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OCG Show Daily Monday, June 5, 2017 1 8 ASSURE CUSTOMERS YOU UNDERSTAND THEIR GLUTEN-FREE CONCERNS Consumers have demonstrated a growing interest in gluten-free food products over the past decade, and this trend is far from waning. The gluten-free food category grew 136 percent from 2013 to 2015, reaching $11.6 billion, according to mar- ket intelligence agency Mintel. Extending well beyond the approximate- ly one percent of the population that has celiac disease, the appeal of gluten-free products likely plays into the overall growing interest in ingredient disclosure and "free-from" labeling, as well as gen- eral interest in eating foods that con- sumers perceive to be more healthy. There is an obvious interest among food product marketers to tap into this trend by claiming their products are gluten-free. However, this raises the risk of confusion among consumers over what such claims mean. This potential for confusion led the FDA in 2013 to issue a rule that any product labeled "gluten-free" must contain a gluten limit of less than 20ppm (parts per million). While the FDA rule improved clarity in the marketplace concerning the mean- ing of gluten-free (GF) claims, the FDA does not actively police whether food manufacturers follow adequate safeguards to ensure that their GF claims are accurate. Establishing sufficient production proce- dures, appropriate testing methods and other safeguards are responsibilities left to food manufacturers themselves. Mistakes in labeling foods as GF can be costly to manufacturers and the retailers stocking their products, as well as poten- tially dangerous for consumers. Brand reputation and the poten- tial for litigation are at risk should a consumer get sick or even be misled because of a product mis- labeled as gluten free. Most retailers have little control over the internal prac- tices and safeguards of the food manu- facturers providing them with products, or the level of transparency of those man- ufacturers concerning their operations. However, retailers can gain important reassurance about a manufacturer's GF claims if those claims are certified by a reputable third-party certification pro- gram, such as Gluten Intolerance Group's (GIG's) Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO). GFCO defines minimum product, equipment and raw material testing requirements for the manufacturer. To receive GFCO's GF certification, there must be no more than 10ppm of gluten present in a food product receiving certi- fication. This standard is higher than the FDA's mandated 20ppm. Moreover, GFCO con- forms with ISO 17065, which means its certification relates to the management system and the products of the company receiv- ing certification, as opposed to being limited to a certification pertaining to the certified company's management system, as is the case with other third party certification programs adhering to ISO 17021. In other words, a certification organization conforming to ISO 17065 specifies the ppm standard to which products must conform to be certi- fied, giving retailers additional reassur- ance about what they are putting on their shelves. Retailers of premium food products want to do everything they can to ensure the quality and integrity of the items they sell. Choosing products with GFCO's GF certification is an excellent way to show consumers interested in GF foods that you understand their concerns and are looking out for them. HAND TOSSED: THE PIZZA SHOPPE THROWS IN THE TOWEL It wasn't a secret sauce that earned The Pizza Shoppe a solid reputation and loyal fan base nearly six decades ago. At this locally celebrated pizzeria in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, it's always been all about the dough. "That's what makes our pizza one- of-a-kind, and we haven't changed a single ingredient," said current owner Tony Giuggio of the recipe that yields the restaurant's signature sugary crust. "However, when we began to look at other areas of the business, we realized an unexpected place where we were spending a lot of dough – our rest- rooms." Given its five restrooms, The Pizza Shoppe staff was spending a lot of time restocking paper towels and emptying trash. "From labor, maintenance and waste removal fees to the cost of paper towels themselves, our restrooms were a significant cost center," said Giuggio. "We needed to make a change so we could continue to grow our small family business." The solution was right down the road at another family business: Excel Dryer, manufacturer of the original, patented, high-speed and energy-efficient XLERATOR ® Hand Dryer. Drying hands three times faster than conventional hand dryers while using 80 percent less energy, XLERATOR represents a typical 95-per- cent cost savings when compared to paper towels. It was the first hand