CASE-READY MEAT SET FOR NASH FINCH UNIT

LAURA KLEPACKI

PHOENIX -- Nash Finch Co. plans to implement a complete case-ready meat program in one of its corporate stores by the early part of 1995.

The new program will replace the store's fresh meats, which are now cut and wrapped by in-store meatcutters, with products prepackaged by suppliers. It will include both beef and pork, as well as poultry, which is already received case-ready.

George Baker, director of meat operations for the Minneapolis-based wholesale grocer, spoke about the company's plans at the National Grocers Association/ National-American Wholesale Grocers' Association Meat Operations Conference held here earlier this month. Nash Finch operates 16 distribution centers and some 100 retail stores.

"We are going to see just exactly what it is going to cost us to maintain that department in labor and we will see what it does for our supply costs," said Baker. "And we are going to be parity priced to our competition for the fresh-cut product."

Baker acknowledged that switching to a case-ready meat program is a "major change" and could be considered a "high risk" venture. But in an interview with SN he stressed that he and the company are completely committed to making it work.

"I don't want to look at this as a short-time test," said Baker. "There is no escape door for this unit, and I don't intend to build one in. This is strictly a positive [effort] and we will make it happen."

The trial unit has not been selected yet. That decision will be

made by a committee that is being formed, said Baker. However, if successful, the company would consider applying the program or possibly elements of it to other stores, he noted.

Some of the company's divisions now offer some case-ready pork items. However, a test of case-ready beef three years ago was shortlived. But, with recent improvements in beef packaging, the company is willing to try it again, said Baker.

Baker said he expects to source the case-ready beef products from Excel Corp., Minneapolis, and has already been receiving some pork case-ready items from Farmland Foods, Kansas City, Mo.; Dubuque Meats, Dubuque, Iowa, and Hormel Foods Corp., Austin, Minn.