NFRA Teams with Twentieth Century Fox to Promote Ice Age 2 The Meltdown during March Frozen Food Month
Get ready for the most exciting March Frozen Food Month promotion ever! NFRA will tie-in with the global movie release of Ice Age 2 The Meltdown in March 2006. Artwork featuring the theme, Warm Up to Frozen, will bring together the March logo, Ice Age characters and movie release announcement. A national FSI will introduce the promotion; a Warm Up to Frozen sweepstakes will create consumer excitement; and NFRA will provide themed POS and other resources to help the industry take advantage of this ìcoolî partnership. Look for more details next month. Click here to read the press announcement.

Last Chance to Enter the Crystal Apple Awards
Don't miss your opportunity to win the Crystal Apple Award for promoting frozen and refrigerated foods as Fuel for School in October. Crystal Apples will be awarded for the best promotions in each of six geographic regions. The deadline to enter is November 15. Click here for the official entry form.

Registration is Open for the 2006 Retail Executive Conference
You can now register for the 14th Annual Retail Executive Conference, April 24-26, 2006, at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference Center in Tempe, AZ. This informal Conference combines top presenters speaking on the latest industry trends, discussion on the challenges of promoting frozen and refrigerated foods and the best networking opportunities. Marketing and sales executives from all segments of the industry find this an invaluable Conference for learning and making business contacts. Click here for the agenda and to register.

NFRA Elects New Board of Directors
At its 61st Annual Membership Meeting during the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention, Scott Poole of Wal-Mart Super Centers was sworn in as Chairman of the Board. Other officers include: John Bottomley, Sargento Foods, Inc., Chairman-Elect; John Annetta, White Rose Frozen Food Co., Secretary; Ray Tarnowski, Philadelphia Warehouse & Cold Storage, Treasurer; Rick Loesel, P & O Cold Logistics, Vice Chairman Foodservice; Jeff Thomas, Michael Foods, Inc., Vice Chairman Refrigerated; and Jim O'Sullivan, Schwan's Bakery, Inc., Vice Chairman Frozen. Click here for more details.

National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention a Great Success
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention held in San Francisco, CA, drew over 1,100 delegates and a record number of retailers reserved customer meeting rooms. The Taste of Excellence Opening Reception was sold-out for the second year by manufacturers showcasing their newest and best frozen and refrigerated products. And over 80 Golden Penguin Awards were presented during a special Reception and Banquet. Click here for the full story.

2006 Monthly Planner Offers Promotional Ideas for the Whole Year
The 2006 Bring Us To Your Table! Monthly Planner is now available! The Planner outlines the ìMammoth Promotional Yearî NFRA has in store with its Ice Age 2 The Meltdown movie tie-in. In addition, the Planner presents ideas and resources for promoting frozen foods every month of the year. Now you can benefit from frozen food sales gains every month with these great ideas. Click here to see ways to promote frozen foods in February.

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

Monterey Gourmet Foods
www.montereygourmetfoods.com

Fieldbrook Foods Corp.
www.fieldbrookfarms.com

Retailer/Wholesaler

Escott's Foods
918-225-7055

Sales Agent

Etherton Sales and Merchandising
616-784-7888

Supplier

OnScreen Technologies, Inc.
www.onscreentech.com or www.thelivingwindow.com

Recent Certificate of Excellence Participants
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

Henningsen Cold Storage
5200 11th Ave. South, Grand Forks, ND

Minnesota Freezer Warehouse Co.
820 East 13th St., Albert Lea, MN

Minnesota Freezer Warehouse Co.
1907 Fourteenth St., NE, Austin, MN

U.S. Cold Storage
6501 District Blvd., Bakersfield, CA

US Cold Storage
2292 Sand Lake Rd., Orlando, FL

Lakeside Foods recently announced Rich Bartz has been promoted to Director, Operations for Lakeside Foods' Western Region. Bartz will be responsible for production, warehousing safety, environmental, quality, administration and human resources for the Lakeside Minnesota facilities. Henry F. White, Jr. was recently elected to the Board of Directors of Lakeside Foods, Inc. In addition to his Board responsibilities, he will chair the Finance/Audit Committee and be a member of the Human Resources Committee. For more information: www.lakesidefoods.com

