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Industry
News
Consumers
disapprove of food manufacturers' reduction of the size
of products to manage prices,
according to research by The Nielsen Company. Although
U.S. consumers are cutting their budgets, they would
still prefer to buy larger quantities of food at better
values than smaller alternatives. Full
Story

Some
77% of U.S.-based retailers expect their use of direct
store delivery processes (DSD) will increase or remain
constant in 2008, representing a significant opportunity
to drive sales growth, according to Powering Growth
Through Direct Store Delivery, a study released
by the Grocery Manufacturers Association and conducted
by AMR Research and Clarkston Consulting. As evidence
of the sales opportunity that DSD can create for retailers,
the study notes that sales of DSD products account for
24% of unit sales and 52% of retail profits in the grocery
channel. Seven of the top ten largest grocery categories
employ DSD, and these categories experienced nearly
15% growth in sales from 2003 to 2007. Full
Story
Target
is moving away from its classic cheap-chic reputation
and making certain its prices are in line with Wal-Mart.
In addition, its marketing messages are being tailored
to focus on value and convenience as the economy continues
to suffer, reported Advertising Age. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)

Starbucks
Coffee Company, PepsiCo, Inc. and Unilever teamed up
to manufacture, market, and distribute Tazo Tea ready-to-drink
beverages- including iced teas, juiced teas, and
herbal infusions, in the U.S. and Canada. Tazo's RTD
line will be integrated into the Pepsi/Lipton Tea Partnership,
expanding the joint venture between PepsiCo and Unilever.
Full
Story
Upcoming
"small but important menu changes" at Applebee's
will bolster the chain's profile and profits, according
to chief executive Julia Stewart. "Better"
appetizers and bread will be introduced, according to
the executive, who acknowledges that Applebee's has
not aged well, and that it is indistinguishable from
restaurants like Chili's or T.G.I. Friday's, reported
The New York Times on the Web. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
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Latest
sales & earnings for food related companies
(Updated Daily)
As
it celebrates its 25th anniversary, Panda Express
proved itself to be an effective competitor against
larger corporate fast-food chains and thousands
of independent rivals. The 1,100 Panda Express restaurants
dominate Chinese fast food and are ubiquitous residents
of shopping-mall food courts, airports and sports stadiums
across America. The company achieved 12 consecutive
years of same-store-sales growth. Customers in California,
Nevada and Arizona account for 70% of the chain's sales.
Its highest-volume store is in Hawaii. Stores in North
Carolina and Georgia do not do as well, reported The
Idaho Statesman. Full
Story

Frozen
yogurt is making a comeback, but this time with
an edge. Companies selling the treat are opening stores
with hip decor and music that draws a young crowd. The
concept behind newcomers Red Mango and Pinkberry is
to keep customers in the store, rather than buy their
yogurt and leave, reported The Associated Press.
Full
Story
My
Organic Market will stop selling all bottled water products
that are not sourced and bottled domestically because
of questions being raised over the negative impact bottled
water is having on the environment and local communities.
Full
Story
Cody's
Convenience Stores entered into an agreement as a Hot
Stuff franchisee for more than 20 units in existing
and new stores, reported CSP Daily News. Full
Story

Ocean's
Flavor introduced a new taste-friendly salt, which
it claims has up to 70% less sodium than table salt
as part of an industry effort to reduce sodium chloride
in their products. Full
Story
A film coated with nanoparticles
of silver and calcium phosphate could be used in food
processing plants and packaging to inhibit pathogen
growth, claims Swiss chemical engineers. The group
developed a self-disinfecting polymer that is effective
against pathogenic bacteria and is significantly more
lethal than conventional silicon-based silver preparations
against the bacterium E coli, reported Food Production
Daily. Full
Story
Operators
can make iced tea, a low-margin beverage, even more
profitable by making flavor adjustments such as
stirring in infused simple syrups
and spirits, according to Restaurants & Institutions'
2008 New American Diner Study.
The brewed beverage trails only soft drinks as the most-often-chosen
accompaniment to lunch and dinner at restaurants. Full
Story
Dairy
Queen is introducing three new Iron Grilled Sandwiches
at participating locations nationwide. The sandwiches
include a deli-style turkey with Swiss cheese; the Classic
Club with deli-style turkey, ham and cheddar cheese;
and the Supreme BLT. In October, Dairy Queen will begin
testing a Chicken Bruschetta Iron Grilled Sandwich.
In 2007, sandwiches were a $21 billion industry, and
in 2008 that number is expected to top $28 billion.
Full
Story
T.G.I.
Friday's restaurants is featuring Jack Championship
BBQ sauce on seven new menu items at its U.S. restaurants.
Full
Story
Rosa
Mexicano plans to have 11 restaurants open by next summer,
and up to 20 locations within the next three to
four years, reported The Record. Full
Story
Hat
Trick Beverages Inc. will introduce a new vending machine
concept that will offer a variety of hot beverages
such as espresso, cappuccino, and hot chocolate, and
light meal offerings such as hot soup. The company will
begin importing the machines from an Italian manufacturer
next quarter, according to Hat Trick Beverages CEO Sender
Vaiser. Full
Story
Bonefish
Grill and Chick-Fil-A won platinum in their respective
food categories in Restaurants & Institutions' 2008
Consumers' Choice in Chains. Full
Story
Winn-Dixie
Stores, Inc. became a member of Topco Associates LLC
for procurement of its corporate brands products
in the categories of Grocery, Frozen, Dairy, HBC, GM,
and Perishables. Full
Story

