Industry News

Private label products may see a dip in market share, as recent food-price deflation is allowing brand-name manufacturers to offer discounts. Private label firms also tend to fare best when branded competitors are raising prices, and recent declines in soft commodity prices may not force branded manufacturers to do so. Input costs, a small proportion of overall costs for major food producers, also have a bigger influence on private label manufacturer's margins, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Grocers and restaurant operators will raise prices in 2010 as commodity costs rise, but most of the increases are likely to be given back to consumers as "special" discounts and coupons, according to Bill Lapp, economist and president of Advanced Economic Solutions, a speaker at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit, reported Reuters. Full Story

FI Webinar Explores How To Successfully Advertise to Children Purchase the recording today! The Food Institute's Advertising to Children: Successfully Meeting the Challenges webinar is now available for purchase. Marketing and advertising food products to children is an area of increasing interest and is of major interest to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This webinar, moderated by Dr. James Tillotson of Tufts University, provided guidelines to companies on how to create truthful, accurate and acceptable advertising directed to children. To purchase the recording, click here or contact Sue Antista at 201-791-5570, ext. 212 or santista@foodinstitute.com.

Organic foods and beverages are pulling back from the increasing growth levels of recent years and settling into a small niche space at mainstream retailers, according to food industry executives and analysts at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit, reported Reuters. Full Story

Rite Aid is accepting electronic benefit transfer cards/food stamps provided through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Full Story

Casey's General Stores Inc. raised prices on several foodservice products Mar. 1 "in response to cost pressures and changes in the competitive landscape," according to CFO Bill Walljasper. The increases include: adding 10 cents to the cost of a slice of pizza; adding 10 cents to the cost of doughnuts and cookies; and adding four cents to the cost of refillable coffee, reported CSP Daily News. Full Story

Food Institute News

Sign Up Today! Eating In, a Food Institute webinar presented in cooperation with Willard Bishop and The Coca-Cola Retailing and Research Council, will be held Thursday, Apr. 15 at 12 p.m. (EST). Featuring Joe Derochowski, Executive Director, The NPD Group, Food and Beverage Services, and Bill Bishop, Chairman, Willard Bishop, the webinar will provide solid information on how customers are thinking about and approaching the planning, preparation, consumption and even clean-up for meals. The webinar will highlight results from a study sponsored by the Coca-Cola Retailing and Research Council - North America using NPD Group data. A copy of the study will be available for download upon webinar registration. To sign up, learn more and download the study, click here.

About Us | Publications | Merger & Acquisition Search* | Report Article Search* | Ask an Expert

* Members only

International News

A U.S.-backed proposal to ban export of the Atlantic bluefin tuna was overwhelmingly rejected at a UN wildlife meeting, reported The Associated Press. Full Story

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 Daily Update is a substantially abbreviated version of Today In Food. You can get a subscription to Today In Food, which usually has over 30 news items each day, as well as access to the archives for just $49.95 per year. Click here to sign up.

Health News

High consumption of high fructose corn syrup is associated with liver scarring or fibrosis, claims a study from the Duke University Medical Center, reported Triangle Business Journal. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Washington News

The U.S. and China reached an agreement to reopen the Chinese market to U.S. pork and pork products. Full Story

Market News

The cold weather in the Southeast U.S. will likely increase Florida's blueberry crop 25% over last year's figures, according to Keith Mixon, president and CEO of SunnyRidge Farm Inc., reported The Packer Online. Full Story (Subscription Required)

The 46 grower-members of Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida produced 2.7 million tons of sugarcane grown on 62,436 acres in Palm Beach County during 2009-10, an increase from 2.5 million tons produced last year. Full Story