|
Industry
News
The
National Restaurant Association's (NRA) Restaurant Performance
Index stood at 98.6 in April,
up 0.8% from March, its highest level in 11 months.
NRA's Current Situation Index, which measures current
trends in same-store sales, traffic, labor and capital
expenditures, stood at 97.0 in April, up 0.9% from March,
marking its highest level since August 2008. Full
Story
Albert's
Organics will open a Southeast distribution center in
Charlotte, NC.
The 43,000-sq. ft. facility, slated to open in September,
will service grocers, restaurants and natural food stores
throughout the region and open up new markets for certified
organic growers in the region, reported MyIDAccess.
Full
Story
ShopRite
is testing mobile coupon redemption at its Hillsborough,
NJ store. Discounts are available on Unilever products
including Breyers ice cream, Dove soap, Hellmann's mayonnaise
and Lipton tea, reported Retailing Today. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Freshii
entered into a franchise agreement to open 20 locations
in Colorado and Wyoming, reported the Denver Business
Journal. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
The New York Times on the Web
opines on the downfall of Archway & Mother's Cookie
Company. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Diedrich
Coffee, Inc. and Praise International North America,
Inc. agreed upon June 12 as the closing date for
the sale of Diedrich Coffee's Gloria Jean's Coffees
domestic franchise operations. Full
Story
 Collagen
peptides produced from bovine gelatin may stop ice crystal
formation in supercooled ice creams, opening up
possible new innovations to formulators, according to
research published in the Journal of Agriculture
and Food Chemistry, reported Food Navigator Europe.
Full
Story, Study
Abstract
Mistral
Equity Partners invested $19.55 million
in convertible preferred stock in Jamba, Inc. Full
Story
Barry
Callebaut launched ProBenefit probiotic chocolate
for U.S.-based food manufacturers, reported Food
Navigator USA. Full
Story
 Ferrero
U.S.A. rolled out new packaging for the entire line
of Tic Tac mints. The brand is now available in polypropylene
packaging, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions
by 44% and energy use by 34%, according to the company.
Full
Story
International News
Ukraine-based
Nash Kray,Ltd.
is planning to open up to 30 new supermarkets by
late 2009. From January to March 2009 the company opened
nine franchising stores, along with two of its own stores
in March. Currently the Nash Kray chain includes 59
supermarkets, 29 of which are its own, and 30 franchising
stores. The Nash Kray supermarket chain is being developed
in the convenience store format with a range of up to
12,000 items in each store, according to The Kyiv
Post. Full
Story
 China
Resources Enterprise plans to decrease new supermarket
store openings from 300 to 200 in
2009 due to the financial environment. China Resources
Enterprise owns supermarket and convenience store brands
CR Vanguard and Suguo, reported JLM Pacific Epoch.
Full
Story
Health News
Drinking
a moderate amount of alcohol may protect against the
development of gallstones,
according to UK researchers. Consuming two units a day
can cut the chances of developing gallstones by a third,
reported BBC News. Full
Story
Washington News
Following
a public comment period, FTC approved a final consent
order in the matter of Whole Foods Market and authorized
the staff to send letters to the commenters of record.
The vote approving the final order was 4-0. Under the
consent order, Whole Foods agreed to sell 32 premium
natural and organic supermarkets and related assets.
Full
Story
PET
producer Constar International Inc. completed a financial
restructuring and emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy
on May 29, approximately five months after filing the
bankrupty petition. Full
Story
Market News
The
index of prices for fruit and tree nut growers rose
4% in April from the previous month
but was 9% lower than in April 2008, according to ERS.
At 123 (1990-92=100), the strength in the index is attributed
to grower price increases in April for oranges, lemons
and grapefruit. Pulling down the index, however, from
a year ago were lower grower prices for fresh-market
apples, pears, grapefruits and lemons. Meanwhile, the
Consumer Price Index (CPI) for fresh fruit in April
2009 was 322.9 (1982-84=100), 6% lower than the CPI
in April 2008. Lower retail prices in April for navel
oranges, grapefruit, lemons, red delicious apples, anjou
pears and thompson seedless grapes relative to the same
time last year more than offset the higher prices for
bananas and strawberries, driving down the April CPI.
ERS
Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook Report
As
of May 15, California's tomato processors have or
will have contracts for 13.3 million tons of processing
tomatoes for 2009, according to USDA. This production
is 14% higher than the contracted production for last
year. Fresno County retains the top spot over all the
counties in contracted planted acreage for 2009 with
102,000 acres. Full
Report
|
