Food & Food Equipment News

AB SCIEX, Phenomenex Partner to Improve Food Safety Testing

AB SCIEX, a global leader in life science analytical technologies, and Phenomenex, a global leader in separation science techniques, today announced a collaboration agreement designed to significantly improve food testing. Critical to the collaboration is the creation of a joint rapid response team responsible for developing the industry’s highest-quality, most cost-effective methods. This partnership is expected to support efforts to prevent the spread of tainted food and help increase safety of the global food supply.

Recent food contamination crises have increased the demand across the food testing community worldwide for just-in-time methods for faster response, higher quality results and less expensive tests. To address this demand, scientists from AB SCIEX and Phenomenex will work closely with a broad range of food industry experts in specific applications, such as pesticides, antibiotics, allergens and natural toxins, to swiftly provide labs worldwide with verified analytical methodologies for emerging threats to food safety.

Expertise and resources from both companies combine to form a new global rapid response unit comprised of personnel from Phenomenex’s method development research team and AB SCIEX’s total solutions group. This joint network will better enable food testing laboratories around the world to test for emerging contaminants and more quickly identify the cause of tainted food than previously possible. Food testing scientists and analysts will be able to access this rapid response resource via the Internet to help them solve LC/MS issues that they face in their own laboratories.

Among the food testing application-specific experts who are part of the joint network of independent scientists working with these companies to help shape new method development is Dr. Michael Quilliam at the National Research Council of Canada in Halifax. He is a recognized expert on shellfish toxin analysis and is already working with AB SCIEX to develop an iMethod application to improve the identification and quantitation of shellfish toxins in the food supply. The application will involve the National Research Council’s analytical methodology and certified reference materials. Quilliam uses both AB SCIEX and Phenomenex technologies in his laboratory.

As part of the collaboration agreement, Phenomenex will work with AB SCIEX to expand and sell the portfolio of AB SCIEX’s iMethod applications and combine Phenomenex’s state-of-the-art HPLC/UHPLC columns and sample preparation with AB SCIEX’s industry-leading mass spectrometers. The combined resources simplify the process for food testing scientists to acquire complete methods to rapidly address food contamination crises.

iMethod applications are turnkey, verified methods designed to provide the instructions and parameters of how to most effectively conduct a test to identify food contamination with the highest confidence. These methods, which can be used through AB SCIEX’s Cliquid Software in multiple languages, have proven to reduce the time to results in food analysis from days to hours.

“We continue to push the limits of food safety testing to improve outcomes, especially in times of crisis,” said Joe Anacleto, Vice President of the Applied Markets and Clinical Research Business, AB SCIEX. “By working with Phenomenex and sharing in their world-class expertise in this critical area, we believe we have pulled together complementary tools and testing capabilities to provide the most complete solutions for food testing laboratories. No other LC/MS/MS vendors have the expertise or range of products to make state-of-the-art food testing so cost-effective and easily accessible as AB SCIEX and Phenomenex do together.”

Sky Countryman, Manager, Applied Markets Research Team, Phenomenex, added, “As we witnessed the recent food contamination crises, we realized that, along with our partner AB SCIEX, we are in a unique position to do something very impactful about it. Our collaboration with AB SCIEX offers complete solutions at a level that this industry does not currently have. Not only are we combining state-of-the-art sample preparation, chromatography and mass spectrometry, but we are also providing the opportunity for any lab in the world to access the ingenuity of leading experts in food safety analysis through our joint rapid response team.”

Deschutes Microbrewery Chooses Demand Solutions for Supply Chain Management

Demand Management Inc., a global resource for supply chain management solutions, announced that Deschutes Brewery, an award-winning craft brewery, has selected Demand Solutions supply chain management software to increase forecast accuracy and customer service levels.

Based in Bend, Ore., Deschutes Brewery is a craft brewery founded in 1988. The company produces a range of beers that it currently distributes to 18 states. As of 2010, it was the fifth-largest craft brewery and 11th-largest overall brewery in the country.

“We outgrew our manual forecasting process and were spending more time sifting through data rather than analyzing it. We needed a solution that would improve our ability to forecast depletions from our distributors while having better visibility of distributor inventories. This helps us add value to our distributors, by allowing us to ensure the right product mix is available to fulfill customer demand and maintain high customer satisfaction,” said Peter Skrbek, Director of Finance for Deschutes Brewery. “Demand Solutions is a great fit for us given their out-of-the-box standardization. Some of the other solutions we reviewed were highly customized and wouldn’t be cost effective for us to maintain in the long run.”

