New Logo/Tagline Developed to Promote Frozen Foods Year-Round
NFRA and AFFI recently joined together to develop a new tagline and logo to present a unified message about the benefits of frozen foods to our various audiences, including consumers, manufacturers, retailers, foodservice operators and government. The new logo, “Frozen Foods – Fresh Ideas. Great Taste.”, better communicates the product innovations, quality and meal solutions offered in the frozen food department. This logo will replace the Bring Us To Your Table! Freezer Favorites logo, however the objectives and elements of this all-industry campaign will remain the same. Click here for more information.

NFRA Teams with Warner Brothers to Leverage Happy Feet during March Frozen Food Month
Get ready for another exciting March Frozen Food Month promotion in 2007! NFRA will tie-in with the movie Happy Feet for its DVD release in the spring. Artwork featuring the theme, Tap into Frozen, will bring together the March logo, Happy Feet characters and DVD release announcement. A national FSI will introduce the promotion; a Tap into Frozen sweepstakes will create consumer excitement; and NFRA will provide themed POS and other resources to help the industry take advantage of this partnership. Click here for more details.

June Dairy Month will Tie into Sony’s Theater Release of Surf’s Up
NFRA has created a partnership with Sony Entertainment to leverage the equity of the Surf’s Up property in the refrigerated aisles for June Dairy Month. The movie will open in theaters on June 8, 2007. NFRA will conduct a national June promotion with an FSI to 21 million homes, a consumer sweepstakes and point of sale materials using the Surf’s Up characters and telling consumers to Catch the Cool Wave in the dairy department. Click here for more on the promotion.

Last Chance to Enter the Arctic Crystal Awards
Don’t miss your opportunity to win the Arctic Crystal Award for encouraging consumers to Warm Up To Frozen in October. Crystal Awards will be given for the best October Frozen Food Festival displays in each of six geographic regions. The deadline to enter is November 20. Click here for the official entry form.

Registration is Open for the 2007 Retail Executive Conference
You can now register for the 15th Annual Retail Executive Conference, April 30 – May 2, 2007, at the Tempe Mission Palms Hotel & Conference Center in Tempe, AZ. The keynote speaker will be Henry Michon, Sr. VP of Dairy Refrigerated and Frozen for Safeway, Inc. This informal Conference combines top presenters speaking on the latest industry trends with interactive discussions and a live consumer panel. 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 62nd Annual Membership Meeting during the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention, John Bottomley, Sargento Foods, Inc., was sworn in as Chairman of the Board. Other officers include: John Annetta, White Rose Frozen Food Co., Chairman-Elect; Jeff Thomas, Michael Foods, Inc., Vice Chairman Refrigerated; Jim O’Sullivan, Schwan’s Bakery, Inc., Vice Chairman Frozen; Gary Spinazze, Bozzuto’s, Inc., Secretary and Ray Tarnowski, Philadelphia Warehouse & Cold Storage, Treasurer. Click here for more details.

National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention a Great Success
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention held in Orlando, FL, drew a record 1,200 delegates and over 50 retail chains reserved customer meeting rooms. Tables at the Taste of Excellence Opening Reception were sold-out earlier than ever by manufacturers showcasing their newest and best frozen and refrigerated products. Four individuals were inducted into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame: James H. Childers, retired Corporate Director of Merchandising and Procurement of Winn-Dixie Supermarkets; Jack H. Gunn, Jr., Vice Chairman of Allegiance Brokerage Co.; the late F. Gilbert Lamb, founder of Lamb-Weston; and Frederick R. Ruiz, founder and Chairman of Ruiz Foods. In addition over 80 Golden Penguin Awards were presented during the closing Awards Reception and Banquet. Mark your calendar now for the 2007 National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention in San Antonio, TX, October 13-17, 2007.

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.

INTERNATIONAL

New Food Classics
www.newfoodclassics.com

LOGISTICS PROVIDER

Pride Transport Inc.
www.pridetransport.com

MANUFACTURER

Advance Brands
www.fastfixin.com

Blue & White Foods LLC
www.sabra.com

RETAILER/WHOLESALER

Coborn’s Inc.
www.cobornsinc.com

Sears Holdings (Kmart)
847-286-0840

SALES AGENT

Golden Isle Sales & Marketing
912-262-6800

S&D Brokerage
610-684-1900

SUPPLIER

AHT Cooling Systems USA, Inc.
www.ahtusainc.net

Illinois Trading Company
773-777-8500

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.

RENEWALS

Interstate Cold Storage
6606 Lincoln Parkway, Ft. Wayne, IN

US Cold Storage Inc.
419 Milford Harrington Highway, Milford, DE

US Cold Storage
2901 Kenny Briggs Road, Lumberton, NC

US Cold Storage
10711 Olive Street, Omaha, NE

US Cold Storage
4302 S 30th Street, Omaha, NE

US Cold Storage
15 Emery Street, Bethlehem, PA

US Cold Storage
2554 Downing Drive, Fort Worth

Henningsen Cold Storage Co. recently announced the addition of M. James Mark, chief executive officer of the Melvin Mark Companies, a prominent real estate services company to their Board of Directors. Mark is a third generation leader of the 60 year old, privately-held real estate company. As CEO, he has oversight of the company’s development, leasing and management activity.

