Member FYI
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Legally Speaking
By Silvia P. Glick, Attorney at Law
Starting a New Business
One of the first decisions that you will probably make when you start a business is choosing the form of organization that your business will take. You may choose to operate as a sole proprietor, a limited liability company, a partnership or a corporation. Some issues to consider when choosing a form of organization are future plans for the business, investors' preferences and tax considerations. Most forms of organization require the execution of documents to create and maintain the entity, such as Articles of Organization and Bylaws for a corporation and a Certificate of Organization and Operating Agreement for a limited liability company.
When you first start out, you also may need noncompetition, nonsolicitation and confidentiality agreements with your employees. These agreements prohibit employees from competing with you for your clients, and must be carefully drafted in order to be enforceable in the courts. You will also need to determine whether the individuals who are working for your business should be classified as employees or independent contractors. Recent Massachusetts law makes it harder to classify workers as individual contractors. If you determine that your workers are independent contractors, you should have agreements with them which confirm that they are not employees, that they are not entitled to benefits, and that you will not be withholding taxes from their paychecks.
You will also need contracts with businesses who are packaging and/or delivering your products. Other issues requiring your attention include filing a 'doing business as' (d/b/a/) certificate in the city or town in which you are doing business and complying with laws and regulations affecting taxes, workers’ compensation insurance and unemployment insurance.
Copyright © 2007 Silvia P. Glick
This is not legal advice. For guidance concerning your specific situation, please contact an attorney.
Silvia P. Glick, Attorney at Law, 617-876-6826
New England Foodservice & Lodging Show Booth Sharing
Is anyone thinking about exhibiting at the 2007 New England Foodservice & Lodging Expo, April 1-3 at the BCEC' We may be interested in splitting a booth.
We have the Harvest Sweets® and Cape Cod Cranberry Candy brands of specialty confections. If interested please e-mail erin@capecodprovisions.com
or call 508-564-5840 and ask for Erin Donovan.
Stonyfield Farm Enterpreneurship Institute
The next Stonyfield Farm Entrepreneurship Institute scheduled for March 29th and March 30th, 2007. If you have any questions, you can contact me at 603/644-3101 or via email at v.kamerman@snhu.edu.
Regards,
Veronica Kamerman
Assistant to the Dean
School of Community Economic Development
Southern New Hampshire University
2500 North River Road
Manchester, NH 03106
Phone: 603/644-3101 Fax: 603/644-3130
Email: v.kamerman@snhu.edu
From Gourmet News
· CSPI asks FDA to create healthy food labels
WASHINGTON-Citing the numerous-and 'confusing'- labeling programs on the market, The Center for Science in the Public Interest here announced last week that it has petitioned the Food and Drug Administration for a national food labeling system.
Read more: http://www.gourmetnews.com/index.php?p=article& id=gn200612hLX43y
· Giant Food, Stop & Shop implement value-pricing program
LANDOVER, Md. and QUINCY, Mass.-Over the next several months, Giant Food and Stop & Shop will implement their Value Improvement Program designed to lower prices and strengthen their strategic position in the marketplace, according to company statements.
Read more: http://www.gourmetnews.com/index.php?p=article& id=gn200612kW89N3
· UNFI, Whole Foods sign seven-year deal
DAYVILLE, Conn.-United Natural Foods Inc. announced Monday that it has signed a seven-year distribution contract with Whole Foods Market Inc.
Read more: http://www.gourmetnews.com/index.php?p=article& id=gn200610FbOoS9
Silvia P. Glick, Attorney at Law
Silvia P. Glick , Attorney at Law, announces the launch of a new website, http://www.silviaglick.com/.
2007 Massachusetts Agriculture Calendar - Now Available
Help promote Massachusetts agriculture with a colorful calendar for the new year. The calendar, published by Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, Inc, in cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, features a winning photograph each month, plus several honorable mention winners in selected places.
The calendar also includes sponsorship from MA Farm Bureau, MA Maple Producers Association, MA Fairs Association, MA Nursery and Landscape Association, MA Flower Growers Association, MA Association of Roadside Stands and Pick Your Own Farms, MA Fruit Growers Association, MA State Grange and Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture (CISA).
Calendars may be purchased for $10 each($5 wholesale for orders over 5); proceeds will benefit Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom, a non-profit organization that works with teachers throughout the state in developing classroom materials. Send a check payable to Massachusetts Agriculture in the Classroom(MAC) with your name and address to: Calendar, MAC, c/o Debi Hogan, PO Box 345, Seekonk, MA 02771.
