They’re Dancing in the Aisles for March National Frozen Food Month!
The tap dancing penguins from Happy Feet announced the beginning of March Frozen Food Month to consumers across the country in a national FSI dropped on Sunday, February 27th. The ad encouraged consumers to Tap Into Frozen by visiting the frozen food aisle for special deals all this month. Make sure you are part of this industry-wide event to increase frozen food sales by promoting in March! Remember to document all of your promotional plans and results for entry in the Golden Penguin Competition. Enjoy a  successful March promotion!

Frozen and Refrigerated Meal Prep Videos Available to Members
NFRA is now offering members NO COST Streaming Video for use on your web site. The Cool Chef Video Library includes 12 videos featuring a cook preparing recipes using frozen and refrigerated foods. Consumers can then print a shopping list and recipe from the video player. Streaming video can increase visits to your site while driving consumers to the frozen and refrigerated food aisles. There is no cost to members for production or hosting of the videos. To get started contact Marlene Redden at 717-657-8601 or marlene@nfraweb.org.

Surf into Increased Sales with POS for June Dairy Month
An exciting tie-in with the new Surf’s Up movie this June Dairy Month will have consumers Catching the Cool Wave in the refrigerated aisles. NFRA now has available Surf’s Up and June Dairy Month POS that is sure to drive traffic in the aisles. A national FSI on June 3rd, a $7,500 consumer sweepstakes and print and radio releases will also draw consumer attention. June also offers an opportunity to compete for the Golden Penguin Award. Start planning your promotion and entry now!

Hot Sales are In-Store for
Ice Cream & Novelties
The Summer Favorites Ice Cream & Novelties promotion in June and July can heat up your sales during this key season. Themed Point of Sale materials from NFRA make it easy to draw attention in the aisles and to participate in our Retail Display Contest for a Golden Penguin Award. The Summer Favorites $100,000 Online Instant Win Game will add even more excitement for consumers when promoted in-store – with no cost to you for administration or prizes!

Retail Executive Conference
is an Early Sell Out
The popular April 30 – May 2 Conference at the Tempe Mission Palms, AZ, has reached capacity, but you can still get on the waiting list. The 15th Annual Retail Executive Conference offers an in-depth look at the latest industry and consumer trends in an exciting new format. The all-new agenda includes small group interaction, a live consumer panel, audience participation and open forum discussion. Call NFRA at 717-657-8601 to be added to the waiting list!.

Convention Registration is Now Open
It’s never too early to register for the 2007 National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention to be held October 13-16 in San Antonio, TX. The Convention is “Rounding Up the Industry” – bringing together the leading frozen and refrigerated food companies to conduct one-on-one business meetings. You can now find the detailed agenda and registration form online.

Frozen and Refrigerated
Dough Report Available
Mintel recently released the 2007 US Refrigerated & Frozen Dough report. NFRA members can receive a 15% discount on the purchase of the report. Please contact Dan Quintela at 312-943-5250 or e-mail dquintela@mintel.com for more details and remember to quote NFRA.

NFRA Welcomes Our Newest Members
Please welcome the companies listed below who have met the qualifications of membership and have joined the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association.

MANUFACTURER

Contessa Premium Foods, Inc.
www.contessa.com

Harbor Seafood
www.harborseafood.com

Tillamook Cheese, Inc.
www.tillamookcheese.com

SUPPLIER

Oliver Products Company
www.oliverspeedseal.com

Recent Certificate
of Excellence Recipients
The Certificate of Excellence, the highest operational award in the frozen and refrigerated foods industry, signifies that a facility conforms to the highest industry and government standards, and strictly adheres to the Code of Recommended Practices for the handling and merchandising of frozen & refrigerated foods.

RENEWAL

Ashland Cold Storage
1556 W. 43rd Street, Chicago, IL

Burris Refrigerated Logistics
4501 Dignan Street, Jacksonville, FL

Henningsen Cold Storage
5200 11th Avenue South, Grand Forks, ND

Merchants Terminal Corporation
1811 Cabin Branch Drive, Landover, MD

United States Cold Storage of California
2003 South Cherry Avenue, Fresno, CA

United States Cold Storage of California
33400 Dowe Avenue, Union City, CA

United States Cold Storage
5150 Pulaski Street, Dallas, TX

US Cold Storage
3100 52nd Avenue, Sacramento, CA

US Cold Storage
6983 NW 37th Avenue, Miami, FL

US Cold Storage
2540 Shader Road, Orlando, FL

Celebrating March National Frozen Food Month, as a community service, Southern California Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Council members donated, cooked, and served breakfast to kids at Orangewood Children’s Home for abused and neglected children. On Saturday, March 3, 2007, member companies donated frozen pancakes, waffles, burritos, sausage, potatoes, and orange juice providing a fun and healthy breakfast to 85 children and staff. Patrick Penguin and the Pillsbury Dough Boy brought joy to children, gave away gifts and provided reassurance that someone cares for the wellbeing of the children. For more information: www.SCFRC.org

John F. Baugh, the founder of SYSCO Corporation, passed away March 5, 2007 at the age of 91. John began his lifelong passion with the food industry at an A&P grocery store as a stock boy at the age of 13.  Eventually, he became a store manager and in 1946, he and his wife Eula Mae founded a new company, Zero Foods, and began selling and distributing frozen foods to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools, fast-food stores and grocery chains. Zero Foods and eight other companies joined together to form SYSCO (an acronym for Systems and Services Company) on March 3, 1970. John was a Past Chairman of NFRA and was one of four inaugural inductees into the Frozen Food Industry Hall of Fame.

