FOODSERVICE NEWS

R.I. Gov. Reassures Commitment To Twin River Despite Chap. 11 Filing
Rhode Island Governor Donald Carcieri reassured Twin River patrons and Rhode Island taxpayers last week that Chapter 11 reorganization filing by BLB Investors, the company that owns Twin River, will have no impact on the gaming experience or operations. “The reorganization proceedings under Chapter 11 will not impact the gaming experience at Twin River,” said Governor Carcieri. “It is business as usual at Twin River; the facility is open, offering patrons gaming, dining, and entertainment. Further, I can also assure that my administration is doing everything necessary to protect the critical revenue source from Twin River.”
The governor also announced that the State, a group of BLB senior secured lenders and BLB Investors have reached an agreement in principle on the reorganization of Twin River. The consensual reorganization plan between the State, BLB lenders, and BLB Investors, contemplates that approximately $290 million in debt will be removed from the balance sheet of the facility and that lenders will become the facility’s new owners, subject to the state’s regulatory approval process. The plan also supports 24/7 operation of Twin River, and provides new state investments for the marketing and management of Twin River which are designed to enhance revenues for both the State and the new owners of Twin River. BLB Investors will continue to manage Twin River for approximately four months while the lenders conduct a marketing process that may result in a new management company for the facility. The new management company must receive regulatory approval from the State.

PFG Changes Name and Logo
Performance Food Group has informed its suppliers and partners that its broadline distribution companies will now operate as PERFORMANCE Foodservice, representing its focus and dedication to strong products, customer, and service focused identity.;
The legal name remains as Performance Food Group-LLC. The only exception is in Springfield, Mass. where the division will be called PERFORMANCE Foodservice-Roma.

Dunkin Donuts Unveils Technology Service To Make Group Orders Easier
Last week, Dunkin' Donuts, unveiled "Dunkin' Run," an interactive web site and iPhone application that will enable customers to solicit and place Dunkin' Donuts group orders in just a few clicks.
To begin, "Runners" can initiate a group order on HYPERLINK "http://www.DunkinRun.com" \o "blocked::http://www.dunkinrun.com/" \t "_blank" www.DunkinRun.com through their computer, mobile device, or via an iPhone application available for free download at the iTunes online store. Interactive alerts are sent to the Runner's list of friends or co-workers, telling them when a trip to Dunkin' Donuts is planned along with a personal message inviting them to place an order online. Invitees can view the Dunkin' Donuts menu to place their order, and registered users can select from their own personal list of favorites and/or previous orders. All Dunkin' Donuts core foods and beverages are presented using interactive product images to make personalizing an order both simple and fun.
All of the orders are integrated onto a single page/screen which the Runner either prints or uses their iPhone or mobile device to bring to any Dunkin' Donuts store. Dunkin' Donuts crew members will use this checklist to fulfill orders quickly and ensure order accuracy. The Runner can also use this page as a checklist to ensure that everyone in the group gets what he or she ordered.

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Switches To Cage-Free Eggs and Food Service Latest Word…
...The New Hampshire Legislature passed its budget last week that includes an increase of the meals and room tax from 8 to 9 percent, a requirement for meals and rooms tax licensees to purchase a $5,000 bond and an increase in food license fees. According to the New Hampshire Lodging and Restaurant Assn. one positive note was a commitment from the state to invest in tourism promotion. It designates that 3.1 5 percent of the rooms and meals tax collections will go to travel and tourism promotion.
… Red Robin Gourmet Burgers announced last week it has begun phasing in purchasing toward ensuring that all of the eggs served in Red Robin’s company owned restaurants come from suppliers that do not use battery cages.
...Dr. Pepper Snapple Group announced a deal with Jack in the Box restaurants nationwide.

C-STORE NEWS

FDA Receives New Expanded Powers To Regulate Tobacco
Legislation has passed that gives the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate tobacco in the same way the government regulates breakfast cereals and pharmaceuticals. On June 22, President Barack Obama gave his signature to H.R. 1256, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, which grants the FDA with regulatory authority over the manufacture and sale of tobacco products including new products. The FDA will now be tasked with developing and issuing rules that implement provisions of the new law.
Responding to the new law, the Altria Group called President Obama’s signing of legislation an important and historic achievement. In contrast, Commonwealth Brands, fourth largest tobacco manufacturer in the United States, said that, "the enactment of this law represents a golden opportunity lost. Congress has passed up a unique chance to develop a regulatory framework for the tobacco industry that could have been effective, efficient and proportionate. Instead, this law will only serve to threaten the survival of small manufacturers, and punish their law-abiding, hard working consumers. At the same time it will reward big tobacco companies, whose practices were the genesis for this legislation. In short, the additional cost of complying with this law will hurt the very people that the government claimed to be helping."

Sheetz Calls for Beer Legislation Reform
Stan Sheetz, president and chief executive officer of Sheetz, last week called for beer legislation reform following a ruling by the Penn. State Supreme Court which essentially revoked the retailer’s license to sell beer at its convenience restaurant in Altoona, Pa.
Mr. Sheetz said the “The Malt Beverage Distributors Assn. (MBDA) has a powerful lobby that has for many years kept Pennsylvania as one of only a handful of states in the entire country that does not allow the purchase of beer at a grocery or convenience store. Insisting that we sell for on-premise consumption is a veiled attempt to hide behind a set of archaic laws that benefit its members yet continues to restrict the freedom of Pennsylvanians to purchase beer in a more convenient setting, during more convenient hours.” said Mr. Sheetz.
Ironically, he said the nature of the complaint put forth against us by the MBDA contradicts the biggest concern that has been expressed -- allowing Sheetz to sell beer will increase drunk driving. “Yet they want to force us to allow people to drink at our restaurant and then drive home,” said Mr. Sheetz. “Our belief in prohibiting on-premise consumption is the more responsible approach.”

