Last Chance to Register for the Retail Executive Conference
Time is running out to attend the 13^th annual Retail Executive Conference, April 18-20, 2005 at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference Center in Tempe, AZ. For a list of registered delegates, contact NFRA at (717) 657-8601. Click here to see the detailed Conference agenda and download the registration form.

Scholarship Program Hits $1 Million Mark
Since its inception, the Frozen Food Industry Memorial Scholarship Foundation has provided financial assistance to more than 700 students preparing for careers in the food industry at 24 participating colleges and universities. Contributions for 2004 totaled $67,875. Total contributions received since the fundraising drive was launched in 1966 equal $1,005,100. Click here for more details on the Scholarship Fund.

Go for the Gold!
Now that the 2005 March National Frozen Food Month promotion has come to a close, it’s time to begin compiling your results for entry into the Golden Penguin Awards Competition. Golden Penguin winners will be nationally recognized at a special Awards Reception and Banquet at the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention in San Francisco, CA. Entries must be received at the NFRA office no later than May 17, 2005. Click here to download the March Golden Penguin rules brochure.

Order June Dairy Month POS materials early!

Plan now to merchandise the refrigerated department for June Dairy Month and compete for your chance to win a Golden Penguin Award! Specially-designed POS materials and specialty items feature the "cool" penguin mascot and Bring Us To Your Table! Cool Favorites logo. We recommend placing your order by April 15 to allow time for delivery. Click here to see the June Idea Book and POS catalog and the Golden Penguin rules and entry form.

Promote Ice Cream & Novelties during June and July

Boost sales and create excitement in the frozen food aisles during this hot summer event. The Summer Favorites Ice Cream & Novelties Retail Display Contest offers another opportunity to compete for the coveted Golden Penguin award. Enhance customer interaction by promoting the $32,500 On-Line Instant Win Game with special POS available from NFRA. To find out more about the retail display contest, click here and download the contest rules and entry form.

Product Showcase at Taste of Excellence Reception

The popular Taste of Excellence Reception will again open the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention in San Francisco, CA. The Taste of Excellence is a unique opportunity for frozen and refrigerated food manufacturers to showcase their latest products to more than 1000 industry executives. Last year exhibition space was sold out! Click here for details on the Taste of Excellence and a commitment form.

Bring Us To Your Table!® Freezer Favorites Message Reaches Millions of Consumers During Holidays

As part of the Bring Us To Your Table! Freezer Favorites marketing/public relations campaign, NFRA developed a press release offering consumers tips on using frozens as their Holiday "Secret Weapons." To date, the release has generated over 15.6 million consumers in 28 different states with positive messages about frozen foods. In order to continue successful public relations initiatives like this one, NFRA needs the financial support of the entire industry. Click here to see a complete list of sponsors, read more about the campaign or download the sponsor commitment form.

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.

Retailer/Wholesaler
Creekside Gas and Food Mart
951-676-1339

Manufacturer
Fat Boy Ice Cream
www.fatboyicecream.com

Sales Agent
Louis F. Leeper Company
412-821-8960

Premier Concepts, LLC
479-271-6000

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

Hall’s Warehouse Corp.
601 Kentile Road, South Plainfield, NJ

Hanson Cold Storage Co.
101 Bronson, Decatur, MI

Hanson Cold Storage Co.
61834 Red Arrow Highway East, Hartford, MI

Henningsen Cold Storage
1000 S. Oklahoma Street, Stilwell, OK

Interstate Cold Storage, Inc.
1 Interstate Drive, Napoleon, OH

NOCS/South Atlantic
1091 Remount Road, Charleston, SC

Robert J. Gruber, former President of Blue Water Seafoods, passed away on March 21, 2005 at the age of 97. Gruber was the first to introduce frozen fish portions, uniformly shaped sections cut from a fish block and marketed in raw breaded rather than pre-cooked form. In honor of his distinguished accomplishments, Gruber was inducted into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame in 2002.

Unified Western Grocers, Inc. recently elected Louis A. Amen, President, Super A Foods, Inc. Los Angeles as Chairman of the Board. Amen, who served as Unified’s Chairman of the Board from 1999 to 2004, succeeds Kevin Davis, President, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Bristol Farms Markets, Carson, CA, who did not continue as director.

