Briefs.

National Restaurant Association Taps Anderson as Next CEO 

The Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association has selected Steven C. Anderson as the Association's next President and CEO.

Anderson currently serves as President and CEO of the American Frozen Food Institute in McLean, VA. He has been with that organization for nearly 20 years and led it for the last decade--credentials that made him the successful candidate for the position, said Joseph K. Fassler, the Association's immediate past chairman of the Board of Directors.

"Steve brings a wealth of experience to the position of CEO, with a true understanding of what it takes to move our organization forward," Fassler said in announcing the appointment.

Anderson will succeed Herman Cain, who has announced that he plans to step down on June 30.

The National Restaurant Association, founded in 1919, is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which is comprised of 800,000 outlets and a work force of 10.2 million employees. Along with the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, the Association works to represent, educate and promote the rapidly growing industry.

For more information visit their web site at: www.restaurant.org

Pillsbury To Produce 11,200 Cases of Combination Pizza Rolls For Second Harvest

Donation is part of long-term corporate commitment to fight domestic hunger

The Pillsbury Co. has announced that its Wellston, OH plant will devote production lines to feed needy Americans. This special production is part of Pillsbury's ongoing commitment to Second Harvest, the nation's largest domestic charitable hunger-relief organization.

On May 5, the Pillsbury plant produced frozen combination pizza rolls exclusively for Second Harvest food banks, which will feed as many as 474,000 needy Americans. More than 67,000 bags of pizza rolls will be routed to Second Harvest food banks in Logan, OH; Battle Creek, MI; and Elizabethtown, KY. Pizza rolls are terrific, easy-to-serve items for food bank agencies such as soup kitchens, shelters and Kids Cafes.

Pillsbury was the nation's first corporation to support Production Alliance, a groundbreaking program in which companies produce first-line product exclusively for donation to those in need through Second Harvest network food banks. Food banks typically rely on the donation of surplus, discontinued or slightly damaged product as the main source of food supply. In Production Alliance, a company's philanthropy budget and available production capacity to process high quality, first-line food products are donated to Second Harvest network member food banks.

The Second Harvest network distributes one billion pounds of donated food and grocery product to 26 million hungry Americans annually, including eight million children and four million seniors, it is estimated that the number grows as much as 10% each year.

Rich's Offers Pizza CD-ROM 

Rich Products presents Rich's[R] Della Suprema[R] Pizza Recipes on CD-ROM. Rich's, "The Pizza Solution Company"[TM] offers this exciting, new CD to help you increase sales by selecting the appropriate crusts and toppings for your pizza program. Offering over 100 new and innovative recipes, from breakfast and dessert to ethnic and specialty pizzas, this CD also provides nutritional information for every recipe in addition to menu sizing and handling instructions.

To order your pizza CD, call 1-800-45-RICHS or visit their website at www.richs.com

Atalanta Corporation Acquires Camerican

Atalanta Corp. announced May 28, 1999 the purchase of Camerican International, from Con Agra, Inc. The acquisition creates a food import and distribution powerhouse with combined sales in excess of $385 million.

"The purchase of Camerican established Atalanta as undisputed leader in the imported and food distribution industries. Our acquisition is an important step in our strategic expansion plans and demonstrates our commitment to providing the resources and services our customers demand," said George Gellert, President and CEO of Atalanta.

Headquartered in Elizabeth, NJ, Atalanta Corporation's annual sales are in excess of $250 million. Founded in 1945, the privately-held company's core business includes processed meats, seafood, grocery and cheese. It services institutional, wholesale, foodservice, and retail trade.

For more information, contact Robert Gellert at 908-351-8000 or Larry Abramson, President of Camerican at 201-587-0101 or visit: www.atalanta1.com

Win-Holt Equipment Group Acquires Alliance Manufacturing Inc.

Win-Holt Equipment Group, one of the nation's leading manufacturers of high quality material and food handling equipment, has announced the acquisition of Alliance Manufacturing Inc., a full-service manufacturing facility located in Nashville, TN. According to Win-Holt President Jonathan Holtz, the acquisition will enable Win-Holt to significantly expand its engineering and product capabilities within the food service and healthcare industry.

