Issue link: http://osercommunicationsgroup.uberflip.com/i/510145
R e s t a u r a n t D a i l y N e w s 4 7 Tu e s d a y, M a y 1 9 , 2 0 1 5 COFFEE MAY PROTECT THE BRAIN Drinking coffee may be associated with a lower risk of developing multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a just- released study presented at the American Academy of Neurology's 67th Annual Meeting in Washington, DC, April 18 to 25, 2015. "Caffeine intake has been associat- ed with a reduced risk of Parkinson's and Alzheimer 's diseases, and our study shows that coffee intake may also protect against MS, supporting the idea that the drug may have protective effects for the brain," said study author Ellen Mowry, MD, MCR, with Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. For the study, researchers looked at a Swedish study of 1,629 people with MS and 2,807 healthy people, and a U.S. study of 1,159 people with MS and 1,172 healthy people. The studies characterized coffee consumption among persons with MS one and five years before MS symptoms began (as well as 10 years before MS symptoms began in the Swedish study) and com- pared it to coffee consumption of peo- ple who did not have MS at similar time periods. The study also accounted for other factors such as age, sex, smoking, body mass index, and sun exposure habits. The Swedish study found that com- pared to people who drank at least six cups of coffee per day during the year before symptoms appeared, those who did not drink coffee had about a one and a half times increased risk of developing MS. Drinking large amounts of coffee five or 10 years before symptoms started was similarly protective. In the US study, people who didn't drink coffee were also about one and a half times more likely to develop the disease than those who drank four or more cups of coffee per day in the year before symptoms started to develop the disease. "Caffeine should be studied for its impact on relapses and long-term disability in MS as well," said Mowry. The study was supported by the Swedish Medical Research Council, the Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare, the Knut and Alice Wallenberg, AFA, and Swedish Brain Foundations, the Swedish Association for Persons with Neurological Disabilities and the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Institute on Aging. JAMES M. COX FOUNDATION SUPPORTS FARM TO SCHOOL PROGRAM The James M. Cox Foundation has made a $250,000 grant to Georgia Organics in support of the organiza- tion's Farm to School (F2S) program. F2S is a nationwide movement that connects schools and local farms to serve healthy meals in school cafete- rias, improve student nutrition and promote farm or gardening educational opportunities. Georgia Organics founded the state's first F2S program in 2007 and has since implemented the pro- gram in 30 school districts. The organ- ization currently has a three-year fundraising campaign that will deepen the existing F2S programs with an anticipated impact on 900,000 students statewide. "It is an exciting time to be a part of the Farm to School movement," said Alex Taylor, Cox Enterprises Executive Vice President and great- grandson of company Founder James M. Cox. "These programs not only bring healthy food to our children, they also teach them about how to grow healthy food and that is a power- ful investment in the future." The F2S program increases children's exposure to fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as provides positive economic benefits. According to the Georgia Department of Economic Development, agribusiness is the state's leading industry and contributes $71.1 billion to Georgia's economy. However, much of what Georgia grows is sent out of state. The F2S program allows farmers to sell closer to home and introduce children to Georgia's rich agricultural heritage. "A successful Farm to School pro- gram depends on many partners, and the James M. Cox Foundation is play- ing an important role in our expan- sion," said Georgia Organics' Executive Director Alice Rolls. "Farm to School has a great story to tell through offering fresh, healthy foods, lifetime learning experiences, school gardens, recycling techniques, com- posting, farm visits and more. By par- ticipating in these programs, Georgia's students have the opportunity to expe- rience history and achieve a healthier future." Cox Enterprises is a long-time partner of Georgia Organics through its national sustainability program, Cox Conserves. BUTTERBALL BUYS SECOND NORTH CAROLINA PLANT Butterball, LLC has purchased a strate- gically located further processing facili- ty in Raeford, North Carolina. The