the Year Barbara Dolbee Gibbons. March found us celebrating football season early with a visit from one of Southern California’s all-time great players in Anthony Davis, who is instrumental in advocating brain scans for players to counteract the effects of concussions, which has become a national issue. April found us at our annual Spring Golf Tournament at Tijeras Creek Golf Club in a fun-filled day in another example of networking among friends and business rivals in a setting that is rarely seen among many business organizations. June found us celebrating the third Jean Dreshner Memorial Casino Night, with funds being raised for the Lymphoma Foundation while passing out dozens of valuable prizes to the lucky winners at the gaming tables.

The July meeting was held the same night of the All-Star Baseball Game and former Dodger player and current Angel coach Mickey Hatcher provided all the laughs we needed to get us through the summer. After the Seminar, we are looking forward to the October meeting, where we take a look forward and a look back. First, we will present our Scholarship recipients, honoring family members of current DDBC members as a look ahead to, perhaps to future leaders in our industry. Then, we will take a look back at Normark & Associates and three generations of the Levey family … Ralph, Mark, and Alan. Normark was a pioneer broker in the perishable foods industry and helped create business as we know it today. Program Chairman Jim Veregge (Unified Grocers), who has done a masterful job with his presentations of Lifetime Achievement Awards over the years, has put together another valuable history lesson for us. Many former Normark & Associates personnel will be on hand. Finally, November is Election Night, one of the fun nights of the year where candidates for the Board present themselves, often humorously, to the membership. There always is a good turnout at this meeting because it allows us to get a peek at the coming year. I want to thank everyone for allowing me to serve as President this year. It has been my pleasure and more fulfilling than I ever could have thought it would be. And I am sure that whoever sits in this chair next year, will have the same amount of cooperation and spirit as I have received. Finally, I want to express my thanks to the Cardenas Family, which has supported me and encouraged me, not only in my duties with the DDBC, but also in my post in the buying department. It is a wonderful organization to work for ... and a generous one, as well. It was Cardenas Markets that got our Scholarship Fund efforts off to the best start ever with their $10,000 donation this year. It truly is a special company and a special family.

4431 Corporate Center Dr. #123 Los Alamitos, CA 90720 (714) 699-1030 Fax (714) 723-6486

4431 Corporate Center Dr. #123 Los Alamitos, CA 90720 (714) 699-1030 Fax (714) 723-6486

48th National DDBC Seminar

Seminar plays to its strengths this year By DAVE DANIEL Editor, DDBC News When the curtain rang down on the 47th National Seminar in September 2015 and the rave reviews were pouring in, Laura Taketomo (Food 4 Less) took a deep breath. The accolades were piling up and wellwishers were patting her on the back for a job well done as General Chairman, and rightfully so. There was one downside to all the success ... no one was stepping up to take on this year’s assignment as General Chairman. As all successful authors know, everyone has one book inside them. The trick is to have more than one book on the bestseller charts (just ask Harper Lee this past year). Taketomo, never one to rest on her laurels, stepped up to the plate, agreeing to serve as Chairman again for the 48th Seminar, scheduled for Sept. 9-11 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point. “First of all, the faciltiy wanted us back and it is always a good feeling to feel wanted,” she said. “It was new to our membership and was received with much enthusiasm, not only for the facility itself, but for the location. “The staff there was more than cooperative with us in allowing us to bring much of our own food in and helping us prepare it for the National Festival Luncheon. If you have ever been in a professional kitchen on the level of a resort, you know how picky chefs can be with what leaves their kitchen. The chefs were a pleasure to work with and the food they provided ... always a consideration for this group ... was 5-star quality,” she said. The other main concern always is the program. Last year’s program featured a wider variety of speakers, covering retailers, a homage to 9-11, and a celebrity chef who nearly stole the show with his downto-earth presentation. “We realize that attendees want to be informed and not so much entertained during the Business Sessions,” Taketomo said, “so we have loaded the opening Business Session with three prominent Southern

Looking down the coast from the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point, site of the 48th DDBC National Seminar. California retail executives and added a unique presentation Sunday morning, that not only is motivational, but inspiring in its beauty and simpleness.” The theme is Laura Taketomo, “Staying Relevant in Food 4 Less, a Changing World.” Seminar General Delegation to vari- Chairman ous Committee Chairmen also has been a key. It is a large commitee, but the information has been flowing both ways in the communicating with everyone concerned. Attendees also will have the opportunity to help pack boxes of personal items for U.S. troops overseas as a gesture of the DDBC’s support and good will. “We started that last year and were really surprised at how the attendees responded,” Taketomo said. “We will have an assembly line after the Festival Luncheon to fill 300 boxes this year.” The official kickoff of each Seminar is the Tisdell Cup National Deli Scramble as golfers take to the prestigious Monarch Beach Golf Club for the eighth renewal,

10 DDBC News, September/October 2016

which was overseen by the late Ken Tisdell. The Cup is named for him. “There is an earlier start time for this year’s golf outing,” Taketomo said, “ which means the golfers will be able to relax before the Friday night reception and dinner.” The National Festival Luncheon will be an outdoor affair overlooking the ocean as the annual wide variety of foods – some exotic, some familiar – and desserts are prepared by volunteers. Saturday night will feature an elegant dinner followed by entertainment and dancing. Other entertainment will be provided by popular soloists Brian Stodart Friday evening and Mike Officer during the Festival Luncheon. And Taketomo has a few surprises up her sleeve. “Last year we opened the first Business Session with a team-building effort by having each table of attendees assemble a special jigsaw puzzle,” she said. “We weren’t sure how that would be received, but it turned out to be quite enjoyable ... and competitive for all involved.” There won’t be any puzzles this year, but rest assured, there will be some changes and a few surprises in store.

48th National DDBC Seminar Tentative Schedule Friday – Sept. 9, 2016 7:30 a.m.– Golf Check-in Monarch Beach Golf Club 8:30 a.m.– Shotgun start 8th Tisdell Cup 5-10 p.m. – Seminar Registration Check-in Del Mar Lawn 6-10 p.m. – Reception, Golf Awards, Dinner Buffet, & Entertainment Del Mar Lawn Saturday – Sept. 10, 2016 8-9:30 a.m. – Breakfast, Dana Ballroom 9 a.m. – Opening Business Session, Dana Ballroom Mike Carey, Food 4 Less, Master of Ceremonies Joe Theiss, Eggland’s Best, Big Cheese Award Jamie Prager, Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions 10:30-10:50 a.m. – Coffee Break Andy Copeland, Food 4 Less Rob McDougall, Food 4 Less 12:15-2 p.m. Deli Festival Luncheon, Vue Lawn 1-2 p.m. Military Care Packages Build, Vue Lawn Afternoon Free 5 p.m. – Silent Auction Opens & Social/Appetizer Hour Dana Ballroom 6:15 p.m. – Dinner, Dana Ballroom 7:15 p.m. – The Saint Twins Mentalists 8-11 p.m. – DJ Craig & Photo Booth 8-10 p.m. 8:30 p.m. – Silent Auction Closes Sunday – Sept. 11, 2016 8-9 a.m. – Breakfast, Dana Ballroom 9 a.m. – Closing Business Session, Dana Ballroom Mike Carey, Food 4 Less, Master of Ceremonies Joe Castillo, Sand Artist/Storyteller $1,000 Raffle & Closing Remarks 11:15 a.m. – Seminar Concludes 11 a.m. – Check out (hotel will hold luggage) Attendees who have pre-registered their child for Kid’s Kamp Friday night – 6-10 p.m. – Capistrano Room Saturday night – 5-10 p.m. – Capistrano Room Dinner will be provided for Kids

Everything you need to know ... “Staying Relevant in a Changing World” has been selected as the theme for the 48th DDBC National Seminar, which is scheduled to be conducted Sept. 9-11 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort and Spa in Dana Point. The following is what to expect during the Seminar: Friday Golf The golf tournament is the traditional kick-off event of each year’s Seminar. This year, the 8th Tisdell Cup National Scramble will be conducted at the prestigious Monarch Beach Golf Links, located on the grounds of the St. Regis Resort. Tee-off is scheduled for 8 a.m., meaning the golfers will finish well before the evening’s social hour, have time to freshen up and get ready for the Seminar proper. The annual tournament was named for DDBC Hall of Fame member Ken Tisdell, who was chairman of the event for a number of years. A perpetual Cup ... the Tisdell Cup ... was added eight years ago and the tournament has been known since as the “Tisdell Cup.” The names of the winning team members are engraved on the cup each year.