Alliance specializes in business to business custom metal fabrication, offering complete welding, product assembly, and design capabilities. General food service products manufactured by Alliance include racks, cabinets, proofers, and utility cads. For the healthcare industry, Alliance manufactures such products as Convection Pellet and Plate Heater-Dispensers, Patient Tray Delivery carts, Drying Racks and various private label support equipment.

In addition to Alliance Manufacturing, Inc., Win-Holt previously acquired Wilder Manufacturing of Port Jervis, New York, an 80 year old quality manufacturer of food service and bakery equipment.

For further information call 516-427-1713.

Stellar Upgrades

The Stellar Group has redesigned s website to better serve its present and potential clients with an electronic window to digital information and documentation.

The new website, www.thestellargroup.com will offer some innovative animation, a user-friendly navigation system and easy to use forms. The animation is an introduction of the key services (architecture & engineering, construction and refrigeration) that Stellar provides to its customers. The animation was designed in Macro-media Shockwave Flash, which is an animation software plug-in package that provides fast animation download speeds. The navigation system offers a viewer an option to jump to a specific page without going through the traditional path of many subnavigation pages. Stellar also created an easy to use online employment application form and a contact form, which will route information to specified departments.

Stellar's President/COO H. Bobby Cothren stated, "Our Internet redesign efforts came after evaluating our ability to. provide current information to customers, research analysts and potential employees. Our new website will offer a forum for quick access, which we feel is the key to our success in providing electronic solutions."

Vegetable, Fruit Imports Up

Despite the slight year-to-year drop in cumulative imports, some products continue to show strong growth. Vegetable imports have reached $2 billion, 11% over 1998. Imports of fruits are up 27% to $1 billion. Canada and Mexico continue to be the major sources of U.S. fruit and vegetable imports.

Supermarket Industry Has Y2K Concerns In The Bag

To assure consumers that the supermarket industry has taken efforts to avoid Y2K complications, Food Marketing Institute (FMI) executives unveiled a consumer education brochure to be used as bag inserts at the grocery store. The announcement was made at FMI's 1999 Supermarket Industry Convention and Educational Exhibition in Chicago.

"Americans depend on their grocer for wholesome food, household items, medications and countless other items, so we want consumers to be assured that they will be able to shop for all their essentials on New Year's Day 2000 and beyond." said FMI President and CEO Tim Hammonds. "We're encouraging grocery stores throughout the country to use our new brochure as a bag insert to reach as many people as possible." Each company may insert its logo on the cover, personalizing the message to customers.

FMI is teaming up with other food industry partners to educate retailers on how to avoid complications, and is currently testing and verifying compliance of supermarket computer systems and those of major food suppliers.

Department of Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman has praised the preparedness of the food industry in his reports to the President's Council on Y2K and in Congressional testimony.

FMI is making the brochure immediately available to its members. For more information, contact FMI at 202-452-8444 or visit the web site: www.fmi.org

Wolverine Proctor & Schwartz New Name

Two of the world's leading manufacturers of industrial ovens and food processing equipment -- Wolverine of Merrimac, MA and Proctor & Schwartz of Horsham, PA --have merged to become one operating division of Wolverine (Massachusetts) Corp.

The new operating division--Wolverine Proctor & Schwartz--maintains both sales offices and manufacturing facilities in Merrimac, MA, with an additional sales office in Horsham, PA and manufacturing in Lexington, NC.

The Wolverine Proctor & Schwartz European Division is headquartered in Glasgow, Scotland, with manufacturing facilities in Chester, England.

J&J Snack Foods To Provide A Taste Of Philadelphia To Republican Convention

Delegates to Receive GOP's Elephant Shaped Soft Pretzels

J&J Snack Foods Corp. was selected by Philadelphia Mayor Ed Rendell to provide a taste of Philadelphia to the Republican National Committee delegates at the upcoming Republican National Convention which will be held in Philadelphia in July, 2000. All delegates will receive a special giant elephant shaped Superpretzel[R] Soft Pretzel during the convention in recognition of the Republican Committee mascot.