Demand Solutions has a history of helping craft breweries meet their supply and demand planning goals. Deschutes was looking for a system that could integrate third-party data from a leading Beverage Industry Market Data Provider, Vermont Information Processing. The need for integration to the third-party data, along with Deschutes’ Internal history and an easy connection to the company’s Microsoft Dynamics GP ERP system, were critical factors in the decision.

“Our supply chain management tools will give the Deschutes the visibility necessary to manage a growing brand with high levels of distribution excellence,” said Demand Management President Bill Harrison. “We look forward to supporting Deschutes Brewery in exceeding their goal to increase customer satisfaction.”

Avero Launches Client Partnership With Romano's Macaroni Grill

Damian Mogavero, CEO and Founder of Avero, and Norman Abdallah, CEO of Romano's Macaroni Grill, today announce that the companies will partner together to roll out Avero Single Server Mentoring across all 181 of Macaroni Grill's company-owned restaurants in the United States. Based on the results of a successful eight-restaurant pilot, Macaroni Grill believes the partnership will increase restaurant average check by 1 percent. 

"In this challenging economic environment, we see Avero Single Server Mentoring as one of the best ways to generate incremental revenue with limited capital expense," Abdallah says. "Avero Single Server Mentoring will help us increase sales, improve the menu knowledge of our service team, and help our servers take home more money in tips."

Avero Single Server Mentoring evaluates restaurants' sales data to identify the servers with the largest lost sales opportunities. The program indentifies servers' individual areas of opportunity to improve and sends restaurant managers recommended action steps for each server in the program. Certified Avero Trainers review progress with restaurant managers bi-weekly and employ an industry-tested curriculum to help managers become more effective mentors.

"Avero Single Server Mentoring is proven to be one of the best ways to increase sales and deliver a more consistent experience to restaurant guests," says Mogavero. "We saw phenomenal results during our pilot with Macaroni Grill and are excited to enter into a long-term partnership with such an innovative company."

5 Reasons to Buy a Fresh Healthy Vending Franchise

According to the Small Business Administration, a franchised business can give your business instant recognition, ongoing support from the franchisor, and the ability to be your own boss while assuming less risk. For those who are considering franchising, it really comes down to which company to franchise from.

"It is important to franchise with a business model that you believe in, and one that consumers will take to," explains Jolly Backer, the Chief Executive Officer of Fresh Healthy Vending (www.freshvending.com). "Fresh Healthy Vending has become a popular franchising option because of all the benefits it provides."

Some of the top reasons that people are opting for a Fresh Healthy Vending franchise include:

• Innovation. Fresh Healthy Vending machines are revolutionizing the vending machine world. Gone are days of drab machines dishing up unhealthy options. Fresh Healthy Vending's machines are bright, dual-climate controlled, and filled with healthy food options—the very items consumers are seeking in order to live healthier lives.
• Support. The Fresh Healthy Vending machine company offers ongoing support to those who franchise their machines. The company provides training and a full range of support options, so that the franchisee always feels confident and comfortable.
• Concept. Right now, the country is battling the bulge as Americans take on the obesity epidemic. Increasingly, people are seeking healthier food options, especially when it comes to school campuses, office complexes and hospital waiting rooms. The Fresh Healthy Vending concept is one that helps to address a lot of the problems that are beginning to concern the public.
• Design. The new vending machines are nicely designed to pique the interest of those who walk by. Rather than a traditional vending machine, this new design signifies change and creates interest in both the consumer and potential businesses where the machines may be placed.
• Flexibility. Franchisees of vending machines have flexibility regarding where their machines are placed and what is carried in each machine. While there are some guidelines, such as stocking it with all-healthy food options, there is a lot of flexibility in choosing which products to carry and where to place the machines.

To date, more than 1,100 Fresh Healthy Vending machines have been franchised around the country and in Canada. Those who franchise a machine get the benefit of name recognition, along with a business that is immediately ready to run. They also get to take advantage of marketing efforts that are carried out at the corporate level, in order to help build brand recognition.

"It is the perfect type of business for those who want something simple, forward-thinking, and easy to manage," adds Backer. "We have created an ideal business package that helps to ensure franchisee success."

