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

NJFC Trade Relations Conference Around the Corner

The Annual Food Council Trade Relations Conference will be held on Friday, May 17 & 18, 2007 at the Tropicana in Atlantic City.   The event will kick off with a golf outing at the beautiful Galloway National Golf Course.  

In addition, the Trade Relations Committee will be honoring Jim Ostling of George Weston Bakeries with the Max Stone Trade Relations Award. Bruce Weitz, CEO of Kings Supermarkets, will be the featured guest speaker.  

Be sure to register for this event before it is too late by calling the NJFC offices at (609) 392-8899.

Cigarette Fire Prevention Act Signed into Law

This week, A-2575, the ≥Reduced Cigarette Ignition Propensity and Firefighter Protection Act,≤ was signed into law. The bill prohibits the sale of cigarettes that do not meet fire safety performance standards developed by the American Society of Testing Materials and requires manufacturers to mark cigarettes to indicate compliance with these fire prevention performance standards.

The bill also creates financial penalties for manufacturers and retailers who knowingly sell cigarettes that do not comply with the law. The new law goes into effect 13 months from signing so NJFC strongly recommends retailers address this new initiative with their tobacco suppliers to confirm the anticipation of compliance.  

Structural State Budget Deficit to Present Future Financial Woes

According to State Treasurer Brad Abelow, the State is on a solid financial footing for Fiscal Year 2008 however, the future promises to be bleak as growing debt payments, pension and health benefit obligations continue to consume an increasing share of State revenues year after year. While the budget for Fiscal Year 2008 will include property tax relief as well as increases in school and municipal aid, it is unlikely that the State will be in the financial position to increase resources for these programs after this year.  

Interest payments on the $30 billion of State debt will reach $2.7 billion next year while at the same time there exists $25 billion of unfunded pension liability and $80 billion of unfunded retiree health benefits liability.  

The Corzine Administration continues to investigate solutions to free up the State's finances which will allow the State to resume investing in New Jersey's future.   ≥Asset Monetization,≤ including leasing the Turnpike continues to be taken very seriously by the Governor's Office.   NJFC will continue to monitor the State Budget process and report any new developments to the membership.

NJFC Holds EBT Advisory Committee Meeting

This week, NJFC held a meeting of the Food Council's EBT Advisory Committee to bring retailers, State agencies and the EBT contractor ACS together to discuss Food Stamp and WIC issues.   Attendees discussed pilot programs ACS is currently testing in other States to merge systems and increase efficiencies in the administration of these two State benefit programs, as well as consumer outreach and interchange issues.  

As enrollment in the Food Stamp program continues to rise in New Jersey, it is important the industry remain engaged with decision makers affecting the program.  

Photos Galore

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