FOODSERVICE NEWS

Legal Sea Foods Announces Biggest Site To Date At Former Jimmy’s Harborside
Legal Sea Foods plans to drop anchor with a new restaurant--to open in 2010—at the site of the former Jimmy’s Harborside on Northern Avenue in Boston.  With the decision of the Doulos family not to reopen, Jimmy’s Harboside, Legal Sea Foods owner Roger Berkowitz and Executive Chef Rich Vellante said they were thrilled with this opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind waterfront dining experience.
  This "ultimate" Legal Sea Foods will establish the restaurant group as a triple option on Northern Avenue in the heart of Boston’s Seaport District. It joins LTK, an innovative kitchen and bar with globally influenced cuisine as well as Legal's Exchange Conference Center, an upscale catering and events venue. All are virtually around the corner from Legal's Quality Control Center. here fish and shellfish are tested for food safety prior to being distributed to all of Legal's restaurants.
  The new Legal is being completely rebuilt to take full advantage of the waterfront location. Its two floors will measure 9200 square feet each and will have 18-foot windows and provide a panoramic view of Boston harbor. The restaurant will also have a 3000 square foot rooftop lounge. Although it will not open for more than two years, preparations are well underway. 
Joining the Legal Sea Foods culinary team as Chef de Cuisine is Moncef Meddeb.  the original chef-owner of L'Espalier in Boston's Back Bay. Chef Meddeb's flare will be complemented by the award-winning talents of Master of Wine Sandy Block, one of only 22 Americans to hold this prestigious title. 
 Legal Sea Foods now has more than 30 restaurants up and down the East Coast.

Mortons Restaurant Group Settles Wage Claims
Morton's Restaurant Group of Chicago, Ill. recently announced agreements to settle certain wage and hour claims. The settlements involve claims filed against the company as far back as 2003 and cover all of the remaining wage and hour litigation pending against the company and its subsidiaries, including a nationwide class action filed in 2005. While the company denies allegations underlying the claims, they have agreed to the settlements to avoid additional legal fees, uncertainty surrounding the litigation and the management time that would have been devoted to continued litigation. The settlements are subject to respective arbitrator and court approvals. The national suit alleged that waiters were forced to split their tips with managers. Mortons will record a $13.4 million charged related to the suit.

More Than 200 Restaurants Ready To Participate in Boston Summer Restaurant Week
The Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau (GBCVB) announced that this year’s Summer Restaurant Week Boston will be the largest in the event’s nine-year history. From August 9-14 and Aug. 16-21, diners can choose from an array of more than 200 of the region’s eateries to enjoy three-course priced fixed lunches for $20.09 and three-course dinners for $33.09—excluding beverage, tax and gratuity. An added menu option this summer is a two-course gourmet lunch priced at $15.09; diners can select an entrée and then enjoy either an appetizer or dessert as the second course. For the first time in August, many of the participating restaurants have opted to offer their restaurant week menus on Saturday, August 15, the one night of the week when the offer has traditionally been excluded. To view all restaurants and menus, log onto HYPERLINK "http://www.bostonusa.com/restaurantweek".

Food Service Latest Word…
Mass. Congressman Barney Frank will tour AGAR’s Taunton, Mass. headquarters on Aug. 4. and visit the company’s new test kitchen and AGAR’s new cold chain processes and voice operated technology in warehouse operations.

The Mass. Restaurant Assn. will host a Caterers meeting on Aug. 12 at 6 p.m. at the Russell Morin Catering Faility in Attleboro, Mass.

Edward Nan Liu, who introduced Bostonians to the Manhattan style Chinese dining with the launch of Sally Ling’s, recently passed away.

The Back Bay Grill in Portland, Maine and Natalie’s Restaurant in Camden, Maine were recently spotlighted in Wine Spectator Magazine.

C-STORE NEWS

Legal Action Next Step On New York Tobacco Fee Hike Reversal
The New York Assn. of Convenience Stores (NYACS), the Long Island Gasoline Retailers Association, the New York State Association of Service Stations and Repair Shops, Service Station Dealers of Greater NY, and United 7-Eleven Franchise Owners of Long Island are jointly engaging a law firm to file suit attempting to block the state implementation of imposing huge tobacco registration fee increases. According to NYACS, even if this legal initiative goes forward, the effort to pass legislation rolling back the fees will continue. Technically, the 2010 registration renewal applications and fees are due Sept 20.

FDA Has Reservations About Electronic Cigarettes
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced that a laboratory analysis of electronic cigarette samples has found that they contain carcinogens and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze. Electronic cigarettes, also called “e-cigarettes,” are battery-operated devices that generally contain cartridges filled with nicotine, flavor and other chemicals. The electronic cigarette turns nicotine, which is highly addictive, and other chemicals into a vapor that is inhaled by the user.
According to the FDA, these products are marketed and sold to young people and are readily available online and in shopping malls. In addition, these products do not contain any health warnings comparable to FDA-approved nicotine replacement products or conventional cigarettes. They are also available in different flavors, such as chocolate and mint, which may appeal to young people. Public health experts expressed concern that electronic cigarettes could increase nicotine addiction and tobacco use in young people. “The FDA is concerned about the safety of these products and how they are marketed to the public,” said Margaret Hamburg, M.D., commissioner of food and drugs.
Because these products have not been submitted to the FDA for evaluation or approval, at this time the agency has no way of knowing, except for the limited testing it has performed, the levels of nicotine or the amounts or kinds of other chemicals that the various brands of these products deliver to the user. The FDA’s Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis analyzed the ingredients in a small sample of cartridges from two leading brands of electronic cigarettes.

