| Industry
News The average food channel store decreased
variety by 1% in 2009. The majority of grocery retailers
plan to either maintain current levels or continue slimming SKU count in 2010.
Among those that decreased offerings, 60% stated they did so to avoid shopper
confusion, according to Nielsen. Full
Story 
View
Today! The June 16 edition of New Products Hits
and Misses with Phil Lempert profiles items including Yogi Granola
Crisps Fresh Strawberry Crunch Flavor, Elevate Enhanced Natural Fiber Water Natural
Orange Flavor and New York Style Risotto Chips Sea Salt Flavor. Five new products
are evaluated each week. Click
here to view. Gordon Food Service plans
to invest $24.2 million to consolidate several business operations spread
throughout Canada into a new 100,000-sq. ft. facility in Wyoming. Full
Story Hummus sales in the U.S. are up more
than 18% in the last year, according to Symphony IRI Group. The product dominates
the refrigerated flavored spreads category, which has more than $325 million in
annual retail sales. Ripple effects have been felt on American farms, stated Peter
Klaiber, marketing director for the U.S.A. Dry Pea and Lentil Council. "Ten
years ago, we shipped 90% of chickpeas out of the country," stated Mr. Klaiber.
"Now we only ship 40%. That's all because of our new American appetite for
hummus," reported The New York Times on the Web. Full
Story (Free Registration Required) Wawa
is scouting locations in Florida and may open between 75 to 100 stores in
the state by 2013, according to a report in Oil Express. The chain confirmed
it will open close to 25 new stores in its current five-state market during 2010
and potentially another 20 in the five markets in 2011. Meanwhile, Wawa will open
a store in Parsippany, NJ in November, reported CSP Daily News. Full
Story
International
News Nestle intends to build a new €43.1 million
factory in Russia to produce a range of food products
under its Maggi brand. The first phase of construction is due to be completed
by the third quarter of 2011, at which point it is expected to be producing 30,000
metric tons of Maggi products for Russia and other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent
States) countries, reported Food Navigator. Full
Story  The
Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry in India proposed a four-pronged
strategy to help businesses implement food standards legislation, including
implementing a training program and simplifying the registration and licensing
system for food retailers, reported Food Production Daily. Full
Story
Health News Sugar-free
confections have been linked to increased levels
of LDL cholesterol and a higher risk of diabetes and heart disease, according
to Dr. Mark Urman, medical director of the Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart
Institute. While the products are important for diabetics, they comprise just
under 8% of the U.S. population, and close to 30% of Americans regularly consume
foods that are either sugar-free, reduced-sugar or sweetened with sugar substitutes,
stated NPD analyst Harry Balzer, reported The Los Angeles Times. Full
Story (Free Registration Required) Washington
News The
New York City Health Department revealed the final rules of the city's new restaurant
grading system, and will begin inspecting restaurants
under the system in late July. Under the now final rules, a restaurant an "A"
grade will not be inspected for another year, and a restaurant receiving a "B"
or "C" grade will be given an opportunity to improve their scores on
a re-inspection conducted at least a week after the initial inspection. All grades
must be displayed on a front window, door or outside wall and within five feet
of the entrance. Full
Story, Final
Rules
| Recording Now Available! Understanding
FDA's Reportable Food Registry (RFR), a webinar hosted by The Food Institute
and Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC, discussed FDA's current thinking regarding
the RFR. The RFR is an electronic portal industry must use to alert the FDA when
they find their products might sicken or kill people or animals. The reporting
requirement applies to all foods and animal feed regulated by FDA, except infant
formula and dietary supplements, which are covered by other regulatory requirements.
Webinar moderator Robert Hahn provided insight on the legal obligation of reporting
an adverse event through the RFR. To purchase the recording, click
here. | | The
New York City Board of Health voted to eliminate the New York City date on
milk containers, reported The New York Times on the Web. Full
Story (Free Registration Required) Market
News Coffee prices increased more than 20% since June
7 in response to tightening global supplies. Two consecutive
years of poor harvests in Central America and a key coffee grower in Columbia
will not be offset by Brazil, which is experiencing its biggest harvest ever,
reported The Wall Street Journal. Full
Story (WSJ Subscription Required) In related news, Colombian coffee
production is expected to rebound to a forecast 11 million bags in MY 2010/2011.
Coffee exports are expected to increase to 10.2 million bags in MY 2010/2011,
proportionate to the recovery in production, according to USDA. Full
Story 
California
tomato growers questioned the recent USDA processing tomato estimate, claiming
it failed to take into account the numerous planting disruptions this spring and
the onset of bacterial speck in many early-planted fields, reported California
Farm Bureau. Full
Story | 
