NFFA

JULIE C. BOEHNING

WASHINGTON -- Two supermarket executives have been appointed to the 1996-97 National Frozen Food Assoc-iation's board of directors.

During NFFA's 52nd Ann-ual Membership Meeting, held here Oct. 6 to 9, James Childers, category manager for the Jacksonville, Fla.-based division of Winn-Dixie Stores, was named 1996-97 chairman.

Also, Pat Brooks, frozen food director at Save Mart Supermarkets, Modesto, Calif., was named vice chairman-retail. NFFA is based in Harrisburg, Pa.

During his acceptance speech, Childers said he would work to expand NFFA's membership while he serves as chairman.

"The NFFA is only as strong as its membership," Childers said. The continual mergers and acquisitions occurring throughout all facets of the food industry have put a strain on NFFA membership, he said.

"I plan to help boost not just retail membership, but membership across all segments of the frozen food industry," said Childers, adding that unity is essential to ensure NFFA remains active.

As well as enhancing NFFA membership, Childers said he wants to make full use of NFFA's newly launched World Wide Web site (http://www.nffa.org) to communicate NFFA's message about the quality and value of frozen food.

"It's an important undertaking for the NFFA," Childers said about the Web site.

"It will give us the opportunity to reach industry professionals, consumers, get feedback on the NFFA and conduct consumer surveys to find out their perceptions of frozen food. It could be a source of revenue in the future," said Childers.

During his final report to NFFA, Jerry Carter, outgoing chairman, also cited NFFA's new Web site as a significant accomplishment for the association as it enters the 21st century.

The NFFA Web site, shown during the annual meeting, contains information for frozen food industry members and consumers.

For members of the frozen food industry, the Web site has a government relations section; a listing of educational opportunities for NFFA members; industry statistics from Information Resources Inc., Chicago; an overview of NFFA events; a searchable member database, and online conference registration.

The consumer section of the Web site was designed to promote sales and consumption of frozen foods. It contains recipes from member companies, information on the proper handling and storage of frozen food and the history and benefits of frozen food.

In other news, Rosemary Driebe Olofsson of Pocono Produce, Stroudsburg, Pa., was named chairman-elect; Tim Carper of F.A.B., Norcross, Ga., chairman-food service; John Crown of Burris Retail Food Systems, Milford, Del., secretary; Mark King of Marketing Specialists Sales Co., Tampa, Fla., treasurer.