Costco
partnered with LeverageCard.com to allow consumers
to buy Costco Membership Certificates online and then
receive Costco promotions and coupon booklets. The minimum
purchase is $50. For each certificate purchased, LeverageCard.com
will send one complimentary coupon booklet, which includes
coupons for free items and discounts on Costco staples,
including fresh meat and bottled water, worth over $40.
Full
Story
International News
Quiznos
will significantly expand its international restaurant
operations, with plans to
open 175 restaurants in Brazil and 100 in India over
the next 10 years. Another deal to add more outlets
in India is under negotiation. Discussions are also
underway for agreements to introduce the brand in Singapore,
Chile, and Ecuador. The chain already announced agreements
in the UAE and Saudi Arabia. In addition, Quiznos recently
completed deals in Eastern Europe and the Dominican
Republic. The company currently has restaurants operating
in Canada, Central America, the United Kingdom, Korea,
and the Middle East. Full
Story
Cold
Stone Creamery opened its 100th international store
in Japan as well as its 25th store in the country. Full
Story
Maple Leaf Foods is temporarily closing
a Toronto plant that prepares meat products to evaluate
food safety procedures as part of an investigation into
a listeriosis outbreak, reported The Globe and Mail.
Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Health News
Eating
more fruits and vegetables helps men avoid developing
cancer of the esophagus, according
to a Japanese study. Those who ate the most fruit and
vegetables had nearly half the risk of developing cancer
than men who ate the fewest vegetables and fruits, reported
California Farm Bureau.
Fortification of cheddar cheese with
vitamin D3 may be an effective means of raising vitamin
D levels in the population, suggest new results
from Canada. Levels of the vitamin in cheese remained
high after processing, with 91% of D3 added to the milk
being measured in the final cheese. The findings indicate
that cheddar and low-fat cheeses are suitable for D3
fortification, according to lead author Dennis Wagner,
reported Food Navigator USA. Full
Story
Washington News
Lawmakers in 12 states, including California,
Connecticut, Minnesota, and West Virginia, proposed
legislation that would require businesses to provide
paid sick days in the past year. Some 46 million
U.S. workers do not have them, reported CBSNEWS.com.
Full
Story
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Consumer
Understanding of Buying Local
A Webinar
Recording from The Food Institute and The
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The
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a webinar that examined American consumers'
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Simmering Soup, Inc. initiated a
voluntary recall of approximately 987-lbs. of ready-to-eat
chicken noodle products because they may contain undeclared
soy. Full
Story
Market News
The forecast for the 2008 cranberry
crop is 6.89 million barrels,
up 5% from 2007 and slightly below 2006. If realized,
this will be the second largest production on record.
Production is expected to be up in Massachusetts and
Wisconsin but down in New Jersey, Oregon, and Washington.
Full
Report
In experiments, sweet potatoes yielded
two to three times as much carbohydrate for fuel ethanol
production as field corn, according to Agricultural
Research Service scientists. The sweet potato carbohydrate
yields approached the lower limits of those produced
by sugarcane, the highest-yielding ethanol crop. Full
Story
Chiquita
Brands International, Inc. completed the sale of its
wholly-owned German distribution business, Atlanta
AG to UNIVEG Fruit and Vegetables BV for net proceeds
of approximately $92 million, including working capital
and net debt adjustments. The parties also entered a
long-term strategic agreement in which Atlanta will
continue to serve as Chiquita's preferred supplier of
banana ripening and distribution services in Germany,
Austria, and Denmark. Full
Story
Almond crop forecasts are very high
for 2008 but supply might be tight next year due
to the California water crisis, and growers fear a turbulent
year meeting "unrelenting global demand,"
reported Food Navigator USA. Full
Story

A projected smaller pear crop in
Europe could pay dividends for U.S. exporters this season.
Mostly because of spring freezes, production in Europe
is expected to be down about 14%, according to the World
Apple and Pear Association, reported The Packer Online.
Full
Story (Subscription Required)
Water demand in California's western
San Joaquin Valley fell enough to end a rationing program.
Farmers remain restricted to 40% of their water allocations,
but now have more flexibility as to when they can use
it, reported California Farm Bureau.
The U.S. Potato Board launched a
national print advertising campaign to educate consumers
about the nutritional benefits of potatoes. Full
Story
USDA amended the general regulations
for Federal milk marketing agreements and marketing
orders. Full
Notice
NMFS prohibited directed fishing
for Greenland turbot in the Aleutian Islands subarea
of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area.
Full
Notice
The Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council wants to amend the Fishery Management Plan for
the Bottomfish & Seamount Groundfish Fisheries of the
Western Pacific Region. Full
Notice
NMFS proposed a regulation to implement
the annual harvest guideline for Pacific mackerel
in the U.S. exclusive economic zone. Full
Notice
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