The Bulletin-June 2023

AMESSAGEFROMTHE EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR

HappyJune!

Now that we are open for Conecon2023 early bird registration, we can see exactlyhowpopularthisyear’stradeshowandconventionwillbe

We have always opened up the accommodation link at the same time as registration and each year we see the same trend. Exhibitors and attendees typically book their hotel to ensure a room at the facility As there is generally a 2 month early bird ticket window, hotel room bookings are an early indicator of registrationnumbers.

After only being available for 3 weeks we are already at 45% sold out in hotel rooms

So the message here is, get in a book your hotel now if you haven’t You can followthelinkatwww.conecon.org.Youcanalsoseetheagenda,andbuyyour discountedticketsthere

Also, we are mere days away from the opening of the 2023 Association Clinic and Best New Flavor award registration. The best of the best frozen desserts in multiplecategorieswillbejudgedthisyeartoseewhotakeshomethecoveted ribbons,trophiesandawards.

We recently posted a great podcast with the chair of the ice cream clinic committeeChristineDAmicoregardingnewrules,relaxedrulesandchangesto someofthecategories It’samustlistenforallmembers

We hope you continue to have a great season and look forward to seeing you inLasVegasthisyear.

SteveChristensen

ExecutiveDirector

Food Safety Corner

PathogenEnvironmentalMonitoringProgram (PEMP):AMeanstoVerifySanitationEfficacy

A robust PEMP aggressively looks for environmental bacteria, such as Listeria monocytogenes and/or Salmonella, capable of causing foodborne illnesses When these bacteria are found, aggressive documented actions are taken to eliminate/control these bacteria.

The manufacturing environment of ice cream isveryfavorableforthegrowthofListeriaspp bacteria, and we certainly do not want to contributetothesetypesofmediaheadlines:

CDC: Deadly listeria outbreak linked to ice cream

XXXXXX Ice Cream Company recalls Ice Cream Sold in 9 U.S. States Over Listeria Contamination

Risks of Eating Listeria Recalled XXXXX Ice Cream

XXXXX Company Recalls All Ice Cream Products Over Possible Listeria Contamination

PEMPisacomponentofthe“PathogenControl Equation”

The “Pathogen Control Equation” depicts a hurdle approach to controlling environmental pathogens

Environmental Monitoring is a means to verify efficacy of the prior components. If one or more of these components fail, then a positive environmental swab may occur

A thorough PEMP Program follows the Seek and Destroy methodology meaning if harmful bacteria are present in our facility,wewanttofinditanderadicateit This entails continually assessing the data collected to determine if the control systems, numbers 1-5 in the Pathogen Control Equation, are impactful in controlling Listeria and Salmonella The seek-and-destroy process is a systematic approach to finding harborage sites in areas of ice cream manufacturing plants, with the goal of either eradicating or mitigating effects of these strains. It is important that the person taking/collecting these talsampleswabsistrainedin r swabbing technique and harborage locations of these cteria. Swab sites selected rallareasofmanufacturing:

ood-Contact Surfaces (FCS), may include a surface that ainsorisdrawnontoFCS

Non-FCS surfaces near food

More remote non-FCS of the rocessingZone(CPZ)

on-FCSremoteareasoutside

Note: Prior to collecting Zone 1 swabs, it would behoove one to collect and analyze a number of Zone 2 and 3 samples to understand the current environment of the CPZ for ice cream manufacturing.AlsowhenswabsamplingZone 1 and/or Zone 2 consider holding the products producedatthattime

CoupleofZone3swabsites:

Note: These swab sites (under a standing platform and under a piece of equipment in a channeled area) are those which may pose some difficulties in cleaning therefore pose a potentialListeriaharboragesite.

