The clock is ticking down for commencement of the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association’s (NFRA) annual convention, which kicks off with the Taste of Excellence Grand Opening Reception at 6 PM on Sunday, October 20, at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront in San Diego, California, USA. The gathering will feature products to sample from more than 50 of North America’s leading frozen food manufacturing companies, among them Amy’s Kitchen, ConAgra Foods, H.J. Heinz Company, InnovAsian Cuisine, Kahaki Foods, Kraft Foods Group, Nestlé Prepared Foods Company, Palermo Pizza, Tyson Foods, Rich’s Consumer Brands and Ruiz Foods.
A full day of activities and meetings will take place on Monday, October 21, starting with a 7:30 AM breakfast meeting featuring keynote speaker Karl Rove, political strategist and former deputy chief of staff to US President George W. Bush. It will be followed by a general session at 9 AM during which an update on the NFRA’s State of the Industry Report will be provided by Nielsen. The NFRA’s annual membership luncheon will take place from 12 to 1:30 PM, during which time Chairman John Larsen of the Safeway supermarket chain will introduce new the association’s new slate of officers and directors.
The breakfast speaker on Tuesday, October 22, will be Ronnie Lott, former San Francisco 49ers defensive back and member of the Football Hall of Fame. Time has been set aside for business appointments from 9 AM to 5 PM. Thereafter, from 5:30 to 9 PM, the Grand Awards Reception and Banquet will take place to salute new inductees to the NFRA’s Refrigerated Food Hall of Fame. Three highly committed individuals will be honored, namely: the late Harry Hussmann, founder of the Hussmann Patented Refrigerated Meat Display case and Hussmann Refrigerator Company; Nevin B. Montgomery, retired president of the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association; and the late L.B. “Lively” Willoughby, patented inventor of the refrigerated biscuit dough.
Hussmann was inspired to start his own business in April 1906, opening the Harry L. Hussmann Butchers’ Supply Company in St. Louis, Missouri. In 1917, he patented the food industry’s first refrigerated meat display case. After construction of a new manufacturing plant two years later, the Hussmann Patented Refrigerator Display case was sold to meat dealers, delicatessens and restaurants. In 1927, Hussmann worked with Frigidaire Corporation, introducing the Frigidaire-Equipped Hussmann Patented Freezer Display Case. In 1928, he sold his shares of the Hussmann Refrigerator Company and passed away in 1949. Today, Hussmann’s entrepreneurial butcher supply company is one of the world’s largest producers of the refrigeration systems and merchandising display cases for the food industry. Hussmann’s innovations are acclaimed as crucial elements in the development of the modern supermarket.
Montgomery joined the organization as director of membership in 1973, when it was known as the National Frozen Food Association (NFFA). Logging over 36 years on the job, Montgomery’s jobs included stints as director of education, vice president and executive vice president. He was named president in 1984, and served in that position until retiring in 2010. With his keen fiscal management, wise investment strategies, and plan for increasing membership, member services and revenue streams, the association thrived.
Under Montomery’s leadership, NFFA launched the first National Frozen Food Month in 1984, establishing the association’s promotional focus and success that continues today. Embracing a changing industry, he spearheaded the incorporation of refrigerated dairy into the association. In 2001, the organization became the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association, and the first June Dairy Month promotion was launched as refrigerated dairy became an integral part of the association.
Willoughby, from Louisville, Kentucky, was 50 years old when he developed the concept of refrigerated biscuit dough and became the holder of the patent for the process back in 1931. He made up the dough, cut it into biscuits, packaged them in foil, put them in an Epsom salts can, and glued lids on both ends. The biscuits were marketed as Ye Old Kentucky Buttermilk Biscuits for about six months, and they were still fresh one week later after packaging.
Willoughby later joined forces with Ballard & Ballard Co. and developed its own line of products under the Ballard brand. In 1951, Pillsbury bought Ballard & Ballard Co. and expanded the product line, using Willoughby’s process. The shelf life of the product was consistently increased, and today the shelf life of refrigerated biscuits is two to three months. Pillsbury now has more than 80 products in the refrigerated baked goods category.
NFRA is a non-profit trade association representing all segments of the frozen and refrigerated foods industry. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, NFRA is the sponsor of March Frozen Food Month, June Dairy Month, the June/July Ice Cream & Novelties promotion and the October Cool Food for Kids educational outreach program. NFRA holds the annual National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Convention in October. For more information about the San Diego convention, or other activities, visit the association’s website: www.nfraweb.org.