NCA Announces New Partnership With Retail Confectioners Int’l.
The National Confectioners Association and Retail Confectioners International recently announced a new partnership designed to offer enhanced services to candy maker members of both associations.
NCA represents more than 700 members and is the major association for the entire confectionery industry. RCI’s members number 450 and include a broad range of confectioners and industry suppliers - from small, independently owned businesses to large corporations The NCA group will share and develop its public policy expertise with RCI members to keep them abreast of federal and state legislative and regulatory proposals affecting their companies. In addition, RCI’s members will join in efforts to ensure that the voice of the confectionery industry is heard by legislators and regulators.

Rutter’s Launches $2.99 Kids Meal and More C-Store Latest Word…
One hundred and fifty golfers braved the cold, wind, and driving rain to play golf last week in the Xtramart Jennifer Creed Golf Tournament played at two golf courses in Rhode Island. Nearly 270 people attended the concluding dinner in which Xtramart presented a $60,000 check to the Jennifer Creed Committee. In 24 years, the retailer has raised $1.32 million toward the fund which helps the families with cancer or birth defects.
…Rutter’s has launched a $2.99 kids meal which also comes with a four pack of crayons and a paper activity bag.
… Police are seeking a suspect in the fatal shooting of an innocent bystander, shot during an attempted armed robbery at the Petro Mart gas station and convenience store in New Bedford, on Saturday, June 20.
… J. Polep Distribution Services will hold its fall Greater Boston trade show at Christina’s in Foxboro, Mass. on Sept. 16 from 10:00 a..m. to 4:00 p.m.

NEW CHANNELS

FDA Warns About Nestle Toll House Prepackaged, Refrigerated Cookie Dough
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned consumers not to eat any varieties of prepackaged Nestle Toll House refrigerated cookie dough due to the risk of contamination with E. coli.
Retailers, restaurateurs, and personnel at other food-service operations should not sell or serve any Nestle Toll House prepackaged, refrigerated cookie dough products subject to the recall.
Nestle USA, which manufactures and markets the Toll House cookie dough, is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation by the FDA and CDC. The warning is based on an ongoing epidemiological study conducted by the CDC and several state and local health departments.
Since March there have been 66 reports of illness across 28 states. Twenty-five persons were hospitalized; 7 with a severe complication called Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome. For a complete listing of the recalled products go to: HYPERLINK "http://www.nestleusa.com" www.nestleusa.com.

Salsarita Fresh Cantina Experiences Strong Growth In 2009
Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina, fast-casual Mexican restaurant chains has experienced growth in 2009 with the opening of four new restaurants and signed agreements for 28 more locations in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.  The company is currently closing in on its first hundred restaurants with the goal of opening 200 restaurants by 2012. 
Despite the economic downturn, Salsarita’s has announced that Minneapolis, Jacksonville, Detroit, Raleigh-Durham, Birmingham, Nashville, Upstate New York and Baltimore will be key markets for its 2009 expansion plans. 
Salsarita’s specializes in serving made-to-order burritos, tacos, tortilla, pizza’s and taco salads.  Prepared fresh-daily in each restaurant, guests can enjoy high-quality dishes featuring ground beef, grilled chicken, grilled steak, or pork, grilled shrimp and fresh vegetables, and a choice of 13 fillings and four homemade salsas.  Every order is prepared in full view of customers in a 700-square-foot display kitchen with a contemporary Hispanic motif. 

CVS/pharmacy Launches Virtual Gift Cards Online
CVS/pharmacy, last week announced the availability of interactive, customizable online gift cards that can be created and purchased. The personalized gift cards are sent via email and may be redeemed at any of the more than 6,900 CVS/pharmacy and Longs Drugs locations nationwide.
Upon receiving a virtual gift card, recipients simply print out their customized email and bring them to their local CVS/pharmacy or Longs Drugs location. Shoppers can get a head start and set up virtual gift cards in advance, to be delivered to family and friends on upcoming birthdays, holidays and special occasions. Virtual gift cards can be used toward purchases on everything from health and beauty essentials, seasonal goods, snacks, personal care items, photo products and services, as well as prescriptions. Mike Bloom, senior vice president of merchandising for CVS/pharmacy said, "Our new virtual gift cards are an ideal choice for shoppers who want to add a personal touch to a popular gift option.”

Ruiz Foods Named In Top 500 Hispanic Owned Businesses List...
And More New Channels Latest Word…
Massachusetts has been dubbed the nation’s most advanced in the adoption of electronically routed prescriptions. According to Surescripts, the Bay State ranks first in the nation when it comes to the use among physicians of paperless prescribing. Massachsusetts sent more than 6.7 million prescriptions electronically in 2008 which represents one fifth of all eligible prescriptions in the state. In comparison 2.3 percent was sent electronically in 2005.
...Hispanic Business Magazine has rated Ruiz Foods 14th among the top 500 Hispanic owned businesses in the U.S. Ruiz Foods manufactures frozen Mexican foods to the retail and food service channel.
... Johanna Foods is debuting a new brand of natural fruit drink beverages called Earth Wise.