Boar’s Head Sarasota Deli Provisions: Unacceptable Business Practices
The 09 December 09 edition of the Ft. Myers News-Press features a story by Sam Cook about meat-processor/distributor Boar’s Head, based in my hometown of Sarasota, Florida. Bravo, Mr. Cook.
Normally I do not feature articles on local businesses unless I feel those companies are at least excellent. Today is a sad exception, but it’s necessary to expose Boar’s Head and its local distributor, Sarasota Deli Provisions, and their unacceptable business practices.
Mr. Cook reported: “the Sarasota-based company ran off customers at Topps Supermarket, The Sandy Butler Gourmet Market, Mario’s Italian Meat Market and City Deli by parking trucks in parking lots and entranceways.”
How could this happen?
Only Boar’s Head knows for sure, but the Ft. Myers businesses were hosting fundraising events for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation, which is based in Dallas. Folks I talked with said Boar’s Head truckers intentionally blocked several entrances and occupied a dozen parking spaces in the parking lots of the markets, even though Boar’s Head does NOT do business with any of those markets. There’re even posted photographs of this bully-behavior.
One of the witnesses to Boar’s Head Sarasota Deli Provisions’ antics was Mr. Steve Riley, marketing director of Dietz & Watson, the Boar’s Head competitor that actually sponsored the events at each market. I asked Mr. Riley to share some of his views about it and his company’s involvement in this fundraising effort:
How did D&W become involved in this project with Susan G. Komen for Cure of SW Florida? We work with the Philadelphia chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. They have chapters across the country and Philly is our hometown. We wanted to do some charity events to say thanks to the community that was serving as host for our national sales meeting and we know what a great organization Komen is.
Has D&W had unpleasant dealings with Boar’s Head in the past? Well, they are our competitor. An issue we have been talking about lately is Boar’s Head’s demand for deli case exclusivity in grocery chains. Deli case exclusivity reared its head again this summer in North Carolina where the Harris Teeter grocery chain was forced to tell its customers they could no longer choose to purchase popular Dietz & Watson products. Why? Because they wanted to offer Boar’s Head as another choice. But consistent with Boar’s Head’s anti-choice approach, Boar’s Head wouldn’t allow a premium competitor to sell alongside them in the deli case. A Harris Teeter spokeswoman told a local newspaper that customers enjoyed Dietz & Watson products, which she called “outstanding,” and that making the change was a “difficult decision.”
Public opinion in North Carolina was intense, and the media in Charlotte, including three network television stations, covered a consumer choice event Dietz & Watson held in the city on Oct. 13. While Boar’s Head won’t even publicly acknowledge their exclusivity edict, executive editor of Progressive Grocer, a leading grocery trade magazine, wrote on August 3 that Boar’s Head’s longstanding all-or-nothing game plan is common knowledge in the industry.
What specifically happened at each of the businesses where the fundraising took place? I was at the event in Port Charlotte. There, we were doing what we call the Deli Challenge at one of our accounts, City Deli, and also taking donations for Komen as well. We sample our products head-to-head against Boar’s Head products. Well, in rolled more than 35 Boar’s Head trucks. They parked in front of the store and also blocked traffic and parking. Then the Sarasota Boar’s Head distributor, Mr. Bob Fox, got out of the truck, along with many other of his drivers, and approached Dietz & Watson employees who were setting up for the day. He kept saying things like “We want to do the Deli Challenge. We want to be a part of the Deli Challenge,” and getting right up in people’s faces. He told us they didn’t even have product on their trucks! So apparently they were not there to participate in any taste-testing but just there to intimidate. Finally the sheriff came and they [Mr. Fox and his employees] quickly left to go hit our other events in Fort Myers, which were strictly hot dog sales with 100% of proceeds going to the charity.
How do you estimate the loss of funds raised at the events? We can’t really estimate that. I believe we raised more than $2,000, but our president and CEO Louis Eni wanted to make sure that Boar’s Head’s actions didn’t shortchange Susan G. Komen, so he is more than matching what was raised and giving a check to them for $5,000, and apologizing on behalf of Boar’s Head.
Who at Boar’s Head instigated their show of force at the companies? We don’t know if Boar’s Head corporate approved this or not. We just know that Bob Fox of Sarasota Deli Provisions was the ring-leader in this incident. As Louis [Eni, CEO] said, “I can’t image that Bob Martin (Chairman and CEO of Boar’s Head) would sanction his distributors disrupting charity fundraising events.”
Has D&W called Boar’s Head to call them on their bad behavior? If so, what was said? If not, why? No. We call Boar’s Head a “marketing machine” and ourselves a family-owned business, which we are. At Dietz & Watson, so much of our time is focused on creating the freshest, best-tasting deli meats and cheeses. Put simply, we don’t have time for these antics. One thing we will do is put our product up against theirs any and every day of the week. That’s why we are pressing for consumer choice at grocery stores. We want the consumer to decide who is best.
What is the Foundation’s reaction to Boar’s Head’s bad behavior? I spoke with Miriam Ross at Komen of SW Florida this a.m. She was shocked, and thankful that Dietz & Watson was going to step up with the $5,000 donation.
What do you feel should be done to punish Boar’s Head? This is certainly not Dietz & Watson’s call. The public and retailers have the freedom of choice. This is one of the things that makes America great.
All it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing.
Boar’s Head’s childish tactics remind me of those 5th-grade bullies in the schoolyard. Remember those punks who used to take your lunch money, push you around, steal your backpack and books, sit in your designated seat? Intimidation works only when people allow it to work.
Shame on Boar’s Head Sarasota Deli Provisions and all the truckers and colleagues who took part in this pathetic show of pseudo-force.
The question now becomes: what are you going to do about it?
Me? I used to buy Boar’s Head meats at our local Publix Supermarket in town, and I’ll never do it again. Am I being unreasonable? Maybe. Do I feel better for it? Yes.
And I’m gonna sorely miss those delish Boar’s Head deli meats and cheeses. But if I broke down and featured them in one of my panini burritos or my wife’s worldclass Sunday hash, I’d heave a few times then throw up. I said something to this effect to the Boar’s Head rep on the phone:
Boar’s Head: 1819 Main Street, Suite 800 Sarasota, Florida 34236 (941) 955-0994 (888) 884-2627 (toll free)
Sarasota Deli Provisions 7025 Professional Pkwy E Sarasota, Florida 34240-8412 (941) 907-4192
Remember: all it takes for evil to prevail is for good people to do nothing. There’re many out there who couldn’t care less about Boar’s Head’s predatory business practices, and they’ll keep right on buying Boar’s Head meats, allowing evil to prevail.
Are you one of those people?
[Mr. Cook's original article appears here: Ft. Myers News-Press]
P.S. Publix is now going to be very happy: that 10 pounds of deli meat and cheese we buy each month will now be the Publix brand, not Boar’s Head.