NEFS Monthly Newsletter
NEW for 2007! Receive the latest news about the New England Foodservice & Lodging Exposition & Conference every month.
Let us help you make wise decisions and choices by staying informed of the most current information concerning the event. To receive this new monthly newsletter please go to:
http://divbusiness6.qm4.net/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe& NoCache=True
Here’s just a sample of what you’ll see every month:
* New products that will be displayed at the show.
* Expert advice from the key players in the industry.
* Keynote speaker announcements.
* Show specials, sales and promotions.
* Special events.
* Exhibitor giveaways, drawings and celebrity guests.
* A preview of cooking demonstrations from reputable chefs.
* Travel and/or hotel information.
* Complete conference information.
There’s no better way to get your questions answered than by signing up for our monthly newsletter where you will be privy to this important information and more. Sign-up today:
http://divbusiness6.qm4.net/members/UpdateProfile.aspx?Action=Subscribe& NoCache=True
REFER-A-FRIEND
Know someone who would like to receive this newsletter? Forward this email along to your co-workers, peers and friends in the industry and tell them to sign-up.
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
New England Foodservice & Lodging Exposition & Conference will be held April 1 3, 2007 at the Boston Convention & Exposition Center in Boston, MA. Discounted online registration will be available January 1, 2007.
New England Foodservice & Lodging Exposition & Conference
Better Business Begins with Fresh Ideas
April 1-3, 2007
Boston Convention & Exhibition Center
Boston, MA
www.nefs-expo.com
Sponsored by: Massachusetts Restaurant Association
Job Description: ZOE FOODS
Zoe Foods (www.zoefoods.com) is a young, growing company that creates and sells all-natural cereals and nutrition bars nationally. Voted one of Fast Company magazine’s 'Fast 50', Zoe Foods has been featured on CNN, NBC’s Today Show, and in Parade Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, and many others. Zoe Foods is committed to developing products that make a difference in people’s lives
Zoe Foods is seeking three energetic, outgoing Sales & Marketing Field Representatives to support our busy sales and marketing departments. As a Zoe Foods Sales & Marketing Field Representative, you will create and implement programs to increase sales at key natural food stores including Whole Foods Market the worlds leading natural foods supermarket chain, and other major natural food stores. You will represent the Zoe Foods brand by building strong account relationships with our retail partners and connecting with consumers. In this position, you will gain hands-on experience via implementing various sales and marketing programs that support the companys growth strategy.
Zoe Foods is seeking reps to work in the following regions:
- Northeast covering New England NY Tri-state. Rep must be based in the Greater Boston or NY Tri-state areas.
- Mid-Atlantic covering Southern NJ Virginia. Rep must be based in the Greater Washington D.C. area.
- Southeast covering North Carolina Florida. Rep must be based in Greenville, SC.
This position reports to the Director of Marketing at Zoe Foods whose headquarters is based in Needham, MA.
Responsibilities Include:
- Develop strong business relationships with different department managers, primarily in Whole Foods Market stores.
- Work with marketing and demo contacts to create sampling opportunities and promotions that meet Zoe Foods' sales and marketing goals.
- Develop and manage your region's events and sampling calendar, all related event logistics, and marketing supplies.
- Conduct product demos in-store and at field events to bring excitement about Zoes healthy, great tasting cereals and bars.
- Sell in-store displays to coincide with Zoe Foods sales promotions.
- Improve shelf placement where needed.
- Put up in-store point-of-sale material.
- Conduct distribution store audits.
- Sell product to fill distribution voids.
- Gather market data (e.g. competitors, customer behaviors) and communicate it back to Zoe Foods.
Skills/Characteristics Needed:
- Ability to manage to multiple projects and set priorities
- Enjoy traveling. An average of 3-4 days per week will be spent in stores.
- High energy, outgoing personality that works well with a variety of types of people and different levels in an organization
- Customer focused
- Strong communicator
- Must be detail orientated, organized, and a creative thinker
- Self-motivated, fast-paced, and action orientated
- Natural foods experience a plus, but not required
A flexible schedule is needed to work weekend and evening events, and a car is necessary for this position. Mileage and tolls will be reimbursed.
To Apply:
Email a cover letter and resume to the attention of Janet Morgenstern Passani, Director of Marketing at jobs@zoefoods.com. In the subject line, write the job title and specify the region (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, or Southeast) that you are applying for.
Start Date:
Immediately
Compensation:
Compensation commensurate with experience.
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