Briefs 2008-11-01

Mike Buzalka

Hormel Foods and the Culinary Institute have selected 16 chefs for the inaugural class of their Culinary Enrichment & Innovation Program (CEIP) partnership. The chosen chefs include several from onsite segments, including Jonna Anne of SUNY Genesco, Eric Cartwright of the University of Missouri, Michael Edwards of the U.S. Navy, Daniel Hernandez of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, James Lynch of ACTS Retirement Life Community/Granite Farms Estates and Christian Watson of Morrison Healthcare.

J&J Snack Foods has announced the appointment of Robyn Schreiber as vice president of national accounts. She had spent the last six years with Certi-Fresh Foods and Contessa Premium Foods.

Food management automation products maker Computrition, Inc., has renewed its partnership with the Amerinet cooperative purchasing organization

SCA Tissue North America has donated 34,560 rolls of paper towels to the Feeding America domestic hunger-relief charity to help in the relief of victims of the recent hurricanes that hit the Gulf Coast.

Food waste tracking system maker LeanPath, Inc., has received a U.S. patent for its “Systems and Methods for Food Waste Monitoring.” The developments covered by the patent play a central role in LeanPath's ValuWaste System, including the ValuWaste Tracker terminal and ValuWaste Advantage Reporting Software.

The Justice Dept. has filed suit to block the deal for National Beef Packing by Brazilian firm JBS SA on antitrust grounds. The purchase of National Beef by JBS, which acquired Swift & Co. last year, would put over 80% of the nation's packing capacity into the hands of three companies, the department says.

Campbell Soup Co. has broken ground on a $90 million expansion of its Camden, NJ, headquarters complex. The project includes a new employee services building with a café, gym and other services.

The New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station at Rutgers University has opened its new 23,000-sq.ft. Food Innovation Center business incubator and food processing facility. Clients of the facility include startup food companies and existing food businesses.

The Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) Americas Division has officially achieved its legal independence from the FCSI Worldwide governing body. The move allows FCSI-The Americas to become its own not-for-profit corporation.

Lancer Corp. has appointed Kenneth Goodwin senior vice president of sales and marketing. He had been president of BKI Worldwide and has held senior positions with Kevry Corp., Standex, Frymaster and Blodgett Oven Co.

Starbucks has signed a licensing agreement with Unilever to have the latter manufacture, market and distribute its ice cream products.