Kasey Craven’s Post

#FunFoodFactFriday The first Waffle House opened on September 5, 1955. The restaurant was a collaboration of neighbors in Avondale Estates, Georgia, about 10 miles outside of Atlanta. Joe Rogers Sr. and Tom Forker decided that the area needed a 24-hour, sit-down restaurant for their friends and neighbors that combined the speed of fast food with the round-the-clock concept. They opened the first Waffle House on Labor Day in 1955. The venture was named Waffle House to promote their highest-profit item—the waffle. Because the waffle did not lend itself to takeout, the owners also thought that encouraging waffle ordering might encourage diners to stay and linger. Forker would say, “We are not in the food business. We are in the people business.” The restaurant signs were painted bright yellow to attract drivers' attention, and menu items included waffles and eggs for 40 cents, hash browns for 20 cents, Coca-Cola for 10 cents, and a filet mignon for $1.50. Waffle House continues to be an icon, with more than 2,000 locations across 25 states. Every minute, Waffle Houses serve an average of 341 bacon strips, 238 orders of hash browns, 145 waffles, and 127 cups of coffee. Other Fun Facts: *** Waffle House used to serve Chick-fil-A. The chain was once licensed to sell fellow Atlanta-based CFA sandwiches. However, the sandwiches got so popular that orders were impacting Waffle House’s regular menu, so the partnership was stopped. *** The original Waffle House location still exists, but it has now been turned into a museum containing Waffle House memorabilia. It can be toured only by appointment, and the tours fill up months in advance. *** Waffle House releases its own custom waffle-based songs, starting with “Waffle House Family.” A full selection can be found on jukeboxes in Waffle House locations. *** FEMA uses the “The Waffle House Index” to determine how hard a natural disaster has hit a town: Code Green means Waffle House is open and serving a full menu, Code Yellow means Waffle House is serving a limited menu, supplies may be low, and power may be off, and Code Red means Waffle House, Inc. is closed and the area needs immediate assistance. #cpgindustry #wafflehouse #nowyouknow #forhireresults The Newell Group

🚨 From Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle to Today: Why the Boar's Head Recall Matters 🚨 Published in 1905, Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle exposed the horrifying conditions of the meatpacking industry throughout the US, sparking public outrage and thankfully leading to significant reforms in food safety. Fast forward to today, and we find ourselves facing a similar crisis with the recent Boar's Head recall. The discovery of unsanitary conditions—including mold, mildew, and insects—at a Virginia plant has led to a deadly listeria outbreak, resulting in 57 hospitalizations and 9 tragic deaths. While not an exact mirror of The Jungle, the conditions at The Boars Head plant are unacceptable. This incident reminds us that the fight for food safety is far from over. Just as Sinclair’s work forced America to confront the dangers lurking in its food supply, this recall highlights the ongoing need for strict oversight and accountability in the food industry. As consumers, we must demand transparency and hold food producers to the highest standards to protect our health and well-being. As I've mentioned time and time again, food safety HAS to be a culture within your organization from the front-line employees all the way to the top with no stopping in between. The current situation with Boar's Head should not fall on one or two people, collectively this appears to be an epic failure on everyone. Sinclair once said, “I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach.” Today, it’s clear that our stomachs—and our lives—are still at risk if we don’t remain vigilant. 🥩🍖 #foodsafety #consumerawareness #boarshead #foodindustry #listeria #forhireresults

