New Jersey Food Council
30 West Lafayette St., Trenton, NJ 08608
Phone: 609/392-8899
Fax: 609/396-6571
Email: njfc@njfoodcouncil.com

2007 Event Sponsorship Program Grows! ≠ Are You on the List?

Time is running out to register as an NJFC Event Sponsor for 2007! NJFC will be accepting sponsorships until Tuesday, January 16, 2007. Please register now to join this prestigious list of sponsors by calling the Food Council office at (609)392-8899.

The Event Sponsorship program includes four levels of sponsorship that will entitle companies to a pre-determined number of tickets to NJFC events, including the Annual Meeting, Night of Distinction, Trade Relations Conference and the Golf Outing. In addition, event sponsors will receive recognition in NJFC publications such as the News & Views and the quarterly newsletter ExpressLine, as well as acknowledgement in promotional materials and placement on banners at NJFC events. Sponsors are considered premium supporters of NJFC.

NJFC is proud to report the following companies as elite sponsors of NJFC:

Gold Sponsors
- Acme Markets
- Edyπs Grand Ice Cream
- George Weston Bakeries
- Pathmark Stores, Inc.
- Stop & Shop Supermarkets
- Wakefern Food Corporation

Silver Sponsors
- Foodtown
- Inserra Supermarkets
- Saker ShopRites
- Supervalu
- Unilever
- Village Super Markets

Bronze Sponsors
- Frito Lay
- Goya Foods
- Kings Super Markets
- Quick Chek Food Stores
- Wawa
- Wiss & Company

Brass Sponsors
- Coca-Cola Bottling of NY
- McCaffreyπs Markets
- Murphyπs Markets of South Jersey
- Pennington Quality Markets
- ShopRite of Hunterdon County, Inc.
- Wegmans Food Markets, Inc.

NJFC Annual Membership Meeting Around the Corner

The New Jersey Food Council Annual Membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 24, 2007 at the Hilton Woodbridge in Iselin, NJ.

As is customary at the Annual meeting, the NJFC membership will elect the NJFC Board of Directors as well as the NJFC Officers. Members will also have an opportunity to network with industry leaders and congratulate the 2007 Board of Directors. If you are not registered for the 2007 Annual Membership Meeting please contact the Food Council at (609)392-8899.

State Assembly Passes Plant Closing Bill

This week, the lower house of the Legislature formally passed A-1044, which extends the time period of plant closing pre-notification beyond current federal law. The Senate version of this bill has been sent back to the Senate Labor Committee to concur with the Assembly amendments.

A-1044 requires employers with 100 or more workers to provide 90 days notice if the employer terminates 50 or more employees in a 30-day period. Exemptions are included for terminations due to court orders, fires, floods, natural disasters, national emergencies, an act of war, civil disorder or industrial sabotage.

NJFC has worked with the bill sponsor, Assemblyman Van Drew, on this bill for over a year to amend several provisions to make the bill less onerous then originally introduced. NJFC supported amendments include the exemption of seasonal employees from the calculation of terminated employees, reducing the time period for notification from 180 days to 90 days and exclusion of workers employed for less then six months or who work on average less than 20 hours per week form the billπs provisions, among others.

NJFC anticipates that the Senate will move this legislation out of committee and to the Senate floor for final passage before the summer recess.

School Nutrition Bill Passed by State Assembly

The State Assembly has approved a bill that would codify, in statute, existing State regulations that place stringent restrictions on the types of food and beverages offered in public and certain private schools throughout the State. The initiative has passed both Houses of the Legislature and has been sent to the Governorπs desk for final approval. NJFC anticipates Governor Corzine will sign the bill into law.

The legislation prohibits soda, candy and foods of minimal nutritional value, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture; sugar; snacks or beverages containing more then eight grams of total fat per serving and more then two grams of saturated fat per serving; and items listing sugar as the first ingredient from being sold on school property before the end of the school day. In addition, elementary schools can only serve milk, water or 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice. In Middle and high schools, 60 percent of all beverages offered for sale must consist of 100 percent fruit or vegetable juice and a maximum of 40 percent of all frozen desserts may exceed standards for sugar, fat and saturated fat.

NJFC has advocated, over the course of two Legislative Sessions, that the Legislature should consider the report of the State Obesity Prevention Task Force when developing State policy on obesity. The Task Force report outlines comprehensive solutions and takes a community based approach toward the issue rather then ban foods and blame the food industry for obesity issues.

NJFC Tackles Food Safety Issues

In light of recent food borne illness outbreaks, NJFC President Linda Doherty was invited to speak before the New Jersey Agricultural Society on food safety issues and the many initiatives undertaken by NJFC and its members to protect consumers, seniors and store associates, including Food Handlers Training, Store Manager Emergency Management Training, Elder Care events and Avian Flu Table Top Exercises.

This week, Ms. Doherty also was invited to attend a de-briefing with the Department of Health to discuss the recent E-coli outbreaks at area Taco Bell outlets. NJFC has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Department of Health on working toward the protection of New Jersey consumers and was the only private sector organization invited to participate in this de-briefing.

House of Representatives Approves Minimum Wage Increase

In Washington, the newly elected Democratic-controlled House of Representatives has passed a $2.10 increase in the federal Minimum Wage to $7.25 per hour by a vote of 315-116. As written, the increase would take place in three steps over a 26 month period. The initial increase to $5.85 would be effective 60 days after signage and the second increase to $6.55 would go into effect a year later. The third and final increase would take effect 12 months later.

Upon taking control of Congress, Democratic Leadership outlined an increase in the Minimum Wage among its top priorities for the first 100 hours of business. The White House opposes the measure and has advocated that tax breaks be included in the bill to offset cost increases for the business community. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration where it is likely to be amended to include those tax breaks.

Final approval of a Minimum Wage increase at the federal level would have a harmful impact on business in New Jersey, which is still reeling from a State imposed Minimum Wage hike to $7.15 per hour that took effect in October of 2006. The federal proposal would increase the wage ten cents higher then the State minimum, thus raising the cost of doing business in New Jersey. In addition, NJFC is concerned that legislators in New Jersey may revisit the State Minimum Wage and increase it above the federal standard due to the high cost of living in New Jersey.

NJFC will continue to monitor the federal initiative and report to the members of any new developments.

Photos Galore

Don't forget to check out our library page to view photographs from our events including our recent Loss Prevention Conference & Exhibition.