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Industry News
Supervalu Inc. will reduce the number
of items it offers per store,
in some cases by as much as 25%, intending to more prominently
feature store-branded items and extract lower prices
from vendors. The item reduction is less about eliminating
entire product brands than redundant package sizes,
stated Supervalu chief executive Craig Herkert, reported
The Wall Street Journal. Full
Story (WSJ Subscription Required)
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Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co.
plans to change its pricing strategies as fewer
shoppers purchased fewer items for its quarter ended
Dec. 5. The company ran too many promotional deals that
did not connect with shoppers and their sought-after
items, according to executive chairman and interim chief
executive Christian Haub. A&P is discontinuing several
marketing programs and reinvesting those funds into
lowering shelf prices on everyday foods. Meanwhile,
Mr. Haub stated A&P is open to "strategic opportunities,"
but does not expect anything to happen in the near future,
reported MarketWatch. Full
Story
Ferrero International SA is reportedly
not interested in bidding for Cadbury PLC. The group
decided after two days of talks with Hershey Co. not
to launch a joint counteroffer, reported The Associated
Press. Full
Story
Consumers' perception of fast food
is changing from quick-service, drive-thru restaurants
and convenience stores to include a new concept, "food
fast," served quickly with a greater emphasis on
flavor, quality and ambiance, according to Technomic's
Status and Future of Fast Foods: Consumer Trend Report.
Some 41% of consumers also report that their idea of
"fast food" expanded to include fast-casual
restaurants such as Panera Bread and full-service restaurants
offering carryout and curbside service. Full
Story
 Now
Available on the Food Institute website:
New Products Hits and Misses with Phil Lempert rates
new foods and assigns each a rating based on: taste,value,
health, ingredients preparation, appearance, sustainability,
packaging and sustainability. Click
here to view.
International News
Aldi is reportedly entering
New Zealand. Aldi registered
more than 100 trademarks with the Intellectual Property
Office of New Zealand and purchased the New Zealand
 website
domain name Aldi.co.nz, reported Waikato Times.
Full
Story
Prosecutors of the Belgian
Competition Council accused certain unnamed Belgian
food retailers and a supplier of food products of allegedly
fixing prices for certain confectionery items. The
competition prosecutors stated the companies coordinated
price increases and exchanged sensitive information
on chocolate candy, chocolate paste and small candies
since 2002, reported Reuters. Full
Story
Health News
Antioxidants
in green tea appear to significantly lower the risk
for developing lung cancer
among smokers and nonsmokers alike, according to a Taiwanese
study published in Cancer Research, reported
HealthDay. Full
Story
Washington News
Some
37.9 million people received food stamps in October,
up 746,000 from the previous
month. The average monthly benefit was $133.60 per person,
reported Reuters. Full
Story
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The Food Institute and Olsson Frank Weeda
Terman Bode Matz for the interactive Understanding
FDA's Reportable Food Registry webinar.
Learn about FDA's current thinking regarding
RFR and gain insight on the legal obligation
of reporting an adverse event through RFR.
The 90-minute webinar will be held on Tuesday,
Jan. 26 at 12 p.m. (EST). To sign up or
for more information, click
here.
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New
Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson is open to taxes on candy
and soft drinks,
but does not want to tax food in the state, reported
New Mexico Independent. Full
Story
Market News
The subfreezing temperatures in Florida
caused extensive damage throughout
the state's southern vegetable and tomato growing
regions, and buyers should expect lower supply and higher
prices for the region's winter vegetables. Much of the
Immokalee region's green beans, bell peppers, squash
and tomatoes were damaged, reported The Packer Online.
Full
Story (Subscription Required)
"The livestock market in 2009
was pretty tough, but there are good reasons to be optimistic
in where these markets are headed as we move through
2010," stated John Anderson, an Extension livestock
economist with Mississippi State University. In addition
to improving prices, livestock producers should see
improvements in profit margins in 2010. Full
Story
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