Snack World - August 2012 - (Page 12)

75th Anniversary Advocating for Snacks Association enhances value to members by engaging in governmental affairs. BY BILL LEVY hen the Snack Food Association (SFA) moved to Washington, DC, in summer 1978, the primary reason was to be at the center of the action — to be involved in legislative and regulatory issues affecting the snack food industry. Government affairs continues to be at the heart of what SFA does today. Larry Burch, SFA’s former executive vice-president, orchestrated the move to the nation’s capital from Cleveland, OH, before retiring in 1984. John Cady, who went on to lead the National Food Processors Association (NFPA) for 16, served as president for the next four years, and Jim Shufelt subsequently led the organization. When Mr. Shufelt retired in 2001, SFA hired from within, and James (Jim) McCarthy, who had joined SFA as vice-president of government relations in 1991, took over as president and CEO. A Catholic University of America law school graduate, Mr. McCarthy served for 10 years as director of federal government relations for NFPA, thus he understood the issues facing not only the snack food industry but most food processors as well. 12 Snack World August 2012 www.sfa.org W Mr. McCarthy had been deeply involved in SFA’s compliance with new nutritional labeling requirements in the 1990s. He also played an integral role in an SFA-led coalition of food industry groups that fought efforts in various states to collect sales taxes on snack foods. The last of these, a 5.5% snack tax in Maine, was rescinded in 1999. Furthermore, Mr. McCarthy already was deeply involved in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)’s regulation requiring manufacturers to include trans As the Snack Food Association (SFA) celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, Snack World looks back at the association’s history as well as the future of the industry. In this issue, we discuss how SFA and snacks have evolved in the new millennium, and we go back to the early 1960s and review an event that changed the industry: the merger of Frito and Lay. We also focus on the 1970s, which proved to be a very turbulent times for snack manufacturers. Much of the information for the historical articles was sourced from 50 Years: A Foundation for the Future, the 408-page hardcover book SFA published 25 years ago as it celebrated its golden anniversary. In the next issue of Snack World, we’ll review happenings in the industry and association during the 1980s and 1990s, as well as discuss how the snack food industry had changed in the 21st century. http://www.sfa.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Snack World - August 2012

Snack World - August 2012
Table of Contents
Letter from SFA - Please Be Involved
Supplier's Corner - Opportunities Abound
SFA Update - Drought prompts petition for renewable fuels waiver
SFA Update - Potato research yields two promising varieties
SFA Update - Coalition challenges Hours of Service rule in court
Calendar of Events
75th Anniversary - Advocating for Snacks
Snacks for the New Millennium
75th Anniversary - Mega Merger
75th Anniversary - Turbulent Times
Saying farewell to Four Industry Icons
Government Affairs - Left in Limbo
Marketing - The Snack School
New Snacks
Products & Services
Ad Index

Snack World - August 2012