In This Issue

Deadline to Save on Early-Bird Registration

The Non-Negotiable Warehouse Receipt

Want to Help Expand the Cold Chain?

Managing by Metrics

Global Representation at EU Education Program

Kit Detects Contamination in Meat

Cold Storage Industry News

Food Industry News

Government News

There are only two days left to save on registration at the world’s largest refrigerated warehousing and logistics event, the 2009 IARW-WFLO-IRTA Annual Convention & Expo (28 March – 2 April 2009 at the Westin Mission Hills Resort & Spa in Palm Springs, California, USA.) Register by Friday, 6 February to save substantially with the Early-Bird Special. Registration secures your seat for world-class education and trends sessions, business programs, and networking events geared towards helping members navigate the current economic climate. Attendees will enjoy such vital content as our Feature Presentation “How the Economy is Changing Your Customer,” in which logistics executives from ConAgra Foods, Heinz, and Birdseye will discuss their changing business and the ways that service providers must change to win and keep their business. Register now.

The Non-Negotiable Warehouse Receipt (WR) is one of the most important documents that the warehouse operator issues. In most instances, it is the only contract between the warehouse operator and its customer relating to the receipt, handling, and storage of the goods. The WR identifies, among other things, the quantity and the condition of the goods that the warehouse operator receives and the name of the customer who is entitled to direct the release of the goods. It also contains the terms and conditions for storage that state the respective rights, duties and obligations of the warehouse operator and the customer relating to the goods identified on the WR. Learn more.

There are exciting opportunities for instructors at several Cold Storage Operations Courses that we will be conducting this year. The first event will take place in India (13-16 April), with another short course in Nicaragua (23-26 June), followed by another in South Africa (20-22 July). The goal of these courses is to provide employees with the knowledge they need to make sound operating decisions within their business.

The topics that will be covered include Cold Store Operations, Food Science Basics, Energy Management, Fundamentals of Refrigeration, Crisis Management, and more. This course is unique in that it has been designed specifically for middle and lower level managers, as well as senior level supervisors of cold storage facilities. All expenses will be paid.

If you would like to participate in one of these events or would like more information, please contact the GCCA Director of International Programs, Richard Tracy, at rtracy@gcca.org

Change is coming to refrigerated warehouses around the world. From South Carolina to South Africa, the new paradigm of “Managing by Metrics” is changing the way operators run their facilities. While many warehouses utilize metrics and KPIs to some extent, a small but fast-growing number of them have established a truly comprehensive performance management system built around metrics. Our six-part online interactive course, “Managing by Metrics” will show members how to gain the competitive edge in their PRW operations through metrics-driven performance management. The first class takes place Thursday, 12 February 2:00-3:00 PM EST. This course could not only change the way you look at your business; it could change the way you run your business. Register now.

The 12th Annual European Cold Chain Logistics Education Program was once again an enormous success. Never in the history of the event were so many nationalities represented among the 160 industry professionals in attendance. Delegates came to Amsterdam from every part of the globe, representing 17 European nations as well as the United States, Canada, Japan, South Africa, Egypt, Iran, and Israel.

This year’s theme, “Explore the Future: Green, Lean, and Cost Effective Cold Storage and Distribution Operations,” offered presentations on a range of topics. Participants learned about trends in frozen food consumption, ammonia safety, supply chain requirements for 3PLs, and effective WMS selection. The program traditionally ends with a facility visit, but this year delegates were shown the new fully automated cold store of leading Dutch meat importer Zandbergen.

Researchers at the Molechular Biology and Biotechnology Department of the Institute of Biomedical Research of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) led by scientist Pablo Pérez Gavilán, have developed a kit that detects variations in the temperature of food and can estimate the level of contamination by bacteria that may be present. This kit has been specially designed for use in meat and meat products.

Use of Lactic Bacteria and Reassuring for Monitoring the Cold Chain on Biological Products was recently presented at the Third Conference for Food Safety in San Francisco, California, USA. Pérez Gavilán explained that the kit uses "bacteria that monitors bacteria.” The bacteria show, with the help of a dye called resazurina, if the food in question has been out of refrigeration and for how long. Resazurina will turn blue if food is well stored, and white if the food is contaminated. The change in color intensifies as time passes, showing how long the food has been in high temperatures.

Nor-Am Cold Storage announced its decision to purchase Harker's meat packaging plant while receiving the Chamber of Commerce's Business of the Year award.  See full story from Le Mars Daily Sentinel.

Rising seafood sales are expected to drive the UK frozen food market to more than £5 billion this year.  See full story from Fish Update.

The EPA has ordered The Jack Frost Fruit Co. of Yakima to pay more than $100,000 for lacking a prevention program to protect against an accidental release of anhydrous ammonia.  See full story from Seattlepi.com.

Supermarket freezers are a major contributor to global warming according to a new report from the UK's Environmental Investigation Agency.  See full story from The Herald.