2 Consultants Join IBM Foodservice
service Consulting Consortium has added two members, Ira Blumenthal, founder of Co-Opportunities, and James Moore, former president of Far West Concepts, a 100-unit California restaurant chain.
Blumenthal was the co-creator of the Supreme Court food court concept, which was built in a unit of Ball's Price Chopper, Kansas City, Mo., and a unit of Riser Foods, Bedford Heights, Ohio.
The consortium, which was created in 1992, works with a range of food-service oriented companies, including supermarkets, on projects such as menu and concept design, operational issues, computers and information technology.
Rice Appoints Deli, Bakery Director
HOUSTON -- Don Admire has been named director of deli and bakery for Rice Food Markets here, which operates 31 supermarkets. He was vice president of deli and bakery marketing for AppleTree Markets here.
Rice operates stores under the Price Buster, Rice Epicuria and Rice Food Market banners.
Food Production Post Added at Baker's
OMAHA, Neb. -- Ryan Sander has joined Baker's Supermarkets here as food production manager, a new position. He is responsible for Baker's central kitchen.
Sander comes to Baker's, which operates 11 supermarkets, from Sun-Husker Foods, a food processing company in Lincoln, Neb., where he was the manager of the prepared foods operation.
New President at Gilardi Units
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Gilardi Foods, a fresh-pizza manufacturer based here, has named John Parr president of Gilardi Foods USA and Gilardi Foods International, which operate out of Sidney, Ohio.
He is taking over presidential duties from Michael Gilardi, who is the founder of the company and chief executive officer.
Parr has been with the company for two years, most recently as director of international operations, based in Udine, Italy, where he directed the startup of the company's Italian operation. He has more than 20 years experience in the pizza industry, including the positions of vice president for sales and marketing and president of Jeno's Pizza.
Finlandia President Expands Role
ELIZABETH, N.J. -- Vincent Montouri, president of Finlandia Cheese, has taken on the added responsibilities of vice president of sales and marketing for Finlandia's parent, Valio International USA here. Christopher Franco, formerly vice president of sales, Eastern zone, for Stella Foods, has been named vice president of sales for Valio.
Montuori, who has been president of Finlandia Cheese since its inception in 1992, will oversee sales and marketing activities of Finlandia Cheese and McCadam Cheese Co., Heuvelton, N.Y.
Valio International USA, owned by Valio Ltd., a cooperative of dairies in Finland, acquired the McCadam Cheese Co. in 1991 and established Finlandia Cheese Inc. as a separate company in 1992.
