The Food Industry Alliance of New York (FIA) will honor Zulema Wiscovitch and Joe Garcia, co-CEOs of Associated Supermarket Group (ASG), at the FIA Annual Gala on Oct. 21 with the Award for Philanthropic Achievement.
Since 2021, FIA has recognized the involvement of the retail food industry across New York and the surrounding Tri-State Area. Each year, FIA bestows this distinction upon members who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to charitable giving, philanthropic investment and community service projects.
This year’s recognition highlights ASG’s broad and sustained impact under the leadership of Wiscovitch and Garcia.
Among its many community-focused initiatives:
- Good Neighbor Program – A hallmark of ASG’s community engagement, empowering independent grocers to sponsor local events, support families and celebrate neighborhood store openings. It underscores ASG’s belief that supermarkets are more than food providers – they are anchors of community life.
- Holiday Food Distributions – Every year, ASG and its retail network provide turkeys and meal essentials during Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, helping thousands of families celebrate with dignity.
- City Harvest Donations – Twice a year, following ASG’s buying shows, the company donates thousands of pounds of food to City Harvest, rescuing and redistributing meals to food-insecure families across New York.
- New York Food Bank Partnership – Through the Stuff-A-Truck campaign, ASG and its retailers have delivered support to the Food Bank for New York City, ensuring year-round access to nutritious meals.
Beyond philanthropy, Wiscovitch and Garcia have positioned ASG as a catalyst for advocacy and industry support. ASG champions SNAP protections, anti-trust/fair market practices and energy-efficiency incentives at the federal, state and city levels – ensuring independent supermarkets and the communities they serve remain a central voice in policymaking.
ASG’s leadership extends to supporting broader industry and charitable causes supporting education and families in need. The company has been a backer of initiatives such as the NGA Foundation, Tri-State Italian American, Catholic Institute of the Food Industry, Friends of the Food Industry and NSA Cares, in addition to sponsoring and contributing to retailer community-driven charity events.
“We are proud to celebrate Zulema and Joe for their vision and commitment to serving our communities with integrity, compassion and impact,” said Michael Durant, president and CEO of the Food Industry Alliance of New York. “ASG’s philanthropic leadership is a model for the industry.”
The FIA Annual Gala will take place on Oct. 21 at the Glen Island Harbour Club in New Rochelle, bringing together hundreds of leaders from the supermarket, grocery and retail sectors to honor excellence and reinforce the industry’s commitment to community engagement. To purchase tickets, visit fiany.com.
[RELATED: ASG Advocates For Independent Grocers at NGA Fly-In]