NEWSWATCH 2008-07-28 (2)

WINN-DIXIE ANIMAL WELFARE PLANNED

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie Stores here has announced a plan designed to improve farm and slaughter conditions for some food animals in its supply chain, according to a news release from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. PETA reported that Winn-Dixie plans to give purchasing preference to suppliers who use, or switch to, controlled-atmosphere killing for poultry, and will begin buying 5% of its turkeys from suppliers that use this method by 2010. The chain also will give purchasing preference to pork producers that do not use gestation crates, and will increase the total amount of pork it buys from crate-free facilities by 5% over each of the next three years. It will also give purchasing preference to producers of cage-free eggs, increasing the amount of cage-free eggs that it sells to 4% by the end of 2009 and 5% by the end of 2010, and will work toward reaching 10% within the next five years.

WHOLE FOODS SETS NEW STANDARDS

AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Market here has announced that it will implement new standards for its farmed seafood, requiring vendor partners to successfully pass an independent, third-party audit ensuring that their aquaculture operations have a minimal impact on the environment. The operations must work in a way that does not harm sensitive habitats such as wetlands and mangrove forests, and must monitor water quality to prevent pollution. Farm-to-fork traceability will also be required, from hatcheries to the ponds, pens, raceways and tanks, and through to the plants where the fish are processed.

ECRM, NACS Set FOODSERVICE EVENT

CLEVELAND — Trade show and industry meeting developer ECRM has announced a partnership with the National Association of Convenience Stores to host a comprehensive foodservice event targeting the convenience retailing industry. The meeting, scheduled to take place Feb. 8-11, 2009, in Houston, will emphasize one-on-one meetings and planning sessions between retailers, franchisors and suppliers of foodservice products, equipment and supplies. The meetings will employ ECRM's proprietary MarketGate Mobile technology, which facilitates multiple meetings in a single day and helps attendees prepare for meetings and follow up with contacts more efficiently afterward.

BRAY JOINS CABOT CREAMERY

MONTPELIER, Vt. — Cabot Creamery has named Michel Bray its Southeastern region sales representative, a newly created position. Prior to joining Cabot, Bray had been with Price Chopper Supermarkets, Golub Corp., Schenectady, N.Y., for a little more than 11 years. Hired there as specialty cheese specialist, he was later promoted to category manager, specialty cheese. In his new post, Bray will be based in Atlanta. He reports directly to Jerry Gould, Cabot Creamery's Southeastern sales manager.

LA TORTILLA PROMOTES TWO

SANTA ROSA, Calif. — La Tortilla Factory's chairman and president, Carlos Tamayo, has announced phase two in the company's succession plan by promoting Stan Mead to the position of chief executive officer and Willie Tamayo to executive vice president of business development. Carlos Tamayo will remain chairman and president. The family succession plan began earlier this year with the promotions of Sam Tamayo and Jonna Greene to the positions of vice president/chief operations officer and vice president of human resources, respectively.