Tesco’s Union Obstacle
The Pundit has long kept an eye on Tesco overseas. So since the company announced plans to come to America, we’ve been keeping an eye on what is happening with Tesco here in the U.S. In our sister publication, PRODUCE BUSINESS, the Pundit had an exchange on the subject with Bryan Silbermann, President of the […]
Botulism And Carrot Juice
Summary LVXVXV
We’ve been asked to make available in one place our coverage of the recall by Wm. Bolthouse Farms of certain 100% carrot juice products and the broader implications of this issue for food safety. This piece is updated regularly and will be re-run to include new coverage of this outbreak and issue. We initiated our […]
Buyer-led Food Safety Initiative
Recap LXVII
There is an ad hoc group that started it all. The National Restaurant Association has its group working on a program and the Food Marketing Institute held a conference. All these buyer-led initiatives can get confusing, so to assist the trade in keeping track of them all, we are publishing this recap of coverage all […]
Dual Temperature Container
Carrier Transicold is out with a nifty container that can accommodate both frozen and refrigerated product: One Size DOES NOT Fit AllCARRIER INTRODUCES DUAL–TEMPERATURECONTAINER REFRIGERATION UNIT SYRACUSE, N.Y., March 6, 2007 — Underscoring its commitment to container industry innovation and leadership, Carrier Transicold, a business unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX), has introduced the ThinLINE […]
Costco’s Produce Department Stands
Out In Earnings Report
Costco issued its 2nd quarter earnings release and its sales release for the 5 weeks ending February 4, 2007. The company has an audio report available on its Investor Relations site. The money quote for perishables: “In terms of fresh foods, the standout department was produce.” — Richard A. GalantiExecutive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer […]
NRA Stands Defiant
We’ve been carefully following the activities of the National Restaurant Association when it comes to fresh produce and food safety. We started our coverage by announcing that NRA Forms Produce Safety Working Group. Then we published National Restaurant Association Soon To Unveil Its Own Food Safety Plan. We followed that up with An Open Letter […]
Buying Community Strangely Quiet
On Food Safety Standards
On January 19, 2007, writing on behalf of “Markon Cooperative and 21 other major buyers of fresh produce,” a letter was sent out over the signature of Tim York to the California Department of Food & Agriculture. The final line of that letter: “We strongly urge that the marketing agreement be implemented.” The question is […]
Second Appeal To NRA
We’ve been focused on the National Restaurant Association and its intention to unveil its own food safety plan. First we published an interview with Donna Garren, Vice President, Health and Safety Regulatory Affairs for the NRA, under the title of National Restaurant Association Soon To Unveil Its Own Food Safety Plan. We then published An […]
The Passing Of Ernest Gallo
Ernest Gallo, who got his original wine-making recipe from a public library and built the world’s largest winemaking operation, died at age 97 in his home in Modesto, California. The Pundit never knew the man, but at least one of our readers and contributors did — Frank McCarthy of Albert’s Organics/United Natural Foods. We ran […]
PMA Adds Food Safety Session
To Produce Solutions Conference
We ran a piece entitled PMA’s Produce Solutions Conference Has New Twist highlighting the fact that this year, for the first time ever, the conference would incorporate both the retail and foodservice supply chains. Bill Brophy of Stop & Shop and Jim Spilka of Meijer headed up a planning committee: PLANNING COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS/p> Bill Brophy, […]