#FunFoodFactFriday On August 29, 2007, Alfred Peet passed away. He was the founder of Peet’s Coffee & Tea and is generally credited with beginning the specialty coffee craze in the United States. Peet was born in Alkmaar, Netherlands, where his father ran a small coffee roasting store. Peet learned the art of roasting and grinding coffee while working for him. He then went to London as an apprentice with Twinings Coffee & Tea Company before going on to work as a tea taster in Indonesia. There, he learned to appreciate dark-roasted Indonesian coffee. He eventually moved to San Francisco, CA in 1955, where he worked for a coffee importer. Peet found American coffee to be of poor quality. Most people drank coffee brewed from freeze-dried beans in a can. He said, “I came to the richest country in the world, so why are they drinking the lousiest coffee?” He opened his own coffee shop in Berkley, CA, on April 1, 1966, named Peet’s Coffee Tea & Spices. It was at the corner of Vine and Walnut Streets, near the University of California campus. He committed to using only high-quality beans that were specially roasted to a dark, sweet roast. He also felt that it was crucial to have the shortest distance possible between the roaster and the customer for the freshest flavor. The shop became popular with the nearby crowd, with regulars calling themselves “Peetniks.” In 1979, Peet sold the company for an estimated $1 to $2 million. It eventually would grow into a public company with 150 stores in 10 states. Other Fun Facts: *** In 1970, Peet was approached by three young entrepreneurs interested in learning the coffee business. He offered them both roasting training and coffee beans for their new enterprise. The three were Jerry Baldwin, Gordon Bowker, and Zev Siegl, who would go on to open Starbucks in Seattle later in 1971.  The two companies even combined for a time when Starbucks bought Peet’s in 1984. Even today, Jerry Baldwin serves on the Board of Directors of Peet’s. *** Peet’s celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2016 with a special coffee blend inspired by Alfred Peet. They called it “Big Bang,” honoring Peet’s revolutionary contribution to modern coffee culture. *** Peet's Coffee was one of the first coffee companies to offer a subscription service, launched in 1996. It was called “Peetniks,” after the original café regulars. #cpgindustry #beverageindustry #nowyouknow #forhireresults The Newell Group

I'm the kind of guy who wonders why anyone would choose Regular Tylenol over Extra-Strength—if you're going for relief, why not go all the way? But when it comes to fast food, I’m not about that "Super Size" life. The price usually isn’t worth it, and honestly, I have zero self-control when it comes to fries... unless I’m sharing. Now, when it comes to the Kroger-Albertsons merger, I can see both sides of the argument. While I don't have any stake in this fight because my market has neither a Kroger nor Albertsons, I tend to lean towards agreeing with the FTC on this one. Most rural markets don’t need a super-sized Kroger; they need another option besides Dollar General for fresh produce and other perishables. Competition is essential, especially now with inflation driving up the cost of everyday food items. Keeping prices in check is crucial for consumers. However, Albertsons Companies argues that without this merger, they may have to close some stores, which adds another layer of complexity to the situation. Is this a scare tactic or proof the grocery industry is struggling for many regional players? However, sometimes companies need to adjust to the changing market conditions and the hard reality of survival is one of those. ...I think I need more data and proof that this marriage is good for everyone (Kroger, Albertsons, and the consumer). What’s your take—do we need a mega-merger, or just better choices? #grocery #retail #competition #forhireresults

#FunFoodFactFriday On August 19, 1912, Life Savers was trademarked by candy manufacturer, Clarence Crane. Crane was a chocolate maker in Cleveland, OH. He noticed that chocolate sales were slow during the summer because the product melted in the heat. To supplement the business, he invented a non-melting peppermint candy. Crane was inspired by a pharmacy machine that made round, wafer-shaped pills to create a similar shape for a mint. The machine also punched a hole in the center of the candy, making the shape of a life preserver so Crane named the candy “Crane’s Peppermint Life Savers.” Crane trademarked Life Savers in 1912 but sold both the trademark and the business to Edward Noble and Roy Allen in 1913 for $2,900. Noble & Allen created the Mint Prods Co. to sell the peppermint candy, called Pep-O-Mint Life Savers. Edward Noble was responsible for creating the tin foil wrappers with a wax interior to keep the mints fresh (they previously had been sold in cardboard rolls). The innovation made the candies more long-lasting, and their popularity began to grow. The Life Savers & Candy Company was created later in 1913. Another Noble innovation came in marketing. He installed Life Savers displays next to cash registers at grocery stores, restaurants, barber shops, and saloons. He even encouraged the owners to give nickels as part of change to encourage sales of the Life Savers, which were priced at 5 cents. The first five-flavor roll of Life Savers was created in 1935 and included the classic flavors of pineapple, lime, orange, cherry, & lemon. Life Savers currently is owned by Mars. Other Fun Facts: *** By 1915, Crane no longer was involved in the business at all, though he did go on to expand his chocolate business into several other cities. *** During WWII, other companies donated their sugar rations to Life Savers so that they could be sent to the armed forces. *** Life Savers has had more than 40 flavors over the years, including Cl-O-ve, Cinn-O-mon, Butter Rum, Lic-O-Rice, Vi-O-Let, and Malt-O-Milk. *** Wint-O-Green Life Savers are particularly known for their ability to “spark” in the dark because the oil of wintergreen which is used for flavoring, is fluorescent. When the candy and the flavoring are crushed between teeth, they can be seen as sparks of blue light in the mouth. #foodmanufacturing #cpgindustry #forhireresults #nowyouknow The Newell Group