F.A.B., Inc. has announced the addition of Diaz Foods and NATCO Food Service as members of the cooperative. Founded in 1969 as Diaz Market and expanding distribution in 1980, Diaz Foods is a family owned company headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Diaz is one of the largest distributors of Hispanic products in the United States, providing dry, refrigerated and frozen products to more than 3,000 customers in 26 states. Found in 1925, NATCO is a 3rd generation family-owned company headquartered in Reserve, Louisiana. The company operates a USDA processing facility dedicated to serving COP white tablecloth restaurants throughout Louisiana. NATCO offers a variety of quality meat products including beef, lamb, veal, pork, poultry, wild game and exotic meats. For more information: www.frostyacres.com

Golbon, Boise, ID recently announced the addition of The Salad Depot as a new distributor member. The Salad Depot has a unique and growing business in the greater up-state New Jersey area and provides various frozen, refrigerated, dry, and canned products to the foodservice industry. For more information: www.golbon.com/pressrelease.htm

Icelandic® USA, Inc. recently celebrated their 60th Anniversary. Since its inception in 1947, Icelandic has pioneered the production and distribution of premium quality frozen fish products. Icelandic is headquartered in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Newport News, Virginia. If offers many industry leading signature product lines including Big Bob’s Belly Busters, Tilapia Tonight™, Currents™, Brewer’s Choice™ and Icelandic’s Picadilly Pub Battered Fish Fillets. For more information: www.icelandic.com.

J&J Snack Foods recently announced that it has acquired the assets of Hom/Ade Foods, Inc. based in Pensacola, Florida a manufacturer and distributor of dumplings sold under the MARY B’s and private label store brands. Annual sales of the business are approximately $30 million. For more information: www.jjsnack.com.

Kraft recently announced a new campaign called, The South Beach Diet® “Beach in a Box Cafe”. Kraft will deliver delicious and nutritious foods and fitness tips fitting the principles of the best-selling diet with two 35-foot long warm, sunny beachside cafés traveling across the country visiting nine major cities. Heat lamps simulated the warmth of the beach while shade umbrellas were set up for guests to sample South Beach Diet foods from Kraft, including Microwaveable Pizza and Sandwich Wraps. All visitors received South Beach Diet product coupons, Cereal Bars and a diet solutions mini-magazine featuring the latest South Beach Diet news. For more information: www.southbeachdiet.com/kraft.

Lamb Weston recently introduced Earth’s Garden™ Potato Products. Made with 100% organic potatoes and minimal ingredients, Earth’s Garden products feature the WSDA Certified Organic seal. With just four ingredients and no genetically modified organisms, Earth’s Garden Concertina® offers Crinkle Cuts, Wedge Cuts and Country Dices. For more information: www.lambweston.com

Krusteaz® a division of Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products recently introduced a healthful version of American favorites – Whole Grain Pancakes, Whole Grain Waffles and Enriched Fiber Home Style French Toast. Made with nutritious whole grains, the new variety of Krusteaz pancakes and waffles offer a rich taste and texture. As a good source of dietary fiber with 0 grams trans fat, these products can also aid in digestion and decrease the risk of obesity, heart disease and some cancers. For more information: 800-952-5754

Robert Mariano, Chairman and CEO of Roundy’s Supermarket and President of the Roundy’s Foundation recently announced a donation of $10,000 worth of food including tuna, cereal, peanut butter, various lunch meats and other items was made to the Portage, Wisconsin Food Pantry. Pick ‘n Save Store Manager Jim Gauden presided over a delivery of 6,863 pounds of food to the local shelter.

Ruiz Foods recently introduced a fifth flavor to its El Monterey Butcher Wrapped Burrito line – Chorizo, Egg and Cheese. The 8-ounce El Monterey Butcher Wrapped Chorizo, Egg and Cheese Burrito is the third in the breakfast line and offers a more traditional Mexican flavor. Chorizo is a very popular chili and garlic flavored Mexican sausage. Chorizo has evolved to become distinctly Mexican and is an extremely popular breakfast protein when mixed with scrambled eggs. El Monterey Butcher Wrapped Burritos are made with tortillas filled with flavorful ingredients and microwaveable in less than 2 minutes. In an authentic presentation, each is wrapped with traditional butcher paper. For more information: www.elmonterey.com

Keep the industry updated about news and staff promotions at your company. NFRA will publish your company highlights monthly in the NFRA Update. Send your company news to us at info@nfraweb.org; via fax to 717-657-9862; or via mail to NFRA, 4755 Linglestown Rd., Suite 300, Harrisburg, PA 17112.