Current Newsletter

ifec newsletter
april2013

President's message
Hey IFECers,

If you’re heading to Chicago for the NRA Show next month, we’ll be looking for you at our annual cocktail party (see details below). It’s a great place to introduce folks to IFEC and the benefits of networking with you all, so by all means, bring guests you think should be members. This year several prominent industry organizations have partnered with us, making this a really special event – read about our sponsors below.Hope to see you many of you in Chicago.

Jeffrey Yarbrough
bigInk
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Meet our sponsors

Gold

Mann Packing Co., Inc. (IFEC members Elena Hernandez and Gina Nucci)
Mann’s Fresh Vegetables is a family owned farming & processing business founded in 1939. In 2012, Mann’s Fresh Vegetables became a certified women owned business by WBENC. Well known for being one of the largest suppliers of fresh broccoli, Mann helped put broccoli on the map as a health food by funding the first study of broccoli’s nutritional content. Today, Mann sells a variety of vegetables, varying from Broccoli Cole Slaw, Broccolini® and Stringless Sugar Snap Peas, to washed &ready to eat butternut squash and sweet potatoes. Recently they launched a new salad, Arcadian Harvest® Petite Whole Leaves, and a new to the world leaf lettuce variety, Mann’s Better Burger Leaf™. www.veggiesmadeeasy.com

Sara Lee Foodservice (IFEC member Torie Ambramson, O’Malley Hansen Communications)
A division of The Hillshire Brands Company, Sara Lee Foodservice is a leading supplier of meat and bakery solutions to a broad base of foodservice operations throughout North America, including restaurants, retail establishments, schools, convenience stores, healthcare facilities, hospitality venues and others. They market products enjoyed away from home for every daypart under such well-known brands as Sara Lee® and Chef Pierre® bakery products and Jimmy Dean®, Ball Park® and Hillshire Farm® meats. www.saraleefoodservice.com .

Wisconsin Cheese (IFEC members Heather Porter Engwall, WMMB, and Megan Bykowski, Stephan & Brady)
Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board is a nonprofit organization funded by the dairy farmers of Wisconsin that promotes the sales and consumption of Wisconsin Cheese and other dairy products. As the leading producer of cheese in the U.S., Wisconsin wins more national and international awards for exceptional cheeses than any other state or region. More than 600 varieties, types and styles are crafted. WMMB promotional programs address foodservice, retail and consumer markets, as well as supporting important dairy research. www.EatWisconsinCheese.com

Silver

Technomic,Inc.(IFEC member Donna Hood Crecca)
For more than 45 years, Technomic, Inc. has provided food and foodservice clients with research, insights and strategic consulting support to enhance their business strategies. Technomic’s market research branch has been tracking the foodservice industry since 1970, providing industry intelligence, forecasts, data, training support and consumer insights. Our numerous publications and digital products help industry leaders keep a finger on the pulse of the foodservice industry. The company releases an annual report on
the Top 500 U.S. chain restaurants. Our reports are widely recognized as the most  authoritative source of industry data.
www.technomic.com

Gifts in Kind

Olson Communications (IFEC members Sharon Olson and Rachel Tracy; Olson produced the invitations, signs, badges, etc.)
Since 1988 Olson Communications has specialized in offering personalized, uniquely crafted marketing communication strategies for food business clients based in the United States and abroad. The agency’s business strategy of remaining small while exceeding the range and depth of service typical of larger food marketing agencies has earned Olson Communications international recognition.
www.olsoncom.com

Wines of Portugal
Created in 1997, ViniPortugal is a trade association that promotes Portuguese wines, brandies and vinegars in the domestic and target international markets. ViniPortugal provides strategic support to the Portuguese wine sector, bringing together organizations representing trade (ANCEVE and ACIBEV), production (FENAVI and FEVIPOR), cooperative wineries (FENADEGAS), distillers (AND), farmers (CAP), demarcated regions (ANDOVI) and government bodies (IVV). ViniPortugal’s promotional activity is financed by a variable
sum made from payments by producers to the Institute of Vine and Wine (IVV) for certifying their wines, brandies and vinegar.
www.winesofportugal.info

O’Neill Vintners & Distillers
O'Neill Vintners was founded in 2004 by Jeff O'Neill, former CEO of Golden State Vintners and third generation member of a California winemaking family with roots dating back to 1934. From grape supply through wine processing to bottling services, O'Neill is recognized as the preferred outsourcing partner for many of the world's leading beverage alcohol companies and brand owners. Today, O'Neill Vintners has grown to become the 8th largest U.S. winery and has earned a reputation as one of the premier custom
wine producers in California.
www.oneillwine.

Bendistillery
An award-winning craft distillery located in Bend, Oregon (about 160 miles south of Portland), Bendistillery uses pure water from Crater Lake in the Cascade Mountains to produce its smooth, balanced spirits: Crater Lake Vodka, Crater Lake Pepper Vodka, Crater Lake Hazelnut Espresso and Crater Lake Gin. The latter is a 95-proof American-style gin. The company’s Bend Spirits Division craftsprivate label ultra-premium distilled spirits. www.bendistillery.com

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People, places & things

Karen Jenkins, public relations director for Creative Energy Group (Johnson City, Tennessee), has been selected to serve on the board of directors for the Tri-Cities Chapter of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). In other news, Karen has added Rich’s Foodservice to her client roster of Texas Pete, Red Gold, Winston Industries, Windsor Industry and Hospitality Mints.

Five things to love about Portland, our 2013 conference destination:
Food trucks (around 500 of them at any given time)
Portland Farmers Market (Saturdays, Mondays, Wednesdays)
“Portlandia” (Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein’s hilarious comedy that airs on cable stations)
*Artisanal everything
*Tax-free shopping
For more see http://www.travelportland.com/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/portlandia

Thanks to Gail Bellamy, Executive Food Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, and Tom O’Brien, Equipment Editor, Restaurant Business, for creating two useful resources for new members to get the most out of their first IFEC conference. You’ll find their tipsheets – one for editors, one for publicists – in “new member tips” on your membership page, under “new member tips.” “The Office Hours Notebook” is another helpful how-to that’s in the same section of www.ifeconline.com.

Welcome to our newest members
Sara Kubiak, of Peppermill Public Relations in Lakeland, Minnesota, represents Saltwell, an all-natural mineral salt with 35% less sodium that is owned by Swedish processor Salinity. Sara’s firm introduced it to the U.S. foodservice market in March.
sara@peppermillpr.com

Nancy Parrott is director of public relations for Tavern Restaurant Group (TRG),operators of three concepts and 13 restaurants in Ohio, Kentucky, Florida, and one coming soon in Nashville. TRG’s deShas features classic American food; Nicholson’s is a take on a traditional Scottish tavern and The Pub serves up British and American fare.
nparrott@tavernrestaurantgroup.com

IFEC CALENDAR 2013
NRA Reception
Monday, May 20, 2013
4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Boarding House
Chicago, Illinois

2013 Annual Conference
October 28 – 30, 2013
Doubletree by Hilton
Portland, Oregon

2014 Annual Conference
November 3 - 5, 2014
Dallas, Texas
Hotel to be announced

Have news? Please share it with your ifec colleagues.
Send it to ifec@aol.com
Executive Director & Newsletter Editor Carol Lally
845-229-6973 / ifec@aol.com / www.ifeconline.com
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