NICRA September 2021 Bulletin

September 2021

THE BULLETIN THE

OFFICIAL

PUBLICATION

OF

THE

NATIONAL

ICE

CREAM

RETAILERS

ASSOCIATION

What To Look For In A Testing Lab Questions to ask and things to consider

How To Work With A Social Media Manager

NICRA Conecon 2021 FAQ NICRA Through the Years

nicramembersonly

nicraofficial

nicra_org

A MESSAGE FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Well, September is a busy one.

The season is winding down yet much of the country is enjoying great ice cream weather. It’s a nice cap to a pretty good season for most of our members.

September is also busy for many other reasons. Our Early Bird pricing for convention registration closed on the 1st of September

and I think we broke all sorts of records

for Conecon tickets. Over 100 people registered for convention on one day which is amazing. The last busiest convention NICRA held was Charleston in 2019 and we are well ahead of those registration numbers.

Please remember though that online registration closes for the event on October 25.

All tickets for the event will need to be purchased at the event after this date.

Secondly, the shipdate for our ice cream clinic and best new flavor competitions occurred on the 22nd of September. Hundreds of ice cream containers were shipped from all around the country to Cornell University for their first leg of testing and tasting. We received of 75 samples of Best New Flavor entries alone, and once they are tested there are heading down to the convention in Orlando for all of our members to taste and judge.

This year poses some challenges, but the Clinic Committee is working on a plan to have all of these, and many other flavors lined up and ready to taste in a fun and safe atmosphere. Its one of the best features of convention.

Lastly, the Scholarship committee is entrenched in the judging process for this years Bryce Thomson Scholarship. 26 entries are vying for $20,000 in scholarship funds this year. This is funded largely by the Charity Auction held at the Supplier Party at this years event. Some great products and services are up for grabs so bring your wallet and support the kids.

All in all, a very exciting lead up to what is being billed at the best convention ever. We hope to see you there.

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Steve Christensen Executive Director NICRA

CONVENTION UPDATE As usual, we have had many people inquire about the pre-convention food safety workshop. This workshop is being conducted by the food safety staff at Cornell university, who are also judging our ice cream entries for the competition this year.

For those who have attended this single day event in previous years, you will know the great value there is not only to the content, but to have food safety experts there to ask questions.

This year‘s topics will include; Hazards and Hazard Analysis, FSMA and Food Safety Plan Overview, and Preventive Control The cost is $49 and remember this event runs independent of the regular trade show in convention.

You will have to buy a ticket separately. The agenda and link for purchasing tickets is available on the agenda page of the NICRA website. There are only 50 spots available in this class and it is currently half full, so jump in quick and reserve your seat today.

GOLF This years Dick Warren memorial golf tournament is being played at the beautiful shingle Creek golf resort, owned by the Rosen hotel group. This event grows in popularity every year with trophies and prizes up for grabs.

There are only 16 players available and only one spot remaining. If you have interest in filling that one spot, please contact the office at info@nicra.org

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Welcome to The National Ice Cream Retailers Association Emily Harpster Emily's Ice Cream Charlottesville, Virginia

Lisa Langum The Farmer's Daughter Callaway, Minnesota

Steven L Graham The Depot at Graham Central Station E. Longmeadow, Massachusetts

Nancy Stimble Colette Rethage Skinny Dip Ice Cream Shop @CPM St. John Scoops Shell Knob, Missouri Saint John, Saint John

Allen Newkirk Savannah Praline Company TYBEE ISLAND, Georgia

Cathie Emerson Putnam Pantry LLC Danvers, Massachusetts

scott Zatley Mia’s cookies &c cream Johnson City, New York

Kimberly Koprowski Putter's Pub Bethlehem, New Hampshire

Danielle Moore Corner Dairy Bar Ohio Mt Blanchard, Ohio

Brook Katzen Mad Martha's Chilmark, Massachusetts

Andrew Cox Cox’s Ice Cream Newport, North Carolina Michael Kennicott Sweetwater Creamery Sweetwater, Tennessee LaKeisha Gantt Welcome Home LLC. Hampton, Georgia Addison Fox Kimberlie Dahlstrom Carnivals Milk Shake Bar Cumming, Georgia Margaret Dietl Gingers Ice Creams Los Angeles, California

Huy Pham tsun scoops Garden Grove, California

Kimberly Stange Cone Lickers Cadillac, Michigan

Matthew Mohalski Southern Custard Brookhaven, Georgia

Connie Brown Richard Thorp The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor Parker's Ice Creams Forest Park, Illinois Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas

Santiago Schettini Aubi and Ramsa Miami, Florida

Kayla Midthun Ramone's Ice Cream Parlor EAU CLAIRE, Wisconsin

ZahraUmlani Sweet Noshings Memphis, Tennessee

Vernon Wright Cold Cow Ice Cream Michigan

JennaHorning Bean’s Ice Cream Poquoson, Virginia

Erin Elliott Tim Williams Best Day Ever Ice Cream Shop The Scoop Winter Garden, Florida Shelburne, Vermont

FOOD SAFETY SUPPORT HOT-LINE FOR

SMALL/ARTISAN DAIRY PROCESSORS Not sure where to start? Our network of food safety experts from Universities across the US are here to help you take the next step by providing free one-on-one plan consultation and review.

