2023 NJ / NY Benchmarking Survey Results

A special thank you to co-panelists Nolan Lewin, Executive Director of the Rutgers University Food Innovation Center, and Colin Turner, Chief Strategy Officer of F&S Fresh Foods, and the Grassi team of Robert Grote, Jeffrey Cohen, CPA, James McIntosh, CPA, MST or Chris Fifis who led the discussion of findings from the 2023 industry report at Friday's conference. 

Download your copy and learn what your regional peers are saying about the challenges they are facing. Disagree? Have follow-up questions? Join us for breakfast May 2 with the Southern New Jersey Chamber of Commerce. Find out what's working and what's not in automation, inventory management, staffing, cybersecurity, and more.   

Facility Design to Enhance Process & Performance

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at photos and blueprints used in the latest facility designs. These slides will NOT be made available after the conference. You have to be in the room this Friday. Register now!

•  How do I expand an existing facility without slowing down production?
• Do I renovate a facility to a new use or invest in new construction?
• How can I incorporate sustainability issues from the beginning vs renovating an existing building?
• Learn more about the renovation of the Rutgers Food Innovation Center and more recently the Cumberland County Improvement Authority Food Commercialization Center. Both buildings were designed to serve as incubators for developing food businesses and need to handle a wide variety of processes. 

J.W. Pedersen, Architect P.C. is located in Southern New Jersey. President, John W. Pedersen, has over 40 years of experience in the construction industry in both new and renovation projects. Recent projects have included a 70,000 s.f. renovation to a 110,000 s.f. cheese processing facility completed without interruption to production and the completion of a 46,000 s.f. addition to a 62,000 s.f. bakery process facility. 

Challenges and Solutions For Your Processing Facility Construction

The Food and Beverage business in NJ is booming. NJMEP's 2023 NJ Manufacturing Industry Report lists Food and Beverage Manufacturing as the second-largest manufacturing sector across all of New Jersey. The facilities needed for our industry are VERY different than an empty box warehouse.

2023 NJFPA Stewardship Award AND Breakout Session Presenter

NJFPA and the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program are proud to announce that Premio Foods, Inc. has been selected as the recipient of this year's NJFPA Stewardship Award. Recipients are New Jersey food and beverage processors recognized for their investment in New Jersey, our industry, and the greater community.

Come learn from the best! Our partners at NJMEP present the award at our annual conference on March 17th and share more on why Premio Foods' leadership is worth celebrating. AND lead a breakout session on their workforce success story with Premio HR. Here are just a few of the stories that stood out:

Breakout Session on Fallacies & Fairytales: The Truth Behind Business Valuations

Determining the true value of your business is important for every company: mature, growing, and startup (think shark tank valuations!) But many market-based "Rules of Thumb" are not worth much when valuing a business. Join NJFPA Member Expert Fred Kaplan of Stony Hill Advisors as he dispels the most common myths that catch businesses unprepared. 

Breakout Session on Food Safety Culture and Regulatory Compliance

FDA-recognized Food Safety Expert and long-time lecturer from Rutgers University Food Innovation Center, Donna F. Schaffner, will be sharing her insights into how ‘Food Safety Culture’ is being measured by FDA Inspectors in order to meet regulatory expectations.

Welcome Closing Speaker Dr. Jill Weber 

Dr. Jill Weber is in every sense of the word an explorer in both her fields (so far) of archaeology and restaurateur. One of Jill’s greatest attributes has been described as just being interested. Interested in the past, in science, in processes, in food and wine, and most importantly - in people.

Her true interest and insights have made her a leader in her industries. Jill has been president of Les Dames d'Escoffier - Philly Chapter, is currently on the board of the Geographical Society of Philadelphia and Co-Chair of the Sisterly Love Collective. 

Keynote Speaker Arlin Wasserman of Changing Tastes

Arlin Wasserman is the founder and managing director of Changing Tastes. Over the past two decades, he has helped identify and catalyze some of the most significant shifts in the way businesses and consumers think about food.

Wasserman’s accomplishments include working with General Mills to develop the first sustainability strategy for a major U.S. food company and innovating the now common practice among food companies to make forward-looking, measurable commitments to reduce carbon emissions, water consumption, energy and chemical use, and waste. 

Get the 2023 Industry Survey Results First

For the third year since the extraordinary year that was 2020, NJFPA has partnered with Grassi Advisors & Accountants to create a benchmarking survey that examined the specific regional challenges and opportunities of the NJ Food Processing Community. Review the 2022 & 2021 Reports.

Be the first to hear the comprehensive industry benchmarks that your business can leverage at the 2023 NJFPA Annual Conference.

Don't forget, if you participated in the survey you were given a coupon code for 20% off registration to the Conference in Atlantic City. (Discount code was provided at the end of the survey.)

Conference Schedule as of February 24

Register | Schedule | Exhibitors | Sponsorship | Accommodations | 2022 Recap 

THURSDAY, MARCH 16TH, 5 PM - 7 PM

Casual Kick Off Cocktail Reception
Visit Exhibitors and Networking

Harrah's Conference Center, Wildwood Ballroom

FRIDAY, MARCH 17TH, 7 AM - 2:30 PM

7:00 AM    Breakfast / Visit Exhibitors / Networking
8:00 AM    Welcome and Remarks by Sam Pipitone, III, NJFPA President
8:05 AM    Keynote Address by Arlin Wasserman, Changing Tastes

8:45 AM    Food Manufacturing Survey by NJFPA and Grassi
9:30 AM    Visitors Exhibitors / Networking
10:20 AM  Breakout Sessions I
11:10 AM  Breakout Sessions II
12:00 PM  Visitors Exhibitors / Networking
12:45 PM  Lunch and Awards
1:30 PM    Dessert and Closing Presentation by Jill Weber, Sojourn Philly Restaurant Group

We Love Our Sponsors!