MAPCO Express Fuel Giveaway Enters Second Phase
MAPCO Express, Inc. headquartered in Brentwood, Tenn. recently announced that 50 customers have each won $1,200 in company gift cards in MAPCO's Daily Gas Giveaway contest. To date, the company has awarded $60,000 in gift cards, and it will award another $60,000 through the end of the contest on Sept 15. Company gift cards can be used for fuel purchases at any MAPCO location.
Customers must come into a MAPCO location during regular business hours and answer a short survey to provide contact information. This survey will serve as the contest entry.
Participating MAPCO store brands include MAPCO Express , MAPCO Mart , Discount Food Mart , Fast Food and Fuel and Favorite Markets in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee.
MAPCO Express, Inc., is a subsidiary of Delek US Holdings, Inc. which operates a network of nearly 500 retail gasoline and convenience stores in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia, primarily under the MAPCO Express , MAPCO Mart , East Coast , Discount Food Mart(TM), Fast Food and Fuel(TM) and Favorite Market brands. Approximately 93 percent of the stores are located in Tennessee, Alabama and Virginia.

C-Store Latest Word…
Circle K has joined the convenience store’s fight against interchange fees by promoting a consumer petition campaign throughout its stores. Earlier 7-11 announced a store wide campaign, asking customers to sign a petition.

The NYACS Day at the Races will be held Aug. 12 at the Saratoga Race Course. This event will benefit the NYACS Scholarship Foundation.

TNT Marketing, a national convenience store broker, will represent Crayons All Natural Beverages to convenience stores nationwide.

General Tobacco announced last week the introduction of Wrangler Filtered Cigars and two new pipe tobacco product line extensions, Bronco and GT One.

NEW CHANNELS

Whole Foods Market Lends To Local Growers, & Producers
The Whole Foods Market Local Producer Loan Program has provided producers throughout the United States with $2.5 million in low-interest loans.
Whole Foods Market launched the Local Producer Loan Program and awarded its first loans in early 2007 with a commitment to fund up to $10 million in low-interest loans. The company's goal is to make it easier for local and independent farmers, producers and food artisans to grow their businesses and bring more local products to market.
Since the program began, nearly 50 loans have been made to businesses throughout the United States, with an additional 20 applications pending.
Local producers who have received loans include organic vegetable farmers, a heritage turkey grower, grass-fed cattle ranchers, a natural body care products maker and a host of other artisanal food producers. Loan recipients must meet Whole Foods Market's quality standards.

Vt’s Woodstock Farmers’ Market Named Outstanding Specialty Foods Retailer
The Vermont Grocers’ Association has extends its congratulations to the Woodstock Farmers’ Market for their selection as Outstanding Specialty Food Retailer of the Year by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade.
The Woodstock Farmers’ Market has been serving fresh meats, seafood, produce and specialty groceries, along with take-away breakfast lunch and dinner at its single store location for over 17 years and has been a member of the grocers’ association since its beginning. This is the first NASFT award for a Vermont retailer and VGA member store.
The Farmers’ Market—as it’s called locally—with 2,000 square feet of retail space and 2008 sales of $4 million, specializes in sourcing artisanal foods from all over the world but focuses on regional and local foods such as Vermont meats and poultry, farm fresh produce and cheeses and uses many local ingredients in its’ lunch and dinner selections. The market stocks a wide array of cooking ingredients from everyday milk and eggs to fancy olive oils plus an eclectic line of wine and beer. Its bakery is known throughout the region for its cookies, tarts, cakes and pies. And its seasonal garden center focuses almost entirely on locally and regionally grown annual and perennial plants.

Galaxy Nutritional Foods Names Former UNFI Executive As New CEO
Galaxy Nutritional Foods of Orlando, Fla, following the completion of its take-private by Mill Road Capital and Galaxy Partners last month, has appointed Rick Antonelli its new president and chief executive officer. He brings more than 25 years of natural and organic industry expertise to the Galaxy team. Most recently, he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer of United Natural Foods, Inc. Previously, Mr. Antonelli held various leadership roles within UNFI and served on the organization’s Board of Directors, as well as on the boards of several private food companies in the natural and organic category.
“Galaxy has always been known as the leader in the cheese alternative market and we’re looking forward to continuing that tradition and building on it.  We will work hard to both strengthen our core products, as well as add new lines in the food and non-food categories, that will offer our customers an even wider selection of the great natural and organic products they have come to expect from Galaxy Nutritional Foods,” said Mr. Antonelli.

New Channels Latest Word…
Everock Inc., has forged a national distribution agreement for its Nature’s Peak product line with Tree of Life. Everock produces a line of all-natural gourmet vegetable dips and sandwich spreads.

Wegmans Food Markets has cuts its paper usage in pharmacy prescription refill information to 10 million fewer pieces of paper per year after implementation of a new pharmacy software and reformatting of essential drug usage information.

The Culinary Institute of America announced that it will hold the second annual Latin Flavors American Kitchens Conference Oct. 14-16 in San Antonio, Texas. This conference will highlight the role of Latin flavors in the future of American menu development and the relevance of Latin street and comfort foods in recessionary times.