Confirmation of a Listeria spp is not necessary because the presence of Listeria spp. indicatestheenvironmentissuch that any species of Listeria could grow

Enhanced Monitoring: implemented when a specific area of the plant indicatesanincreaseinenvironmental Therefore, an area in Routing Monitoring with positive results is transitionedtoEnhancedMonitoring The program should include Verification Swab Sampling which is done following a positive Routine monitoring and/or EnhancedMonitoringresult

The verification swab set is completed following the corresponding corrective action / preventiveaction(CAPA)

Thepurposeofverificationswabs is to verify efficacy of a CAPA taken

Verification sampling must be completed following each presumptive positive for Listeria spp.

Awell-documentedCorrectiveActon must follow each presumptive positivesample,

Dateandtimeofswab

Descriptionofswablocation

The program should consist of two types of monitoring:

Routine Monitoring: conducted to verify on-going controls (eg Sanitation, GMPs and Personal Hygiene) for an environmentalpathogen.

Swabs taken should be analyzed for Listeria spp with action taken upon anyListeriaspp positives

TimetofinishedresultsforListeria spp., as compared to Listeria monocytogenes, is quicker allowing for expedited corrective action/preventative actions (CAPA).

Confirmation of a Listeria spp. is not necessary because the presence of Listeria spp indicatestheenvironmentissuch

Nameofpersontakingtheswab May include modifications to the sanitation process or employee practices

A cross-functional investigation team should be utilized to assist in gatheringinformationthatmayhave contributed to the environmental swabsample

Investigative/vector swabbing should be conducted to help identify source

Thepurposeofvectorswabbingisto determine if the contamination has spread or originates at a site upstreamfromtheinitialpositive Vector swabbing entails taking additional environmental samples around the initial positive site and doneina'starburst'pattern.

Three consecutive sets of Verification

Swabs are needed to return swab site back to Routine Monitoring This swab set should be completed in a timely manner relative to the area being swabbed Eg IfthepositiveisinZ1orZ2, then 3 consecutive production runs shouldbeswabsampled

Presumptive positives from Verification Swabs are typically confirmed so be sure to hold product for Zone 1 &/or Zone 2 swabs. The products must be held until acceptable results are obtained.

Bryce Bryce

Note: Reason for holding product from a Zone 2 swab allows the team to evaluate thelocationoftheswabanddeterminethe likelihoodofthepotentialforcontaminating aZone1site.

ApplicationCloses: September4th

S Scholarship cholarship CLICKHEREFOR

MOREINFORMATION

BrianKraus,DirectorofFoodSafety&Regulatory Compliance,WellsBlueBunnyIceCream AmandaKehres,SeniorDirectorofQualityAssurance, Graeter’sIceCreamCompany

Thomson Thomson

3EASYWAYSTOIMPROVESTORE OPERATIONS

Take a moment and think about when you learned how to drive a car You were probably nervous and definitely excited If you ’ re like most, you also had someone experienced in the passenger seat walking you through what to do first, and what’s going to happen next. Put your hands here, move this lever to D, check your mirrors Things you now take for granted and naturally do when you get behind the wheel were once new and unfamiliar Now, correlate that with re-opening your ice creamshop

Too often we blow past the basics, but when you are first opening for the season there is no better time to create good habits and re-visit how you want your stand to be run. In this article we’ll give you three great steps to address getting off on therightfoot.Evenifyou’vealreadystarted running, or are able to run year round, there’s never a bad time to make sure you ’ ve got your hands at 9 and 5 before pullingoutofthedriveway

1 Opening and closing checklists and procedures – If you don’t open the store right, you’ll find yourself working all day feeling like you constantly need to catch up. If you don’t close the night before in a way that sets up your morning, you ’ re behind before you even open the doors. One tried and true method to consistency is having checklists that walk through the procedures of how to open and close Be clear about what the expectations are Don’tjustsay“mopthefloor”say

“ move the tables and chairs, sweep and thenmop”Clearlydefinedprocesseshelp everyone. Unfortunately, checklists are easilyforged,andthereforenotasurefire solution There are programs like Google Keep that can be used so you can see them happen real time, but again, that can be blown off. Unfortunately, the only way to know for sure it’s being done is to check and hold accountability. Which leadsmetomynextpoint

