NEWS ROUNDUP 1994-11-07 (2)

Kraft to Sell Unit to H.J. Heinz

al Foods, an operating company of Philip Morris Cos., has agreed to sell its All American Gourmet Co. here to Pittsburgh-based H.J. Heinz.

All American Gourmet manufactures the Budget Gourmet line of frozen meals and side dishes at plants in Atlanta and in Clearfield, Utah. It had 1993 revenues of over $300 million.

Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft General Foods said the pending sale "is consistent with our recently announced program to improve the strategic alignment of our food portfolio."

In a statement, David W. Sculley, Heinz senior vice president in charge of the Heinz frozen foods group and Weight Watchers companies, said, "This acquisition gives Heinz another major brand -- the Budget Gourmet -- to complement its Weight Watchers brand in the growing frozen meals category. "[It] brings Heinz into a different segment of this category and enables us to become the low-cost producer," Sculley added.

Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Three Named to Hall of Fame

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Arthur Boone, Jack Fox and J.R. Simplot were inducted into the Frozen Food Hall of Fame Oct. 11 during the National Frozen Food Convention here.

Boone began in the frozen food industry in 1946 as a salesman for Glazier Frosted Foods in Houston. In 1958 he and two co-workers purchased the Austin, Texas, branch of the company and changed the name to FroxTex Frozen Food. In 1977 he was joined at the helm by his son. The company was sold to Kraft in 1987.

Fox was involved with the development of frozen concentrated orange juice and the creation of Minute Maid.

Simplot has, since the age of 15, spent his life building the company that bears his name. During World War II he was the largest supplier of dehydrated potatoes to the military. Following the war, Simplot pioneered the first successful method of freezing potatoes.

Hall of Fame inductees are nominated and voted on by the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats, a fraternal order made up of leaders and pioneers of the frozen food industry.

Ore-Ida Adds Appetizer Lines

BOISE, Idaho -- Ore-Ida here is introducing two lines of appetizers, Dyna Bites and Cheese Bites. Both are made with real cheese and covered with a crispy coating.

Dyna Bites are available in cheese and pepperoni, broccoli and cheese, nacho, and Monterey Jack and jalapeno flavors. Cheese Bites are available in cheddar and Monterey Jack flavors. Both lines carry a suggested retail price of $1.99.

Both Dyna Bites and Cheese Bites were launched as food-service items in 1993. They are initially being shipped to grocery stores in the following markets: Atlanta; Birmingham/Montgomery, Ala.; Cincinnati/Dayton; Columbus, Ohio; Denver and St. Louis. A spokesman for Ore-Ida said the products should be in stores in these markets by the third week of November. He expects national distribution shortly.

Ore-Ida has also expanded its Bagel Bites line, adding Supreme to its pizza offerings and launching its Fiesta line with nacho and Queso Grande.

Supreme puts pepperoni, red and green bell peppers, tomato sauce and a blend of mozzarella, parmesan and romano cheeses on top of a bagel. Queso Grande is a bagel topped with cheddar cheese, red and green bell peppers, tomato salsa and lightly spiced beef and pork. The nacho variety mixes lightly seasoned beef and pork, red bell peppers, sour cream, mozzarella and mild jalapeno cheese sauce.

All three items are available nationally and carry a suggested retail price of $1.99.