Industry News 2008-01-22

FM Staff

MasterFoodServices

Now Mars Foodservices Mars, Inc., has changed the name of its foodservice unit from MasterFoodServices to Mars Foodservices as part of a plan to unify all of its branches of under one corporate umbrella brand name. The website URL has also changed. to www.MARSfoodservices.com. Its brands include Uncle Ben’s, M&M’S, Snickers, Twix, Skittles and Kudos.

Focus Buys Regal FS Unit

Focus Products Group LLC has acquired Regal Ware Worldwide’s Food Service division, which markets commercial coffee urn, cookware and related beverage dispensing equipment.

Regal Ware foodservice products are sold under the Regal and West Bend brand names. Focus Foodservice distributes wire shelving, bakeware, stainless steel carts and other products for the foodservice, bakery, supermarket and health care markets. Regal Ware is also a supplier to West Bend Housewares, a Focus Products division it acquired from Regal Ware in July 2003.

UEP Holds Conference

United Egg Producers (UEP), a trade association for U.S. egg family farmers, recently held its second national Animal Welfare Conference for Grocery and Foodservice Executives in Denver.

More than 40 executives attended the two-day event and received information on the history and science behind the UEP Certified animal welfare program. Approximately 85 percent of U.S. family egg farmers comply with the UEP Certified’s guidelines on the treatment of laying hens.

Other conference topics included producing eggs to meet consumers’ varied demands; legal, legislative, regulatory and marketing challenges in the egg industry; and communicating animal welfare issues to customers. Attendees also toured a farm with both modern cage production and cage-free egg production facilities.

Computrition Deal Finalized

Constellation Software, Inc., has completed its acquisition of Computrition Inc.. Computrition will be managed as part of Constellation’s Jonas Operating Group, which proivides enterprise management software solutions to the club and construction management industries. Jonas has more than 4,500 customers in 11 countries.

“This is the right move for our customers, our employees and the company,” says Computrition Founder/Chairman/CEO Ellyn Luros-Elson. “Joining forces with Jonas, as part of the Constellation family, provides us with access to additional resources that can only enhance our ability to build on our track record of success.”

Pilgrim’s Pride CEO Dies

Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. CEO O.B. Goolsby, Jr., passed away on December 17th, two days after suffering a stroke while on a hunting trip. The company said a special committee of its board would begin the selection process for a new president and CEO.

It said no timetable has been set for naming a replacement and no interim CEO had been appointed. Goolsby had served as president/CEO since September 2004. He joined the company in 1969 and held various management jobs, being named president/COO in 2002.