J & J Snack Foods recently announced the appointment of Don McComas as National Director of Product Development. Formerly the National Director of Product Development for Country Home Bakers, a subsidiary of J & J Snack Foods, McComas' responsibilities have been expanded to include corporate product development initiatives for all divisions of J & J Snack Foods Corp. For more information: www.jjsnack.com

3 Generations of Food, LLC will be featured on a segment of the nationally televised Food Network show, Recipe for Success. This 30 minute piece tells the story of 3 Generations of Food, the founders of the REDI for RONI brand. The show gives a true ìbehind the scenesî look at what it takes to create, manufacture, package and sell a frozen food product. For more information: www.rediforroni.com

ConAgra Foodservice Specialty Potato Products recently introduced Lamb's Supreme® Jalapeno Cheddar Redskin Mashed Potatoes —a creamy, cheesy taste and zesty hint of jalapeno. Skip the labor-intensive washing, cooking, mixing and mashing. Just heat the pouch and serve. Other varieties include Tuscan Style and Bistro Style. Tuscan Style delivers an authentic northern Italian taste with a mixture of parmesan cheese, roasted garlic, and basil. Bistro Style Redskin features a blend of roasted garlic, white pepper, parmesan cheese and a touch of parsley. For more information: www.lambweston.com

Golbon recently held the Fall Partners Conference & Annual Awards Ceremony in St. Louis , MO. Highlights of the awards ceremony included recognition of Kohl Wholesale of Quincy, Illinois as Distributor of the Year and J.R. Simplot Company as Supplier of the Year. In addition to the distributor and supplier show floor, other key activities included: Golbon President & CEO Doug Polk introduced the new strategic alliance between Golbon and NISSCO (National Independent Sanitary Supply Companies); CFO Larry Lipschultz, presented key points from the recently completed member benchmarking survey; and Vice President of Marketing Mike Haddix, presented both distributors and suppliers with an early preview of Golbon's 2006 go-to-market strategy, the Golbon Assistance Program ( GAP ). For more information: 800-657-6360 .

Henningsen Cold Storage recently received a Golden Penguin Award from the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association. The Golden Penguin Award is recognized throughout the industry as a symbol of excellence, representing dedication, innovation and success in the promotion of frozen and refrigerated foods. This is the 2nd year in a row that Henningsen Cold Storage has won a Golden Penguin for their work during June Dairy Month. For more information: 503-531-5410

NOVA Chemicals Corporation recently announced they have acquired exclusive rights to a groundbreaking expandable polystyrene (EPS) manufacturing technology from Autonational BV. This technology, which will be marketed as IMageô technology, is used to manufacture cups and containers that offer both outstanding graphics and superb hot and cold insulations.

OnScreen Technologies, Inc. has introduced the Living Windowô see-through window display, a revolutionary new architecture for LED displays. This new design is flexible, lightweight, cool, and transparent. Turn any window into a networked, customized electronic banner with the Living Windowô, a dynamic LED messaging sign that will change the way you think about in-store advertising, as well as indoor event communication. For more information: www.onscreentech.com or www.thelivingwindow.com

Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) was recently honored by the industry publication Produce Business for their innovative series of ìretail-tainmentî events with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. The partners' quarterly in-store events nationwide have brought the star power of Shrek, Charlie Brown and other beloved characters to consumers. The foundation received one of the magazine's 22 coveted annual 2005 Marketing Excellence Awards, for industry members who have demonstrated outstanding fruit and vegetable marketing efforts and results. For more information: www.pbhfoundation.org

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.