🔍 Job Growth Revised Down: What It Means for the Economy Let’s be honest—monthly economic data can be as precise as my golf game. While the pros might have their yardages down to the inch, I might be off by a few feet or even 10-15 yards. Similarly, the latest BLS data shows that US job growth over the past year was weaker than initially reported, with a downward revision of 818,000 jobs as of March 2024. These numbers suggest the labor market cooled sooner than expected, though job growth was still historically strong. I’ve sensed for some time that these figures would be revised down based on industry trends. As I’ve been telling candidates, there are jobs out there—but fewer of them, and companies are taking their time to fill positions. The second quarter was particularly tight, but the good news is that the third quarter has started strong for many of us in the recruiting industry. With Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s upcoming speech at Jackson Hole, these revisions could influence the direction of interest rates. Stay tuned for more insights. #economy #jobmarket #federalreserve #labormarket #economicoutlook

Over the last couple of weeks, since this news broke, many people within the industry and many people in general have asked me about Mars's acquisition of Kellanova. Here are my thoughts in general: For consumers: this merger promises consumers an exciting range of new products and innovations catering to diverse tastes and dietary preferences. However, with fewer players in the market, we might see rising prices and changes in product availability. For Mars: this deal is a strategic move to expand beyond its stronghold in confectionery (think M&M’s and Snickers) into savory snacks, directly challenging competitors like Hershey. The acquisition enhances Mars' global reach, product offerings, and innovation capabilities, setting the stage for intense competition in the snacking industry. As the merger unfolds, it’s clear that the snacking industry is entering a new era—one where Mars is positioning itself as a dominant player across both sweet and savory categories. The big are getting much bigger! *** What many don't know is that Mars is a dominant player in the animal/pet food/pet care category many times ranked #1 with a $20B+ in revenue, 25%+ market share) and they are for the most part the #1 chocolate company in the world ($20B+), and well you can guess what this will do for their snack business. Stay tuned as we watch how this impacts the food & beverage manufacturing landscape and what it means for your favorite snacks! 🍫🍿 #foodmanufacturing #Mars #Kellanova #cpgindustry #forhireresults

#FunFoodFactFriday On August 15, 1911, Proctor & Gamble introduced Crisco to the American public. The original idea for the Crisco product wasn’t for baking – it was for soaps and candles. In the 1890s, the meat packing business controlled the price of the lard and tallow used to make those products. P&G was looking for a more economical way to make soap and began exploring cottonseed oil for this use. P&G developed the hydrogenation process in partnership with German chemist, E.C. Kayser, which added hydrogen atoms to fatty acids. This made liquid cottonseed oil into a solid that resembled lard. However, the new product didn’t quite fit the soap-making process. It did, however, make a convenient lard substitute in the kitchen. It was the first shortening to be made entirely out of vegetable oil. The hydrogenated product initially was named Krispo, but it quickly was changed to Crisco, which is a short version of “crystallized cottonseed oil.” To market the new creation to the public, Crisco billed itself as “a healthier alternative to cooking with animal fats…and more economical than butter.” It was even wrapped in white paper to further emphasize its “pure” nature. The first print and radio ads made the product popular, but Crisco became a household name with the Crisco cookbook. The Story of Crisco contained 615 recipes – each containing Crisco. Within five years, Americans were purchasing more than 60 million cans of Crisco annually. In 1981, Crisco introduced a butter-flavored version of the original, and Crisco butter-flavored sticks would follow in the 1990s. In 2007, Crisco removed the partially hydrogenated oils from the product, as trans fats had been discovered to play a role in heart disease. Today, each serving contains less than 0.5 grams of trans fats. In 2002, Procter & Gamble divested the Crisco (oil and shortening) brand, along with Jif peanut butter, in a spinoff to their stockholders; the two brands then immediately merged with the J. M. Smucker Co. B&G Foods Inc. acquired the Crisco brand in December 2020. Other Fun Facts: *** Crisco became popular in the Jewish community more quickly than the rest of the nation. P&G marketed it as a kosher food, as it was similar to butter but did not have the kosher preparation concerns of lard. To this end, P&G also produced the cookbook “Crisco Recipes for the Jewish Housewife” in 1933.   *** Crisco also served an additional use during WWII – because it would not freeze or melt in different water temperatures, it was used as a lubricant for submarine torpedoes. #foodmanufacturing #innovation #cpgindustry #nowyouknow #forhireresults The Newell Group

