|
Industry News
There
is a "renewed focus" on permanent price reductions
at Wal-Mart, stated COO Bill Simon. Price rollbacks
would be applied "all across the box," with
a focus on "known value items and food and consumables,"
stated Mr. Simon, reported The Packer. Full
Story (Subscription Required)
|
WMS Report: Is Your Warehouse
Ready for the Upswing? Three Steps to Take Now
You've been in maintenance mode for what seems
like years - are you sure your warehouse or DC
is ready for the economic recovery? Follow a three-step
action plan to prepare your business.
Download
your FREE copy
|
Danone
expects double-digit percentage dairy sales growth in
the U.S. over the long-term and aims to double per
capita consumption in the market within four years,
according to Dannon CEO Gustavo Valle, who spoke at
the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit. The U.S. market
is still very underdeveloped, with consumption six times
lower than in Western Europe, noted the executive, reported
Reuters. Yogurt sales increased 15% in the first
2.5 months of 2010. Full
Story
The
J. M. Smucker Company divested its Hungry Jack and Idaho
Spuds brand potato products to Basic American Foods.
Full
Story
PepsiCo
is voluntarily adopting a new global policy to stop
 sales
of full-sugar soft drinks to primary and secondary
schools by 2012 in all countries outside the U.S. The
plan is generally consistent with the company's existing
U.S. policy, which remains unchanged. Full
Story
The
gum, mints and breath fresheners market posted a
10% sales increase since
2007. The sector is expected to continue growing through
2014, according to Mintel. Nearly 50% of people cited
packaging that reseals better or is easier to open as
being important. Full
Story
More
food companies will be bought out this year and
the  latter
half of 2010 could mark the beginning of consolidation
in the grocery industry, according to Kantar Retail
Americas chief executive Ken Harris, a Reuters Food
and Agriculture Summit speaker, reported Reuters.
Full
Story
International News
Costco plans to open two
stores a year in Australia,
 reported
The Sydney Morning Herald. Full
Story
The
Philippines may follow China as the next Asian country
to approve widespread planting of genetically modified
rice crops, possibly as early as 2011, according to
Robert Zeigler, director general of the International
Rice Research Institute, who spoke at the Reuters Food
and Agriculture Summit, reported Reuters. Full
Story
Health News
Extra
vitamin D could make a major difference in heart disease
risk
among people who have low levels of the  nutrient,
according to findings presented at the American College
of Cardiology's annual meeting, reported HealthDay.
Full
Story
Washington News
Farming enterprise DuBois & Son filed
for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.
The company produced cucumbers, squash and eggplants
for markets in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It was especially
known for its hand-picked and hand-packed bell peppers.
As recently as 2004, the company produced 2.5 million
boxes of produce from 1,000 acres in southern Palm Beach
County, FL, reported Palm Beach Post. Full
Story
Democratic leaders agreed to advance
part of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's plan that would require
food distributors to notify recipients of recalled
items within 24 hours. Portions of Sen. Gillibrand's
proposal are expected to be included in an amendment
to Sen. Durbin's food safety bill, stated a Sen. Gillibrand
spokesperson, reported Arizona Daily Star. Full
Story
Market News
Conditions in key U.S. farming regions
are deteriorating amid increasing
credit problems and contracting business activity, according
to a report released by commercial credit consultant
PayNet Inc. All U.S. farm sectors saw a 51% increase
in asset repossession rates from 2005 to 2009 and had
loan delinquencies of 1.54% at the end of 2009, reported
Reuters. Full
Story
Alabama yielded a record 40 bushels
of soybeans per acre in 2009, with a total of 430,000
acres devoted to the crop, according to Dennis Delaney,
Auburn University Extension soybean specialist. Soybean
acreage has been climbing steadily in the state since
2005, when 145,000 acres were planted, reported Southeast
Farm Press. Full
Story
|