The late Ken Tisdell Few golf experiences can match the blend of stunning natural beauty and variety of challenges presented at Monarch Beach Golf Links. Along the dramatic bluffs of Southern California, master architect Robert Trent Jones Jr. has fashioned an inContinued on Page 12 DDBC News, September/October 2016

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48th National DDBC Seminar

In the spotlight at the Seminar

One view of the prestigious Monarch Beach Golf Course at the nearby St. Regis Resort. Continued from Page 11 triguing layout in the Scottish links tradition on one of the select few oceanfront golf courses in California. Commanding sweeping views to the sea, this par-70 championship course offers an unending variety of play. Friday evening Brian Stodart A social hour and dinner are on tap in the opening evening’s get-together that features the entertainer Brian Stodard, who has performed at the past several Seminars, providing just the right sounds in a variety of ways, both singing and playing multiple instruments. Stodart is an accomplished professional pianist, guitarist and vocalist. He will provide background entertainment at the Friday night mixer and dinner following the golf tournament. Stodart performs at a variety of entertainment venues and ceremonies. He has performed at weddings, Convention Centers, Downtown Disney, and at

the beach with his mobile Grand Piano. He appeared at the DDBC’s 2011 Awards Night in Temecula and also at previous National Seminars. From James Taylor, The Beatles, Elton John and Billy Joel, to Norah Jones, Kings of Leon, Jason Mraz and Coldplay, Stodart skillfully delivers an eclectic yet familiar mix of the greatest singer-songwriters of the last four decades.

as well as developing and implementing schematics for GM and Perishable departments. In his current post, he provides local/regional market data input for selection of items advertised and establishing competitive retails. He assists Deli/Bakery Merchandiser in developing the Division Business Plan consistent with the Company Business Plan. and does Vendor selection & contract negotiations as well as new item selection & product demonstration. He is a current member of the Kroger Division Cultural Council.

Saturday morning Opening Business Session Following a delicious breakfast, a trio of highly respected business leaders from the Southern California Supermarket industry will address the Seminar’s theme of “Staying Relevant in a Changing World.” Jaime Prager, Andy McDonald and Rob McDougall will offer their unique perspectives and what their companies are doing going forward. The emcee is Mike Carey, Service Deli Bakery Manager at Food 4 Less.

Jaime Prager Prager is the Assistant Sales Manager at Albertsons Companies Southern California Division (Albertsons/Vons/Pavilion). He has been in the Grocery Industry for 36 years. He started as a courtesy clerk at Vons in 1980 and worked through positions including Store Manager and then in Marketing as a Category Manager for a total of 22 years. He then worked as a Regional Manager for Tazo Tea and Full Sail Brewing and at a few Independent Markets in Southern California, including Jons Marketplace as the Director of Operations. He joined Smart & Final in 2008 and was the Director of Non-Foods and Beverages before joining the new player in town, Haggen in 2015. He has been at Albertsons since October 2015. Prager earned a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from Cal State University Fullerton, attended the USC Food Industry Management Program, and the Cornell University Food Executive Management Executive Program. He has been married to Julie for 30 years. They have three children, Rory, 27, Katie, 25 and Kellie, 20.

Mike Carey Carey has held the post since December 2012. He began at Food 4 Less in 1989, giving him 27 years experience in the retail grocery industry. He started on the store level as night manager in the Inland Empire (Rialto and Rancho Cucamonga). In 1996, he was promoted to Field Supervisor-Merchandising covering California, Nevada and Illinois. He moved up to Equipment Supervisor in 1999, where he developed and designed several key fixtures for retail stores. In 2002, he became Project ManagerRetail Merchandising, a post he held for 11 years. He planned remodels and new stores

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Continued on Page 17

48th National Seminar Presented by the DDBC Laguna Cliffs Marriott • Dana Point; Sept. 9-11, 2016

Two-Night Package

By Aug. 1

After Aug. 1

Deluxe Room Couple $1,399.00 $1,499.00 Deluxe Room Single $1,049.00 $1,199.00 Additonal night stay – Available for $250.00 each night. Two-night Seminar package includes hotel, taxes, resort fees, internet access, valet parking for one vehicle, all meals, entertainment and business sessions. Children’s packages are available for $150.00 per child (Ages 5-12).

GOLF/SPA PACKAGES GOLF: 8th Tisdell Cup – National DDBC Golf Scramble at Monarch Beach GC Friday, Sept. 9, 8:15 Call to carts 8:30 Tee Time Complimentary transportation from hotel to course, 7:45 a.m.. $250 Per Golfer or $950 Per Foursome SPA: at Laguna Cliffs Marriott Spa, $250 Per Person

PAYMENT INFORMATION Register early to save money. Rooms are limited. Cancellation policy: Payment of Seminar package will be refunded, less $100 administrative costs, if received prior to Aug. 1. After Aug. 1, payment fee is NOT refundable.

Names (For badges; include spouse’s name)

Company name

Enclosed payment summary: Seminar Payment $__________ Additional room night $__________ Golf $__________ Spa $__________ Children’s package $__________ Sponsorship/Hosting $__________

Make checks payable to: “DDBC of Southern California” and mail registration, along with payment, to: DDBC, P.O. Box 1872, Whittier, CA 90609.

E-mail address

Packages Golf

Spa

Specify: Couple ___ Single ___ Specify: Thursday ___ Sunday ___ Sponsor Levels Available: General $400 ___ Bronze $1,500 ___ Silver $2,500 ___ Gold $5,000 ___ Platinum $10,000 ___ Other ___

Total enclosed $__________ Name on Credit Card__________________________________

Signature___________________________________________

Credit Card number___________________________________ Expiration Date______________________________________ Zip Code for Card____________________________________ Security code for card ________________ DDBC of Southern California, P.O. Box 1872, Whittier, CA 90609; 562-947-7016; FAX: 562-947-7872; [email protected]. DDBC News, September/October 2016 13

48th National DDBC Seminar Sponsorship Form Planning for the DDBC’s 48th National Seminar, which is scheduled to take place Sept. 9-11 at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort in Dana Point, is well underway. Each sponsorship aids in the development of quality programs and learning experiences. $400 General Sponsor

$1,500 Bronze Sponsor

We ask you to be a part of the seminar by donating to this fund. Your company’s name will be added to the list of sponsors and published each month in the DDBC News as well as recognition at the seminar. Sponsors of $1,500 or more will have their company logo on signage and in DDBC News.

$2,500 Silver Sponsor

$5,000 Gold Sponsor

$10,000 Platinum Sponsor

Company Name Individual’s Name Business Address City, State, Zip Please mail your check, made payable to the DDBC, and mail to P.O. Box 1872, Whittier, CA 906091872, along with this form. Thank you for your consideration.

Your Sponsorship levels General Sponsor ($400) Includes: • Recognition in DDBC News • Recognition in Program Brochure Bronze Sponsor ($1,500) Includes: • Recognition in DDBC News • Recognition in Program Brochure • Company Logo Displayed on Large Screens during All Business Sessions at Seminar Silver Sponsor ($2,500) Includes: • Recognition in DDBC News • Recognition in Program Brochure • Company Logo Displayed on Large Screens during All Business Sessions at Seminar • Company Logo Displayed on Signage at Seminar • Includes Golf Twosome at the DDBC Tisdell Cup Tournament, Monarch Beach Course • Company Logo Displayed on Signage at Seminar

Gold Sponsor ($5,000-$9,999) Includes: • Recognition in DDBC News • Recognition in Program Brochure at Event • Company Logo Displayed on Large Screens during All Business Sessions at Seminar • Company Logo Displayed on Signage at Seminar • Includes Golf Foursome at the DDBC Tisdell Cup Tournament, Monarch Beach Course OR 2 Night Single Seminar Package including room, meals, Business Sessions & Entertainment at La Costa Resort and Spa Platinum Sponsor ($10,000+) Includes: • Recognition in DDBC News

14 DDBC News, September/October 2016

• Recognition in Program Brochure • Company Logo Displayed on Large Screens during All Business Sessions at Seminar • Includes Golf Foursome at the DDBC Tisdell Cup Tournament, Monarch Beach Course • Includes 2 Night Complete Seminar Package Including Room, Meals, Business Sessions & Entertainment (Single or Couple) at La Costa Resort & Spa • Specific Event Hosting and Recognition During Seminar: Specific Event Choice Will Be Offered on a First Reserve Basis. Includes Extra Signage Recognition and Event Banner at Specific Hosted Event. Sponsoring Company Products Will Be Highlighted and/or Sampled During Event. Platinum Sponsors Receive Platinum Recognition!!!

