| The Snack Food Association (SFA)
is the international trade association of the snack food industry
representing snack manufacturers and suppliers. SFA
represents over 400 companies worldwide. SFA business
membership includes, but is not limited to,
manufacturers of potato chips, tortilla chips, cereal snacks, pretzels,
popcorn, cheese snacks, snack crackers, meat snacks, pork rinds,snack
nuts,party mix, corn snacks, pellet snacks, fruit snacks, snack
bars, granola, snack cakes, cookies and various other snacks.
SFA Seeks Action on Commodity Prices
SFA Chairman Daryl Thomas and President & CEO Jim McCarthy
went to Capitol Hill Wednesday, March 12 to urge Congressional action
that could help to alleviate the skyrocketing commodity prices that
are affecting snack food companies across the nation.
McCarthy and Thomas, senior vice president, sales and marketing
at Herr’s Foods Inc., Nottingham, PA, met with Pennsylvania’s
U.S. Senator's key staff and members of the Bush Administration
to express SFA’s concerns about increasing prices of corn,
wheat and soybeans among other commodities.
| They joined members of the American Bakers Association
who also lobbied for commodity price relief and urged that 7
million acres of federal Conservation Research Program (CRP)
acreage, now idle, be returnedto production of grains. Noting
that part of the upward pressure on grain prices is due to the
use of corn for ethanol and soybeans for biodiesel, McCarthy
and Thomas said there should be a mechanism to periodically
evaluate the nation’s grain situation in cases of projected
food shortages or drastic consumer price increases, adverse
weather conditions, environmental challenges, infrastructure
bottlenecks or other adverse consequences. |

SFA President & CEO
Jim McCarthy (L) with SFA Chairman Daryl Thomas on Capitol
Hill. |
They also urged Congress to carefully consider the needs of the
domestic food industry when supplies of wheat and other commodities
drop to dangerously low levels. “Low commodity stocks in the
U.S. leave too much to chance, as even a slight weather or transportation
problem could lead to possible serious global food shortages,”
the two SFA leaders said.
SNAXPO 2008 Draws Industry Execs Worldwide
SNAXPO 2008, the annual convention and exposition by the Snack
Food Association (SFA) was held March 1-4, 2008 in San Antonio,
TX, with industry executives from across the nation and 35 countries
participating in the largest trade show created specifically for
the snack food industry.
Held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, SNAXPO opened
with an all-day Latin American Educational Program presented in
Spanish, featuring discussions of industry trends, developments
and issues of concern. The day concluded with a lively Western Party
at the famed Buckhorn Museum & Saloon, where a country-western
band entertained as armadillos raced and a Texas cowboy lassoed
guests.
Keynote speaker on Sunday, March 2 was former Rep. J.C. Watts,
now a business consultant, who discussed the ongoing presidential
election campaigns and key issues involved. He urged SFA members
to involve themselves in the association’s government relations
efforts, including SnackPAC, the political action committee.
The SNAXPO exhibit floor, featuring the leading suppliers in the
snack food industry opened Sunday afternoon, as industry executives
searched for new ideas and services to help their businesses grow.
There were also two concurrent educational sessions that focused
on managing the cost of commodities and innovations in snack food
ingredients.
Monday featured an address by incoming chairman Daryl Thomas,
senior vice president of sales and marketing, Herr Foods Inc., the
annual State of the Industry report from Information Resources,
Inc. and more trade show activity in the Exhibit Hall. Educational
sessions featured discussions on new product development and on
the important issue of sustainability.
Heather Mayo, vice president-merchandising at Sam ‘s Club,
discussed her company’s overall strategy as well as specific
issues affecting snack company suppliers, on Tuesday morning before
the exhibit hall opened for its final session.
There was a golf tournament Tuesday afternoon, and the convention
concluded Tuesday evening with 2nd Annual Tribute to Sponsors &
Exhibitors Reception and Gala, which featured “1964 The Tribute,”
a nostalgic Beatles show that was then followed by dancing to a
local band.
“We had an absolutely outstanding SNAXPO,” reported
SFA President & CEO Jim McCarthy, who said members found real
value in the presentations and educational programs that were offered
and benefited from being able to meet with top suppliers in one
place within a three-day period. “Many exhibitors told us
they were able to speak with decision-makers who were there to do
business,” he said.
SFA Installs New Chairman at SNAXPO
Daryl Thomas, senior vice president for sales and marketing, at
Herr’s Foods Inc., was installed as the 2008 SFA Chairman
Monday, March 3 during SNAXPO 2008 in San Antonio, TX. Thomas succeeds
Tom Dempsey, president, Utz Quality Foods, the 2007 chairman.
Thomas pointed out that the snack food industry generates $26 billion
in annual sales and is growing at an average rate of 4.5% every
year. While some of the industry’s products date back to the
17th century, he noted that 1,100 new products were introduced last
year with 79% bearing “some type” of health benefit
claim.
“Our industry represents 70,000 jobs,” he noted. “We
pay $1.4 billion in taxes. We contribute heartily to helping the
poor and needy, and when disaster strikes, our members respond.”
SFA’s more than 400 member companies donate $68 million to
charities each year, he said, and are the “backbone”
of many local economies.
He urged active member involvement in the association, and said
he hopes to build upon the work of Dempsey and other previous chairpersons
who helped launch new education initiatives, worked to strengthen
the organization’s financial position, and strengthen SFA’s
government affairs initiatives. This year, Thomas said he hopes
to help broaden SFA’s membership base and increase partnerships
with allied organizations.
“Let’s join forces through our association and search
out those areas of common need and benefit,” he said. “We’ll
all be stronger and better off by working together.”
SFA TO LAUNCH SNACK WORLD, A NEW
QUARTERLY MAGAZINE
ARLINGTON, VA, January 23, 2008 – The Snack Food Association
(SFA), an international association representing the snack and convenience
foods industry, today announced it will begin publishing a new quarterly
magazine, Snack World, in partnership with Sosland Publishing
Company, Kansas City, MO.
The new magazine will reprise the association’s previous
monthly magazine by the same name that had been published for many
years, but was replaced in 1999 with a special section in Snack
Food & Wholesale Bakery magazine.
In a letter to members, SFA officials said the new stand-alone
publication “will include news and in-depth articles about
the key issues affecting the snack food industry and important SFA
programs and member services.”
“Publishing a quarterly, stand-alone SFA magazine will better
enable SFA to address the major issues affecting the industry, and
it will allow SFA to better promote association programs and services
as well as those of our members,” explained the letter signed
by SFA President & CEO James A. McCarthy; SFA Chairman Tom Dempsey,
President, Utz Quality Foods, Inc.; and Past SFA Chairman Rich Rudolph,
President, Rudolph’s Foods Co., Inc.
As the official magazine of SFA, Snack World will be available
to SFA members and associate members, both domestic and international,
including any member company personnel who wish to subscribe. “We’re
confident that this in-depth, stand alone Snack World will
be the perfect complement to our continuing weekly ‘must read’
electronic Snack Report,” the letter said.
The inaugural issue of Snack World will feature a complete
report on SNAXPO 2008, to be held March 1-4 in San Antonio, TX,
as well as a special profile of a prominent SFA member company,
an update on important governmental developments, and other news
and features.
To learn more about advertising opportunities in Snack World,
please click HERE.
New Online Member Education Programs From
SJU & OSU Available
The Snack Food Association, in conjunction with Ohio State University
(OSU) and St Joseph’s University (SJU), is now offering on-line
courses in food science and food marketing for SFA member company
associates.
The program was developed in conjunction with the two universities
to provide SFA member company personnel easy access to continuing
education at a reduced cost for tuition for SFA members. The program
offers courses in key disciplines requested by SFA members.
A series of new SJU marketing courses will be available early in
2008, and for a limited time all SJU courses will be offered to
SFA members tuition-free.
To learn more, click HERE.
Click above for special pricing and rebates
on a wide variety of delivery vehicle products and supplies.
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Leadership
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Announcing |

