It is cold outside, the world is still reeling from the effects of Covid, and I am still trying with our executive team to navigate staffing shortages, inflation and supply chain issues. We are paying 30% to 40% more for meat, poultry, paper, plastic, aluminum, etc. The instability of the marketplace is witnessed as daily price changes take effect. At one time I could plan for the future with monthly or quarterly pricing, however now we must try to make it all work within days of the price changes. And then there are shortages. No knockwursts or casing hot dogs available for months… and no Cel Ray soda? What is a deli to do?
This is no easy task. What do we do to make it all work and remain a viable business?
Well, luckily, we have been thinking and planning new promotions. In case you have not heard… it is Bens’ 50th Anniversary. And what better way to celebrate our golden anniversary than with monthly anniversary specials using the number 50 and the number 1972, the year we began this journey. We then must align labor with our fluctuating daily and weekly sales. If we are to survive, we must be more efficient… and we ask for a little patience from our loyal patrons during these tumultuous times.
Additionally, we just received a huge shipment of casing hot dogs, knockwursts, and cel-ray soda, finally! I have never been so excited for a hot dog or soda delivery. Things that always were and still are exciting to me. So, it should be no surprise to those who know me, that I am overly excited by our anticipated refurbishment of our flagship Ben’s, Greenvale, prior to, during and after the Passover holidays as we continue to operate throughout the reconstruction. I hope you’ll be as excited as I am as I prepare to transfer “power” with a newly refurbished store to our Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Todd Silverstein, and our Vice President, Ms. Gilah Salzano, and my best daughter, Ms. Jaime Dragoon Passy, my only daughter, but it makes her feel great and as a parent what makes my daughter happy makes me happy.
See ya at the Deli,
Simply,
Ronnie