The Eastern Frosted Food Association will hold their annual Blue Penguin Dinner on Tuesday, April 19, 2005 at the Marriott Glenpointe Hotel in Teaneck, NJ, to celebrate a successful "March is Frozen Food Month." The Lifetime Achievement Award will also be presented to Bob Fitzsimmons. For more information: 973-835-1710

3 Generations of Food, LLC is proud to announce it’s REDI for RONI brand of Gourmet Frozen Italian Sauces. Available in three sauces: Classic Italian Tomato Sauce with Meatballs, Vegetable Bolognese (with chunky roasted vegetables) and Marinara. These products have no sugar, are low in salt, fat and carbs, and are microwaveable in 10 minutes or less. For more information: www.rediforroni.com

F.A.B., Inc. (Frosty Acres Brands, Inc.) recently announced the launch of their new website, www.frostyacrebrands.com. The new website provides a new visual appearance while delivering powerful user capabilities. The site offers a personalized browsing experience and high level of interactivity for registered users. Users are recognized by their login and the site is then tailored to their specific needs. For more information: 800-569-4821

General Mills Trademark Licensing and Minnesota-based Kemps Ice Cream recently joined together to introduce the first Pillsbury-branded line of premium ice cream. Available in grocery stores nationwide and available in seven flavors such as: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Turtle Fudge Brownie, Peanut Butter Fudge Chunk, Lovin’ Caramel Swirl, Brownies ‘N Cream, Cake & Ice Cream and Homemade Vanilla. Each 56-ounce container will feature the famed Pillsbury Doughboy - marking the first time in Pillsbury’s 135-year history that the brand has been associated with ice cream. For more information contact Kemps at www.kemps.com

Ruiz Foods Inc. recently broke ground on a $40 million expansion of its plant in Dinuba, CA that is expected to double production to six million burritos a day for the maker of frozen Mexican foods. The company still plans to build a plant in the East within the next four years to cut down on the 10 days it takes to get the food to the East Coast. For more information: www.elmonterey.com

Samband of Iceland®, a member of The Blue Ice Group recently introduced Tilapia Tonight®. When Samband of Iceland first introduced Tilapia, it was relatively new to the public. Tilapia is very mild, so it’s become very popular with consumers that don’t ordinarily eat fish. Available in a variety of flavors including: Au Naturale, Scampi, Teriyaki Ginger, Gourmet Breaded, Barbeque, Mild Cajun and Wine & Mushroom. For more information: www.icelandseafood.com

Samband of Iceland® has also introduced Big Bob’s Belly Buster Colossal Shrimp. Covered with a light tempura batter that gives it a delicate crunch, the product is available in round and butterfly U/10 profiles. Big Bob’s Colossal Shrimp fry or bake in just minutes. They make a versatile menu addition that’s great as an appetizer, lunch, dinner entrée or seafood platter item. For more information: www.icelandseafood.com

The National Restaurant Association recently announced the expansion of its global presence through the International Cuisine Pavilion, an innovative new feature to be unveiled at the 2005 Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show to be held in May at McCormick Place in Chicago. The Pavilion will host international and U.S. exhibitors showcasing traditional and ethnic food and beverage products from around the globe. Celebrating its 86^th year, the Association’s annual Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals. For more information: www.restaurant.org/show

SYSCO Corporation recently announced plans to extend its distribution coverage in Alabama by opening a new broadline distribution company. Located on a 49-acre site on Alabama Route 52-Geneva. The company will create 227 new jobs and could employ up to 800 people as sales grow. The new company to be named Sysco Food Services-Gulf Coast, Inc. is expected to open in the fourth quarter of calendar year 2005 following modifications to meet SYSCO’s requirements. For more information: www.sysco.com

The Wild Blueberry Association of North America recently announced that Wild Blueberries are the top fruit on Health Magazine’s ‘Hot List’ of 20 power foods. Frozen fruit and vegetables will become important as American’s address the challenge of meeting the new USDA Dietary Guidelines. Frozen wild blueberries can easily be incorporated into meals and snacks. For more information: www.wildblueberries.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.