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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/230121
TOP OF THE NEWS duced in the United States Senate, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act (S.1756), as a thoughtful approach to providing the necessary flexibility and understanding of convenience store foodservice operations. The bill is similar to legislation introduced in the House earlier this year. "This legislation will allow the Food & Drug Administration to satisfy Congress' objectives without unnecessarily burdening most convenience stores," said NACS Senior Vice President of Government Relations Lyle Beckwith. "It treats restaurants like restaurants and convenience stores like convenience stores." The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law in March 2010, includes a provision that calls for a national, uniform nutritiondisclosure standard for foodservice establishments. Regulations implementing this provision, released in 2011, would create rigid requirements that pose an unreasonable burden on many businesses, particularly convenience stores. The proposed regulations would require chain restaurants, "similar retail food establishments," and vending machines with 20 or more locations to provide specific nutritional information, including calorie-counts on menus, menu boards and drivethru boards. Self-service items such as buffets and salad bars must contain caloric information "adjacent" to the item. Retailers would have to provide additional nutrition information in writing upon request. The bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO) and Angus King (I-ME) codifies a less burdensome approach to menu labeling and includes language addressing the types of retail locations that are covered by federal menu-labeling requirements. Specifically, the legislation limits PPACA's menu labeling provision to establishments that derive 50% or more of their revenue from food that is intended for immediate consumption or prepared and processed on-site. Prepackaged food would not be considered in this equation. Given that 17% 6 november/december 2013 of convenience stores' in-store revenue dollars is derived from prepackaged food, according to the NACS State of the Industry Report of 2012 Data, most convenience stores would be exempt under the new legislation. Some convenience stores that have business models similar to those of restaurants, however, would still be covered. For those convenience stores that would be covered by federal menulabeling requirements, the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act provides more flexibility with compliance. Retailers could select from several approaches in providing calorie information. For instance, pizza sellers could provide calories either per slice or for the whole pizza. The legislation also would allow retailers more flexibility in providing calorie ranges as opposed to a specific number, which is often more difficult to define with made-to-order food. "Convenience stores and their food offerings vary greatly — even those that are part of the same chain — based largely on their location and customer base. This legislation provides retailers with the flexibility they need to communicate calorie nutrition information. More important, it sets realistic requirements for how businesses are classified under these regulations," said Beckwith. NACS has been actively engaged with the FDA during the regulatory process, ensuring that the agency understands the convenience store industry's unique perspective on federal nutrition disclosure obligations. "This legislation would allow FDA to meet the objectives of the menulabeling law without unnecessarily burdening retailers that rightfully should be outside of its scope," said Beckwith. INDUSTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS nOPW Acquires Fibrelite and KPS in Separate Transactions OPW, an operating unit within Dover Corporation's Energy segment, a glob- al leader in fluid handling solutions, announced that it has completed two acquisitions. OPW has acquired UK-based Fibrelite, a leader in composite access covers and containment systems for retail fueling sites and Sweden-based Kungsors Plast AB, a leader in high density polyethylene fusion piping systems for retail fueling sites. Terms of each transaction were not disclosed. "The combination of three of the most respected brands in the retail petroleum industry, OPW, KPS, and Fibrelite creates an unprecedented portfolio of complementary best-inclass products. This enables us to provide our customers with the best solution available, supplied and supported from a single source, anywhere in the world," stated David Crouse, OPW President. "By leveraging each company's strengths, we create the best team to develop even more innovative solutions to address the evolving needs of our global customer base." "The addition of Fibrelite and KPS is consistent with the OPW platform growth strategy," stated Soma Somasundaram, President and CEO of Dover Energy. "It's exciting to consider the breadth of solutions and possibilities that will result from leveraging the strengths of these marketleading companies." nFuel Relief Fund Haiyan Announcement In the aftermath and destruction of Super Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the Fuel Relief Fund is announcing a response to Tacloban, capitol city of the Philippine province Leyte. After deployment, Fuel Relief Fund will begin providing gas and diesel to aid individuals, other nonprofit organizations, clinics, medical groups, or others in need. Typically fuel is used for generators, pumps, vehicles, heating and other missioncritical needs. Fuel Relief Fund is asking for any and all monetary contributions to help in this response. Please send checks to the address listed below, visit the Fuel NPN Magazine n www.npnweb.com