FOODSERVICE NEWS

NRA Backs Senate Agreement On Menu Nutrition Info.
Last week, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) endorsed the bipartisan U.S. Senate agreement on a national nutrition information standard for chain restaurants. The legislation would replace varying state and local ordinances with a national standard that empowers consumers to make choices that are best for themselves and their families.
On June 10, U.S. senators announced a compromise menu-labeling bill that combines key elements from two competing bills: the Menu Education and Labeling (MEAL) Act and the Labeling Education and Nutrition (LEAN) Act.
Under the agreement, food service establishments that are part of a chain with 20 or more locations doing business under the same name would be required to disclose:
The number of calories per menu item on the menu or menu board.
In a written form, available immediately to consumers upon request, additional nutrition information, including total calories and calories from fat, and amounts of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, total carbohydrates, complex carbohydrates, sugars, dietary fiber and protein.
The agreement also requires the disclosure of calories per food items on vending machines owned by individuals operating 20 or more vending machines. The bill will not require individually owned restaurants to disclose nutritional information.

Online Alcohol Server Training Program Certified In Rhode Island
Etips, an online training and certification program for bartenders and servers of alcohol, was certified by Rhode Island's Department of Mental Health, Retardation and Hospitals last week In 2006, Rhode Island made alcohol server training mandatory for all employees who serve alcohol.
The eTIPS program addresses concerns specific to restaurants, hotels, nightclubs, and other on-premise liquor license holders and is tailored to apply to regulations unique to Rhode Island.
In addition, eTIPS participants are able to assess the needs of their clients from both the legal and alcohol-related standpoint after viewing video clips. The final section of the course challenges participants by forcing them to apply intervention strategies learned from previous exercises. Participants take a certification examination at the conclusion of the course.
TIPS can be used on a wide range of computers. "I was concerned that we would lose the human element with an eLearning course, but eTIPS makes servers assess and evaluate alcohol-related situations they face every day. I was very pleased with the level of interactivity and the human feel of the course," remarked Adam Chafetz, president and chief executive officer of Health Communications Inc., the program’s provider. For more information, visit www.gettips.com.

Vistar Corp. Acquires Five Star Distributors
Vistar Corporation, a division of Performance Food Group, has purchased the assets of Five Star Distributors, Inc., a Chicago-based company. Five Star Distributors, Inc. specializes in full-line vending and office coffee products in the Mid-west region. The company also operates T.J. King, a cash and carry and bulk candy business. Patrick Hagerty, president and chief executive officer of f Vistar, said “The acquisition of Five Star opens new long-term opportunities enabling us to continue our pattern of rapid growth and further our opportunities to offer our exclusive brands to an expanded customer base.”

American Craft Beer Fest Is In Boston This Week
And More Food Service Latest Word…
....The New Jersey Restaurant Assn. is opposed to a 25 cent increase in the excise tax on wine and liquor, saying the restaurateurs may have to pass the additional cost onto their customers. The association has submitted a petition of 6,000 signature to the governor’s office in opposition of the tax increase.
.... More than 75 American beer brewers are expected to attend the American Craft Beer Fest at the Boston Seaport World Trade Center Friday, June 19 and Saturday, June 20. The fest is sponsored by BeerAdvocate and Harpoon Brewery. For more information, log onto www.beeradvocate.com.
.... The next meeting of the Epicurean Club of Boston will be at the 101 Diner in Worcester, Mass at 6:00 p.m.

C-STORE NEWS

U.S. Senate Endorses FDA Control Of All Tobacco Matters
Federal legislation to control all matters of tobacco passed a hurdle last week as the U.S. Senate approved the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) tobacco regulation bill. The legislation would give the FDA authority to regulate the content, marketing and advertising of cigarettes and other tobacco products. The bill would give the FDA power to evaluate the content of tobacco products and order changes or bans on those ingredients that the FDA deems as a danger to public health. The
The bill was expected to be passed by the House and it is expected that U.S. President Barack Obama would support the bill. According to the National Assn. of Convenience Stores (NACS), the retailer provisions negotiated by NACS remained in the legislation. But NACS said the legislation as written requires warning labels on packages of tobacco products. Fees from the tobacco industry would finance the bill.

NYACS Joins Retail Groups On Operation Rollback
The New York Assn. of Convenience Stores (NYACS) has joined eight other retail organizations in “Operation Rollback,” an industry-wide drive to rescind, or at least reduce, the huge increase in retail tobacco registration fees approved in the 2009-2010 New York State budget.
The associations besides NYACS include the Gasoline and Repair Shop Assn. of New York, the Food Industry Alliance of New York State, Small Business Congress, National Assn. of Tobacco Outlets, Long Island Gasoline Retailers Assn, New York City Newsstand Operators Assn., United 7-Eleven Franchise Owners of Long Island and Ne York and the National Federation of Independent business/New York. An online system has been activated for use by retailers across the state in sending a pre-written message to their state Senate and Assembly. The goal is to convince New York legislators to roll back the fees by June 22.  New York Governor David Paterson and the N.Y. Legislature approved an increase from the current $100 per store per year registration fee to either $1,000; $2,500; or $5,000 annually, depending on sales volume. NYACS President Jim Calvin has said without the rollback, legitimate retailers could be forced out of the tobacco category.

