Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://specialtyfoodmagazine.epubxp.com/i/55305
Quality Bakers Since 1913 being patient with products as the Japanese economy recuperates. Sales are steady and we are still selling items like tea, seaweed and sauces." At Jungle Jim's International Market, Fairfield, Ohio, there were no product recalls, but out-of-stocks occurred with Japanese candies and cookies, such as Glico Pocky Sticks, as well as Ramune Soft Drinks, miso pastes and frozen nattos (fermented soybeans). "Products like Ramune and some frozen goods only became avail- able in quantity recently, and the market is still experiencing some out-of-stocks in various categories," says Jim Beckett, Jungle Jim's international manager, who posts signs reminding customers of potential problems procuring Japanese products. Jungle Jim's has offset sales decreases by ordering Japanese- style foods from the U.S. or bringing in other Asian food products. However, other retailers have opted to hold out for authentic- ity—even if it means more holes on the shelves in the short term. At the Pacific Mercantile Company in Denver, categories such as rice crackers, confections and nattos were still experiencing out-of- SUPPORT EFFORTS I n the initial days after Japan's earthquake and tsunami, an outpouring of support and relief efforts came from food businesses across the U.S. Restaurants joined Dine Out for Japan Relief programs, where participating locations donated a portion of their profits to relief organizations such as the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. On the retail side, stores such as Jungle Jim's International Market in Fairfield, Ohio, and Asianfoodgrocer.com in South San Francisco donated products to relief organizations while the Pacific Mercantile Co. in Denver raised money by organizing a T-shirt drive; the 67-year-old specialty Asian grocer designed T-shirts with the word ganbare, which means "hang in there" or "hang tough" in Japanese. Specialty food manufacturers offered promotions as well. Chuao Chocolatier, Carlsbad, Calif., donated $1 for each of its Panko Chocolate bars sold. Rishi Tea, Milwaukee, Wis., gave more than $16,000 to the Japanese Red Cross. Rishi has since partnered with Save Iwate, a nonprofit charitable organization whose efforts directly impact earthquake victims through food, shelter and outreach. Japan's largest green tea distributor, Ito En, donated more than 1 million bottles of tea, says Rona Tison, senior vice president corporate relations, Ito En North America Inc. "After ascertaining the safety of the people in our branches, we wanted to make sure we were a part of the recovery," she says. |SFM| Winter Fancy Food Show Booth 723 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2012 85 www.RubschlagerBaking.com Winter Fancy Food Show Booth 972 BAKING CORPORATION Everyone needs this ENTERTAINING QUARTET Essential for parties and GREAT for every day Remember the Rubschlager Cocktail Breads! RYE | PUMPERNICKEL | WHOLE GRAIN | SOURDOUGH 3220 West Grand Ave. Chicago, IL 60651 773/826-1245