FOODSERVICE NEWS

Federal Immigration Reform Bill Introduced In Congress
In December a group of federal lawmakers introduced a comprehensive immigration reform bill to the U.S. House of Representatives. It is estimated that 1.4 million immigrants work in food-service operation in the U.S. The bill has 91 co-sponsors in the House so far.
The bill would provide a path to citizenship, enable illegal immigrants to pay a $500 fine; learn English and pass a criminal background check. If approved the bill would provide 100,000 extra visas for immigrants from countries with high rates of illegal immigration and would facilitate legal immigration for close relatives of U.S. citizens and legal residents. The bill would also require employers to check a federal database to verify the immigration status of job applicants.
President Barack Obama has said he wants to address the immigration reform bill in 2010, and New York U.S. Senator Charles Schumer is working on a separate bill to be introduced in the Senate in January.

Honey Dew Donuts Appoints Director Of Franchise Development
Honey Dew Donuts recently appointed Larry Flaherty as the director of franchise development. Mr. Flaherty joins Honey Dew with an extensive and comprehensive franchising background including ten years with D’Angelo Sandwich Shops, Inc. and three years as the director of franchising and general manger with KaBloom.
“I am extremely excited to join the Honey Dew team,” Mr. Flaherty noted. “The franchise opportunity that Honey Dew Donuts presents is just outstanding. I feel that Honey Dew Donuts is very well positioned to provide an excellent alternative coffee and donut franchise business in the New England market. I believe when you look at the opportunity that Honey Dew presents to a new business owner, i.e., over 35 years of solid experience, simplified operations, over 150 franchised shops, combined with a top-flight operational, marketing and development support team, prospective franchise business owners will be as excited as I am to join the Honey Dew Donuts brand.”
Honey Dew is looking to expand into markets in the New England area, focusing in Central and Northern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine.

Papa Gino’s, D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches Launch New Joint Guest Loyalty Card
Recently Papa Gino’s and D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches kicked off a joint new Guest Loyalty Card Program that enables guests to earn points at either Papa Gino’s or D’Angelo restaurants and redeem these points at either restaurant. 
Under the program, a guest can purchase a meal at Papa Gino’s and redeem those points for a sandwich or soda at D’Angelo. Guests may also earn points for call-in, online or delivery orders at either restaurant. Participating guests will receive a loyalty card and earn one point for each dollar spent at participating Papa Gino’s or D’Angelo restaurants.
The company also announced that CashStar was selected as an online gift card and incentives platform for its Papa Gino’s Pizzeria and D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches restaurant chains. CashStar’s platform enables consumers to purchase gift cards from the restaurants’ websites that are sent to recipients via e-mail. Rather than ordering standard plastic cards that need to be mailed to recipients, guests can now personalize gift cards online by selecting a design or uploading their own image, adding a personal message, and selecting the denomination and send date. Cards can be sent immediately or at any future date.

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A new Mass. regulation took effect on Jan. 1 requiring restaurants to have their kitchen exhaust systems inspected and cleaned by a company that has passed an examination and received a certificate of competency from the State Fire Marshal. The frequency of cleaning is detemined by the inspectors. Contact the Mass. Restaurant Assn. for members who have received this certification.

Centerplate has completed its merger transaction with Boston Culinary Group. BCGH bring over 100 venue partners in the recreation and leisure industry to the merger. Joseph O’Donnell, founder of BCG, will serve as chairman of Centerplate’s Board of Directors.

As of Jan. 1, North Carolina’s restaurants and bars are smoke free, except for private clubs and cigar bars.

C-STORE NEWS

Florida Law Takes Effect On Underground Fuel Tanks
A new Florida law has taken effect in which all gas station must upgrade underground fuel tanks as of Jan. 1. The Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has begun to grant compliance extensions if consent orders are signed and is doing so on a case-by-case basis
Some stations delayed the project because of the high price tag for the construction, which can run between $250,000 and $400,000. Another reason for waiting until the last minute has been that the upgrade construction can take up to six weeks, during which no gasoline can be sold.
By late December, the DEP reported more than 7,000 facilities with below ground fuel storage had complied, with more than 80 percent of all gasoline and convenience stores having made the upgrade. Any noncompliant station selling gasoline after Jan. 1 could be fined up to $10,000 per day. Even if noncompliant stations stop selling fuel to switch to operating only as a convenience store, that location has 12 months to either upgrade the tanks, take out the old tanks or fill the old tanks with an inert solid material such as a special foam or sand.

Mixed Victories For Tobacco Industry, FDA In Court Decision
Last week a federal district court in Kentucky ruled on the tobacco industry's challenge to the tobacco labeling, advertising and marketing restrictions that were adopted by Congress as part of the FDA authority to regulate tobacco. The tobacco industry claimed that most of the law's restrictions on tobacco labeling, advertising and marketing were unconstitutional.
The court agreed with some of the industry's arguments, striking down the law's ban on using color and graphics on product labels and ads, as well as a prohibition of labeling, ads and other representations that a product is safer by virtue of being regulated or inspected by the FDA. In each of those cases, the court determined that the statute's restrictions on speech were too broad.
The court upheld the law's ban on tobacco companies' brand-name sponsorship of events; the ban on distributing items like caps, t-shirts and sporting goods with brand names and logos; and the prohibitions on offering free samples of tobacco products, gifts with purchase, or co-marketing tobacco products with non-tobacco products that are FDA-regulated (like certain foods, cosmetics, drugs, dietary supplements).
The court also upheld new labeling requirements that will entail using the top 50 percent of the front and rear panels of cigarette packaging for warnings, among other requirements.

