Food Product Development & Manufacturing

• Food Engineering
• Food Master
  
• Industria Alimenticia
  
• NutraSolutions
  
• Prepared Foods

Food Retailing

• Confection & Snack Food Retailing
  
• Meat & Deli Retailer
  
• Private Label Buyer
  
• Refrigerated & Frozen Foods Retailer

Specialty Food

• Beverage Industry
  
• Candy Industry
  
• Dairy Foods
  
• The National Provisioner
  
• Refrigerated & Frozen Foods
  
• Snack Food & Wholesale Bakery

Packaging

• Brand Packaging
• Contract Manufacturing & Packaging (CM&P)
  
• Flexible Packaging
  
• Food & Beverage Packaging
  
• Packaging Strategies

Industry News

Kellogg Company will add fiber to 80% of its ready-to-eat cereals in the U.S. and Canada by the end of 2010. Full Story

The top strategy moms are using to save money on grocery purchases is turning to discount stores more, buying less expensive brands, stocking up more often to take advantage of sales, searching for lower prices in store circulars and choosing store brands more often, according to The NPD Group report What's on the Minds of Moms and How They're Coping Today. Moms with kids under 18 prepare 290 dinner meals annually, which, collectively, amounts to 10.2 billion dinners prepared by moms in the U.S. each year, according to NPD's National Eating Trends. Full Story

Some 66% of Americans cut back on restaurant dining in May, compared with 74% in March, according to Harris Interactive. Meanwhile, about 26% of Americans reported that it is likely they will have more money to spend the way they want in the next six months, up from 21% in March. Full Story

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Kraft Foods Inc. will expand its Avon, NY-based production facility to house a new Lunchables lunch combinations production line, reported Buffalo Business First. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Many organic consumers may not be particularly sensitive to the price premium paid for organic products, according to ERS. While frequent buyers of organic products may not change their organic purchasing habits even with the current economic slowdown, infrequent buyers may limit their purchases of organic products and the rate of gain for new organic consumers may decline. ERS Report

CPG manufacturer median sales grew approximately 10% last year, down slightly from 2007 median sales figures, according to The 2009 Financial Performance Report: Focusing on Today, Envisioning Tomorrow, a report released by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP. The food sector experienced sales growth of 10.2%. The beverage sector registered 9.9% sales growth. Full Story

Some 90% of fathers with a child under 18 in the home would like prime steak for Father's Day, according to a survey commissioned by Stock Yards, designed by Strategic Intent and fielded by Synovate. Full Story

The addition of a grape seed extract to bread may increase antioxidant content and inhibit formation of N15, a potential toxin, according to a research published in Food Chemistry, reported Food Navigator Europe. Full Story, Study Abstract

Ciao Bella will distribute one million free samples of its frozen desserts from June through September at various retailers. Full Story

A set of reference standards for stevia-derived sweeteners Reb A and stevioside for inclusion in the Food Chemical Codex was developed by US Pharmacopeia. Full Story

International News

The EU consumed half of the global total of apple juice in the 2008-2009 production season, while the U.S. consumed about a quarter, and over half of apple juice concentrate consumed in the two regions was imported, according to Research and Markets' China Apple Juice Concentrate Industry Report, 2008-2009. China experienced a drop in concentrate exports in 2008 due to price increase of juice and decrease of Europe's imports. Full Story

PepsiCo's joint venture with Saudi-based dairy company Almarai, International Dairy and Juice Limited, acquired 75% of Jordanian dairy producer Teeba Investment for Developed Food Processing Company. The Teeba stake had been owned by Almarai, which acquired it in January 2009 and is transferring it to the joint venture at cost. Full Story

Washington News

Food safety in the U.S. would be greatly improved if the government implements a $1,000-per-facility fee to pay for more plant inspections, according to FDA chief Dr. Margaret Hamburg. "I understand that fees represent a burden on companies .. but I do think that fee is an investment in a robust and effective food safety system," Dr. Hamburg stated before an House Energy and Commerce subcommittee. The fees are "a very important component of any food safety plan that Congress would enact," noted Dr. Hamburg, reported Reuters. Full Story

Continued bans on U.S. pork imports by China, Russia and more than a dozen other countries is puzzling government and industry officials. Some are speculating that the issue is more about market share than health concerns, reported The Associated Press. Full Story

Market News

Of the average 76,498 farms that produced fruit and tree nuts between 2004 and 2006, 82% were specialized fruit and tree nut farms. According to data derived from ARMS, the average number of specialized fruit and tree nut farms in the U.S. in 2004-06 (average of 62,959) declined by 20% from 1998-2000. Small farms continue to dominate, representing more than half the average number of specialized fruit and tree nut farms during 2004-06, noted ERS. ERS Report

Grape grower-shippers expect a smooth transition to the San Joaquin Valley, with good demand for large, high-quality fruit. Shipments from Mexico and from California's Coachella Valley should taper off enough to allow for San Joaquin product come mid-June, reported The Packer Online. Full Story (Free Registration Required)