315-787-2600

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Dairyfoodsafetycoach@cornell.edu

What to Look for in a Testing Lab: Questions to Ask and Things to Consider Whether you need Food Safety and Quality testing, Environmental Monitoring, Nutritional Labeling, Shelf-Life Studies or Allergen Sanitation Validations at some point you may need to use an outside lab to perform the testing for you.

Here are a few things to consider when looking for an outside lab: Does the lab have the expertise in analyzing raw milk, milk products, and other dairy products including yogurt, cheese, and ice cream?

Did you get a recommendation for this lab from a reliable source?

Once you identify a lab to contact, questions to ask are: Are they certified for the test you need? ** Labs should be accredited to ISO/IEC standards and methods should be AOAC approved.

ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories Official Methods of Analysis, 21st Edition (2019) AOAC INTERNATIONAL What is their turnaround time?

If they use a quick test, is it approved and validated to the accredited tests?

Are you getting the actual results you need?

** I.e., genus/species identification, or name of the AOAC method used is with the test result.

Finally…What is the cost?

Be cautious with this, there can be a large range in pricing, and you want to feel secure that you are getting the results that you need. When comparing services make sure you are taking everything into consideration.

There are plenty of certified labs available, it’s easy to search for them online or ask someone you know for a recommendation for who they use and trust.

When you settle on an outside lab, ask them if they can supply you with copies of methodologies, accreditations, licenses and/or any certifications. These records should be maintained onsite. An annual review with outside contractors and annually updated documentation is also recommended.

Kim Bukowski, Dairy Foods Extension Specialist, Cornell University

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h g u o r h T A R C I N s r a e Y The

In this months NICRA Through The Years we look at an old article from the NARCIM 1946

yearbook on Jay C. Fleming's Ice Cream experience. At this time NARCIM has 362 Active Members and 95 Supplier members depicted in the graphic below.

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FAQ Have a question about convention? Visit our FAQ page for a list of frequently asked questions and answers.

If you have a question that is not answered please feel free to send us an email at info@nicra.org

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How to Work with a Social Media Manager Target Market

or ask your potential agency or direct hire to Are you ready to hire a marketing agency help walk you through this process. A social bring on an in-house social media manager?

media strategy is an essential first step to As a business owner, we know this is a big decision but it will definitely be a good one since you are likely wearing too many hats as it is. It’s also a relief to bring in a professional that you can ask questions and bounce ideas off of.

However, when it comes to social media and digital marketing, some businesses hire an agency or an internal candidate with the expectation that they will bring in their expertise without having to be part of the process at all. There are a few things you can do as a business owner to help ensure you are hiring the right agency or person and to make sure you are working seamlessly with your digital marketing or social media manager.

5 Tips for Working with a Social Media Manager 1. Educate Yourself First things first, make sure you understand why your business needs social media, understand your short-term and long-term business goals, and how social media can help you get there. If you can’t come to this conclusion on your own,

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learning where you need to be online and how social media can help you reach your goals.

2. Define Your Goals If an agency or social media manager is willing to start on your account without putting direct goals and KPI’s in place, beware. These are things that absolutely need to be put in place by you before a social media strategy is started. You should be sitting down with your agency or manager to discuss your immediate and long-term business goals to help your social media manager know where to begin.

3. Define Your Voice Work with your social media manager to define your voice before they get started building out your content. Are you a business that is very formal or are you able to bring in a bit of humor? What will your audience expect from you online? These are things that a Manager or agency should be able to help you build out but they will definitely want your input on how you want your business to be perceived by your audience online.

4. Communicate A social media manager or agency should be a partner and an extension of your business.

We can never relay this point enough. Make sure you communicate all-important business updates to them so they can share that information with your online audience. This will help to ensure that your social media is up-to-date with what is going on inside your business or brick-and-mortar location. Make sure to alert them to any sales or specials and especially any customer issues that may pop up.