Send news of your company to: Editor, DDBC News P.O. Box 4533 Huntington Beach, CA 92647 or email: [email protected]

48th National DDBC Seminar Sponsors As of August 20

Platinum

Gold

Silver

Bronze

Seminar Sponsors As of August 20 1. Bar-S Foods 2. Reynaldo’s Mexican Foods 3. Carl Buddig/Old Wisconsin 4. Alta Dena Dairy 5. Coastal Marketing Group 6. Eggland’s Best 7. Don Jose Foods 8. Florida’s Natural 9. Premier Action Group 10. Rosemary Farms 11. Johanna’s Beverages 12. Plumrose USA 13. Mission Foods 14. Sunny Delight Beverage 15. Messana 16. Golden Cheese of California 17. Butterball, LLC 18. Challenge Dairy 19. Smithfield/Farmland 20. La Mexicana Salsa 21. Tillamook 22. Saputo Cheese 23. GlenOaks Farms, Inc. 24. Cacique, Inc. 25. Food 4 Less 26. DPI Specialty Foods 27. Sargento 28. King’s Hawaiian Bakery 29. Monterrey 30. Nestle USA 31. Bimbo USA 32. Unified Grocers 33. Chobani 34. Reser’s Fine Foods 35. Ventura Foods 36. Quest Sales & Marketing 37. Daisy Brand 38. Premier Sales Solutions 39. Tyson Foods 40. J. Brass Company 41. Farmer John 42. Foster Farms 43. Unilever 44. Coca-Cola Refreshments 45. Arytza 46. Family Orchard 47. Cardenas Markets 48. Shamrock Farms 49. Lakeview Farms 50. Acosta Sales & Marketing 51. Horizon Sales Corp. 52. Litehouse Foods 53. Emmi Roth DDBC News, September/October 2016

15

48th National DDBC Seminar

In the spotlight at the Seminar Continued from Page 12 Andy Copeland Copeland began his grocery career in 1987 as a courtesy clerk for Hughes Family Markets. He held various store level positions, including Service Manager, before being promoted to the corporate office as a Buyer’s Assistant in 1996 and then to Buyer in 1997. In 1999 he joined the Food 4 Less team as a Category Manager in Grocery. In 2004 he was promoted to Director of Liquor/ Fuel and then to Grocery Merchandiser in 2007. To expand his experience, in 2015 Copeland served as the Grocery Coordinator in District 25. He has recently returned to the role of Grocery Merchandiser. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from UC Santa Barbara in Aquatic Biology. He is also a graduate of the USC Food Industry Management Program, the USC Food Industry Executive Program and the Dale Carnegie Course. He also served on the Food 4 Less Division Cultural Council from 2010 thru 2013. Copeland and his wife, Kaarn, live in Huntington Beach with their two daughters, Madison, 14, and Erin, 11. Rob McDougall Southern California native Rob McDougall assumed leadership of Gelson’s Markets as President/CEO in January 2012. He has been in the grocery industry for nearly 42 years. Beginning as a bagger at 16 with Vons, McDougall worked his way through various positions including Produce Manager, Store Director and Produce Supervisor. Following an early dot com stint with a startup, McDougall made the move to Michigan to work for D&W, a small upscale chain of markets. He left D&W as their Chief Operating Officer to return to his Southern California roots.

Joining Gelson’s Markets in 2007, he returned to the area with a renewed enthusiasm for fresh foods. He quickly leveraged his previous experience to steer Gelson’s Markets to a greater inclusion of organic and local products. While broadening his responsibilities, he has overseen key initiatives such as new designs for Gelson’s produce departments, a move into enhanced gluten free itemization, increased private label products, expanded selection of organics, and an investment in healthy selections. In particular, he placed a renewed focus on marketing to a diverse customer base during the recession, keeping Gelson’s relevant and competitive. With a commitment to the communities Gelson’s serves and an emphasis on local ties, he looks forward to building on Gelson’s rich, 60+ year legacy. McDougall believes, both personally and professionally, in giving back to the community. As a current member of both the WAFC and Unified Grocers Boards of Directors, a past director of the Fresh Produce Council, and a supporter of industry efforts through the FMI and CGA, he advocates for grocery retailers and employee growth. His enthusiasm for fine food and wine, travel, and genuine love for people have made his work in the grocery industry fulfilling. He has been married to wife Leah for 36 years, and enjoys time spent with his twin sons and his 10 grandchildren. Saturday afternoon The prestigious National Festival Luncheon always is one of the highlights of the Seminar and this year is no exception. Solist/guitarist Mike Officer will serenade the crowd during the luncheon. Besides the themed food stations that are so popular, look for an expanded upscale dessert area. Volunteers have been work-

16 DDBC News, September/October 2016

ing for months to secure products that fit a true feast. The traditional cheese display will be toned down in order to present it at a new and improved social hour and silent auction before the Saturday night dinner. “Last year we had to move the Cheese Table display inside because of the heat and it was missed by many attendees,” said Laura Taketomo, General Chairman of the Seminar. “We decided to move the popular and tasty display indoors to provide a great treat for the social hour and Silent Auction prior to the sumptious dinner we have planned for Saturday night,” she said. Following the Festival Luncheon, attendees will assemble gift boxes to be shipped overseas to U.S. servicemen and women. There are 300 boxes to be filled with personal items, snacks, books, CDs, and other things hard to come by while on active duty. “If everyone at the luncheon fills two boxes, we will be done in no time,” Taketomo said. “Last year, our assembly line of volunteers filled 250 boxes in about an hour. Everyone considered the time well spent in offering a salutre to our soldiers. We learned a lot doing this last year and it should be well-organized and run smoothly. Volunteers will have a good feeling afterward.” Saturday evening After a free afternoon, attendees will gather for an evening of socialization, along with a silent auction, before enjoying a sumptuous feast, followed by entertainment and dancing. Be prepared to be astonished when John and Adrian Saint – the Saint Twins – present their TSP: Twin Sensory Perception™ show following the Saturday night gala dinner. The show is a completely unique, astonishing, and interactive experience. They choose random people out of the audience to be part of the show (you could be one of them). The Saint Twins will astonish you as they read your thoughts and reveal things about Continued on Page 17

48th National DDBC Seminar

In the spotlight at the Seminar Continued from Page 16 you that nobody could know. Watch as they tell you the name of your childhood pet or the first person you ever kissed. The world’s first & only twin thought readers, the Saint Twins (John & Adrian Saint) are definitely not your typical set of twins. They capture the imagination of their audiences with their energetic and unique presentation of mental abilities they call TSP:Twin Sensory Perception.™ John and Adrian have always been fascinated with the human mind and how it creates reality and meaning. Being twins they grew up close to each other and share similar interests. They started to study and read numerous books in the areas of psychology, magic, influence, persuasion, hypnosis, linguistics, intuition, NLP, statistics, perceptual manipulation, theater, comedy, ESP, acting, and verbal/non-verbal communication to create the baffling skills they demonstrate on stage. The Saint Twins’ performance style is anything but conventional. They prefer to be called “Mentalist, Twin Sensory Perceptionist, or Thought Readers.” Using no secret assistants or electronics, they work

with random people and their minds to create mind-blowing and impossible demonstrations that leave people entertained and mystified. During their performance, John and Adrian communicate telepathically with each other, secret thoughts are revealed, objects are caused to move with the power of their minds and amazing predictions made before the event are revealed to be mysteriously accurate. In 2004 MTV filmed a documentary about their unique skills and their lives as twins. They were selected nationwide from more than 1,000 sets of twins. The show aired nationally and garnered rave reviews. While in college, Adrian caused a major stir in his community when he predicted the results of Super Bowl XL one week before the game was played and received numerous press and media attention. It caused such a stir on his campus that people accused him of having strange powers, but the only powers The Saint Twins claim are the powers of knowledge, twin intuition, and hard work. The Saint Twins have been written up in numerous newspapers and magazines and have performed for top companies and universities. Adrian and John are devoted life time learners and college graduates. John holds a BA in Psychology from UC Riverside (which he received in 2.5 years) while Adrian has an MBA from Argosy University and a BA from UC Davis in Sociology/Organizational Studies & Communication. After the show, a dessert buffet will open while renown DJ Craig sets up for an evening of entertainment and dancing.

Sunday morning A sumptuous breakfast kicks off the final day of the Seminar ahead of the final Business Session, which features a unique presentation by a world-renown “Sand Artist.” Joe Castillo – artist, author, storyteller “SandStory” – will present his unique show to conclude the Seminar. A native of Mexico City, Castillo grew up surrounded by art and the cosmopolitan culture of an international city. In his teenage years he moved to Florida, attended Ringling School of Art, and graduated from Florida Bible College. He founded The Advertising Library, an agency in Knoxville. After 21 years in advertising, he developed “SandStories,” a new way of telling stories in sand. In the past 7 years he has performed for presidents, kings and dignitaries in 45 states and 23 foreign countries and reached the finals on America’s Got Talent.

Continued on Page 18

DDBC News, September/October 2016

17

In 1980 he was promoted to Assistant

48th National DDBC Seminar

In the spotlight at the Seminar Continued from Page 17 “SandStory” is the most compelling new art form in decades. Sand scattered on a light box is formed and reformed into everchanging shapes and images that tell visually powerful stories. Choreographed to music these images inspire, challenge and

motivate in a captivating way. Castillo is certainly the premier “SandStory” in the world using a live performance art presentation … with a twist. Using his artwork, he speaks, inspires and motivates and relates life-story applications that touch the heart. The stories literally come alive as the drawing unfolds, captivating both the ear, the eye and the heart. These life lessons are memorable lifechanging events. Having spoken to hundreds of thousands of people over a period of 32 years, Castillo has mastered the ability to share stories that inspire, and motivate. Speaking to children, teens, adults, churches, businesses, and conferences has made him a much-requested storyteller and raconteur. You may laugh, cry, hurt, heal and leave his talks and sto-

ries feeling uplifted and filled with a desire to be more than you thought you could have.