The Philadelphia area is famous for its soft pretzel tradition in America as well as home to J&J Snack Foods Corp., the world's largest manufacturer of soft pretzels. J&J was fast at work developing the idea for a Republican mascot soft pretzel as soon as Philadelphia was chosen as the site for the upcoming convention.

"We are delighted that America's Mayor has chosen to present the GOP delegates with this unique soft pretzel," said Gerry Shreiber, President of J&J Snack Foods Corp. "After all, Superpretzel[R] is America's Favorite Soft Pretzel."

For more information call 609-665-9534, ext 234.

ASMC Launches New Retail Implementation Study

The Association of Sales & Marketing Companies has commissioned an important new research project on retail execution, to be directed by Bill Bishop, Willard Bishop Consulting.

In an industry first, the study will determine the retailer, manufacturer and sales agency costs and help define activities associated with the increasing number of category management-driven store resets. It will also measure, for the first time, how much this increased reset activity affects company resources normally used for routine store coverage activities, such as monitoring planogram compliance, shelf integrity, price verifications, stock rotations, new item cut-ins and other related activities.

The results of ASMC's study will assist agencies, manufacturers and retailers in better utilizing retail resources to improve shelf conditions, which will increase consumers' shopping satisfaction level.

The study began on April 1, 1999 and is scheduled to be complete for delivery of the results at ASMC's Executive Conference, July 7-9, in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

ASMC also will contribute significantly to a new Food Distributors International (FDI) study of the implementation of category management at retail in independent retailers. ASMC will maintain an active presence on each of the FDI study's committees, and will place two individuals on the study's project steering committee. ASMC's role in gathering and analyzing data and monitoring the outcome of this project will complement the Association's own research study on retail execution. The FDI study will be conducted by The Partnering Group over the next 12-15 months.

For further information contact Barbara Fusco at 703-758-7790. The Association of Sales & Marketing Companies (ASMC) is a Reston, Virginia-based trade association promoting the interests of sales and marketing agents and retail merchandisers worldwide. Prior to 1997, ASMC operated as the National

Food Brokers Association (founded in 1904) and the International Foodservice Brokers Association (founded in 1995). ASMC's membership comprises nearly 1,100 sales and marketing agencies employing more than 40,000 professionals and servicing all classes of trade for the thousands of manufacturers they represent worldwide. In addition, the association promotes the interests of some 200 Associate member manufacturers, including their subsidiaries, that use sales and marketing agency representation in local markets, as well as dozens of Allied members that serve constituent companies.

At the FMI

The 1999 Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Supermarket Industry Convention and Educational Exposition was held May 2-4 at McCormick Place, Chicago. It covered more than 1.3 million square feet and featured an estimated 35,000 attendees and 1,500 exhibitors. The convention--recognized as the most comprehensive annual grocery trade event in the world--examined strategic, social and economic issues facing grocery retailers in the next century.

Prime Vendor Of The Year

Pocono Produce Company has been recognized as The Prime Vendor of the Year for the North East Region for the Defense Supply Center, Philadelphia's Subsistence Prime Vendor Program.

Brigadier General Daniel G. Mongeon, USA, presented the award at the Subsistence Worldwide Customer Conference and Food Show in Atlantic City. Ray Singer, Kevin Cramer and Dan Merklin accepted the Award on behalf of the company's associates.

The North East Region consists of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, Virginia and north to Maine. Pocono Produce Co. is one of seven Prime Vendors in the region.

For further information call 717-421-4990.

PFPA To Hold Annual Convention

The Pennsylvania Food Processors Association (PFPA) will hold their 85th annual convention at the debut of the Atlantic Food Development Processing Exhibition (AFD&PE). The exhibition, held at the Baltimore Exhibition Center in Baltimore on August 10-12, 1999, is the only event that brings products, equipment and technologies from every aspect of food manufacturing to the Atlantic Coast, one of the largest U.S. markets for food and beverge techology and manufacturing.

