| Industry
News
Fancy
frozen popsicles - both purchased and homemade - are reportedly becoming the new
gourmet treat of choice for adults looking
for a little nostalgia. Frozen pop shops across the country have developed cult
followings, while carts have become staples in farmers markets in Portland, Oregon
and Los Angeles. Whole Foods Markets stores in Austin and Houston carry Goodpops,
which are made by Manuel Flores and his wife at their Austin shop that opened
last year. Locopops, which caters to humans and dogs, now has stores in Durham,
Chapel Hill and Raleigh, with carts at the University of North Carolina and Duke
University during the school year. Flavors include bacon, hot sauce and chili
peppers. Atlanta-based King of Pops, which started in March, now sells nearly
2,000 pops a week and is booked for two weddings this fall, reported The Associated
Press. Full
Story
Following
four consecutive increases, U.S. expenditures for food & beverages (excluding
foodservice) declined 3.2% in the second quarter of 2010, according to just-released
data from Bureau of Economic Analysis. Overall consumer expenditures rose 2% from
the prior quarter. BEA
Data Cooked
white turkey meat, or deli meat, distribution in the marketplace grew 6% in 2009
to more than 467 million-lbs., with nearly half (43%) being distributed to foodservice
operations, according to the National Turkey Federation's (NTF) 2009 Marketplace
Survey, conducted by AgriStats, Inc. The top three turkey products produced
are whole birds (more than 1 billion-lbs.), cooked white meat (more than 467 million-lbs.)
and ground turkey (more than 415 million-lbs.). Full
Story
Dunkin'
Donuts opened 338 new locations worldwide since
January, with 75 of those in the U.S. The company also signed 72 new domestic
development commitments. Full
Story Retail
chocolate sales increased 3% from 2008 to reach a record $17 billion in 2009,
according to Chocolate Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in Premium,
Gourmet and Mass Chocolate Products by Packaged Facts. The U.S. chocolate
market will exceed $19 billion in 2014. The demand for premium chocolate will
persist as a leading growth trend, especially when the economy recovers. Full
Story In
response to a recent Daily Brief survey, "Do you think the recently reintroduced
Food Safety Legislation will be acted upon next month," 5% voted Definitely,
20% voted Possibly, 25% voted Maybe and 50% voted Not a Chance. International
News  China
Resources Enterprise Ltd. may spend as much as $707 million on acquisitions
by the end of the year. China Resources opened more than 300 supermarkets in the
12 months ended June and closed more than 100, according to CFO Frank Lai, who
noted that it will expand the business at a similar pace this year. The company
also plans to open coffee shops at some of its 200 hypermarkets, deeming it a
good time to tap the China coffee market, reported Bloomberg.com. Full
Story
Nestle
SA is investing $487 million in a global push to increase the quantity and quality
of its coffee. The company plans to train thousands of farmers over 10 years
and provide them with new coffee trees. The company will not own the plantations
or bind farmers into long-term contracts, but chief executive Paul Bulcke thinks
the relationship the company develops with the farmers will lead them to sell
to Nestle, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full
Story (WSJ Subscription Required) Health
News Black
rice is a good source of antioxidants, according to
research from the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. The study authors
noted that black rice bran could be used to boost the health benefits of breakfast
cereals, cakes, cookies and other foods. It could also be added to beverages,
and may serve as food coloring, reported HealthDay. Full
Story Washington
News In
the U.S., hourly compensation costs for all employees in food and beverage manufacturing
rose 3.1% from
the 2007 level to $23.25 in 2008, according to a report from The Bureau of Labor
Statistics. That is a larger increase than the 2.4% gain in compensation for all
manufacturing. Full
Report, Food
& Beverage Compensation
Five
states and the District of Columbia reported statistically significant employment
increases from
July 2009 to July 2010, while four states experienced statistically significant
declines, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The largest statistically
significant over-the-year employment increases were posted in Texas (134,600),
Indiana (47,600), Massachusetts (36,600) and the District of Columbia (21,300).
The largest statistically significant job losses occurred in California (103,900),
New York (51,400) and Georgia (39,100). Full
StoryMarket News In
line with lower production and recession-strapped consumers, per capita disappearance
of all mushrooms decreased 2% to 3.55 pounds in 2009/10, noted ERS. This is
down 12% from a decade earlier and the smallest per capita domestic disappearance
since 1988/89. Meanwhile, this summer, fresh-market vegetable area for harvest
for 11 selected crops (excluding summer nonstorage onions and melons) is forecast
to increase 3% from a year ago. If realized, this will be the first increase in
summer fresh-vegetable acreage since 2001. Vegetables
and Melons Outlook
Register
Today! The Food Institute and Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode
Matz PC will jointly present a three-part webinar series entitled Food Labeling:
What You Need To Know. Presentations are slated for Tuesdays in September
(9/14, 9/21 and 9/28) from 12pm - 2pm ET each day. A variety of topics specific
to the latest trends and rules of labeling food products for consumption in the
U.S. will be covered. Guest speakers will include distinguished personnel from
the FDA, grocery associations, healthcare law firm, advocates for health and nutrition,
experts in nutritional analysis and more! Please click
here for more information and to register. | |
J.D.
Heiskell & Co. and Land O'Lakes Purina Feed created a company,
Golden State Feed and Grain. The company will operate Land O'Lakes Purina Feed's
feed mill in Hanford, CA and J.D. Heiskell's feed mill in Pixley, CA, reported
The Fresno Bee. Full
Story (Free Registration Required) |