2016 DDBC’s National Seminar Committee General Chairman Laura Taketomo ............................................ Food 4 Less

Arselie Miller (Silent Auction) ..................... Dannon Anne Abate (Silent Auction) ......................... Dannon

Committees *Ed Silva (Audio/Visual) .............................. Ralphs Michael Rodrigues (Audio/Visual) .............. Ralphs

*Melissa Griffin (Decor) ............................... Stater Bros. Irene Stiles (Decor) ........................................ Quest Sales Dottie Beamer (Decor) .................................. Premier Sales ......................................................................... Solutions Mary Ellis (Decor) ......................................... Premier Sales ......................................................................... Solutions Nancy Ellis (Decor) ....................................... Premier Sales ......................................................................... Solutions

*Connie Thatcher (Program/Speakers) ...... Advantage Jaime Prager (Program/Speakers) .............. Albertsons Josh Baum (Program/Speakers) .................. Savi Sales *Patti Winsell (Food/Beverage) ................... DDBC Member Della Frorenza (Festival Luncheon) ............ Red Apple Cheese Darlene Ethridge (Festival Luncheon) ........ DDBC Member Barbara Gibbons (Festival Luncheon) ....... Maplehurst Bakeries Lisa Leandro (Festival Luncheon) .............. Eggland’s Best Gayle DeCaro (Cheese Table evening) ........ Bristol Farms Jann Beecher-Seidel (Cheese Table) ............ LeGrand Marketing *Steve Nguyen (Golf) .................................... Unified Grocers Bob Dressler (Golf) ....................................... Advantage Fresh Rafael Pineda (Golf) ...................................... Mission Foods *Silvia Quiroz (Sponsorship/Hosting) ......... Cardenas Mkts. Jim Veregge (Sponsorship/Hosting) ............ Unified Grocers Susan Duran (Sponsorship/Hosting) ........... Rich Products Damian Valdez (Sponsorship/Hosting) ........ Super King Mkts. *Patrick Jacobo (Silent Auction) ................. V&V Supremo JoAnn Dunn (Silent Auction) ....................... LALA

18 DDBC News, September/October 2016

*Diane Murdoch (Goodie Bags) .................. TrueFresh LLP Monica Stone (Goodie Bags) ........................ Fuji Foods Lulu Vargas (Goodie Bags) .......................... Magnolia Foods Sokha Lim (Goodie Bags) ............................. Norseland, Inc. *Brian Svoboda (Troop Build) ..................... Carl Buddig Dave MacDonald (Troop Build) ................... HP Hood Larry Eiffert (Troop Build) .......................... JTJ Sales Mary Crocker (Troop Build) ........................ Alta Dena Francisco Medrano (Troop Build) ............... Tampico Spice Valerie Kalic (Troop Build) .......................... Food 4 Less Francisco Medrano (Troop Build) ............... Tampico Spice Bill Mackie (Treasurer) ................................ Processor’s ......................................................................... Marketing Susan Steele (DDBC) ..................................... DDBC Executive ......................................................................... Director Dave Daniel (Pacific Rim Publishing) ......... DDBC News

* -- Committee chairman.

90 Years and Counting

Evergood Fine Foods still going strong Evergood Fine Foods is celebrating its 90th Anniversary in 2016 … and still going strong. The San Francisco-based manufacturer offers a wide range of sausage and other meat products across the Western United States. The journey started in the early 1900s when Jacob Rauscher, a master sausage maker, moved his family to the United States from their home in Bavaria. In 1926, the Rauscher family opened the “Evergood Pork Store,” a traditional European delicatessen, in San Francisco’s Mission District. With only one smoke house, the Rauscher family manufactured a variety of old world German style sausages ranging from Knockwurst to Kielbasa, and more. By the 1950s, the popularity of Evergood sausages had grown beyond their neighborhood. As demand for the sausages increased, Jacob’s son, Walter, expanded the business by bringing in two more sausage makers, George Ehrlich and Harlan Miller. A few years later, Rauscher, Ehrlich, and Miller opened a manufacturing facility in the Bayview District of San Francisco, where they still operate.. Today, Harlan Miller and his sons proudly carry on the family tradition of the Evergood brand, making the finest sausages. Harlan Miller, 84, still leads Evergood Sausage Company. He is truly a hands-on owner. He spends three days a week in the plant managing the kitchen. Harlan is passionate about his company and his family. It is the old-style mentality that has kept this brand a leader in the smoked meat industry: “Work hard, make a quality product.” Hopefully, this will never change. Harlan’s sons, Harley and Don, keep the business going strong. Harley is the General Manager/CFO and oversees the company’s day-to-day operations. He can be found in his office each morning at 5 a.m. Over the past 30 years, Harley has built a strong and committed work force. Don is the Vice President of Sales and Marketing. He began working for his father in 1976. Since then, The Evergood brand has developed into one of the top smoked meat manufacturers on the West Coast. “We pride ourselves on implementing a family atmosphere,” Don Miller said. “My dad and my brother arrive here at 5 a.m. every morning. They are very hands on. Customer complaints come to us directly and we’re on it. There are no focus groups or board of directors [to adhere to].The family thing is so important because it’s not just another job; this is our livelihood,” he continues. “We have a certain tradition and standard to uphold within our industry.” Evergood, one of the strongest sausage companies west of the Rockies, is in the process of

A photo of the Evergood Pork Store from the early days in San Francisco. developing new products, as well as more organic, all-natural and family farm items. “Up until now, we’ve pretty much been a traditional sausage manufacturer,” Don Miller said, “offering products such as bratwursts, British bangers, knackwurst, garlic sausage, kielbasa, hot links and a number of different frankfurters. We’ve been successful, and it was time to take another step.” The company recently teamed up with one of the top chefs in the United States to develop new and exotic sausage products, which are now in production. Some of the new products include pork pineapple and rum, sweet and sour pork, a honey chipotle sausage and jalapeno steak sausage to name a few. “Really, what we want to do is piggyback on our current flavors and product line,” he says. “It is essential that we stay tuned in on consumer trends and needs as it pertains to our industry in the development of new products.” Also, the company offers more organic, all-natural and family farm products, he says. “A lot of people look into that arena,” he says. “It’s a limited market, but if our competition is doing it, then we have to do it.” They are also offering a variety of products such as frozen entrees, pre-cooked foods and tailgate items, he adds. “I think it is important to be proactive in the development of new products,” he says. “We’re thinking 10 years down the road. When you roll out a game plan for the future, you have to take it one step at a time.” A majority of Evergood’s business stems from the retail secContinued on Page 30 DDBC News, September/October 2016

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Retailer News

Stater Bros. celebrates 80th birthday August 17, 1936 marked the day the first Stater Bros. market opened in Yucaipa. For 80 years, Stater Bros. has continued the heritage of its founders by providing its valued customers with the lowest possible prices, the best quality merchandise and friendliest service in town. To celebrate its 80th anniversary, Stater Bros. offered customers balloons and Lofthouse Cookies on in all 168 Stater Bros. supermarket locations while supplies last. At the heart of Stater Bros.’ business is its “valued” customers. Throughout the celebratory year, Stater Bros. has partnered with suppliers to provide even lower prices and savings all year long. Stater Bros. also continues the legacy of its founders by continuing to give back to the “valued” communities it serves. Stater Bros. has provided funding to countless local organizations benefitting hunger relief, children’s well-being, education, health and help for our nation’s veterans. This includes support for organiza-

The first Stater Bros. Market was located on West Yucaipa Blvd. and opened for business Aug. 17, 1936.

Stater Bros. founders, from left, Leo, Lavoy and Cleo Stater. tions such as Feeding America, Toys for Tots, the Children’s Fund and the “Believe Walk” to fight cancer. “Celebrating 80 years is an unbelievable accomplishment for any company,” stated Jack H. Brown, Executive Chairman of Stater Bros. Markets. “We wouldn’t be here without our ‘valued’ customers and this milestone is certainly a testament to the loyalty and dedication of all the past and present members of our Stater Bros. ‘Family’; to our devoted customers, many of whom are sixth generation Stater Bros. shoppers; and to the partnerships which have been established with our supplier friends. We were founded by Veterans (Stater Brothers) and over 1,995 of us have served or continue to serve,” Brown continued. Stater Bros. has grown steadily through the years to become the largest privately owned Supermarkets in Southern California and the largest private employer in both San Bernardino County and Riverside County. The Company currently operates 168 Supermarkets, and there are approximately 18,000 members of the Stater Bros. Supermarket Family. For more information, visit staterbros.com.

‘Sunny’ Stater celebrates 100th birthday Evelyn “Sunny” Stater, widow of Stater Bros. founder Lavoy Stater, will reach 100 years of age in September. To celebrate this landmark occasion, Evelyn’s family will hold a private birthday celebration for her. In 1935, Evelyn worked for the W.A. Davis grocery store in Yucaipa. When the Stater brothers purchased the W.A. Davis grocery store in 1936, they kept Evelyn onboard and she became the first employee of Stater Bros. Markets. Some of her duties

included weighing eggs that were brought in to sell, checking, cleaning and keeping books on credit extended to customers. In 1943, she married Stater Bros. cofounder Lavoy Stater. She worked for Stater Bros. until the birth of her first child in 1948. Evelyn and Lavoy have 3 children, 7 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Their son Edward (Ed) retired from Stater Bros. in 2011 as a Senior Vice President and served Stater Bros. for more than 45 years.

