| Industry
News The top 100 fast-casual chains reported
2009 sales of $17.5 billion, a 4.5% increase over 2008,
while units grew by 4.3% to 14,777 locations, according to Technomic's 2010
Top 100 Fast-Casual Chain Restaurant Report. Panera Bread/Saint Louis Bread
Company was again the leader of the fast-casual subsegment with 2009 sales rising
7.1% to nearly $2.8 billion while bakery cafe/bagel remained the largest of all
fast-casual clusters with $4.8 billion in 2009 sales, followed by Mexican ($3.8
billion) and chicken ($2.5 billion). Full
Story 
Campbell Soup Company entered into an agreement to sell its
Wauseon, OH-based German Village Products pasta plant to Philadelphia Macaroni
Company. The sale is expected to be completed during the company's fiscal fourth
quarter ending Aug. 1. Full
Story Starbucks will debut an "Olive Way" concept
in Seattle this fall, featuring a larger menu, some of which can be customized,
espresso machines in the middle of the store, narrower counters, and beer and
wine, reported The Associated Press. Full
Story More than 38% of the 213 groceries in
Kansas towns of less than 2,500 closed between 2006 and 2009, according to
a survey by Kansas State University, reported The Associated Press. Full
Story Coca-Cola
Freestyle is available in the Dallas area, with Wingstop initially featuring
the fountain in three locations this summer. Select Boston Market, CiCi's Pizza,
DoubleDave's Pizzaworks, Pei Wei Asian Diner, Schlotszky's, Souper! Salad!, Taco
Bueno, and Which Wich? locations will also install a total of 25 additional units
later this year. Full
Story In
response to a recent Daily Brief survey, "Which do you see as being the main
natural sweetener in the future," 27% voted Stevia, 5% voted Sweetness Enhancers,
10% voted Agave and 58% voted Sugar.
International
News  Satiety
and oral health demands are driving the Asia-Pacific confectionery market,
according to a survey from Datamonitor. Ador Chocolate, launched in Japan and
other markets, is a natural appetite suppressant that claims to help with weight
loss and oral health care, reported Food Navigator. Full
Story
Emerging trends in UK stores could include
yogurt that claims to reduce fat while improving body tone and an anti-energy
drink, claims experts at Product Launch Analytics, according to Datamonitor.
Full
Story Health News Less
than 10% of U.S. adults limit their daily sodium intake to recommended levels,
according to Sodium Intake in Adults - United States, 2005-2006, a study
published in CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. U.S. adults consume
an average of 3,466 milligrams of sodium per day, more than twice the current
recommended limit. An estimated 77% of dietary sodium comes from processed and
restaurant foods. Full
Story Washington
News The
U.S. and Russia reached an agreement to permit the resumption of U.S. poultry
exports to Russia. Under the agreement, the U.S. will
publish information on USDA's website about which disinfectants/pathogen reductions
treatments are known to be approved by Russia for use on processing poultry and
on food generally. Full Story
| Now
Available! Eating In, a Food Institute webinar presented
in cooperation with Willard Bishop and The Coca-Cola Retailing and Research Council,
provided solid information on how customers are thinking
about and approaching the planning, preparation, consumption and even clean-up
for meals. The webinar highlighted results from a study sponsored
by the Coca-Cola Retailing and Research Council - North America using NPD Group
data. To purchase the recording, click
here. | | Two
Illinois real estate developers, Rubloff Development Group and McVickers Development,
filed a lawsuit in federal court accusing Supervalu of retaining consulting
firm Saint Consulting Group to drum up opposition to two planned Wal-Mart
Supercenters in suburban Chicago, reported The Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Full
Story (Free Registration Required) Market
News Wholesale prices for frozen vegetables increased
1% from a year earlier during the first five months
of 2010, while those for canned vegetables are down 2%, noted ERS. Reduced prices
for canned vegetables since February reflect heavy stocks and lower costs for
2010 processing vegetables. Over the initial five months of 2010, fresh-market
vegetable prices at the point of first sale averaged 16% above a year earlier.
Higher average prices were received for vegetable crops such as onions, tomatoes,
sweet corn, snap beans, carrots, cauliflower and celery easily outweighing lower
average prices for cucumbers, lettuce and broccoli. Vegetables
and Melons Outlook Report 
Coffee
prices rose as much as 10% on June 24 because of tighter supplies of arabica
beans. Coffee for September delivery rose 5.1%, settling at $1.69 a pound after
climbing as high as $1.77 a pound earlier in the day, the highest level in two
years, reported ABCNews. Full
Story |