Millard Fort Worth Distribution Center Opens

Millard Refrigerated Services (Millard) has announced the opening of its distribution center in Fort Worth, TX. The complex will be built in phases. The first phase is 180,000 square feet with 5.4 million cubic feet. Built out for Millard's newest distribution center will be 800,000 square feet with more than 24 million cubic feet. This facility is another extension of Millard's expanding network of distribution centers targeted for major population centers throughout the United States.

The Fort Worth facility's General Manager will be Don Avera. Millard operates 24 refrigerated warehouse and distribution facilities throughout the United States. These facilities account for over 165 million cubic feet.

Merkert American Corp. Signs A Definitive Merger Agreement With Richmont Marketing Specialists

Merkert American Corp. (Nasdaq/NMS: MERK), a leading provider of outsourced sales and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food and consumer goods--and the only publicly traded food broker in the United States--has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement with Dallas, TX-based Richmont Marketing Specialists Inc. ("Marketing Specialists"). The transaction is subject to customary conditions and approvals, including regulatory and Merkert American stockholder approval, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 1999. The parties expect that the combined company will represent the most comprehensive sales and marketing coverage of all retail channels in the United States.

Ron Pedersen, 59, currently Chief Executive Officer of Marketing Specialists, will become Chairman of the Board of the combined company. Gerald R. Leonard, 52, currently Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of Merkert American, will become Chief Executive Officer.

Upon completion of the transaction, Merkert American is expected to change its name to Marketing Specialists Corp. in order to capitalize on extensive brand name identity and to more accurately describe the combined company's business.

Acquisition By Trident Seafoods 

Trident Seafoods Corp. has signed a definitive agreement with Nichirei Foods, Inc. and Nichirei Foods America (NFA) to acquire NFA's plant in Fife, WA, which produces surimi seafood and the premier imitation crab brand, Sea Legs[R], subject to approval.

"This marks the first phase of Trident Seafoods' aggressive new branding strategy," announced Joe Bundrant, vice president of sales and marketing of Trident Seafoods.

Loop Cold Storage Expands San Antonio Distribution Service

Loop Cold Storage has commenced construction of a new freezer complex, which will expand its storage and freezer capacity by 30%. Increased transportation, storage, consolidation and distribution capability will be provided to its growing customer base in the San Antonio market. When the new addition comes on line in September 1999 it will add 1.7 million cu. ft. of freezer space and provide the total complex with an additional 7900 two deep push-back pallet positions.

The new freezer will operate from a 50 foot refrigerated dock with the ability to handle 12 trucks at one time.

Loop also operates a frozen warehouse facility in McAllen, Texas with 10 million cu. ft. of capacity. Both its San Antonio and McAllen facilities have frozen vegetable repackaging companies located on the premises.

For more information call 210-377-2733 or fax [phone].

World Food Logistics Organization Elects Board Members and Officers and Formally Adopts New Name

The Refrigeration Research and Education Foundation (TRREF) held its 56th annual meeting at The Westin Rio Mar, April 10-15, 1999, in conjunction with the annual convention of the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW). This historic meeting marked the official roll out of the organization's new name, which was approved by the group's Board of Governors in October, 1998, and overwhelmingly endorsed by the membership. The new name, the World Food Logistics Organization (WFLO), was adopted to better reflect the mission and activities of the organization, which has been supporting both the refrigerated warehouse industry and the larger food industry for more than half a century. Members also elected new officers and ten new board members.

Elected president of the organization for 1999-2000 was Jeffrey C. Spence, ICS Logistics, Inc., Jacksonville, FL, USA. Raymond E. Biggar, Associated Freezers Corporation, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada, was elected vice president of WFLO. The newly elected treasurer is Merle Lemmen, Atlas Cold Storage, Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA.