20 DDBC News, September/October 2016

“Evelyn Stater made countless contributions to Stater Bros. Markets. Without Evelyn’s support in the early days, Stater Bros. future may not have been as Bright and Blessed,” said Jack H. Brown, Executive Chairman of Stater Bros. Markets. “Women have played a big role in the Stater Bros. success story, but none has played a bigger role than that of Evelyn Stater and the Stater Wives. Continued on Page 21

Retailer News

Super King celebrates 7th grand opening Super King Markets opened its seventh store – and its second in Orange County – in July at 2741 W. MacArthur Blvd. in Santa Ana, which formerly was a Ralphs store. Vendors and public officials took part in a ribbon-cutting on July 13 with the official grand opening taking place on July 15. The company’s mission statement says: “Super King consistently delivers the highest quality of food products, at excellent values in clean stores. “Our employees are our best partners in this endeavor, making Super King a desirable workplace. “As our customers reflect the diversity of Southern California, so does our offering.” The company vision states: “The leader of international foods at the lowest prices and highest quality. ‘Customers can count on our service through dedicated employees.” Super King also supports organizations active with food, families and the community by providing donations. Members of the perishable foods industry were on hand to make sure the store was completely stocked and set and ready for the public.

DDBC members were out in force for the soft opening of the seventh Super King Market on July 13 in Santa Ana. From left are Dave MacDonald (HP Hood), Damian Valdez (Super King), Dan Devries (Advantage Solutions), Cheryl Van Den Hende (Monterrey), Miguel Castelar (Daisy Brand) and Angel Gonzales (Alpine Valley).

Sunny Stater turns 100 of the contributions the Stater family has made to the Stater Bros. ‘Family’ of Employees,” Brown added.

Evelyn and Lavoy Stater Continued from Page 20 “Additionally, thanks to retired Senior Vice President Ed Stater, wife Vicki and sister Christie for documenting and sharing the history of Stater Bros. which reflects all

Evelyn “Sunny” Stater

NGA: Same-store sales on the increase FMS and the National Grocers Association (NGA) have released the results of the 2016 Independent Grocers Financial Survey, covering fiscal year 2015. This joint study polled independent supermarket operators in 38 states and four Canadian provinces on their financial performance and business strategies, and provides an in-depth look at the economic, political, and competitive landscape in which these retailers operate. Fiscal year 2015 proved to be an improvement over 2014 with both sales and margins having increased despite a rise in expenses and stagnant food-at-home prices. After a difficult 2014, independents increased their same-store sales by 2.1 percent, and with food-at-home inflation at 1.17 percent during 2015, adjusted sales gains came out at 0.84 percent, compared to -0.9 percent in 2014.

DDBC News, September/October 2016

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Lifetime Achievement Award

Levey Family and Normark & Associates Three generations to be honored for pioneering perishable food industry In 1951, two young entrepreneurs fresh out of college joined forces to open a food brokerage business. Their names were Mark Levey and Norman Katz. Combining their first names, they came up with Normark & Associates. The problem was, there were no Associates at the beginning, no capital (except a $100 combined investment), and no principals to represent. They did rent some office space on West Washington Blvd. in Los Angeles, but did not have a telephone (they used the one next door). Hard work and 18-hour days allowed them to file income of $8,530 on their first tax return. After expenses, each netted about $1,000 in income. In the third year, that was enough for Katz to question his future with the company. In stepped Mark’s father, Ralph, an established food industry veteran, who bought out Katz and became business partners with his son. And, the rest is … well you know the rest. The Dairy Deli Bakery Council (DDBC) of Southern California is honoring the founding family of Normark & Associates with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the October membership meeting. Ralph was one of the founding fathers of the Deli Council in 1960, meeting around the swimming pool at Sydney Fisher’s house to get the organization up and running. Ralph’s philosophy was simple and effective. “There’s only one way to do business … the right way,” he was quoted. “Integrity and honesty are two words that must be included in the philosophies of any company if they are to succeed.” The first principal was the East Asiatic Company, which imported canned Danish ham. Normark & Associates distributed it to chain supermarkets and to meat purveyors. The business grew and by 1958, the

Three generations of the Levey Family in a photo from May 1976, from left, Mark, Ralph, and Alan. They are being honored with the DDBC Lifetime Achievement Award for their work with Normark & Associates.

name “Danola” was created by Ralph and was operating out of its own packing plant. The company realized the importance of the deli departments and rapidly became the leader in the field. In the early ’70’s Normark made the decision to specialize in perishable food products even though a large portion of the company’s revenue was grocery related. The vision was to offer unparalleled manufacturer, headquarter, and retail services for the dairy, deli and meat departments. The company resigned its grocery portfolio and the perishable lines began to sign on. These included but were not limited to Gallo Salame, Jones Dairy Farm, Hebrew National, Alex Foods, Dannon Yogurt, Jarlsberg Cheese and Nestle’s cheese division. Expanded services were then offered in the frozen food department when Normark was awarded Nestle’s Stouffers Lean Cuisine line as well as their extensive line of ice cream products. Alan added a note of history: “Interesting to note many of the lines Normark had

24 DDBC News, September/October 2016

the privilege of representing were products that were first introduced and built by the company in not only Southern California but Northern California and Arizona as well. The lines Normark introduced in Southern California included Danola which my grandfather actually coined the name and product logo for in addition to Lamberts Pasta and Cheese (now Butoni), Land O Lakes Butter, Lake to Lake Cheese, Frigo Cheese, Dannon Yogurt, The Turkey Store, Tropicana Pure Premium, Raskas Dairy, Daisy Sour Cream, and Coffee Mate to name a few. As Normark grew so did the manufacturer base with lines such as Sara Lee Meats, Reddi Whip, Tyson, Nabisco, and Horizon coming aboard. The company had grown from 20 employees in 1971 to 75 by 1976, the year Mark’s son Alan graduated from San Diego State and joined the company as the third generation and eventually guiding it through until it was merged with KelleyClarke in 1996 and later with Acosta Sales & Marketing, one of the largest food brokerages in the United States. Alan remained with the company until joining the City of Hope. In the 50-year history of the company, its employee roster reads like a Who’s Who Continued on Page 30

Congratulations to the Levey Family on receiving the DDBC’s Lifetime Achievement Award for their foresight and work with Normark & Associates

From your former associates at Normark still carrying on the tradition at Normark & Associates. John Nielsen, Mark Dixon, Jeff Cherry, Cliff Potter, and Mark Howell.

Dearest Nancy, we are so proud to congratulate you on your well-deserved honor of being named DDBC Big Cheese for September 2016. Way to go!

Robert Harrison and James Pontius

The Big Cheese, September

Nancy Tyler, Acosta Sales & Marketing By DAVE DANIEL Editor, DDBC News Nancy Tyler is good at multi-tasking, which is a good thing. She is even better at getting things organized, which keeps her on track when she is multi-tasking during her hectic days as a Business Manager at Acosta Sales & Marketing, where she is a member of the Fresh Food Team for Kroger. She has been selected as the Big Cheese Award honoree for September by the Dairy Deli Bakery Council (DDBC) of Southern California. She will receive her award at the October meeting. Here are some examples of her staying busy by keeping organized: She is in a hiking club; loves to take long bike rides (25 miles or so); loves to work in her garden; is in a book club; both her husband and she are “foodies,” meaning they are cooking in the kitchen a lot; and she teaches Sunday school for toddlers in her church’s nursery. That takes care of nights and weekends. Her work days are as productive. Born and raised in Whittier, where she still resides, her first job was as a courtesy clerk for Alpha Beta in 1971. She moved to Ralphs in 1973 and became a cashier, where she remained for 5 years. Then she went to work for Oroweat Baking (now Bimbo Bakeries), driving a route truck. “I found out quickly that pushing those loaded dollies that weighed 100 pounds was physically taxing. It was a man’s job.” She moved to Kraft Foods as a Field

Nancy Tyler, Acosta Sales & Marketing

Merchandiser before returning to Ralphs as a Non-Food Clerk (GM/HBC). She was promoted after two years to Non-Food Specialist and worked in 4 different districts in a 4-year span, including San Diego in 1983, where she piloted the GM program where the industry created a pay-grade difference between a Clerk and a GM Clerk. “In 1985, I became Supervisor of the Non Food and Liquor Specialists from San Diego to Bakersfield, which covered approximately 300 stores,” she said. After 3 years she moved back into the main office as Assistant Buyer for GM/ HBC. She was promoted every two years … from Grocery Inventory Management Specialist to Supervisor for Data Entry, which paved the way for Computer Assisted Ordering (CAO). With such a varied background in many departments for Ralphs, she was promoted in 1989 to Cost and Order Manager, and that’s when the light shone brighter on her organizational skills. “There were 13 people reporting to me and we managed all the purchase order discrepancies, and billing,” she said. “I created an allowance control system that was fully automated and installed in the first