2. Have performance conversations with your staff – I get it, they’re just seasonal They’re just “kids.” There are a million reasons why you shouldn’t do this, but there’s one great reason that you should. It’s your business and you rely on it Statistics show that people of all ages want to know how they are performing and want to get consistent feedback You won’t scare away your staff by telling them what you need from them, just make sure it’s not all negative. There’s nothingwrongwithsaying“you’regreatat keeping things clean, but you keep forgetting to close out the cash register. Let’s work on that” Listen to your employees and give them feedback, especially if they say they don’t understandhowtodosomethingtheway youwant,whichmeansyouhaveto

3. Have a focus on training standards –Too many people blow by training after the first week. There’s no reason you can’t reinforce training more often than that Thereareamillionresourcesonhowto

do things like cleaning your machine on YouTube and manufacturer websites Use them! Bookmark them on a phone and sendthemtoyourstafftowatch Thatway when you do hold accountability and they say “but I don’t know how to do that” you havealevertopull

While these three things might not be as exciting to talk about as a new flavor you wanttotryoranewsundaeyousawonTik Tok, they are vital to your operation throughout the summer and rest of the year Take some time to get them right, andyouwillhaveahappystaff,happy customers, and plenty of time to figure out thatfreakshakeyou’vebeenwantingtotry.

BrianZeit DirectorofSales KappusCompany

www.kappuscompany.com

sYouNeedtoKnow AIInMarketing

Artificialintelligence(AI)isabuzzwordthat has been around for decades, but it’s only recently that the technology has become affordableandaccessibletobusinesses AI in marketing uses automated technologies to enhance customer experience and satisfaction through data collection, analysis, promotional tactics, and streamlined marketing So what does this mean for your business moving forwards? Luckily, here at TargetMarket, we ’ ve got the scoopforyouregardingthingsyouneedto knowaboutAIinmarketing.

EnhancingPersonalizationAcross Channels

Getting your needs met is a basic human function so how does that roll over into the marketing landscape? Personalization is a key trend in marketing, and AI in marketing can help to deliver personalized experiences Through personalization, a company can help to build trust within the targeted audience It can even assist in positioning the brand or service in the marketplace. AI can discover customer behaviorsandpreferencesandtailorfuture communications with those potential or currentconsumers

StreamliningTediousProcesses

Let’s be honest, repetitive tasks can sometimes make your head spin However, as a marketing professional, many repetitive tasks, such as sending emails andschedulingsocialmediaposts,are

always in the cards. With AI, these tasks can be automated, freeing up time for marketers to focus on more strategic activities In terms of other tedious processes, AI can help to test different strategic initiatives and creative platforms

AnalyzingConsumerBehaviors

AI can be used to analyze large amounts ofdataandidentifypatternsandinsights that would be difficult to uncover manually Thisincludesdataoncustomer behavior, advertising performance, and campaignresults

SEOKeywordResearch

AI in marketing can automatically generatelistsofrelevantkeywordsbased on your target topic or niche. These tools use natural language processing to identify patterns and trends in the way people search for information online Additionally, artificial intelligence can analyze how keywords are performing in real-time and identify opportunities to optimizeyourcampaigns.

MarketResearch

Market research is the intersection between consumer behavior and economic trends Together, they can help to inform and improve your business ideas Some factors that can help get a goodsenseofyourmarketinclude

demand, market size, location, and pricing. AI can be a powerful tool for market research due to its ability to identify trends and patterns that may go unnoticed if not forquickandaccuratedataanalysis

Data-DrivenDecisionMaking

Decision-making in the workplace can feel laborious Making the best decision possible often requires a lot of time and energy not to mention a sense of accountability once the decision has been made The Harvard Business Review breaks down the decision-making model into four parts:

1

Bigdata,usingmachineslikeAI

2.

3

Summarizeddata Humanjudgment Businessdecisions

4. The big data that eventually informs a business decision is made from transactions,

clicks, likes, impressions, and other key performance indicators that would be nearly impossible to collect just through humanprocessing.

