| Industry
News Pactiv Corporation entered into a definitive
merger agreement to be acquired by Reynolds Group Holdings
Limited in a transaction valued at approximately $6 billion. Full
Story Meanwhile, law firm Tripp Levy PLLC is investigating the proposed
merger. Full
Story 
Just
Posted! The
Aug. 18 edition of New Products Hits and Misses with Phil Lempert profiles
items including Low Country Produce Sweet Potato Butter, Alo Exposed Flavor
and Butter Baked Goods Raspberry Marshmallow. Five new products are evaluated
each week. Click
here to view. Sunny Delight Beverages Co.
reduced the amount of waste going to landfills from 1,140 tons in 2007 to
418 tons in 2009, according to its 2009 Sustainability Report. Full
Report Dollar
General Corp. is testing alcohol sales in some stores, reported The Post
& Courier. Full
Story CoolBrands International Inc. entered
into an agreement to merge with Swisher International, Inc., a full-service
hygiene solutions provider. The transaction is expected to close by Nov. 30. Full
Story
International
News  China-based
Xinjiang Arman Industrial Co. operates 2,275 chain stores in Xinjiang,
and is building 10 distribution centers in the region. General manager Radil Abla
plans to build
Arman into the world's top halal food brand, opening 5,000 stores in five years
and increasing number of distribution centers in the region to 15, reported China
Daily. Full
Story
Buffalo Wild Wings plans to open more
than 50 company-owned and franchised restaurants across Canada in the next
five years.
Full Story Health News  Women
who drink regular beer may be increasing their risk of developing psoriasis.
Other options, such as light beer and wine, were not linked to such a risk, according
to a study published in Archives of Dermatology, reported HealthDay.
Full
Story
Washington
News Ralphs
Grocery, Albertson's and Vons must face an antitrust lawsuit
over an agreement in 2003 to share profit in case any of the three was singled
out for a strike, a U.S. appeals court ruled. California sued the three grocers
six years ago, claiming the so-called mutual strike assistance agreement violated
federal antitrust law and led to higher prices, reported Bloomberg.com.
Full
Story 
Fidelity
National Financial Inc. subsidiary Fidelity Newport Holdings LLC was the winning
bidder for Max & Erma's Restaurants Inc., reported Jacksonville Business
Journal. Full
Story (Free Registration Required) Market
News The USDA forecast for the 2010 cranberry crop is
7.35 million barrels, up 6% from 2009. If realized,
this will be the second largest production on record. Production forecasts are
up from last year in Massachusetts and Wisconsin but down in New Jersey, Oregon
and Washington. Full
Report 
Estimated
U.S. sugar supply for 2010 is increased 341,000 short tons, raw value (STRV),
from last month due to higher beginning stocks, production and imports, noted
ERS. Projected U.S. sugar supply for 2011 is increased 506,000 STRV, due to higher
beginning stocks, production and imports. Full
Report | 