Fresh Healthy Vending machines provide all-healthy food and beverage options. Each machine is filled with healthy snack options, such as drinks, fresh fruits and vegetables, protein and granola bars, yogurt, and baked chips and crackers. The machines are located in schools, hospitals, office buildings and workout facilities. To learn more about franchising a Fresh Healthy Vending machine, visit www.freshhealthyvending.com.

iMunchie Cooks Up Early Success with Niche Social Networking for Foodies

In the summer of 2010, Jacob Baloul took a photo of a bowl of French onion soup he had just made and texted it to friends and family. Within seconds, he began receiving replies. Everyone, it seemed, thought that bowl of soup looked tasty, and most wanted to know how to make it. It set Baloul to thinking: What if he could share photos of his culinary adventures not just with a handful of people, but with thousands? The idea grew into iMunchie (www.imunchie.com), the social network for foodies that has gone viral in the month since its launch.

Calling iMunchie "the Facebook for food, the LinkedIn for chefs, the Google for recipes, the Pandora for munchies and the online version of the hit show 'Top Chef' all in one," Baloul and his business partner, Bryan Pivik, have seen their membership explode right out of the gate. This is social networking with a niche focus.

"In the coming years, we're going to see more isolated and specific social networks," Baloul explained. "Facebook has become the 'world of everything.' A lot of noise goes on over there because people do everything there—but there is a large segment of people that want to get rid of the clutter. So we carved out the social network of food. Today it's iMunchie, tomorrow it may be a social network for doctors or sports enthusiasts."

Baloul and Pivik may be onto something. Foodies, professional and amateur chefs, and home cooks have all embraced iMunchie. Members post pictures of the foods they make and chat about them the way they would across a cafe table. They get ideas for dinner or for their next party. They admire each other's latest creations. They engage in friendly competitions (complete with cash prizes) to see who can make the best holiday meal or fruity drink. They revel in food and friendship.

Those friendly competitions are a big part of iMunchie's rapid growth. Any iMunchie member can create a tournament and offer up a prize of $1 or more. Other members can compete for the prize by posting photos of foods they've made that fit the tournament's theme. Current tournaments include "Most Decadent Dessert," with a $100 prize, and "New Year's 2012 Recipe Competition," with the largest iMunchie prize ever: $2,000.

iMunchie is gaining traction by creating its own space on the Internet. It's not a traditional recipe site with calorie counts and step-by-step instructions. Nor is it a place where people have to fend off requests for help with virtual fish tanks or fashion empires. iMunchie stands apart as a community of people making art with food and photos and sharing culinary inspiration. It's making the Internet feel a little smaller and more intimate at a time when many are hungering for just such a change.

Cintas, Rubbermaid Commercial Products to Deliver Rental Cleaning Solutions

Partnership provides innovative solutions supported by extensive training, unparalleled service model

In its continual pursuit to provide customers with world-class products and services, Cintas Corp., the leader in specialized professional services, and Rubbermaid Commercial Products, the leader in innovative, solutions-based cleaning products, today jointly announced a strategic alliance to offer custom cleaning and hygiene solutions to Cintas customers. One of these solutions is a new co-branded microfiber offering that blends the superior performance of RCP’s industry-leading products with the service excellence of Cintas to provide a best-in-class facility maintenance system.

“As the demand for improved cleanliness, infection prevention and hygiene continues to grow, our customers require superior innovations to help them maintain clean and safe facilities,” said Mike Thompson, Senior Vice President, Cintas Facility Services. “This alliance allows us to expand the breadth of products available to our customers, providing them with the resources they need to maintain first-rate operations.”

Under the agreement, Cintas’ team of more than 6,000 service representatives will offer customers an exclusive line of RCP microfiber cleaning wipes and mops specifically designed for the rigors of the rental market. These products, along with other Rubbermaid cleaning tools, will be made available to all Cintas rental locations. Cintas’ full-service microfiber program helps customers maximize the removal of challenging pathogens in their facilities, such as Escherichia coli (E. Coli), Listeria, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and salmonella. The comprehensive offering ensures customers always maintain a consistent supply of clean, quality microfiber products. In addition, Cintas provides scheduled pickup and delivery services with specialized laundering to ensure the microfiber maintains its effectiveness and achieves optimal cleaning performance.

“Cintas has an unparalleled reputation for service excellence,” Bob Heisner, Global Vice President of Marketing for Rubbermaid Commercial Products. “Their unique team of highly-trained field and service professionals enables them to get close to the customer and understand the unique challenges that they face. We look forward to working with Cintas on future innovations that solve these customers’ challenges.”