pur- chase of this facility, closed by its previ- ous owners in December 2014, was completed on February 19, 2015, and will help the company continue to meet growing consumer demand for a variety of Butterball turkey products. "We are extremely excited to expand Butterball's further processing operations in Raeford, N.C., and for the opportunity to further strengthen our ties with the community," noted Kerry Doughty, Butterball President and Chief Executive Officer. "Over the next 12 months we anticipate investing nearly $30 million in improvements for the facility, totaling more than 200,000- square-feet, and enhancing its produc- tion capacity to 200 million pounds annually." Beyond the business rationale for this acquisition, this move also is impor- tant to Butterball, given its longstanding ties to local communities throughout the state, including Raeford, where Butterball already employs nearly 200 people in its hatchery operations and Western Breeder Division. For more than 60 years, Butterball has remained committed to helping generate positive economic impact in areas where it oper- ates across the nation by employing a significant number of people and invest- ing capital to make its communities stronger. The company is proud that, through this acquisition, it will provide an opportunity for more than 200 initial jobs for those in the Raeford communi- ty, and more than 360 jobs over the next three years. FOOD LION NAMES RHONDA MAULDIN 2014 STORE MANAGER OF THE YEAR Food Lion has named Rhonda Mauldin its 2014 Store Manager of the Year. Mauldin, who is the Store Manager of the Food Lion located at 1004 W. Georgia Road in Simpsonville, South Carolina, was selected from a group of more than 1,100 store managers across the compa- ny. "I really don't think of myself as an exceptional store manager; however, what I do think of as exceptional is my team," Mauldin said after receiving the award. "They really are the reason I'm here today, and I'm honored to accept this award on their behalf." Mauldin was honored at an annual event at Food Lion's headquarters in Salisbury, North Carolina, which was attended by her family and colleagues. This is not the first time Food Lion or the grocery store industry has lauded Mauldin for her outstanding leadership skills. She received store manager excel- lence awards for her work both with Bloom and Food Lion stores in 2009, 2010, 2013 and 2014. In addition, Mauldin received Progressive Grocer's Top Women in Grocery award for the Store Manager category in 2014. "Our store managers are the face of Food Lion to our customers," said Meg Ham, President of Food Lion. "Rhonda personifies this every day by running a great store, teaching and training asso- ciates, mentoring future leaders and caring for our customers and her com- munity through outstanding service. Her store is always one of the top stores in donating meals and time for her local food bank. She is an excep- tional leader, has developed an outstanding team, and is so deserving of this honor. We're proud to have her as part of the Food Lion team." Mauldin has worked in the grocery store industry for nearly 30 years. She joined Food Lion in February 2006 as a Dry Assistant Manager in Anderson, South Carolina. Six months later, she was promoted to Store Manager and moved to Seneca, South Carolina, to serve as the store manager at this location. Because of her sharp skills for transforming busi- nesses into high-performing stores, she was later transferred to the Simpsonville, South Carolina, store location in 2007. To honor Mauldin, the company will donate $2,000 in Mauldin's name to her store's local feeding agency, Harvest Hope Food Bank, in Greenville, South Carolina. Mauldin and her team support this food bank with food donations and volunteerism throughout the year. In addition to Mauldin, three Store Managers were recognized for exceptional leadership. The 2014 Division Store Manager Excellence Award recipients include: Paul Goodnight, Store Manager at 2458 SW Cary Parkway in Cary, North Carolina; James Felix, Store Manager at 12100 Central Ave., in Mitchellville, Maryland; and Kevin Foy, Store Manager at 1304 W. Vernon Ave., in Kinston, North Carolina. Food Lion will donate $1,000 to each of the feeding agencies served by these stores in honor of the division winners. Food Lion's Store Manager Excellence Awards recognize and honor exceptional store managers who enrich the lives of Food Lion's cus- tomers, associates and the communities the company serves, successfully lead its business, and support and inspire others. For more information on Food Lion, visit www.foodlion.com.