Target Market

5. Stay Involved We know! You hired someone so you wouldn’t have to be involved. But hear us out.

While you certainly don’t have to be involved in the everyday aspect of your agency’s or social media manager’s work, make sure you are keeping an eye out for interesting content within your business. You shouldn’t just hand over your accounts to a social media manager and forget about them. We want you to be social media aware. For example, if you get an interesting customer in your store and you want to take a picture with them, do it! Send it to your manager (with the customer’s name and permission of course) so they can post it to the appropriate platforms. This is the best way to showcase exactly what is going on in the now and the best way to establish your brand as authentic.

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This year our Food Safety Sessions will be conducted by the food safety staff at Cornell University, who are also judging our ice cream entries for the competition this year. These sessions will help you refine your food safety practices through the following sessions:

Agenda 8:45am Welcome and Introductions 9:00am FSMA and Food Safety Plan Overview 9:15am Hazards and Hazard Analysis – Overview and Preliminary Documents 9:45am Hazards and Hazard Analysis – Types and Process 10:30am Q&A: Discussing the Hazard Analysis with Food Safety Experts 11:00am Preventive Controls: Process Control 11:30am Preventive Controls: Sanitation Controls 12:00pm Lunch 1:00pm Preventive Controls: Allergens 1:30pm Preventive Controls: Supplier Controls 2:30pm Q&A with Food Safety Experts and Ice Cream Producer(s) 3:00pm Adjourn

Purchase Tickets Here

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DIREC 2022 DIREC DIREC DIREC DIREC DIREC y r o t c e D ir

Please verify the directory information on your NICRA membership page.

This year's yearbook will include your listed store address.

The Dick Warren Memorial Golf Tournament will be held Saturday 11/06/2021 at 8:00 am.

Cost per golfer will be $135.00 which includes transportation from Rosen Plaza, Greens Fee, Cart, Lunch & Cocktail.

Please contact the office at info@nicra.org to reserve your spot.

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Conecon 2021

ATTEND THE BIGGEST ICE CREAM TRADE EVENT IN THE US Join hundreds of ice cream and frozen dessert retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and industry experts at the Annual Trade

Show and Convention of the National Ice Cream Retailers Association.

Date: 7th, 8th and 9th November 2021 Location: The Rozen Plaza, 9700 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819

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Over 80 exhibitor booths on the trade show floor Over 30 keynotes, workshops, live demonstrations and events $20,000 given away in our Bryce Thompson Scholarship Awards Trophies and awards given to the Best Ice Creams of the year $1500 worth of free trade show coupons to be given away The Dick Warren Memorial Golf Competition A kickin 80's Tribute band playing at the awards banquet AND, the biggest ice cream industry announcement in 87 years conecon2021.com

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MARKETING CALENDAR

SEPTEMBER 2021 Daily Holidays

Random Acts of Kindness Day or Be Kind Day: 1 World Coconut Day: 2

National College Colors Day: 3

National Spice Blend Day: 4 Bacon Day: 5

Labor Day: 6 Salami Day: 7 National Teddy Bear Day: 9 National Dog Walker Appreciation Day: 10 Banana Day: 11 National Day of Encouragement: 12 International Chocolate Day: 13 National Peanut Day: 13 National Kreme Filled Donut Day: 14 Google.com Day: 15 National Guacamole Day: 16 Batman Day: 18 National Cheeseburger Day: 18 Wife Appreciation Day: 19 National String Cheese Day: 20 National Chai Day: 21 Ice Cream Cone Day: 22 National White Chocolate Day: 22 Vegan Baking Day: 24 National Lobster Day: 25 World Tourism Day: 27

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National Drink Beer Day: 28 National Biscotti Day: 29 World Heart Day: 29 National Mulled Cider Day: 30

MARKETING CALENDAR

OCTOBER 2021 Daily Holiday

International Coffee Day: 1

World Vegetarian Day World Farm Animals Day: 2

Pickle Day: 3

National Taco Day: 4 World Teachers Day: 5 National Pumpkin Seed Day: 6 National Chocolate Covered Pretzel Day: 7 Bagel Day: 8 National Salmon Day: 8 National Chess Day: 9 National Cake Decorating Day: 10 Columbus Day: 11 National Farmer's Day: 12 National Fossil Day: 13 Be Bald and Be Free Day: 14 National Cheese Curd Day: 15 World Food Day: 16 National Pasta Day: 17 National Chocolate Cupcake Day: 18

Chicken and Waffles Day: 20 National Nut Day: 22 Make A Difference Day:23 Food Day: 24

National Chicken Fried Steak Day: 26 Cranky Co-workers Day: 27 National Chocolate Day: 28 Internet Day: 29 National Candy Corn Day: 30 National Caramel Apple Day: 31 National Toasted Marshmallow Day: 30 National Matchmaker Day: 31

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A NOTE FOR OUR SUPPLIER MEMBERS Hey there, Supplier Member.

