Thirteen companies pledge to increase healthy school meals. Also this week: AdvancePierre Foods, JTM Food Group, McCain Foods USA, Rich Products, Schwan’s Food Service, Trident Seafoods, HPS, Dole Food Co., National Turkey Federation, Daily’s Premium Meats, McCormick For Chefs, Tyson Foods, Le Cordon Bleu, and the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show.
MIAMI — Thirteen school meals manufacturers, foodservice operators, group purchasing organizations and technologies companies have teamed up with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to increase the availability of healthful school meals and help combat childhood obesity. The partnership will affect 30 million students across the country, including 14 million who now participate in the free and reduced lunch program. Participants include AdvancePierre Foods, JTM Food Group, McCain Foods USA, Rich Products Corp., Schwan’s Food Service, Trident Seafoods, HPS, Premier Healthcare Alliance, Summa/Provista, Interflex, Dole Food Co. Inc., the National Turkey Federation and Domino’s Pizza. Participants have agreed to promote products that will help schools meet or exceed USDA dietary requirements currently being finalized.
PORTLAND, Ore. — Elmer’s Restaurants Inc., the 25-unit full-service chain operating in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and California, presented Daily’s Premium Meats of Missoula, Mont., with the 2010 Vendor of the Year award. ERI said it sold more than 3.2 million slices of Daily’s thick-sliced, honey-cured hardwood smoke bacon last year. ERI president Jerry Scott said Daily’s “worked hard to keep our restaurant inventories fully stocked, and their commitment to quality and teamwork was second to none.”
HUNT VALLEY, Md. — McCormick For Chefs, based here, has pledged its support to the American Culinary Federation’s Culinary Team USA as a silver sponsor. The ACF Culinary Team USA is the official representative of the United States in national and international competitions. “McCormick For Chefs is proud to extend its partnership with ACF by sponsoring and actively supporting ACF Culinary Team USA at the IKA culinary Olympics,” said Phil Kafarakis, vice president of McCormick For Chefs, McCormick & Company’s Food Away From Home division.
SPRINGDALE, Ark. — Tyson Foods Inc. said it is the first major food company to become a full member of the IMAGE program with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. IMAGE, or ICE Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers, enables businesses that meet high standards to partner with the federal government to ensure they are employing people who are legally authorized to work in the United States.
NEW YORK — Le Cordon Bleu, a culinary arts education provider, has signed on as a supporting sponsor of the Ferdinand Metz Foodservice Forum during the International Restaurant & Foodservice Show of New York, which will be held Feb. 27 through March 1. Le Cordon Bleu recently announced that Certified Master Chef and World Global Master Chef Ferdinand Metz joined the company as executive dean and chairman of Le Cordon Bleu national advisory board.