Through the alliance, Cintas customers will benefit from:

• Industry-leading Rubbermaid Commercial cleaning products available exclusively through a co-brand with Cintas
• Technical expertise
• Improved training and development resources
• Regular service visits from trained professionals who provide inventory management and commercially laundered microfiber with no upfront cost

“By bringing together these industry leaders, customers now have access to an unmatched combination of products and services,” added Dave Mesko, Senior Director of Marketing at Cintas. “This integrated offering makes it easier for customers to maintain their facilities to an even higher level of cleanliness.”

For more information about the alliance, please go to www.cintas.com.

Taos, N.M., Graham's Grille Offers 'Yappy Hour,' Riding Trend of Fine Dining With Four-Legged Guests

More and more travelers and diners are seeking dog-friendly establishments. And people wanting four-star service and food for their four-legged friends won’t be disappointed at Graham’s Grille in Taos, NM. The restaurant has a special menu specifically for dogs, and the owner’s dog, Arthur Fay (seen below waiting for his guests to arrive), has the title of Yappy Hour Customer Service Manager. 

The “Yappy Hour” menu includes grilled Angus burger, free-range chicken breast and the local favorite lamb. All entrees are served with unlimited water. And Arthur says, “You must have more than two legs to order from the Yappy Hour menu, and all meals must be consumed on the patio.”

Graham’s Grille, known for trend setting food combinations of New Mexican and Asian cuisine, increases their edge with dog lovers with Yappy Hour on the Patio. The dog-friendly atmosphere has long appealed to Taos locals who frequent the patio looking for water bowls, but Graham’s is tipping a nod to the increasing popularity of pets as travel companions.

Travel Horizons (July 2009) stated that over 49 percent of U.S. adult leisure travelers consider their pet to be part of the family, and 18 percent usually take their pets with them when they leave home.

To see all the unique Graham’s Grille menus for people as well as dogs, go to grahamstaos.com.

Consumer Reports Fast Food Survey: McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Taco Bell Lose

McDonald's popular slogan may be "lovin' it" but consumers beg to differ, the fast food icon was joined by Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell among the lower ranked chains in Consumer Reports first ever major fast food ratings.  

The survey, based on responses from 36,733 subscribers who made more than 98,000 visits to 53 fast-food chains revealed that readers found them to offer uninspiring food, only so-so service. Other major chains with relatively low scores: sandwich shops Arby's and Quiznos and pizza joints Domino's and Pizza Hut.  

"Chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell boast supersized values, but consumers don't necessarily think they offer much bang for the buck," said Tod Marks, Senior Projects Editor, Consumer Reports. "Fifty four percent of our subscribers cited low prices as a reason for picking a particular fast-food restaurant."

The full results of the story are available at www.ConsumerReports.org on June 30th and in the August issue of the magazine on newsstands July 5th.

By contrast, CR's survey revealed good deals and even better meals at dozens of ever-present fast-food restaurants. Consumer Reports readers gave 21 of the 53 chains high marks for food.  Among the winners:

• For burger fans, In-N-Out Burger rated highest of all 53 chains rated in Consumer Reports Survey with high scores for food, service, value and speed.
• Chipotle Mexican Grill was among the best of 8 leading Mexican food chains, and earned high scores for food, politeness of staff and speed of service.
• One chicken chain topped the rest hands down: Chick-fil-A. With outstanding scores for politeness of staff, and high marks for food, value, and speed of service, respondents rated it higher than seven other leading poultry stops.
• If you're craving a top-notch wedge, hero, hoagie, or sub served quickly with a smile on the side try Jason's Deli or Firehouse Subs. Readers gave them the highest marks for food and favorable scores for politeness of staff and speed of services among 11 sandwich and sub chains.  
• The single standout for pizza: Papa Murphy's Take 'N' Bake Pizza, which has an unconventional concept where the patrons order a pizza to bake at home. It earned the highest marks for food, and exceptional scores for value, staff politeness and speed of service among the pizza chains.

Other Key Findings:

Diners want better food. Many restaurants scored higher for service—specifically, speed and politeness—than for food. At chains with the highest scores for food, 42 to 54 percent of patrons called the fare excellent, but at Burger King, KFC, McDonald's, and Taco Bell, no more than 11 percent of patrons did. In fact, 15 to 19 percent of respondents who ate at one of those chains thought the food was fair, poor, or very poor. At Sbarro, an Italian chain, 27 percent of patrons judged the food fair, poor, or very poor.

Diners want a better experience. Whether they ordered cafeteria-style, at a counter, or at a drive-thru, or had food delivered, readers were much less pleased overall with fast-food restaurants than with casual full-service eateries like Cracker Barrel, Outback Steakhouse, and Red Lobster. Sixty percent of respondents said they were completely or very satisfied with their fast-food dining experiences vs. 68 percent of casual-restaurant patrons.