Click on the ad for a larger view
Online training in food marketing and the food
sciences.
In Plant Food Safety Training
Sessions offered through American Institute of Baking
International . Please click HERE.


Teach kids to eat for energy, get
active and get fit! Click
here for more details
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| Events |
Management
Workshop / Pretzel &
Baked Snacks Seminar – Click HERE
for a Conference Recap!
All Candy
Expo. May 20-22, 2008, McCormick
Place, Chicago, IL.
Click HERE
for the complete Calendar of Events.
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Click HERE for
advertising opportunities in Snack World Magazine.

For a photo gallery from 2008 SNAXPO held in San Antonio, TX,
please click
HERE.
Consumer's Corner:
Important
snacker information
Food Safety and Nutrition
The Snack Food Association supports efforts to protect consumers
from unsafe food products and substances. SFA also works hard
to assure that its members are kept up to date on governmental
food safety regulations and requirements.
For more information on such issues as they affect snack
products, click here.
FDA Inspection Manual is Now Avalible
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 2007 Inspection Manual
now known as The Investigations Operations Manual (IOM) is
now availible on the FDA website. This manual is the primary
source guidance document on FDA inspection policy and procedures
for field investigators and inspectors. To download a copy
of this manual, please visit FDA website at http://www.fda.gov/opacom/7pubs.html
SNACK ON THIS!
Lisa Katic, a registered
dietitian, is SFA’s public policy advisor on nutrition
and health. Click HERE for
her past monthly columns.
Snack Fit, Choose Balance
Brochure
The Snack Fit, Choose Balance Brochure is an ideal promotion
piece to provide to your customers. The brochure contains
a meal plan which includes snacks, information on benefits
offered by a variety of snacks, and web resources on how to
get active. The brochure also offers a space for SFA companies
to place their logo and contact information. Price is per
case of 2000, $60 members and $120 non-members.Please click
HERE
for a PDF download of the Brochure.
FleetXchange webcast:
SFA members participated in a Web cast and learned about the
benefits of the FoodFleetXchange program sponsored by SFA
specifically for SFA members. Representatives of AmeriQuest
Transportation Services, which operates the FleetXchange program,
explained the benefits this online buying and information
service can provide, including significant savings, and how
to get started. Click HERE
to download the Power Point Presentation utilized in this
presentation.
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