Hoffmaster to Exhibit at Upcoming Trade Shows

Hoffmaster® is pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at the Dietary Managers Association (DMA) Fall Regional Meeting. The event takes place at the Hyatt Regency in Wichita on October 7. The Regional Meetings are popular among DMA members, who enjoy top-notch education, foodservice exhibits, and peer networking. Visit Hoffmaster in booth #14.

Hoffmaster® will also be exhibiting at the American Dietetic Association's (ADA) 2010 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE). The event takes place at the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center in Boston November 7-9, 2010. The event continues to expand – attracting a wider audience of professionals, including dietitians, sports, health and nutrition professionals, and executive chefs. Visit Hoffmaster in booth #2475.

Clearing up Confusion: Biodegradable vs. Compostable

The world continues to focus on environmental standards and solutions. Terms such as “biodegradable,” “compostable,” and “green” are used interchangeably and inaccurately. Hoffmaster® recognizes these terms can be confusing and hopes this information will help you silence some of the false or confusing claims.

Biodegradable - Material is able to decompose or break down on its own in one year or less. Essentially, the item will disappear.

*Source: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/packaging/presentations/mojo.pdf

As we all know, even items such as newspapers will not degrade in a landfill where they are not exposed to air, sunlight, etc. Even if a product has been BPI (Biodegradable Products Institute) certified, this does not mean a product is biodegradable. When the primary method of disposal is landfills where essentially nothing degrades, claiming something is biodegradable is considered deceiving and not acceptable.

*Source: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/grnrule/guides980427.htm

Compostable - According to a survey conducted by the American Chemistry Council, an item is compostable if “the material can be put back into the ground

to make soil, mulch, or fertilizer that can be used in a garden or around your home.” Materials should breakdown and be usable in a matter of months (three months to one year).

Hoffmaster’s stance: In general, our products are made from natural and renewable raw materials (trees). Our tissue napkins and bond paper placemats are considered compostable in a safe and timely manner in an appropriate composting program or facility, or in a home compost pile or device. We do not make the claim that our products are biodegradable because they are typically disposed of in a landfill and degradable is not possible in landfill conditions so this would be deceiving.
*Source: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/workshops/packaging/presentations/mojo.pdf

We work hard to keep our website up-to-date and full of exciting new features. We are proud to announce that you can now order stock products directly on http://www.hoffmaster.com/! Customers who have never had access to our stock product line before can log on and place their orders online. The home page has been updated to include links to the stock and personalized product sections of the website as well as the various social media sites Hoffmaster interacts on (Twitter, Facebook, Blog, and YouTube).

Our fully functional e-commerce website will allow you to:

     - Easily order stock or personalized products.
     - Earn Loyalty Points for discounts on future stock product orders.
     - View order history and easily reorder favorite items.

Visit Hoffmaster.com to place your order today!

Hoffmaster® Joins Wisconsin Restaurant Association

Hoffmaster® is pleased to announce that we are now a Supplier Associate Member of the Wisconsin Restaurant Association (WRA). The WRA has been in existence since 1933 as a not-for-profit trade association dedicated to supporting the foodservice industry.

WRA membership includes thousands of foodservice businesses representing virtually every size and style of establishment in the state. Restaurateur members include:

• Fine dining establishments
• Mom-and-pop supper clubs
• Small cafes
• Fast food outlets
• Corporate chain restaurants
• Institutional food service operations
• Catering businesses
• Hotel and motel food services

In addition to restaurateur and food service operators, WRA has hundreds of Supplier Associate Members like Hoffmaster® that provide goods and services to the restaurant industry. According to Cindy Herbert, Vice President of Marketing for Hoffmaster®, “Through our support of the WRA, we will be able to reach new customers to better understand their needs which will help us develop solution based products and services for the foodservice industry.”

By uniting with the WRA, we have access to information and services to help us better run and promote our businesses. And, a strong membership gives WRA a more powerful voice in pursuing its mission to protect, promote and improve the restaurant industry.

Joining the WRA let’s the state’s licensed restaurateurs know that Hoffmaster® cares about the future of Wisconsin’s restaurant industry!