January could not end soon enough. The industry hasn’t seen such a tumultuous month since November 1998 when Congress first turned to tobacco as its financial panacea. Big Brother was at it again last month with the U.S. Senate passing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)—including all of the cigarette and tobacco tax rate…
Remerging Technology?
Zip back to Nov. 4, 2008, when CNN newscaster Wolf Blitzer seemed smitten by some techno-spice his network rolled out during its coverage of the presidential election. It went like this: A 3D image of a CNN correspondent in Chicago was beamed to the network’s New York headquarters, where she appeared in-studio as a hologram.…
Finding Pizza Perfection
Choosing a branded pizza partner means balancing a complex equation that weighs such factors as product quality, financial and logistical considerations, marketing programs, employee training, ongoing support, brand equity and local competition. Suddenly, a cheese pizza isn’t so simple any more. It’s a complex decision that must be made carefully, said Dan Rotherham, director of…
SCHIP Passes in U.S. Senate
The U.S. Senate passed the SCHIP legislation including all of the cigarette and tobacco tax rate increases by a 66-32 vote. An amendment to lower the RYO tax rate and eliminate the floor stocks tax was not offered. The bill, passed by the U.S. House early this week, now has to either go to a…
Hershey: Our Peanut Butter Is Safe
The Hershey Company is reaffirming an announcement it made earlier: None of its products have been affected by the recent recall of items produced by the Peanut Corporation of America. Hershey said Thursday it does not purchase peanut butter, peanuts or any peanut products from the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is a Virginia-based…
Hershey: Our Peanut Butter Is Safe
The Hershey Company is reaffirming an announcement it made earlier: None of its products have been affected by the recent recall of items produced by the Peanut Corporation of America. Hershey said Thursday it does not purchase peanut butter, peanuts or any peanut products from the Peanut Corporation of America (PCA). PCA is a Virginia-based…
McLane Leaps into Fresh Foods
The industry leading grocery distributor is taking perishable goods distribution to the next level, enabling retailers to sell the freshest products while increasing incremental sales. McLane Co. Inc. announced that its much-anticipated FRESH on the GOTM program is now available to convenience stores across the continental U.S. FRESH on the GO, which takes advantage of…
7-Eleven Gets ’Fresh’
7-Eleven Inc. gets “fresh” with customers with the opening of the company’s environmentally in-tune Commissary and Combined Distribution Center (CDC) in Bohemia, N.Y. At the new mixed-use facility, unveiled in a ceremony yesterday, fresh foods will be prepared and delivered to 674 7-Eleven stores in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The 130,000-square-foot facility is…
Fontana Steps Down at Hot Stuff
By John Lofstock, Editor Spending five days a week on the road for two years eventually takes a toll on even the most hardened sales executive. Citing a willingness to spend more time at home and a few weeks off to recharge his batteries, John Fontana resigned yesterday as president and CEO of Hot Stuff Foods and…
NATO Urges Action on Amendment to SCHIP Bill
The National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO) said today every NATO member, their employees and customers need to call their two U.S. Senators immediately to urge them to vote in favor of an amendment to the SCHIP bill which calls for a reduction in the tax on roll-your-own tobacco from $24.78 per pound to $2.83…