Honey Farms Honors Staff At Annual Service Awards Banquet
Thirty-seven employees, with service spanning from three years to 30 years, were honored at the Honey Farms 2009 Annual Service Awards Banquet, held recently. The 11th year of the event also marked a special anniversary, as Honey Farms is celebrating its 40th year as a retail convenience store chain.
Vern Johnson, vice president of operations, also presented manager of the year awards during the event. Chris Slater of Webster, Mass., was named Food Service Manager of the Year, and Paul Rivard, manager of the Pleasant Street location in Worcester, Mass., was named Honey Farms Store Manager of the Year for the second consecutive year.
Among the service award recipients included Anna Priestley, a part-time sales associate who was celebrating 30 years with Honey Farms; Marsha Gordon, an accounting assistant celebrating 20 years; and Diane Cormier, a full-time shift manager celebrating her 15th anniversary with the company. In addition, there were seven employees honored for 10 years of service, six employees with five years of service, and 21 employees with three years of service.

Frito Lay North American Division Partners With Jack Link’s
And More C-Store Latest Word…
…. PepsiCo’s Frito Lay North American division and Jack Link’s announced a partnership last week in which Frito-Lay will sell and distribute a new line of meat snacks under the Jack Link’s MATADOR brand. The snack is aimed at young adults with “action driven lifestyles.”
…. Tom Oare, executive director of the Petroleum Convenience Alliance for Technology Standards, will step down June 30 for personal and non medical reasons. Scott Woods, PCATS director of standards development and maintenance will be interim director effective July 1.
…. The Xtramart Jennifer Creed Charity Golf Classic will be held Monday, June 22 at the Kirkbrae Country Club, in Rhode Island and two days later the New England Convenience Store Assn. Golf Tournament will be held at Juniper Hill Golf Course in Northboro, Mass.

NEW CHANNELS

Wegmans Is First Supt. Retailer To Endorse Marlin Off the Menu Campaign
Wegmans Food Markets of Rochester, N.Y., last week became he first supermarket chain to endorse the Take Marlin Off the Menu Campaign and refused to sell marlin, sailfish and spearfish at its 72 stores located throughout New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland.
Wegmans is urging other supermarket chains to follow its lead in not selling marlin, and helping to raise awareness among consumers that marlin populations are in serious danger due to overharvesting by commercial fishing fleets.
The ultimate goal of the campaign is to end the commercial harvest, sales and importation of marlin, sailfish, and spearfish.
Wegmans also posts a chart of items sold in its stores that are certified sustainable and those which are not sold due to sustainability concerns.

Many Themes Set For All Things Organic Show In Chicago
The All Things Organic Conference, produced by the Organic Trade Association and the new Health and Wellness Education Program, aims provide buyers with high-level programming and analysis on today’s trends, changing market conditions, success in a tough economy, social networking and industry regulations. The conferences are held in conjunction with the All Things Organic Trade Show, OTA Annual Meeting and Member Days, Expo Comida Latina and All Asia Food Shows set for June 16-18 at the Lakeside Center of McCormick Place in Chicago, Ill.
The Organic Trade Association and Kiwi Magazine will unveil the findings of an original research study of 1,200 families across the country in a presentation entitled “Into the Mouths of Babes – Parents Reflections on Organics for Kids” on Thursday, June 18, 9:30 a.m.
Ahold USA, certified organic-retailer Goodwin’s Organics, and The Nielsen Co. are among the lineup of speakers at the new Health & Wellness Education Program & Product Pavilion "In-store Nutrition Guides: What’s Their Future?".
In one of the panels, Stop & Shop will present its newly launched Healthy Ideas program, which was created to make it easy for consumers to shop for healthy foods without reading all the labels. The new Health & Wellness Pavilion will showcase both food and non-food products in the following categories: Allergen-Free, High Fiber, Whole Grain, Whole Foods, Natural Products, Functional Foods, Personal Care, and Supplements.

Dick Rennick Speaks To Franchising Success At Recent NEFA Gathering
Franchisors, franchisees, and other franchising associates recently came together to listen to “Dick Rennick’s Perspective on a Lifetime of Franchising.” The event was presented by the New England Franchise Association
Mr. Rennick founded American Leak Detection, a service franchise with over 360 units in 40 states and a dozen foreign countries. He spoke about how he started American Leak Detection, admitting that, early on, “I had no idea I was creating an industry.” He also discussed his belief that, “in order for the system to be a winner, what was good for the franchisor must also be good for the franchisee,” and how, to make his company stronger, he studied other companies that had failed.
A franchisor today, according to Mr. Rennick, has three major responsibilities: to protect and enhance the brand; to protect and enhance the culture of the company; and to protect and enhance and grow and be a visionary for the system. Mr. Rennick, was a former International Franchise Association president and a previous IFA’s Entrepreneur of the Year.

World Tea East Co-Locates With Natural Products Expo East
And More New Channels Latest Word…
...World Tea East will be co-located with Natural Products Expo East Sept. 23-25 at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
… The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced last week that Mattell and its subsidiary, Fisher Price, have agreed to pay a $2.3 million penalty for violating the federal lead paint law. In 2007, about 95 Mattell and Fisher Price toy models were determined to have exceeded the federal limit of .06 percent lead by weight.
...Pathmark will help to celebrate National Caribbean American Heritage Month with a Multicultural Arts Festival at the Kings Plaza Shopping Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.