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Industry News
Swiss-based baker Aryzta acquired
Fresh Start Bakeries for $900 million and Great
Kitchens for $180 million, reported Reuters.
Full
Story
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. revealed
five-year goals for improved environmental and social
performance across the company's operations and
released Sustainability in ACTION, its inaugural
corporate social responsibility report. The 2015 Corporate
Social Responsibility Goals include: improve energy
efficiency in manufacturing operations by 10% per gallon
of finished product; increase product shipments per
gallon of fuel used by 20%; and replace 60,000 vending
machines and coolers with Energy Star-rated equipment
that is approximately 30% more energy efficient, among
others. Full
Story
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is continuing its
strategy to offer food items at the low prices which
will likely hurt traditional supermarkets, according
to Jefferies & Co. analyst Scott A. Mushkin. The longer
the "hyper-competitive" climate exists,  the
more likely retailers will be to ask for lower prices
from packaged food companies, noted the analyst, reported
The Associated
Press. Full
Story
Documents reviewed by The Wall Street
Journal allegedly show that supermarket chains such
as Supervalu Inc., Safeway Inc. and Ahold NV retained
Saint Consulting Group to manage antidevelopment campaigns
to hinder Wal-Mart from opening stores in certain
markets. Saint Consulting specializes in using political-campaign
tactics such as petition drives, phone banks and websites
to build support for or against projects, which have
more than doubled the amount of time it takes Wal-Mart
to open a store. Full
Story (WSJ Subscription Required)
ConAgra Foods, Inc. reached an agreement
to sell all of its Gilroy Foods & Flavors dehydrated
garlic, onion, capsicum and Controlled Moisture, GardenFrost,
Redi-Made and fresh vegetable operations to Olam International
for $250 million. Full
Story
International News
The EU and China reached an agreement
to boost research into consumer safety
and explore the potential risks from nanotechnology,
reported Food Production Daily. Full
Story
 Demand
for healthy low-fat breakfast cereals with more fiber
or fortification with vitamins/minerals and claims
pertaining to weight management are some of the factors
stimulating growth in the bakery and cereals market
in Asia-Pacific, claims a report from Datamonitor, reported
Food Navigator. Full
Story
Health News
A
key component of green tea has shown promise as a non-toxic
treatment for chronic lymphocytic
leukemia, according to researchers at the Mayo Clinic,
reported HealthDay. Full
Story
Washington News
Lifesoy Inc. entered into a consent
decree of permanent injunction
in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District
of California. The consent decree requires Lifesoy to
stop manufacturing and distributing food products until
the company registers with FDA and complies with federal
laws regarding sanitary practices. Full
Story
Law firm Hausfeld LLP reached a $25
million settlement with Land O' Lakes, Moark and Norco,
three defendants in an antitrust class action brought
on behalf of direct purchasers of shell eggs and egg
products. The settlement is the first in the case providing
monetary compensation to class members. Full
Story
Market News
DuPont's Plenish high oleic soybean
trait was approved by USDA for
cultivation in the U.S. Full
Story, Federal
Register Notice
A field trial of a genetically modified
variety of potato resistant to "late blight" began
in eastern England. The trial, carried out by scientists
from The Sainsbury Laboratory, will last three years,
reported BBC News. Full
Story
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