Hopefully by now you have seen quite a few changes in the way NICRA is improving member benefits and communicating with our members.

Our main method of communication is still our monthly Bulletin published on the 10th of each month. Up until recently, the NICRA Bulletin has struggled to attract advertisers and we have been offering free ads to those supplier members who contributed an article.

THE GOOD NEWS IS.....

We have recently put extra effort into increasing the effectiveness of the Bulletin with the following functions: Full Color Front Cover President and Executive Director Messages Monthly Food Safety Articles Marketing and Event Calendars More Links to articles and online content.

This has led to high engagement through open rates and link clicks.

With this higher engagement, we are having more inquiries by Supplier Members about advertising to our members again in the Bulletin. For this purpose, we are publishing the NICRA Bulletin Advertising rates for 2021.

Please find them as follows: 1 issues 3 issues

6 issues

11

issues 1/4 page

$70

$65

$60

$50

1/2 page

$90

$85

$80

$70

Full Page

$160

$150

$140

$120

DISPLAY ADVERTISING Frequency rates are based on the total number of insertions used within a twelvemonth period.

Space Reservations: 10th of month preceding publication Material Deadline: 15th of month preceding publication.

Please direct any questions to Steve Christensen, Executive Director at the below contact details.

743 Spirit 40 Park Dr, Suite 121, Chesterfield MO 63005 636 778 1822 * Toll Free: 866-303-6960 E-Mail: info@nicra.org * Web: www.nicra.org

NICRA OFFICERS 2021 President Dave Deadman, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Madison, WI Vice President Patti Otte, Sweet Firefly Gourmet Ice Cream, Richardson.

TX Treasurer Charlie Wilcox, Marianne’s Ice Cream, Santa Cruz, CA

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Secretary Kelly Larson, Sweet Temptations, Grand Haven, MI Immediate Past President George Xouris, Andia's Ice Cream, Cary, NC Executive Director Steve Christensen, Chesterfield, MO Terms Ending Annual Meeting 2021 Bob Hearn, Hearn’s Ice Cream, St Mary’s ON Canada Zach Burton, Nielsen Massey, Waukegan IL Christine D’Amico, Over the Top, Pleasant Hill IA Terms Ending Annual Meeting 2022 Charlie Bomboy, Bomboy's Homemade Ice Cream, Havre De Grace, MD Dirk White, The Alaskan Creamery, Sitka, AK Kyle Cameron, Joy Cone Company, Wirtz, PA Rick Pizzi, Pizzi Farm Ice Cream, Waltham, MA Jill Curran, Kimball Farm, Inc., Westford, MA Terms Ending Annual Meeting 2023 Valerie Henrici, Sue Kloter, Donnie Montgomery, Andy Jones, 2020 SUPPLIER OFFICERS President Ben Keser, Novelty Cone, Pennsauken Township, NJ Vice President Evan Waldt, Ice Cream Equipment Spec. Reno, NV Secretary/Treasurer Nichole Theriault, I.Rice & Company, Inc.. Philadelphia, PA Chairman Kyle Cameron, Joy Cone Co., Hermitage, PA COMMITTEES AND COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN Executive Committee David Deadman, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Madison, WI Nominating Committee George Xouris, Andia’s Homemade Ice Cream, Morrisville, NC

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Convention Committee Dave Deadman, Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream, Madison, WI Membership Committee Patti Otte, Sweet Firefly Gourmet Ice Cream, Richardson. TX Ice Cream Clinic Committee Christine D’Amico, Over the Top, Pleasant Hill IA Scholarship Committee Sue Kloter, Kloter Ice Cream Barn, Ellington, CT NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY NICRA is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all of its endeavors. To that end, NICRA shall not tolerate any words or acts of discrimination, harassment or any inappropriate behavior in general against any person affiliated with NICRA, including its members and guests, with regard to race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.

This Bulletin is published by: National Ice Cream Retailers Association 743 Spirit 40 Park Dr., Suite 121 Chesterfield, MO 63005

George Xouris, Chairman Publications Committee Steve Christensen, Executive Director, National Ice Cream Retailers Association.

This issue of the NICRA Bulletin is now available online at http://www.nicra.org. Click on the Members Only button and enter your Username and Password. If you cannot find your Username and Password, call the NICRA office at 866-303-6960 or send an e-mail to info@nicra.org requesting the information.

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