26 DDBC News, September/October 2016

computers in our department … one for each clerk and I taught them all how to use the computer. I learned computer programming and helped develop the program.” After 5 years managing cost and order, she returned to Marketing, first as an Assistant Category Manager for Liquor, then Category Manager for Corporate Brands. Kroger acquired Ralphs during that time and her post ended, but she moved to the Dairy Deli Department as Assistant Category Manager. She worked with such industry luminaries as Sue Bargsten, Les Taylor, Steve Lewis, Jim Veregge and Andre Mesropian. In 1999, she became Category Manager for Service Deli/Bakery, working with Steve Mioni, Kent Killian and Mike Servold. “Kroger began consolidating the Marketing Department and that is when the opportunity opened at Acosta,” she said. She has been with Acosta, one of the nation’s premier brokerage houses, for 6 years. “I like being on the other side of the desk and I love working for Acosta,” she said. “We deliver end-to-end sales and marketing solutions designed to achieve superior results, which is why the world’s most trusted consumer packaged goods brands look to us as their strategic partner.” “The biggest change I’ve seen in the industry is in the technology that is available. Our company is joined at the hip with Kroger and we use all the information to drive sales for our clients at Ralphs and Food 4 Less.” She was introduced to the DDBC when she was in the Dairy Deli Department at Ralphs. Past President Sue Bargsten got her involved and she has remained active, serving three different terms on the Board of Directors, first in 2010, then in 2015 and again this year, where she is on the committee for the January Dinner/Dance and Installation of Officers. She and her husband John have been married 28 years and have a blended family of 3 adult children ... her son and daughter and his daughter ... and 1 grandson. Please join the DDBC in saluting Nancy on her selection as the Big Cheese Award honoree for September.

Industry News

Godfrey announces retirement from S&F Diana Godfrey, Group Vice President of Sales and Merchandising for Smart & Final, announced her retirement, effective Oct. 31, at the recent Food Industry Sales Manager Club (FISMC) meeting in August. She has been with Smart & Final for 37 years. According to a story in the Shelby Report, Godfrey never thought she’d find a career in the business. Godfrey started as a part-time box girl with Smart & Final’s Thriftimart in August 1979. She was attending college and coping with the death of her mother, who had died from cancer six days after she started. Godfrey was promoted quickly and rose through the company’s ranks. In 1982, she “went over to the Smart & Final side of the business” and by 1990 she was promoted to category manager of grocery. She knew she had a career, the story said, because “that’s where the love of the business really came in. When I got the opportunity to become a category manager, back then we were called buyers, I found my passion—that was my desire. That’s when I said this is what I wanted to do. “That was probably the most fun because you got to be in control of your own destiny, you got the company checkbook and you were responsible for returning a profit,” she said.

Diana Godfrey, Smart & Final Godfrey held other titles before being promoted to her current role in 2008 and, throughout those years, she says she loved being able to “develop folks and achieve our goals and continually push the team to try new things and develop numerous new initiatives.” Godfrey plans to spend more time with her husband and travel. They eventually plan to relocate to Washington State, where

most of Godfrey’s immediate family lives, or perhaps even Canada. “It was a hard decision because this has been my life,” Godfrey told Shelby Report of her decision to retire. “I love the industry. I love the people. I love the vendors. It’s given me an opportunity to play a bigger role in City of Hope, which has always been a passion because that’s where my mother worked, that’s where she found she had lung cancer, that’s where she was treated and passed away. “This job also has given me an opportunity to get involved with our own charitable foundation, with our own educational foundation, and it’s allowed to be able to give back in ways that I never otherwise would have been able to. It’s been so rewarding and so wonderful.” Godfrey serves as president of City of Hope’s Southern California Food Industries Circle and also has served on the board for the California Grocers Association for a number of years. “I’ve had the best team ever, and that’s what makes it hard to retire,” Godfrey said. “If it weren’t for my husband’s illness I wouldn’t be retiring this soon, but I’m not going to give up the opportunity to spend some quality time traveling the world and doing it while he can – but with a heavy heart of leaving the best people in the world.”

Specialty Food Association appoints Kafarakis Phillip M. Kafarakis has been tapped as the President of the Specialty Food Association by the Board of Directors of the notfor-profit trade association. Kafarakis brings more than 30 years of food industry experience to the SFA, with a background in innovative brand management, membership development, and strategic planning. Since May 2013, Kafarakis served as Chief Innovation and Member Advancement Officer for the National Restaurant Association, based in Washington, D.C. The National Restaurant Association is the world’s largest foodservice trade association, supporting more than 500,000 restaurant businesses in a $780 billion industry.

Prior to that, Mr. Kafarakis spent 10 years with McCormick & Company, a $4 billion public food company. Kafarakis has also held executive leadership positions at Cargill, Jones Dairy Farm, and Kraft. He has a bachelor’s degree in marketing management from Northern Arizona University and an MBA from Georgetown University. “We are pleased to have Phil join our organization,” said Becky Renfro Borbolla, Chair of the Specialty Food Association’s Board of Directors. “His experience and insight to the industry will provide us with an excellent blend of strength in strategy, member development and engagement, sales and marketing, and innovative partnership development. Each of those quali-

ties will be essential to our Association as we seek to serve our members and the industry in new and compelling ways.” “The Specialty Food Association is regarded as the food industry’s innovation incubator, while also preserving and promoting traditional processes and tastes,” Kafarakis said. “I look forward to extending the Association’s member value platforms and working with authentic food creators and purveyors at a time when the American consumer’s interest in food has grown to new heights. It’s a great honor to join the Association, and to work with and lead these most passionate and entrepreneurial food companies as we expand our mission,” he added.

DDBC News, September/October 2016

27

The Big Cheese, October

Jim Wakefield, Northgate Gonzalez Markets By DAVE DANIEL Editor, DDBC News Jim Wakefield is coming up on the 40year mark in the food industry. That’s not a bad milestone for anyone in any field, but the Category Director for Dairy Deli Frozen at Northgate Markets sometimes wonders how he got – and remained – there. “Some kids grow up wanting to become doctors or something,” he said, “but I just kind of fell into this career.” He’s not complaining, mind you, but what started out as a part-time job has grown into a respected position with a growing company that has 40 locations. That is one of the reasons Wakefield has been selected to receive the Big Cheese Award for October by the Dairy Deli Bakery Council (DDBC) of Southern California. He will receive his award at the November meeting. He has been at Northgate for almost three years after a long career at Vons and then Food 4 Less. “There has been tremendous consolidation in the retail grocery industry,” he said. “All of the major chains have undergone changes and so have the independents. If you would have told me in 1993 that Safeway would buy Vons and then Albertsons would buy Safeway, and I would be working for an independent, I wouldn’t have believed it. There is no way anyone could project that at that time.” While growing up in the Westchester area of Los Angeles, he was involved in sports, running both cross country and track and playing on the basketball team.

Jim Wakefield, Northgate Markets “There really wasn’t much extra time for work because of my involvement with sports,” he said. “I mowed some lawns and had a paper route to earn some gas money, but that was about it.” He admits to being a “late-comer” to the food industry. “I worked at the local Vons Market in the precursor to the service deli,” he said. “It was more of a fountain and a snack bar. I was 19 and I worked there about a year before briefly becoming a box boy, then a night clerk, which meant restocking the milk box and pop table and the end caps.” That led to becoming a Dairy Deli clerk at the Vons in Marina del Rey (now Pavilions) in the late 1970s. He spent the next 11 years with Vons on the store level as a Dairy Deli Manager. “I was actually contemplating leaving the industry when I was offered a post in the headquarters doing schematics,” he recalled. “I liked it. It was kind of an extension of what I had done on the store level, but getting to see the other side of it. This was in the infancy of computers doing a lot of the layouts, and it didn’t always work.” He was promoted to Department Manager in 1987 and then was moved to Category Management in 1990, first in the Gro-

28 DDBC News, September/October 2016

cery Department as, he said, “kind of a jack of all trades position … junior buyer, replenishment buyer, and other jobs.” In 1993 he was promoted to Category Manager and was there for 10 years, until Jan. 6, 2003, which is a day he recalls with irony. “I got two divorces on that date,” he said. He was scheduled to move to Northern California with Safeway and he did not want to go, so it was his final day at Vons. It also was the day his divorce became final. “I had a 6-month severance package from Vons,” he said, “and after 5 months and 3 weeks, I got a job with Food 4 Less as a Category Manager in Dry Grocery.” He had spent 26 ½ years with Vons and would spend the next 10 ½ years at Food 4 Less before joining Northgate. “Our primary consumer is a first-generation Hispanic,” he said, “and we are proud to offer them a total shopping experience. Our market was founded by Miguel Gonzalez Sr. in 1980 and a lot of our customers still refer to our stores as Gonzalez Markets, not Northgate, even though the original intention of the stores was called “the gates to the North.” Wakefield has fond memories of his involvement with the DDBC. “I know I haven’t been as active as others,” he said, “but one of my best times was when DDBC members had a charity basketball game against Little People. That was really fun and it was for a good cause to help a family in need because of an ill child.” And after his stint on the Grocery side, he really enjoys the Dairy Deli departments. “I really have a comfort level in Dairy Deli and the bonus is I have met so many great people in these categories,” he said. He always was active but admits while he still has good intentions, he doesn’t get the exercise he used to. He has three grown children and three grandchildren and a longterm girlfriend. “I live in Redondo Beach and she lives in Costa Mesa and owns a house cleaning business. I help her out on cleaning shortterm rentals on weekends,” he said, “but it Continued on Page 30