#FunFoodFactFriday On August 4, 1963, Nabisco introduced Chips Ahoy! to supermarket shelves. Chips Ahoy was inspired by the Toll House Chocolate Crunch Cookie created in the 1930s in Massachusetts. Chips Ahoy was the first packaged cookie to recreate the Toll House flavor. Nobody truly knows how the cookies got their name. -- Most commonly, the name is believed to be a play on the nautical expression “Ships Ahoy!”  -- However, there also is a Dickens story about a man named Chip featuring the phrase “Chips Ahoy!” Whatever the case, Chips Ahoy! became an American icon, both for the names and the cookies. In the 1960s, Chips Ahoy promised at least 16 chocolate chips in every cookie. It was later increased to 32 chips to keep up with other cookie companies. Eventually, the brand just began to promise at least 1,000 chips per 18 oz cookie package. Chips Ahoy has had a variety of mascots in the past. Initially, there was Cookie Man, who defeated a cookie thief to protect his cookie stash. Later, Chip was introduced – a walking, talking chocolate chip cookie.   Chips Ahoy! now is owned by Mondelēz International, after they purchased Nabisco in 2000. Other Fun Facts: *** In Spring 2024, Mondelez introduced an updated recipe for Chips Ahoy. It includes chocolate chips with a higher cacao content and a higher concentration of Madagascar vanilla extract, which results in “a well-rounded chocolate flavor while reducing bitterness.” *** The cookie name varies in other countries. For example, it is known as “Choco Chips” or “Chips More” in Latin America. *** A third-grade class in 1996 decided to see if each bag of cookies actually had the promised 1,000 chocolate chips. When they only counted 680, they wrote Nabisco in protest. The company said their experiment was flawed because they only counted the chips they would see. The kids then dissolved the cookies in water and recounted – this time finding 1,181 chocolate chips! *** In 2015, Chips Ahoy! set a Guinness World Record for the largest cookie mosaic. The mosaic was made up of 24,000 cookies and measured over 1,500 square feet.

#FunFoodFactFriday Earl Tupper was born on July 28, 1907, in Berlin, New Hampshire. He would become known as the inventor of the food storage containers known as Tupperware. Tupper’s first business did not involve food or storage at all. He owned a landscaping and nursery business, which went bankrupt with the Great Depression. He then found a job at the DuPont chemical company, where he worked in a plastics factory. There his supervisor offered him some waste pieces of polyethylene slag. Tupper took the pieces home and found a way to purify and mold them into light, non-breakable containers. Tupper founded the Tupperware Plastics Company in 1938. He continued refining his product to develop an odorless, nonporous, durable plastic and created containers, cups, bowls, and plates. Inspired by the way paint cans seal shut, he invented an air and water tight lid to accompany his containers. In 1946, he began selling his Tupper Plastics in hardware and department stores. The first two products were the Bell Tumbler and the Wonderlier Bowl. However, consumers were unfamiliar with the new plastic concept, and the idea did not initially take off. Enter Brownie Wise, a single mother and former saleswoman for Stanley. She began selling Tupperware at home parties, where the products could be demonstrated. She called Tupper to explain her method, and a partnership was born. Tupper hired Wise as the VP of marketing. In the early 1950s, Tupperware was withdrawn from stores and was sold exclusively through home parties. This was the first example of “party plan” marketing, and it made Tupperware a household name. Tupper sold the Tupperware Plastics Company to Rexall in 1958 for $16M. Today, it is owned by Tupperware Brands. Most of Tupper’s original patents expired in the 1980s, and the market is filled with similar products. However, the name “Tupperware” still is used as a catch all for food storage containers in general, cementing Tupper’s legacy. Other Fun Facts: *** In the early 2000s, Tupperware got a brand boost when it was reported that Queen Elizabeth II stored her breakfast cereals in Tupperware containers. *** Tupperware also has been used for other non-food items, such as plastic children’s toys. One classic example is the Shape-O toy, which was released in the 1970s. *** Over 100 pieces of original Tupperware can be found at the National Museum of American History. #cpgindustry #innovation #forhireresults #nowyouknow Do you still own any "vintage" Tupperware?