dryer to be MADE IN USA Certified ® , to be BuildingGreen ® Approved and to be endorsed by the Green Restaurant Association. XLERATOR also helps facilities qualify for several LEED ® Credits. When Excel Dryer's customized cost-savings analysis revealed that switching to XLERATOR would save The Pizza Shoppe $4,587 – a 97.6-per- cent savings versus paper towels – and eliminate 2,201 pounds of paper towel waste per year, the restaurant's next step became clear. Today, its restrooms are equipped with XLERATORs, all featur- ing custom digital covers. "The covers are great and have generated a lot of attention from our customers," Giuggio said of this optional accessory, available to any facility. "Our logo and the envi- ronmental benefits of the dryers are printed right on them." Other benefits, he said, are plain to see. "XLERATOR has eliminated litter and waste in the restrooms from discard- ed paper towels, and we rarely have plumbing issues anymore," Giuggio explained. "Before, people would flush paper towels that would clog the plumbing. That seriously impacted cus- tomer satisfaction and was expensive to fix." In addition, Excel Dryer offers the only high- speed, energy-efficient hand dryers with a HEPA Filtration System that eliminates 99.97 percent of bacteria from the air. The result is superior hand hygiene, a critical consideration for the foodservice industry. Throwing in the towel has allowed The Pizza Shoppe to shift its focus on dough: less on the kind it's spending, and more on the kind for which it's known. "Excel Dryer's analysis convinced us, and now we experience the proof every day," Giuggio said. "XLERATOR is a win-win solution for small business owners." For more information, visit www.exceldryer.com. HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS FROM APRICOT POWER Apricot Power is your reliable source for quality apricot seeds, B17 products, supplements and more. It has been pro- viding raw, bitter California grown apri- cot seeds since 1999. Since then, Apricot Power has grown to sell more than 100 different high quality products and supplements to health conscious customers around the world. Its mission is to get the B17 that's been processed out of foods over the last century back into the daily diet. The Finest Quality Raw, Bitter California-Grown Apricot Seeds Picked at the peak of harvest, air-dried naturally and packed fresh, the compa- ny's seeds are ready to eat plain or grind into powder for coffee, smoothies and more. Apricot Power seeds are unprocessed, untreated and pesticide/her- bicide-free. They are laboratory-tested for quality and contain approximately 20mg of B17 per seed. B17 Capsules and Tablets Apricot Power found innovative ways to get B17 into a host of convenient and delicious items. Those that find the seeds to be too bitter to chew can now get B17 in handy capsules and tablets. It also infuses B17 into whole foods to make it easy and tasty to get B17 into the diet. Whole Food Snack Bars Apricot Power whole food snack bars are 99 percent raw, vegan, Paleo-friendly, non-GMO and contain 60mg of B17. Available flavors include apricot and blueberry. SuperFood Mix Blend it, bake it or eat it raw; the multi- functional SuperFood Mix is a delicious and nutritious dry mix that's great as a meal replacement, after workout pro- tein boost or for those on a weight- loss diet. It's rich in B17, contains 30 organic whole food ingredients and each quarter cup delivers 15 grams of protein. It is available in 45- ounce, 16-ounce and convenient 1.3- ounce single-serving sizes, including a display-ready 12-pack box. Flavors include Chocolate Brownie, Coconut Almond and Caramel. Additional flavors are planned for 2017. ApriSweet Dark Chocolate Bars Apricot Power's ApriSweet dark choco- late bars are infused with natural B17. They are hand-crafted using organic ingredients, dried apricots and apricot seeds. They are available individually or packaged in a box of 12. B17-Infused Skin Care Products The new handmade, anti-aging skin care products were formulated with organic and natural ingredients. This exclusive, three-step skin treatment deep cleans, tightens the skin and pores, and moisturizes. Essential oils and other natu- ral ingredients highlight this line. Additional products are planned for launch in 2017. Supplements and More The company offers a range of supple- ments to complement its B17 products. The Apricot Power brand supplements are high-quality and laboratory-tested. It is always looking to get into new categories. Customers Love Apricot Power The company offers 100 percent cus- tomer satisfaction. Fast delivery, accurate order fulfillment and high quality prod- ucts are the foundation of its world-class customer service that has earned it 804 reviews and a 9.4 trust score on Trust Pilot (www.trustpilot.com/review/ apricotpower.com).