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DDBC News, September/October 2016

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Normark and Levey Family receive DDBC’s Lifetime Achievement Award Continued from Page 24 in the perishable foods industry, including the DDBC. My grandfather and father’s belief was to surround themselves with the industry’s brightest and best talent so the “associates” in the company’s name held great meaning. Normark’s success was only made possible by the dedicated staff that the company was fortunate enough to attract. Longtime associates who deserve the lion’s share of the credit were Al Resnick, Clark Squires, Jeff Cherry, Bob Firby, Jim Flavin, Bob Austin, Pat O’Neal, Ron Rock, Brady Wood, and Joyce Gimbel. Ralph Levey was inducted into the DDBC Hall of Fame in the second year of its founding in 1984. Mark was Supplier of the Year in 1978 and also inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1995. Mark also was presented a Lifetime Achievement Award by the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA). Alan was a Big Cheese Award recipient in 1984. Ralph and Mark were among the first 10 charter members of the Food Industries Circle for the City of Hope. Ralph Levey died in 1986. Mark is enjoying retirement and Alan moved to charitable work, putting his experience across the corporate, philanthropic and nonprofit sectors. This year he became CEO of JVS, an 85-year-old charitable organization. His post at JVS follows a 14-year tenure at the City of Hope, where he most recently served as vice president of philanthropy. During his 14-year tenure at the esteemed facility, a world leader in the research and treatment of cancer and other diseases, Levey was responsible for the oversight of all Southern California chapters and eight regional offices as well as the management of national events and the “Next Generation” fundraising departments. Normark & Associates was operating nearly a decade before the Deli Council was founded in 1960 and quickly became one of its strongest supporters. Normark Vice President Homer Knock had worked at Ralphs for 31 years before moving to the other side of the desk to continue his stellar career.

Some Big Cheese Award honorees from Normark & Associates over the years include Gordon Beresford, Brady Wood, Clark Squires, Bob Firby, Jan Beecher-Seidel, Al Resnik, Barry Brown, Paul Martin, John Nielsen, Ron Rock and Marie Stauffacher. Two other Normark alumni – Mark Dixon and Jim Allumbaugh – served as DDBC President and both are members of the Hall of Fame. There are literally dozens of Normark alumni still active in the industry. “The perishable foods industry as we know it today would not exist if it were not for the specialization that Normark & Associates brought to it, not only in Southern California, but nationally as well,” said Jim Veregge (Unified Grocers), DDBC Historian. “The Levey Family had the vision to lead the industry into uncharted waters and not only survive, but thrive in creating a legacy that few have been able to duplicate,” Veregge added. “We are proud to honor the Levey Family and the organization they built from the ground up with our Lifetime Achievement Award.”

October Big Cheese

Jim Wakefield – Continued from Page 28 is more like standing outside near the beach sweeping sand off a porch. “We do like to mountain bike when we get the chance and we walk and run and paddleboard around the water. I enjoy traveling and reading, but I regret that there is not as much time to do those things as I would like. Some day there will be more time for that.” Please join the DDBC in saluting Wakefield on his selection as the Big Cheese Award honoree for October.

Evergood Fine Foods celebrates 90 years Continued from Page 19 tor, such as grocery and club stores, Miller says. “We also have a full-line of food service items, which we primarily focus only in the Northern California area,” he says. Those items include smoked sausage, roast beef, corned beef and pastrami. No matter the sector or product, quality is the company’s No. 1 concern. “We buy the best raw materials possible with no shortcuts,” he says. “We try to be very consistent in what we manufacture. “Our food safety is top-shelf, as well as consumer quality assurance,” he adds. “We work on that every day to get better. Really, it’s the food safety issues that are the most important.” He credits Plant Manager Kevin Bentley and Director of Quality Control Sam Nori for maintaining quality. “Those two and their

30 DDBC News, September/October 2016

staffs work with the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” Miller adds. “We have been at the forefront of specialty programs for the industry and implements that in our factory,” such as the Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points System. Miller notes that like most businesses, the company has been impacted by the economic conditions. “We’re at the mercy of what we pay for raw materials,” he says. “To stay competitive, we have to be able to buy right.” But unlike its competitors, value is still a priority. “For example, our retail package is still 16 ounces or one pound when a majority of our competitors have downsized their packages,” he notes. Distribution also has expanded across the Western United States and into Southeast Asia. And the Miller family can hardly wait to see what the next 90 years will bring.

Differences in Sept. 16 and Cinco de Mayo celebrations

We are proud to congratulate

Continued from Page 6 when Mexicans in California commemorated the victory. About a century later, Chicano activists rediscovered the holiday and embraced it as a symbol of ethnic pride. 4. Cinco de Mayo has a connection to the U.S. Civil War. David Hayes-Bautista, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the University of California Los Angeles, has written that Cinco de Mayo is very much an American holiday. His research shows that the celebration began among Mexicans in California in the mid-19th century. The Battle of Puebla, he explained, occurred at a time when the Confederacy was expanding into New Mexico and Arizona, getting closer to California (which was a free state). 5. The hero of the original Cinco de Mayo was a Texan. General Ignacio Zaragosa, who led the ragtag Mexican forces to victory over the superior French army, was born near what is now Goliad, Texas. “This fact should make Americans, especially Texans, proud of their connection to that event,” said Raul Ramos of the University of Houston. “But often it doesn’t resonate. The Mexican aspect of Texas history has been so marginalized and ghettoized, it takes extra effort for people to learn about it.” Ramos pointed out that the fact that a Tejano (or “Tex-Mex”) as a link to Cinco de Mayo reflects the reality that Mexican history is part of American history. “It gives you a sense that our countries have had a shared history going back hundreds of years,” he said.

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July meeting of DDBC Mickey Hatcher has fun with baseball tales The July membership meeting of the Dairy Deli Bakery Council (DDBC) of Southern California coincided with the Major League All-Star Game, but Mickey Hatcher, popular former L.A. Dodgers player and current coach for the Angels, helped make the meeting memorable. Not only did he give the highlights of his own colorful career with the Dodgers, the Minnesota Twins, and then back with the Dodgers, he offered up some behindthe-scenes tales of goings-on in various locker rooms and dugouts. He had the attendees in stitches at times, often with some ribald observations of his former teammates. In other business, Rich Gillmore (Gelson’s Market) was presented the Big Cheese Award for March; Monica Stone (Fuji Foods), gave a run-down of the upcoming Seminar, scheduled for Sept. 9-11; and Program Chairman Jim Veregge (Unified Grocers) detailed upcoming events for the members to mark there calendars. He also announced the DDBC donated $800 to the Lymphona Foundation and led a moment of silence for the late Eileen Taylor (see obituary on page 36).

Guest speaker Mickey Hatcher, now a coach for the Angels, receives a personalized “Saturday Evening Post” cover from Jim Veregge (Unified Grocers). When Hatcher played for the Dodgers in the 1980s, broadcaster Joe Garagiola said he belonged on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. Thanks to Veregge and the DDBC, now he has.

Rich Gillmore (Gelson’s Markets) delivered his understanding of the food industry on receiving the March Big Cheese Award. He cited the friends he has made through his career.

32 DDBC News, September/October 2016

Mickey Hatcher chose to spend the All-Star Game night with the DDBC, where he regaled the membership with some ribald, but amusing, anecdotes.

July meeting of DDBC

Rich Gillmore (Gelson’s Markets) receives the March Big Cheese Award from Jaime Prager (Albertsons/Vons/Pavilions).

Many of Rich Gillmore’s asscociates at Gelson’s were on hand to help him celebrate the Big Cheese Award.

Ben Nadim and Aimee Mizrahi, both of Anderson International, donated an autographed jersey from LaDamian Tomlinson to be auctioned for the Scholarship Fund.

Diane Murdoch (TrueFresh LLP) and Monica Stone (Fuji Foods).

Steve Nguyen (Unified Grocers) and Dave MacDonald (Hood Foods), who filled in as emcee for vacationing President Silvia Quiroz (Cardenas Markets).

Larry Eiffert (JTJ Sales), George Garcia (Carmelita), Dave Sibell (Unified Grocers), and Greg Henderson (Zacky Farms). DDBC News, September/October 2016

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July meeting of DDBC

Jose Cardenas (Cacique), Vicky Villasenor (Cacique), Joe Valencia (Ralphs), Lisa Juarez (Cacique) and Bob Cashen (Cacique)..

Irene Graves (Quest Sales & Marketing), Jay Zack (PitaPal), and Laura Russo (Quest Sales & Marketing).

Bob Dressler and Valerie Cole, both of Advantage Fresh.

