Hot Topic: Functional Foods
the attention functional foods are getting lately, organizers of the 1999 National Frozen Food Convention here decided to offer an industry workshop on the challenges and opportunities these foods provide.
The National Frozen Food Association, Harrisburg, Pa., and the American Frozen Food Institute, here, will sponsor the annual convention, to be held Oct. 2 to 6 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place and the Westin Copley Place Boston.
Jeffrey Nedelman, president of Strategic Communications, Vienna, Va., will be the featured speaker at a workshop titled "Functional Foods: Challenges and Opportunities," Monday, Oct. 4. Nedelman's presentation will focus on how companies can maximize marketing health to consumers by way of traditional and new frozen-food products.
Cascadian Rolls Out Freezer
SEDRO-WOOLEY, Wash. -- As Cascadian Farm here rolls out its new freezer program, it is also blitzing retailers with information about organics.
The company, which specializes in frozen, organic vegetarian food, is placing stand-alone units in stores of its top accounts. At the same time, Cascadian Farm is providing retailers with its "Organic Facts" newsletters and educational materials about responsible agriculture.
Martin Whitehead, national sales director for Cascadian Farm, said recently that about 50 freezers are in place. The company is hoping that the units will be set up as "organic facts kiosks," since they contain Plexiglas holders for brochures, recipe booklets and company fliers.
Already the No. 1 company in the frozen-entree section in natural-food stores, Cascadian Farm plans to reach out to more conventional retailers with programs like the freezer, and its newsletter, "Organic Facts."
The freezers are available on a limited basis for now. The company is giving them to selected retailers and making them available on a rotating basis to other retailers as they run promotions.
"This is one of the many tools we have to help grocers make sure they are stocking the right products," Whitehead said.
The freezers, made by Hussmann Corp., Bridgeton, Mo., measure 35 by 24 by 36 inches, and are being placed closer to the checkout line. They will contain discounted Cascadian Farm frozen products that will change monthly, the company said.
Cascadian Farm participates in more than half a dozen categories, including vegetables, ice cream, fruit, juice and entrees.
Friday's, Anchor Launch Line
DALLAS -- T.G.I. Friday's, the casual dining chain based here, has teamed with Anchor Food Products to launch a line of T.G.I. Friday's brand frozen Snacks and Dips, now available in supermarkets and wholesale clubs nationwide. Anchor Food Products, located in Appleton, Wis., is a leading manufacturer of frozen breaded appetizers.
Included in the line are Friday's most popular snacks, such as Cheddar and Bacon Potato Skins, Buffalo Wings and Mozzarella Sticks, as well as hot dips in Black Bean & Cheese, Spinach, Cheese and Artichoke flavors.
The new T.G.I. Friday's frozen snacks and dips are precooked and easily prepared in conventional ovens. Suggested retail price for the new snacks and dips is $2.99 at supermarkets.