Thank you to all our sponsors who have already stepped forward with their support for our upcoming NJFPA annual conference on March 17th! Sponsorship of the NJFPA Annual Conference represents an opportunity for creative engagement with both food processors and the partners that support the industry. Through sponsorship, your organization can be associated with leaders in our community. Read more about the Sponsorship Details and Reserve your sponsorship today!

Schedule | Exhibitors | Sponsorship | Accommodations | 2022 Recap 

Get your exhibitor reservation in today!

In 2022, the exhibit hall was energetic. We heard how wonderful and productive the conversations were throughout the day with NJ area companies especially looking to support each other. More than 40 companies are expected to participate, displaying products and services and interacting with top-level executives from organizations throughout the state. With extended exhibit hall hours during Thursday's welcoming cocktail reception, this is a program not to be missed.

Set up begins at approx.12 noon on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Don't miss out on conference hotel room rates!

With extended exhibit hall hours and Whitepenny's welcoming cocktail reception Thursday night, (not to mention March Madness) there is more reason than ever to take advantage of accommodations in Atlantic City. 

Harrah’s Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey - Rate Cut-Off-Date is Monday, February 20, 2023
$81 Run of House on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 and Thursday, March 16, 2023
$221 Run of House on Friday, March 17, 2023
Reservations can be made by calling (888) 516-2215, Group Code SHO3FR3 or NJFPA Annual Conference. OR online at https://book.passkey.com/go/SH03FR3
Additional applicable taxes, occupancy fee, casino fee, resort fee

2023 NJ / NY Food and Beverage Manufacturing Benchmarking Survey

We need your insight! If your company is a food or beverage manufacturer or distributor doing business in NJ / NY, please take a few minutes to complete this survey and share it with your network. Tell us how shifting consumer demands, supply chain disruptions, and volatility in ingredient pricing and other trends have impacted your business operations and outlook. Your responses will be used to compile a comprehensive industry benchmarking report specific to our region that will help companies like yours measure their progress and plan for the road ahead.

The food and beverage manufacturing and distribution industry evolves every year. What is changing and what is still to come? Those are the questions we are looking to answer in our 2023 survey of New York and New Jersey food manufacturers. The NJFPA is conducting this survey in partnership with Grassi CPAs, and facilitated by the research team at Crain's New York Business.

2023 Conference Exhibitor and Sponsorships

We couldn't have our signature annual conference without the support of our exhibitors and sponsors. In 2022, the exhibit hall was energetic. We heard how wonderful and productive the conversations were throughout the day. More than 40 companies are expected to participate, displaying products and services and interacting with top-level executives from organizations throughout the state. 

Advance reservations by mail are now available for exhibitors and sponsors. Online forms to follow!

2023 NJFPA Annual Conference 

Overwhelmingly you have said that one of the biggest challenges you are facing is workforce. From hiring and retention of your own employees to driver shortages and port personnel logistics affecting your processes and profits. How can NJ businesses stay ready for anything?

As many of you know, the NJFPA Annual Conference is planned by members, for members. The education committee is building on some of our most popular topics from last year. For instance, bringing in students to talk about apprenticeships and hiring practices. 

What do YOU think is the most urgent issue facing NJ businesses?

Online and at our booth at the NJMEP Manufacturing Day Celebration we asked people to drop a business card in what they thought was the biggest challenge facing NJ businesses today. What should we be planning the annual NJFPA Conference around? (OK we did bribe them with a chance at Eagles / Flyers /Conference tickets. Winners to be announced shortly.) We asked them to choose between:

1. Workforce
2. Transportation / Logistics
3. Agility (How can you plan when everything keeps changing!)
4. Other

The winner by a landslide was workforce.

March 16-17, 2023 - Atlantic City

In 2023, the New Jersey Food Processors Association will again gather on March 16-17 in Atlantic City to share ideas, benchmark industry trends, and network amongst peers. This is a cornerstone program for the NJFPA that continues to grow its reach and engagement.

FREE Event: Resources for Growth Small Business - NJBAC /NJ State Chamber/Chamber of Commerce So. NJ

Date: Wed, September 21, 2022 - 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT
Location: Rowan College at Burlington County, Mt Laurel, NJ 08054
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/resources-for-growth-small-business-event-tickets-392725952897

At the 2022 NJFPA Conference, we talked about the many resources and advantages to doing business in New Jersey. Come find them in one place! Meet with representatives of the programs involved including:

Thank You for an Amazing Day!

Full Program & Speakers | Exhibitor List | Sponsors List | Photo Album

Going from not being sure that the event would even happen to one of our biggest turnouts yet has been an exciting few months. This truly is a member-driven organization and the conference could not have been accomplished without the leadership, advice, and direction of our Board of Directors, Education Committee, and all the members who stepped up as speakers, exhibitors, and event staff.

Check out some of the event pictures posted on LinkedIn and our Facebook album.

Make sure you have your calendar marked for our upcoming May 10th On The Road event, June 28th Golf Outing, and are subscribed to our newsletter for updates.