| Industry
News The percentage of U.S. consumers purchasing
organic products held steady in the 38% to 39% range
for the third straight year, according to TABS Group, Inc. However, there was
a considerable shift in outlet patterns towards mass market and away from natural
foods. Fresh fruits continues to be the highest penetration category for organics
with 27% of consumers, followed by fresh vegetables (26%), eggs (17%), milk (16%),
chicken (13%), red meat (6%), frozen vegetables (6%), frozen fruit (4%) and ice
cream (4%). Full
Story 
Consumers
are making more small trips to big-box supercenters and club retail channels,
with much of those increases driven by affluent consumers. Sixty-one percent of
U.S. shopping trips are to fill an immediate need, while 21% are medium-size trips,
reported Nielsen. Full
Story  Meatball
sales across the U.S. are estimated to have grown by about 3% in 2010, to
more than $375 million. Home Market Foods sold nearly a billion of its Cooked
Perfect brand meatballs, carried in retailers including Walmart, over the past
year. From January to November 2010, sales of the meatball brand were up 5% over
the previous year, while from September to November, the increase was almost 17%,
according to Symphony IRI data, reported The Boston Globe. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Tedeschi
Food Shops acquired DSD1, a commissary that produces the chain's TD's Deli
packaged fresh food line.  DSD1
will be a subsidiary of Tedeschi Food Shops. Full
Story Supervalu expanded its nutritional navigation
program, nutrition iQ, to include fresh food departments and more robust nutrition
information for the center store. The expanded program will feature additional
nutritional attributes and health benefit information. Full
Story New Product News:
Jelly Belly Candy Company will introduce Jelly Belly Chocolate Dips in
five flavors and Peas & Carrots mellocreme mix. Full
Story ... Deep River Snacks introduced Multigrain Tortilla Chips in
four flavors. Full
Story ... Rainforest Beverages launched Rainforest Cola. Full
Story ... Pacific Natural Foods will redesign its broth, soup and non-dairy
beverage packaging in 2011. Full
Story A leveraged
buyout of Sara Lee could pave the way for JBS SA to
buy the company's meat division, claim analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch.
JBS could pay about $4 billion for the unit, reported Reuters. Full
Story International News  Biscuits
and snacks producer Burton's Foods will close its manufacturing site in
Moreton, Wirral. The Wales facility produces Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels,
reported The Press Association. Full
Story
The EU signaled an intention to block
landings of mackerel from Icelandic boats amid an ongoing quota dispute. Last
month, Iceland set up a 2011 quota of 146,818 metric tons, up from 130,000 in
2010, reported BBC News. Full
Story Washington
News Acting
West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin proposed cutting the sales tax on food
to 2% from 3%, reported Bloomberg BusinessWeek. Full
Story
Recording
Now Available for Purchase! The Food Institute presented Understanding
the New Food Safety Legislation, a webinar designed for those who want and
need to understand the impact of the new food safety legislation. John W. Bode,
Principal at Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC, and Dr. David William Kennedy
Acheson, Managing Director, Food and Import Safety Practice, at Leavitt Partners
were the speakers.
To purchase the recording and learn more, click
here. | | USDA cited
Continental Growers Inc. for failure to make full payment promptly to 18 sellers.
This is in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act. Full
Story Market News The
U.S. blackberry industry is seeking to form a promotion and research organization.
The organization would be financed by a penny-per-pound fee assessed on first
handlers of all U.S. and Canada-produced and imported blackberries. The assessment
is expected to generate $1.25 million to $1.5 million, reported The Packer
Online. Full
Story (Subscription Required) 
The
National Institute of Food and Agriculture gave a research team $25 million to
develop new varieties of wheat and barley. The work will focus on the biological
and abiotic stresses that are caused, at least in part, by changes in weather
patterns. Full
Story | 