TheConsOfAIInMarketing

The pros of AI in marketing are plenty, yet there are still shortcomings of these intelligence machines As machines, they oftenlackthecreativityandpersonalization that one could get from a human relationship. This means they lack essential human emotions such as empathy and concern. Additionally, they lack the imagination and human creativity that has made some of the world’s most successful campaigns.

TargetMarket

StrivingforBetter Operations

Whetheryourunalargeorsmallicecream shop, your standard operations and procedures can mean the difference between wondrous success or debilitating losses Keepreadingtolearnwhatyoucan do to streamline processes, waste less suppliesandminimizeyourlaborcosts

It’sNotOneSingleThing,It’sEverything

There isn’t a single silver bullet that can improve your shop’s myriad of procedures Rather, it’s important to take a comprehensive approach to optimization Multiple small changes can create a snowball effect that builds over time You maynotseetheimpacttomorrowbutstay patientandyou’lldiscoverresultsthatwere worthwaitingfor

StreamlineYourProcesses

Talk with any operator, and they can tell you about several processes that seem more complicated than they should be It couldbecleaningoutamachine,ahiccup during shift changes, or a simple incorrect order

For example, we recently had several customers come to us with a wish for a quicker cleaning process for their frozen dessert equipment They felt their current procedures were needlessly time consuming and labor intensive, taking an hour or more and requiring them to take apartandreassembletheirentiremachine

After investigating, we developed a kit that included all the necessary components for proper machine maintenance The inclusion of SteraSheen Green Label eliminates the need for 3 separate products, since it is a cleaner, sanitizer and milkstone remover all in one. The kit also significantly cuts down procedure time, and boasts improvedcleaningandsanitizing.

AuditYourSupplies

Sometimes, a small change in supply purchasescanmakeabigdifference.For example, do your customers tend to eat their ice cream at your location, or take it to go? If they’re sticking around, you might be able to cut back on to-go lids or extra napkins. Moving those supplies like napkins and disposable silverware behind the counter can also prevent customers from taking more than they actuallyneed.

It’s also worth thinking about how your cleaningproductsimpactcosts.Arethere extraneous products that are impacting your bottom line? It could also be worth looking at whether there are other solutionsthatcovermultiplejobs.Didyou know Stera-Sheen Green Label can be used on surfaces, utensils, beverage dispensers and ice machines? You can eliminate unnecessary purchases by consolidatingyoursupplies.

Utilize Your Vendors and Equipment Partners

Food waste is always top of mind, but have you considered the money that might be saved by clarifying your cleaning procedures? Your preferred vendors and equipmentpartnerscanhelpyoudetermine if you ’ re using too much or too little solution or cleaning a machine too frequently or not enough Your equipment partners can review your SOP and recommend tweaks that can lead to less money spent on suppliesandlabor

LaborIsaCostLikeAnyOther

Remember that any way you can simplify your operational procedures will have a positive effect on your employees, allowing them to spend less time on arduous tasks and more time assisting customers. It will also help you consolidate your workforce and ultimately spend less money on labor overall

KeepTrying!

With the constant hustle and bustle of ice creamsales,it’sextremelyeasytofallintoa routine. If you can find the time to truly examine your operations and take steps to improve them, you ’ re guaranteed to save time,moneyandsanity!

AbouttheAuthor

PurdyProductsCompanybeganwithjusta single product for commercial dairy equipment over 70 years ago Today, they offer a wide array of Stera-Sheen solutions forthefoodserviceindustry,manufacturing them right here in the USA. Talk with us at sterasheen