Annette Uehara (Nasser Co., Inc.) and Tom Ilharreguy (DPI Specialty Foods).

Guest speaker Mickey Hatcher of the Angels and Dave Sibell (Unified Grocers).

Lisa Leandro (Eggland’s Best), Debbie Romero (retired), and Donna Harkema (Farmer John).

34 DDBC News, September/October 2016

July meeting of DDBC

Thank you to Scholarship donors The DDBC Scholarship Fund increased to $11,859.59 at the July meeting, thanks to a live auction and raffle opportunities. Anderson International donated a San Diego Chargers jersey signed by LaDamian Tomlinson and Giftco and Flax 4 Life donated gift cards to the raffle. Also, LeGrand Marketing and Orange Bakery donated the bread, Anderson International donated the assortment of flavor sliced cheeses to complete our All-American buffet.

Katie Stembridge, Greg Lapidus, and Marlo Monroe, all of WestRock.

Frank Hernandez and Mary Crocker, both of Alta Dena Dairy.

Upcoming Calendar of Events The DDBC Calendar of Events remains active through the end of the year with the following events on tap: • August 31 – Deadline for DDBC Scholarships. Applications are available on the DDBC website: ddbcsocal.org. September 9-11 – The 48th National DDBC Seminar to be conducted at the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point. • October 13 – The DDBC Membership meeting, featuring a Lifetime Achievement Award to three generations of the Levey Family ... Ralph, Mark, Alan ... and their seminal perishable foods brokerage, Normark & Associates. Also, Big Cheese Awards will be presented to Nancy Tyler (Acosta) for September and Jim Wakefield (Smart & Final) for October. • November 1 – The final regular membership meeting featuring Election Night. Also, Kristal Clark (Advantage Solutions) will be presented the November Big Cheese Award. • January 7, 2017 – DDBC Dinner/Dance and Installation of Officers at the Summit House Restaurant in Fullerton.

Monica Stone (Fuji Foods) has a big smile after winning the LaDamian Tomlinson autographed San Diego Chargers jersey donated by American International Foods. The proceeds went to the DDBC Scholarship Fund. DDBC News, September/October 2016

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Industry News Wedding Bells Former DDBC President Jon Amidei married Connie Lee on July 1 in Temecula. Amidei served as President of the Council in 2006 and was selected as Supplier of the Year in 2007. Amidei, Chief Operating Officer at Swaggerty Farm Sausage Company in Kodak, Tenn., has a long association with the meat industry in Southern California. One of his pastimes is judging barbecue cooking contests around the country. He and Connie are both certified judges.

WAFC Kevin Curry, Senior Vice Presdient Sales, Merchandising & Distribution for Raley’s Markets of West Sacramento, has been appointed President & Chairman of the Western Association of Food Chains. Due to the retirement of Donna Giordano from Ralphs Grocery Company, the executive committee of the WAFC appointed new leadership at the July Board of Directors Meeting. “We are so appreciative of Donna’s leadership while serving as an active WAFC Board member and officer,” Curry said. “As an advocate for advanced education, she has truly made a difference in the lives of her associates and the grocery industry. We wish her much happiness in her retirement. “It is a pleasure to welcome Sarah Wehling of Costco to our officer ranks. Sarah’s energy and passion for education makes her a perfect selection to further the success of WAFC’s education initiatives,” Curry said. The remainder of the board remains intact.

Albertsons/Vons/Pavilion Susan Covarrubias has been promoted to the role of Grocery Assistant Sales Manager for Albertsons/Vons/Pavilion. Covarrubias began her career with Albertsons as a courtesy clerk in Torrance in 1979. She held many positions at store level before joining the merchandising department in 2005 as a pricing department specialist. She then held the positions of division pricing manager and buyer before becoming the Own Brands Sales Manager. Covarrubias received her B.S. in Business Management from California Coast University.

36 DDBC News, September/October 2016

Eileen and Jack Taylor of Horizon Sales Corp. at a recent DDBC function.

Eileen Taylor Longtime DDBC member Eileen Hahnenfeld Taylor, wife and partner of Jack Taylor of Horizon Sales Corp. in Costa Mesa, passed away June 25. In 1982, Eileen and Jack built the highly successful perishable foods brokerage Horizon Sales Corp. She was CFO and along with Jack will always be the spirit of Horizon. Jack was the DDBC Supplier of the Year in 2006 and was inducted into the DDBC Hall of Fame in 2012. Eileen was born in New York and attended Albany State University, where she met Jack. They were married on May 24, 1975. They moved to California and raised a family, with daughter, Danielle Pagano (son-in-law Matthew) son, John Taylor (daughter-in-law Dana). The Taylors have 4 grandchildren and one on the way, Jameson (4), Taylor Rose (3), Lorraine (19 months), Devon (13 months) and “Little Eileen” due in January. Eileen lived for her family and her love of cooking, photography and her gardening. Holidays around the Taylor’s house were rich in tradition with Eileen and Jack at the helm. Eileen had the kindest and most comforting soul, and she made everyone feel welcome and safe. It’s hard to say what will be missed most about Eileen because she was so genuine and pure in everything she did. She was a wife, sister, daughter, mother, soulmate, best friend, Grammy, life partner, and inspiration to everyone that had the pleasure of knowing her. Services have been held. She will be taking over grocery categories currently managed by Chris Brown, who will be moving to the meat department. He is taking meat items such as bacon, sausage, lunchmeat with him. Susan’s full desk will be pasta, pasta sauce, soup, cookies & crackers, canned fruit and vegetables. A transation date is not set at this time.

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Unified Grocers Expo

Rob Giusti (Greek Goddes Yogurt), Larry Eiffert (JTJ Sales), and Jim Francis (JTJ Sales).

Connie Curiel (Unified Grocers), Damien Valdez (Super King Markets), and Gerry Oregel (Bon Suisse).

Dottie Beamer (Premier Sales Solutions) with the company’s newest associate, Justin Clark, previously with Butterball.

Reynaldo’s crew included Tammy Wilson, Edna Ortega, Iliana Corona, Craig Covell, and Lonnie Cope.

Mary Crocker and Frank Hernandez, both of Alta Dena Dairy.

Michael Lanphere (Progressive Food Sales), Janet Tarasi (Smart & Final), Bob Lanphere (Progressive Food Sales), and Michelle Boivin (CSM Bakery).

40 DDBC News, September/October 2016

Unified Grocers Expo

Marci Clark (Kraft/Heinz), Mark Dixon (Acosta), Arneita Langford (Acosta), and Caroline Wright (Acosta).

Jeanne Amen-Miller and Raul Alvarez, both of Super A Markets.

Ozzy Morones (LALA), Steve Redman (retired), JoAnn Dunn (LALA), Eric Estes (LALA), Phil Roach (LALA), and Kerry McFadden (LALA).

The Bar-S team out in force were Neil Malsom, Pat Nunez, Rey Garza, Paula Antrasian, Pilar Villasana, and Tricia Phelps.

Allan Baum and Josh Baum, both of Savi Sales & Marketing.

Carla Strouffske, George Garcia, and Tasha Hack, all of Carmelita Chorizo. DDBC News, September/October 2016

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Unified Grocers Expo

The Nasser Co., Inc. team was out in force with Karen Romero Dean Sandello, Nevart Majarian, Tina Wilson, Angela Dahl, Annette Uehara, and Henry Rodriguez.

Jim Veregge (Unified Grocers) chats with Craig Jaunzemis (La Mexicana Salsa).

Calendar Continued from Page 3 11 – Veterans Day. 24 – Thanksgiving. December 24-Jan. 1 – Hanukkah. 25 – Christmas Day. 2017 January 7 – DDBC Dinner/Dance & Installation of Officers, Summit House Restaurant, Fullerton. Information: 562-947-7016. 8-15 – Independent Operators Conference, Maui. Information: www.cagrocers.com. 16 – Martin Luther King Jr. birthday. February 20 – President’s Day. March 10-12 – Natural Products Expo West, Anaheim. April 11-18 – Passover. 16 – Easter.

25 – City of Hope Fashion Show. Information: www.coh.org. May 1-2 – Tortilla Industry Association Convention, Las Vegas. Information: www.tortilla-info.com. 5 – Cinco de Mayo 6-10 – Western Association of Food Chains Convention, Palm Desert. Information: www.wafc.com. 29 – Memorial Day. June 4-6 – IDDBA Dairy Deli Bake, Anaheim Convention Center. Information: www.iddba.org. July 4 – Independence Day. September 4 – Labor Day. 16 – Mexican Independence Day. 20-22 – Rosh Hashanah. 29-30 – Yom Kippur. November 11 – Veterans Day.

MARIN CHEESE COMPANY 1/6-page ad here marin cheese p.u. from page 30 Specializing july-august 2016

in fine

imported

and domestic cheeses as well as a wide variety of gourmet foods.

63 Paul Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 Phone: (415) 479-1200 www.marincheese.com

Mission Statement To strengthen and promote the Dairy-Deli-Bakery Council by providing a forum where members can learn, build relationships and share ideas. 42 DDBC News, September/October 2016