FOODSERVICE NEWS

Hobart Corp Redesigned Website Brings Together Hobart, Traulsen and Baxter Brands
Hobart has redesign its website HYPERLINK www.hobartcorp.com www.hobartcorp.com. integrating the Hobart, Traulsen refrigeration and Baxter Bakery brands into one front-end user experience from site to site. The interface uses a tab mechanism that highlights all three brands in a cohesive style.
Hobart is a major provider in commercial food equipment and service for the foodservice and food retail industries. Hobart, an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year, manufactures products for ware washing and waste handling; food preparation; Baxter bakery; cooking; weighing, wrapping and labeling systems; and Traulsen refrigeration. Traulsen, an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, has been providing premium refrigeration to the worldwide food equipment market since 1938. Traulsen’s refrigeration product offering includes reach-ins, roll-ins, undercounters, blast chillers, prep tables and merchandisers.
Since 1958, Baxter has been a leader in designing and manufacturing quality foodservice and bakery equipment worldwide. Baxter products include rotating rack ovens, revolving tray ovens, deck ovens, mini rotating rack ovens, hybrid convection ovens, proofers, proofer/retarders, ingredient bins and other baking accessories.

Papa Gino’s To Raise Funds For The New England Patriots Charitable Foundation
Beginning Sept. 28, Papa Gino’s will raise funds for the New England Patriots Charitable Foundation for the first time. Through Sunday, Oct 18, guests will have the opportunity to donate $1 to support the “Football For You” youth clinics featuring former New England Patriots players.
The donations will help support five “Football For You” clinics, hosted in areas where the opportunity to play football isn’t always accessible. The clinics lead participants through the fundamentals of offensive and defensive techniques and skills. The day concludes with a guest speaker and family picnic. Children, 12 to 14 years old can participate in the clinic, ranging from experienced players to those just thinking about trying football for the first time.

Uno Chicago Grill Defines Select Bostonians with their ‘Pizzanality’
On Oct. 1, Uno Chicago Grill began to celebrate National Pizza Month by defining the “Pizzanalities” of some of Boston’s most prominent individuals.  For example, Gov. Deval Patrick is the Numero Uno pizza – sausage, pepperoni, onions, peppers, mushrooms and tomato sauce.  “Boston is full of unique individuals,” said Frank Guidara, Uno Chicago Grill chief executive officer.  “National Pizza month is the perfect opportunity to celebrate this individuality by honoring some of our most prominent residents with a pizza that reflects their personality.”
Other Bostonians honored with a Pizzanality: include:
Boston Mayor Tom Menino – True Classic; true classic – pizza, that is.  Crumbled sausage, chunky tomato sauce, mozzarella and Romano cheese.  
Matt Siegel, radio host, Kiss 108 – the Lobster BLT Flatbread Pizza – A True Original
Tom Brady, quarterback, The New England Patriots – This one needs no explanation:  it’s the Chef’s Choice Deep Dish
Harvey Leonard, meteorologist, WCVB-TV –  A true Boston tradition – The Cheese & Tomato Deep Dish Pizza
Ian Bowles, Mass. Secretary of Energy and the Environment – Harvest Vegetable on a Five-Grain Crust Flatbread

Food Service Latest Word…
The Rhode Island Hospitality Assn. has launched its R.I. Dine program, a gift card program that allows purchasers to se the card at any of the 31 restaurants across the state that have signed up for the program.

Favorite Foods, an independently owned broadline food and paper distributor was named to New Hampshire’s top 100 privately owned companies.

The Mass. Restaurant Assn. is sponsoring a New Media, Marketing, and Get Connected Seminar on Oct. 14 at CaptureCode, 1000 Winter St., Annual Taste of Georgetown set for Oct. 10 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Waltham,Mass. from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Thirty Georgetown restaurants have come together to join the 16th Annual Taste of Georgetown event on Saturday, Oct. 10.

C-STORE NEWS

Tedeschi Expands Own Fuel Brand Program
Tedeschi Food Shops announced it has reopened one of its stores on 563 Centre St. in Brockton, Mass. under the Tedeschi Fuel brand.
The Brockton location opening came on the heels of a very successful rebranding effort at the West Bridgewater location which has been bearing the Tedeschi Fuel brand for several months. “Our brand is deeply rooted in a long tradition of quality and customer service. We strive to exceed customer expectations through continuous innovation and progressive product offerings such as our Tedeschi branded fuel. Our fuel delivers the quality that our customers have come to expect, at a price point that is sure to bring them back for more.” said Peter Tedeschi, company president and chief executive officer.
As opportunities arise, Mr. Tedeschi said the company Tedeschi Food Shops will continue to expand the program both internally and through strategic acquisitions and partnerships.
Mr. Tedeschi said Tedeschi Food Shops prides itself on providing its customers with a family of quality proprietary brands including TD’s Deli and TD’s Express, Tedeschi Select, and Tedeschi Fuel
The company operates 188 convenience store locations throughout Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Electronic Payments Coalition Discounts 7-Eleven Petition Drive On Credit Cards
The Electronic Payments Coalition including MasterCard issued the following statement on Sept. 30, discounting the 1.6 million signature petition drive given to Congress by 7-Eleven Convenience Stores
"It is the height of irony that a convenience store, which regularly marks up their products by as much as 500 percent for “convenience sake,” doesn't want to pay for the convenience of accepting cards. They want their customers to pay for that convenience, too. Enough is enough.
"This petition is not what it appears to be. 7-Eleven used deceptive language to trick their customers into signing something they thought would save them money. How many would have signed a petition that said, 'sign here if you want to pay more to use your debit or credit card, so we can profit?'
"Merchants understand that when they accept debit and credit, their sales go up by as much as 50 percent, their profits increase, and they relieve themselves of significant risk and bookkeeping headaches. But some merchants, like 7-Eleven, think that their customers should pay for this service instead, and that's not fair.
"We urge Members of Congress not to be fooled by this convenience store stunt - a clear and obvious attempt to line their pockets."
7-Eleven announced on Sept. 24 its franchisees and store operators have collected more than 1.6 million signatures in the “Stop Unfair Credit Card Fees” petition drive.
“Consumer response to this grassroots petition drive exceeded expectations,” said Joe Depict, 7-Eleven president and chief executive officer. “Customers share our frustration over the hidden fees that American retailers and, ultimately, consumers are forced to pay. They, too, want Congress to take action to regulate these unfair fees, which are the highest in the industrialized world.”