Six refrigerated warehouse industry leaders were elected to three-year terms on the Board of Governors. New board members included Hugh Carr, SCS Refrigerated Services LLC, Algona, Washington, USA; Steve Coon, South Atlantic Cold Storage Group, Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Eben James, Jr., Trenton Cold Storage Limited, Trenton, Ontario, Canada; Mike McClendon, Richmond Cold Storage Co., Richmond, Virginia, USA; John Metzger, CS Integrated, LLC, Secaucus, New Jersey, USA; and Willem van Schipstal, Tiefkuhlcenter Bocholt GmbH, Bocholt, Germany.

Seven slots on the Board of Governors are reserved for distinguished individuals from outside the industry. Four public members were elected for three-year terms during the Puerto Rico meeting. The new public members of the Board of Governors are Dr. John D. Kasarda, Kenan Distinguished Professor at the Kenan-Flagler Business School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Ambassador Marc C. Ginsberg, Georgetown Global Investment Corp., Washington, D.C., USA; Senator Eugene Whelan, P.C., O.C. and former Minister of Agriculture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada; and William N. Wise, American Potato Trade Alliance, Portland, Oregon.

The board also re-elected Dr. Daryl B. Lund, Dean of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, Ithaca, NY., as chairman of the organization's Scientific Advisory Council.

The World Food Logistics Organization is a non-profit organization, supported largely by the public refrigerated warehousing industry, which sponsors research and educational programs on the preservation of foods by refrigeration.

Hanson Expands Its Presence in Indiana

The 62,500-square foot addition of the Lafayette, Ind. facility is nearing completion, bringing the total storage space in Lafayette to just over 3.3 million cubic feet.

The addition consists of two storage rooms: one convertible room (-20F to +40F) containing approximately 750,000 cubic feet and an 800,000 cubic foot (-20F) freezer room capable of storing 3,500 pallets of ice cream.

The expanded freezing capabilities will also be able to handle 150,000 pounds of meat, fresh to freeze, per day. A refrigerated dock, 50 feet wide with six truck doors, will service the addition.

"This additional space will allow us to expand our distribution program and provide for our existing customers' needs," said business development manager Joe Mitchell.

For information call Hanson Cold Storage at 765-4 77-1666.

Ocean Spray Names AmeriCold Logistics To Build and Operate Freezer

AmeriCold Logistics, the largest U.S. provider of refrigerated storage and food distribution services to companies worldwide, has announced it has signed a long-term storage agreement with Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.

Headquartered in Lakeville, MA, Ocean Spray is the largest processor of cranberries worldwide. The agreement calls for AmeriCold to construct and operate a 125,000 square-foot freezer adjacent to Ocean Spray's Receiving Station in Babcock, Wisconsin.

Ocean Spray, with over $1.4 billion in annual sales, receives and markets 400 million pounds of cranberries. AmeriCold will provide a full range of storage and distribution services to complement Ocean Spray's production including binning, freezing and storing cranberries for further processing at local Ocean Spray facilities.

AmeriCold will apply its sophisticated information system for supply management, specifically to control and track real-time inventory levels to meet demand.

For further information call Hal Justice at 678-441-1400.

Pacific Cold Storage Gains Good Humor

Pacific Cold Storage and Good Humor-Breyers Ice Cream have entered into a 10-year agreement for 5 million cubic feet of dedicated freezer storage space in Henderson, NV.

"This facility will serve as the western distribution center for Good Humor-Breyers through the next decade when it opens in approximately six months," said Paul Hendricksen, senior vice president of Henderson Cold Storage and Pacific Cold Storage.

Henderson Cold Storage is the Nevada division of Pacific Cold Storage, a P&O corporation.

Currently, there are nine separate storage facilities in three states under the names of Pacific Cold Storage, Henderson Cold Storage, Federal Cold Storage and Transmode.

For further information contact Dave Daniel at 714-325-3900.

FMI Convention

Approximately 34,000 food retail executives attended the 1999 Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Supermarket Industry Convention and Educational Exposition, May 2-4, in Chicago's McCormick Place. More than 1,500 exhibitors covering 1.3 million square feet participated in the trade show.