TING CALENDAR

JUNE

2023 Daily Holidays

NationalCrackerJackDay:16 FudgeDay:16

StewartsRootBeerDay:17 MermaidDay:18

GlobalBeatlesDay:25

NationalCoconutDay:26

NationalOnionDay:27

WorldCameraDay:29

CaliforniaAvocadoDay:30

SocialMediaDay:30

JULY 2023 Daily Holidays

CanadaDay:1

MadeInTheUSADay:2

SupermanDay:3

FourthofJulyorIndependenceDay:4

FriedChickenDay:6

ChocolateDay:7

CocaColaDay:8

PiñaColadaDay:10

TeddyBears'PicnicDay:10

MakeYourOwnSundaeDay:11

NationalPecanPieDay:12

NationalNitrogenIceCreamDay:13

NationalFrenchFryDay:14

GummiWormDay:15

NationalIceCreamDay:16

NationalHotDogDay:17

NationalSourCandyDay:18

InternationalBalloonDogDay:19

NationalLollipopDay:20

NationalPajamaDay:21

NationalMangoDay:22

NationalParentsDay:23

NationalFrozenMargaritaDay:24

CarouselDay:25

BagelfestDay:26

NationalHamburgerDay:28

NationalRefreshmentDay:27

NationalMilkChocolateDay:28

RainDay:29

CheesecakeDay:30

NationalAvocadoDay:31

ANOTEFOR OURSUPPLIER MEMBERS

Heythere,SupplierMember.Hopefullyby nowyouhaveseenquiteafewchangesin thewaytheassociationisimproving memberbenefitsandcommunicatingwith ourmembers

Ourmainmethodofcommunicationisstill ourmonthlyBulletinpublishedonthe10thof eachmonth Upuntilrecently,TheBulletin hasstruggledtoattractadvertisersandwe havebeenofferingfreeadstothosesupplier memberswhocontributedanarticle

DISPLAYADVERTISING

Frequencyratesarebasedonthetotal numberofinsertionsusedwithinatwelvemonthperiod.

SpaceReservations:10thofmonth precedingpublication

MaterialDeadline:15thofmonthpreceding publication

PleasedirectanyquestionstoSteveChristensen, ExecutiveDirectoratthebelowcontactdetails

6367781822*TollFree:866-303-6960 E-Mail:info@icecreamassociationorg* Web:wwwicecreamassociationorg

Wehaverecentlyputextraeffortinto increasingtheeffectivenessoftheBulletin withthefollowingfunctions:

FullColorFrontCover PresidentandExecutiveDirectorMessages

MonthlyFoodSafetyArticles

MarketingandEventCalendars MoreLinkstoarticlesandonlinecontent.

Thishasledtohighengagementthrough openratesandlinkclicks.

Withthishigherengagement,wearehaving moreinquiriesbySupplierMembersabout advertisingtoourmembersagaininthe Bulletin Forthispurpose,wearepublishing TheBulletinAdvertisingratesfor2022

AssociationOfficers2023

President

KellyLarson,SweetTemptations,Grand Haven,MI

VicePresident

RickPizzi,PizziFarms,Waltham,MA

Treasurer

MegCapannari,CapannariIceCreamand Catering,MtProspect,IL

ImmediatePastPresident

DaveDeadman,ChocolateShoppeIce Cream,Madison,WI

SupplierPresident

EvanWaldt,IceCreamEquipment Specialists,Gainesville,FL

ExecutiveDirector

SteveChristensen,Wildwood,MO

COMMITTEESANDCOMMITTEECHAIRMAN

ExecutiveCommittee

KellyLarson,SweetTemptations,Grand Haven,MI

NominatingCommittee

DaveDeadman,ChocolateShoppeIce Cream,Madison,WI

ConventionCommittee

KellyLarson,SweetTemptations,GrandHaven, MI

MembershipCommittee

RickPizzi,PizziFarms,Waltham,MA

IceCreamClinicCommittee

ChristineD’Amico,OvertheTop,PleasantHillIA

ScholarshipCommittee

SueKloter,KloterIceCreamBarn,Ellington,CT

NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY

The Association is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination in all of its endeavors. To that end, we shall not tolerate any words or acts of discrimination, harassment or any inappropriate behavior in general against any person affiliated with the association, including its members and guests, with regard to race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.