Dunkin' Donuts Announces President Will Kussell To Leave
Dunkin' Donuts announced last week that President and Chief Brand Officer William Kussell has decided to leave the company at the end of the year. With Mr. Kussell's departure, Nigel Davis, Dunkin' Brands chief executive officer will also assume the role of Dunkin' Donuts president.
"In the 15 years since Will joined Dunkin' Donuts, the company has grown from a regional donut chain with about 3,000 stores into the number one coffee and baked goods brand worldwide with more than 8,800 stores in 31 countries," said Mr. Travis"Among many achievements, Will has played a pivotal role in leading the transformation of Dunkin' Donuts and the repositioning of the brand through its acclaimed advertising campaign, 'America Runs on Dunkin.'

C-Store Latest Word…
Honey Farms, Worcester, Mass. made the following appointments last week including Harry Pearson as new food service coordinator. William Freels as director of information systems, and Guy Penrose as merchandising manger for the company.

White Oak Petroleum has acquired 36 locations in the Washington D.C. area from Exxon MobilCorp.

The New York Assn. of Convenience Stores (NYACS) said last week that soda and beer prices were spiking across New York State, because of the dramatic hike in costs for bottlers and distributors to comply with new provisions of the Bottle Bill.

NEW CHANNELS

Totals Come In On Natural Products East Expo Boston Convention
More than 21,000 industry members, including retailers, pioneers and entrepreneurs, as well as journalists, explored more than 1,500 booths at the Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo-BioFach America held Sept. 23-26, 2009, at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.  
Natural Products Expo East hosted the 7th Annual New Products Showcase Awards and commended the following winners for new natural, organic and healthy products: Rescue Balm by Nelsons (Health & Beauty category), Mango Orange Pineapple Kefir by Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery Inc. (Food), Yummi Bears Organics by Hero Nutritionals (Supplement/Herbs), VerTerra Dinnerware/4 Square by VerTerra Ltd. (Green/Environmentally Friendly), Organic B.R.A.T. by B.R.A.T. Diet LLC (Most Innovative), Organic Honey by Honey Bunny Inc. (Best Packaging) and Pumpkin Pie Soda by Maine Root Handcrafted Beverages (New England’s Best). Next year’s event will be held at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center, Oct. 13-16, 2010.

Coca Cola Launches Locking Lid Cup at White Castle QSR
White Castle was recently the first quick-service restaurant (QSR) to launch a new cup made with 50 percent recycled content that will help reduce spills at the beverage fountain. Beginning August 26, all White Castle restaurants (more than 380) began using the new cup in both medium and large sizes across the country for a limited time. Coca-Cola Foodservice has worked with White Castle on the launch of the cup since late 2008. The new Coca-Cola cup is made from 50 percent recycled material; it has a new lid that uses an innovative design to prevent spills; uses a see-through material to provide drink visibility and, it is designed with grooves on the side to provide a more secure grip for the consumer.

Shoppers Projected To Spend Nearly $10 Less On Halloween This Year
According to the National Retail Federation’s 2009 Halloween Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey, conducted by BIGresearch, consumers are expected to spend an average of $56.31 on Halloween, down $10 from the $66.54 total last year. Total spending on the holiday is expected to reach $4.75 billion.*
  Nearly one in three (29.6 percent) of the surveyed consumers say the state of the economy will impact their Halloween spending plans. Of those who will be affected, the largest majority (88.0 percent ) plan to spend less overall. Others say they will be buying less candy (46.5 percent ), using last year’s decorations without buying new ones (35.4 percent ), making costumes instead of purchasing them (16.8 percent ), reusing last year’s costumes (15.8 percent ), and not participating in as many Halloween activities such as haunted houses or fall festivals (26.4 percent).
The survey found consumers plan to spend an average of $20.75 on costumes, which includes children’s and pets’ costumes, $17.99 on candy, $14.54 on decorations and $3.02 on greeting cards.
  Young adults, who were last year’s big spenders for Halloween, plan to scale back dramatically this year. According to the survey, the average 18-24 year-old will spend $68.56 on the holiday, compared to $86.59 last year and $81.91 in 2007.
“With part-time jobs more scarce and parents unable to help out financially, many young adults have been impacted substantially by the economy,” said Phil Rist, executive vice president of strategic initiatives for BIGresearch. “The overriding theme for Americans’ Halloween celebrations this year will be, ‘How creative can I be, and how little can I spend?’”

New Channels Latest Word…
The Imperial Distributors Fall Trade Show set for the spring and summer merchandising show will be held Tuesday, Oct. 6-Thursday, Oct. 8 at the Crowe Plaza in Worcester, Mass. Show hours are Oct. 6, 8:00 a.m to 5:30 p.m., Oct. 7 from 7:30 to 5:30 p.m. and Oct. 8, 8:00 a.m. to noon.

Target has agreed to pay a $600,000 civil penalty for allegedly violating the federal lead paint ban on toys.

Duncan MacNaughton who resigned last week from his position as executive vice president at SUPERVALU plans to begin a new position as chief merchandising officer at Walmart-Canada.