For the complete ratings of 53 popular fast-food quick-service chains, to find out which chains offer the best food according to Consumer Reports readers, or to learn more about survey results, visit www.ConsumerReports.org starting June 30th, or pick up a copy of August issue of Consumer Reports  wherever magazines are sold.

UNIFIED BRANDS NAMED 2010 PIZZA HUT EQUIPMENT SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR

Unified Brands announced today that its Randell and Avtec brands were honored at the YUM! Brands, Inc. and Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-op®, LLC (UFPC®) annual Star Awards ceremony.

According to Pizza Hut’s R&D Group, “Randell’s hard work and determination gave us a great pizza make-table solution for our smaller footprint restaurants in a very tight time-line.”

Avtec was also recognized as a Star Award recipient for “outstanding energy efficiency results in fryer and oven hoods.” Avtec is the sole supplier for Pizza Hut traditional ducted WingStreet fryer hood systems and the primary supplier for unique oven hood systems which substantially reduce building HVAC system costs. Pizza Hut noted that Avtec provides ongoing field technical support for ventilation systems and site adapts for specific mechanical code requirements.

Unified Brands and its Randell and Avtec brands were grateful to receive the 2010 Pizza Hut Equipment Supplier Star Award. “We strive to be a company our customers can count on,” says Tom Donovan, VP of Sales for Unified Brands. “If our customers have a problem or a design requirement, we are happy to work with them to develop a solution that fits their needs. We’re honored that Pizza Hut considers us such a valuable partner and look forward to continue working with them to develop solutions for their future needs.”

Unified Brands is a leader in the foodservice equipment industry encompassing four industry leading branded product lines; Groen, Randell, Avtec and A la Cart. Under these brands, the company manufactures and markets cooking, refrigeration and ventilation equipment along with custom fabricated solutions, meal delivery systems, conveyor systems and cook chill food production systems. Unified Brands’ primary markets are the commercial restaurant industry as well as institutional applications such as hospitals, colleges and universities, prisons, and schools.

For more information visit www.unifiedbrands.net or contact Tom Donovan, Vice President of Sales, at 601-238-2891.

Remote Notifications Eleven to be Previewed at HITEC & Southwest Foodservice Shows

Culinary Software Services announced today that "Remote Notifications Eleven" for the foodservice industry will be available Tuesday, July 5.  "Remote Notifications" is a powerful communications software program designed to provide better communication across the enterprise.  It provides the ability to communicate multiple notifications via printer, text message or email when specific events or critical processes occur within ChefTec.  "Remote Notifications" works in conjunction with the entire family of ChefTec software products.

For complete detail of a critical process, such as requisitions needing to be filled at a commissary, full reports may be printed at remote printers or sent to email addresses.  Additionally, simple notifications of an event may be communicated.  For example, managers can be automatically texted when inventory extensions have been completed; or kitchen staff can be automatically notified when a vendor order has been placed directly from ChefTec.

"The 'Remote Notifications' program allows managers to keep their finger on the pulse of their business even when they are not at their desk. It makes full use of the available mobile technology such as smartphones and tablets and ensures that managers get the information they need as soon as it happens," commented Brian Bennett, President of Culinary Software Services.

Culinary Software Services will be demonstrating "Remote Notifications" at the HITEC Show in Austin, TX, June 21-23 (booth #440); and at the Southwest Foodservice Expo in Dallas, TX, June 26-28 (booth #512). "Remote Notifications Eleven" will ship Tuesday, July 5, with pre-ordering available immediately.  

About Culinary Software Services, Inc.

Culinary Software Services, Inc. is the leading provider of foodservice software to the hospitality industry. Products include ChefTec® and CorTec® for recipe & menu costing, inventory control, purchasing & ordering, sales analysis & menu engineering, production management, requisitions & transfers, and nutritional analysis. Culinary Software Services won the IQ Award for Software Products & Services and ChefTec twice won the Innovator's Award for Technology from the California Restaurant Association. Installations include all Marriott International Hotels Worldwide, Stephan Pyles, Whole Foods Market Worldwide, Dean & Deluca, Boston Market Corporate, Trump International Beach Resort, Centerplate, the Wild Dunes Resort, Publix Super Markets and the U.S. Naval Academy. Founded in 1990, Culinary Software Services is located in Boulder, Colo. For more information, visit www.ChefTec.com.