California Strawberry Commission reported an excellent yield of strawberries for October and November. That’s good news for Americans across the country looking for an extra boost of protection against the upcoming cold and flu season. One serving of 8 medium strawberries contains 84 milligrams of Vitamin C, providing the recommended dietary allowance – more than oranges ounce for ounce. For more information: www.calstrawberry.com

ConAgra Foods recently introduced Egg Beaters® To-Go- Hand Fulls® Breakfast Sandwiches. Offered in three gourmet flavor profiles: Mediterranean-Style, All-American and Western. Each sandwich features Egg Beaters – which provides the same great taste as traditional shell eggs, but without the cholesterol or fat, and less than half the calories – low-fat or fat-free cheeses and fire-roasted vegetables, all wrapped up in a golden crust made with a blend of wheat and enriched flours. For maximum convenience, they are individually wrapped in colorful oven and microwave ready packaging. For more information: www.lambweston.com

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston recently recognized their top sales agencies and sales manager of 2006. The highest sales agency honor, The Charlie Carroll, Sr. Sales Award of Excellence, was presented to Mascari Sales & Marketing based in Farmington Hills, MI. Bryan Taylor, the company’s top Regional Sales Manager, was presented with the prestigious Jerry Paxinos Sales Award of Excellence. The company also honored its top division sales agencies: Kenco Foodservice, FoodService Associates, Rheuark FSI Food Marketing Company, Benchmark Sales and Allstate Food Marketing. For more information: www.lambweston.com

Icelandic® USA, Inc. recently announced the expansion of the Newport News facility for the second time in a year. The warehouse facility was recently opened in 2006 in Newport News and has been increased by 70%. The new space, which is leased from Interstate Warehousing Inc. is a total of 56,000 square feet and can accommodate 13,200 new pallet positions. The new space also adds the flexibility of 14 additional shipping doors. For more information: www.icelandic.com

Produce for Better Health Foundation recently announced that their new brand logo Fruits & Veggies – More Matters™ licensing is now available.  This new brand replaces 5 A Day The Color Way and all other 5 A Day program logos. Existing materials carrying 5 A Day The Color Way or other 5 A Day program graphics and messaging must be phased out by January 1, 2009. The new Fruits & Veggies – More Matters brand was developed by PBH and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. For more information: www.pbhfoundation.org

Produce for Better Health Foundation announced a photography contest to spread the word that the Fruits & Veggies – More Matters™ brand is ready for its industry debut. The “Going Places” contest officially kicked off at Produce Marketing Association’s Fresh Summit in San Diego, CA. Information desks were stocked with new Fruit & Veggies – More Matters buttons. Delegates were asked to take a photo of themselves wearing the button anywhere and everywhere and email it to the Produce for Better Health Foundation. The best and most creative photo will win the Grand Prize of a Global Positioning System! For more information: fruitsandveggiesmorematters@pbhfoundation.org

Y.U.M., Your Ultimate Milk produced by Promised Land Dairy, a Texas based company, is the first milk sold in the U.S. enriched with a natural plant extract, plant sterols, that are clinically proven to lower LDL cholesterol as part of a low-fat diet. Promised Land Dairy produces all natural white and flavored milk in half gallon, quart and 14 oz. single-serve sizes. Y.U.M., Your Ultimate Milk is packaged in glass quart bottles and comes in three flavors: Fat Free White, Fat Free Chocolate and a unique new flavor Fat Free White Chocolate. Y.U.M. is currently being introduced for sale in the Southern half of the United States from Southern California across to Florida and up the east coast into Virginia. For more information: www.yourulitmatemilk.com

Target recently launched a private label organic line under the Archer Farms brand.  The line will include a range of items, from whole grain pizzas, pastas and complete dinners to dairy products, fruit strips and juices. The Archer Farms collection is available at SuperTarget stores nationwide and at select Target stores, will expand with new product introductions on a regular basis. In addition, the produce department at SuperTarget is now certified organic by USDA. For more information: www.target.com

Wegmans recently announced testing of a new concept at their flagship store in Pittsford, NY. Aiming to cater to busy families the concept - referred to as pods - are food bars with quick meal solutions. The vegetarian bar features vegetables, salads, and smoothies. At the seafood bar, a chef prepares a variety of seafood, grilled and topped with a choice of sauce. Wegmans is also considering a bar with Italian food. For more information: www.wegmans.com

Winn-Dixie recently formed an agreement with Star-K-Certification, Inc. a Baltimore based kosher certification agency, through which it will ensure that Winn-Dixie’s private-label kosher products adhere to Jewish dietary laws, providing shoppers an increased variety of kosher foods. Additional information about Jewish dietary law, a complete list of Winn-Dixie’s kosher private label products and other educational materials has been added to the grocer’s website. For more information: www.winn-dixie.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.