Tri Star Energy Announces Sale of C Stores In Tenn.
Tri Star Energy LLC of Nashville, Tenn. is selling a number of convenience stores and retail gasoline outlets in the Tennessee area. Proceeds from the divestiture are to be used for expansion and acquisition opportunities. The list includes a diverse mix of company-operated and consignment sites (with and without real estate interests) and supply-only sites with equipment, as well as several parcels of undeveloped land.
The locations and business interests will be sold through a sealed bid sale in a “buy one, some or all” format. Bids will be due on Feb. 18, . The sites being divested are scattered throughout the company’s operating territory, the bulk of which are located in the Greater Nashville market. Additional markets include Tullahoma, Knoxville and Chattanooga, among others. Gasoline brands of the sites include Shell, Exxon and BP Of the 84 operating store sites in the package, 26 are currently company-operated and 58 are consignee sites. For more information, contact NRC Realty & Capital Advisors of Chicago, Ill.

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Joe DePinto, 7-Eleven president and chief executive officer, will be among the participants in a new televised reality series that involves executives as they slip anonymously in the rank and file of their companies.

Customers of Wilson Farms, Buffalo, N.Y. , helped to raise $30,000 in November for Meals on Wheels Program.

Harold Levinson Associates has set the date for its 2010 spring buying show as April 22 at the Hofstra University Arena in Hempstead, N.Y.

NEW CHANNELS

Stop & Shop/Giant To Offer H1N1 Vaccinations
Stop & Shop and Giant announced last week it will hold H1N1 vaccination clinics at select pharmacies starting Jan. 8. Immunizations will cost $15 and be administered as long as quantities associated with this program are available. In addition, Stop & Shop announced the continuation of its free antibiotic program, in an effort to help customers care for their health in the most cost-effective way possible.
"As part of our commitment to doing all that we can to ensure the health and wellness of the community we serve, Stop & Shop is pleased to offer H1N1 vaccinations," said Jim Wonderly, vice president of pharmacy operations for the chain. "The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells us that many people in the highest risk groups have been vaccinated against H1N1 and are now encouraging us all to protect ourselves against H1N1. It's easy for a customer to visit their local Stop & Shop and receive a vaccination from one of our pharmacists."
Immunizations will be provided by certified and trained Stop & Shop pharmacists and through the company's partnership with Maxim Health Services and their trained healthcare professionals.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a new distribution strategy for H1N1 vaccinations, considering many in the highest risk groups have received the vaccine. The CDC is now encouraging everyone to be vaccinated against H1N1 because flu season typically lasts through the spring.

OTA Opens First Washington D.C. Office
The Organic Trade Association (OTA), headquartered in Greenfield, Mass., has opened its first Washington, D.C., office.
Christine Bushway, OTA's executive eirector and chief executive officer said, " The OTA is very excited about achieving this milestone at the beginning of its 25th anniversary year. This office, located three blocks from Capitol Hill, will help the trade association increase its visibility and effectiveness in D.C. with Congress, the Executive Branch and all regulatory agencies including the National Organic Program housed at USDA."
In conjunction with opening, Laura Batcha, formerly OTA's director for marketing and public relations, has been promoted to OTA's chief of policy and external relations. Ms. Batcha will continue to be based at the Greenfield office but will devote more time in D.C. in her new role. In addition to Ms. Bushway, a new legislative and advocacy position will be filled and based out of the D.C. office.
Issues ranging from food safety to climate change, from National Organic Program (NOP) funding to emerging non-food standards, continue to be critical to the organic sector.
OTA members and others within the organic trade will have the opportunity to experience the Hall of the States facilities April 14-15 when OTA hosts its 2010 Policy Conference and Hill Visit Days there. The events will include two days of morning education and afternoon visits, , meals, and a celebratory reception marking the 25th anniversary of OTA.

New Rules On Refrigerants Takes Effect
According to the Food Marketing Institute and the Mass. Food Assn. two new federal EPA regulations took effect on Jan. 1 that impact refrigerants and distribution center refrigeration equipment. The first rule reduces the amount of R-22, also known as HCFC-22) and other hydrochloroflucarbons. The second rule prohibits the sale and distribution of any appliances that are pre-charged with R-22 or R-142B unless they were manufactured or imported prior to Jan. 1. A FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions), issued by the EPA is available upon request.

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The man accused of conspiracy in the hacking attacks on shoppers credit card data has pleaded guilty. This data affected retailers such as Hannaford Bros., 7-Eleven, and TJC Cos. Federal prosecutors said Albert Gonzalez, 28 of Miami allegedly gained access to the corporate networks and then gave information to hackers who launched cyber attacks. He faces sentencing of 17 to 25 years in prison.

John Morrell Co., has acquired the majority interest in Premium Pet Health, a processor that supplies many of the pet processors in the U.S.