Jana's Classics, Portland, Ore., a provider of cookies, dough, and ice cream ingredients, will celebrate twenty years of business in August. Jana's Classics has grown from a $7,000 a year business to become one of the three largest dough-oriented inclusion companies in the nation. Today, the company produces innovative, quality products to customers through retail bakery, ingredient and food service business channels. "We've become what we are today with integrity and by being customer-focused," said Jana's Classics founder, Jana Taylor. "By exhibiting flexibility, accessibility and working closely with employees and customers, Jana's has been able to create a product that delivers on its promise while building lasting relationships based on trust and loyalty." Taylor also attributes the company's growth to agility and innovation.

In 1984,Taylor, a twice degreed food technologist and home economist, began the company on her kitchen table. Today, Jana's Classics employs more than 100 people, operates from a 75,000-square-foot facility and has annual revenues of more than $16 million.

Polytainers Inc., Toronto, recently won four major awards from the International Association of Printing House Craftsmen.

In its 29th annual International Gallery of Superb Printing competition, these four packages by Polytainers won two Gold, one Bronze and one Honorable Mention awards:

• President's Choice Organics Plain Yogurt, 500g Container (Gold).
• Danone Classic Fruit Yogurt, Field Berry, 750g Container (Gold).
• President's Choice Candy Cane Ice Cream, 1.5L Container (Bronze)
• President's Choice Peppermint Chocolate Ice Cream, 2.0L Container (Honorable Mention)

Last year, Polytainers won two awards in this same competition, and it has won a total of 21 such awards in the past two years. Superb printing is one of the key competitive advantages that Polytainers offers its clients, helping them differentiate their brands and give a lift to sales.

Seal-It, Inc, Farmingdale, N.Y., a converter and printer of heat shrink labels is introducing thermochromatic inks, an exciting new way to print shrink labels that will increase sales with the magic of color change. Color changes occur on the Seal-It shrink label because the ink is temperature sensitive. The ink has to be subjected to either hot or cold temperature in order to see the effect. The marketing potential for this ink technology is enormous. Imagine a manufacturer wanting to promote its product with a game that includes a secret code printed on the label. The consumer is instructed to put the product in the freezer in order to see the code and see if he won a prize. Other uses are for toys, interactive games, cartoon characters and to indicate perishable food products. Seal-It prints up to 10 colors that can include a wide range of thermochromatic colors.

WILD Flavors, Erlanger, Ky., is celebrating 10 years of innovation in the Untied States. Since its founding in April 1994, following the acquisition of F&C International, Wild Flavors has established itself as an innovative pioneer in the food and beverage business, with an emphasis on providing all-natural. In acquiring the company, Hans-Peter Wild saw an opportunity to expand the knowledge and scope that his European company was experiencing and wanted a company in the U.S. to establish his North American headquarters. Throughout its operation, Wild Flavors has remained committed to the philosophy of its founder, Rudolf Wild, who in the 1930's began producing non-alcoholic beverages made from all natural ingredients.

If you have a Supplier News item, send it to Chief Editor David Phillips at phillipsd@bnpmedia.com.

Sidebar: Vermont Considers Aid for Co-op Buyout of Dairy Plant

SPRINGFIELD, Vt.-Vermont's House and Senate members are considering a bill that includes $500,000 to potentially support buying the former Idlenot plant in Springfield.

Meanwhile backers of a milk cooperative plan are working on a deal to move forward even without state support.

The Senate Institution Commission's version of the capital construction bill includes the money, but the House version does not. A conference committee was set up last week to iron out differences between the two bills.

The project would bottle a Vermont brand of milk, an organic brand of milk and milk from a western Massachusetts milk cooperative. The Dairy Farmers of Vermont, a group representing 315 members and one-third of Vermont's annual milk production, is hoping the $500,000 in the Senate version passes to help make its plans for the Idlenot plant a reality.