Industry News

Despite rising food prices, nearly 80% of U.S. adults do not want to compromise on the quality of the food they purchase. The majority (70%) are continuing to buy the same amount of natural and/or organic foods as they normally do, according to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive for Whole Foods Market. Full Story

Slumping sales at Darden, the parent of Olive Garden and Red Lobster, suggest that sit-down restaurants will continue struggling through the fall after a dismal summer, reported The Wall Street Journal. Sales at sit-down restaurants open at least 16 months fell 1.5% from the year-earlier period in the Jan. 1 to Aug. 1 period, according to Knapp-Track, which tracks sales at about 10,000 dining outlets. In addition, restaurants will emphasize value-oriented promotions and pull back on some of the appeals toward indulgent spending they typically make around Thanksgiving and Christmas. Last week, Olive Garden launched its $8.95 never-ending pasta bowl promotion, about two weeks earlier than usual. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Two of every three new restaurants, delis, and food shops close within three years of opening, according to federal government statistics. However, that often does not prevent people from trying, according to The New York Times on the Web. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

PetroSun West LLC is expected to purchase roughly 600 gas stations from ConocoPhillips for about $800 million. The sale will mark the company's exit from the U.S. retail-gasoline arena, allowing it to focus on finding new supplies of crude oil. Its brands are Conoco, 76, and Phillips 66, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Coborn's Inc. acquired SimonDelivers, a former grocery delivery service, and plans to reopen it as CobornsDelivers beginning in October. Customers who used the service should be able to reactivate their accounts with Coborn's and access their past order histories. SimonDelivers had 19,000 customers when it ceased operations, reported TwinCities.com. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

In the four-county capital region of California, Wal-Mart's stores posted the biggest gain in market share of any grocery chain through the first half of the year, according to new data from Trade Dimensions Inc., reported The Sacramento Bee. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Jim ‘N Nick's Bar-B-Q chain signed a contract with Distribution Market Advantage, a national distribution network, reported MyIDAccess. Full Story

Nolan Ryan's All-Natural Beef introduced a line of frozen hamburger patties. Kroger Southwest grocery stores in Dallas and Houston are selling the new offering, reported Meat & Poultry. Full Story

International News

The Swiss bakery Hiestand and Irish group IAWS merger was completed after Hiestand shareholders voted 91.3% in favor of the move. The new conglomerate is named Aryzta and will be owned by 83.3% of IAWS shareholders, reported Food Navigator Europe. Full Story

Canadian meat inspectors failed to learn crucial lessons from a deadly listeria outbreak a decade ago, according to experts. At the Maple Leaf plant behind the listeria outbreak, a single federal inspector was relegated to auditing company paperwork and was working with several other plants, reported The Globe and Mail. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Health News

Nuts, corn, and popcorn may lower the risk of the digestive disorder diverticulitis, contrary to what has been suspected, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, reported CBSNEWS.com. Full Story

A Vitamin D deficiency increases the probability of hip fractures among menopausal women by up to 70%, according to research from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, reported Food Navigator USA. Full Story

Washington News

New country of origin labeling laws taking effect next month will impact food prices, according to Bill Greer, director of communications for the Food Marketing Institute. USDA estimated it will take $2.52 billion for retailers, producers, and intermediaries to comply in the first year and estimates it will cost food retailers $26,149 per store to put in systems to comply with the law, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Whole Foods Market asked the Federal Trade Commission not to select a commissioner to serve as administrative law judge to preside over the FTC's antitrust proceedings against the Whole Foods-Wild Oats merger, according to The Deal.com. Commissioner J. Thomas Rosch is currently slated to hold a hearing on Sept. 8. Full Story

Market News

After seven years of discussions, an agreement was reached to build a new state-of-the-art $217 million produce terminal in Philadelphia. Construction of the market will take about 23 months, which would place the opening in mid-2010, and will be fully enclosed to preserve the cold chain, reported The Produce News. Full Story

USDA invited comments on a temporary suspension of the order provision requiring periodic continuance referenda under the Florida citrus marketing order. Full Notice

NMFS will delay the opening of the commercial and non-commercial fisheries in the main Hawaiian Islands for seven deepwater bottomfish species. Full Notice