instore - May 2018 - 8

news

NEED TO KNOW
Toufayan
celebrating
anniversary
Food
retailers
are more
restaurant delivery
and online meal kit
channels among
all surveyed
demographics.

57%
64%
60%
51%
67%
Total US Diners

Millennial Diners

Toufayan Bakeries, one of the largest family-owned
commercial bakeries in America, is celebrating its 50th
year in business. The company - headquartered in
New Jersey, with additional facilities in Florida - sells
more than 100 varieties of breads and baked goods. It
is credited with helping start the pita craze and introducing U.S. consumers to ethnic breads.
"We found early success selling traditional breads
within the ethnic community," says Harry Toufayan.
"But at some point, just a few years after we opened,
I was picking up a deli order at the local supermarket
and thought, wow, this would be a great place for pita
bread, which was very hard to find in those days."
The company refocused its attention on grocery
stores and some forward-thinking buyers placed
orders, helping kick off the rise of pita bread. In addition to introducing traditional breads, Toufayan also
stays current with on-trend options, such as the Smart
Bagel, a scooped-out bagel with fewer calories, as well
as a line of gluten-free wraps.
The third generation of the Toufayan family now oversees the entire production process, from ingredient
sourcing to distribution.

Food packaging container leader Inline Plastics Corp.
has completed the renovation and repurposing of one
of its facilities in Milford, Connecticut.
The building is now a high-tech corporate research
and development facility known as the Innovation
Center. It includes a technical library, an upgraded
quality lab and thermoforming machines to design,
develop and test products before mass production.
"The Inline Plastics RD&E team is constantly developing ideas and products that transform how food
products are packaged and marketed to consumers,"
says Steve Introne, director of RD&E and corporate
quality for Inline. "This new Innovation Center was
strategically designed to not only foster that creativity,
but to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of our
new product development processes."
The planning, design and construction of the center
took more than a year. A ribbon-cutting and tour of the
revamped facility were held March 27.

IDDBA names
education director

Boomer Diners

The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association has
named a new education director. Angela Bozo will
direct projects in professional development, research
and training for Madison, Wisconsin-based IDDBA,
including work on the association's trends report and
the Show and Sell program at its annual show.

Diners with Kids

Before joining IDDBA, Bozo worked for 15 years as
senior manager of retail event and merchandising for
Portland, Oregon-based New Seasons Market.

Gen X Diners

53%

Diners without Kids
SOURCE: DATASSENTIAL

8 * MAY 2018 * instore

Harry Toufayan started Toufayan Bakeries in 1968.

"We're excited for this new addition to our team," says
Jeremy Johnson, IDDBA's vice president of education.
"Angela's experience at New Seasons Market will
be instrumental in ensuring that our products and
programs meet the needs of retailers."

convenient than

Inline Plastics opens
new R&D facility

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of instore - May 2018