Industry News

The nation's food & beverage stores and eating & drinking places posted the largest sales increases since February 2008 in April, rising 8.0% and 6.3%, respectively, from year-earlier levels. Wholesale food prices, meanwhile, declined marginally from March during the month but were still 5.1% more than a year earlier, according to exclusive Food Institute analysis of just-released government data. Full Story (FI Membership Required)

Amy's Kitchen will purchase a former Sara Lee building in Greenville County, SC. The facility will receive a $63 million investment and will be operational by January. Full Story

Kraft Foods expanded its sustainability goals to include measuring transportation and agricultural commodities. All of the company's European coffee brands committed to sustainably source 100% of their coffee by 2015. Full Story

View Today! Greek yogurt is registering success, according to the May 12 edition of the Lempert Report, featuring Phil Lempert. Also, food hubs fuel local growers. Click here to view.

Hershey Co. paid $5.8 million to buy a 49% stake in Tri-Us Inc., which does business as Mix1 Beverage Co. and makes protein shakes, according to a SEC filing, reported Denver Business Journal. Full Story (Free Registration Required), SEC Filing

Jamba Juice will have commercialized all nine of its licensed product lines with the distribution of Jamba-O.N.E. coconut water fruit juices on May 24. Collectively Jamba achieved over 20,000 points of retail distribution and placed over 30 individual products on shelves in retail outlets across all 50 states. The company will seek opportunities to extend the Jamba brand and further commercialize existing products at retail outlets. Full Story

Latest sales & earnings for food related companies (Updated Daily - FI Membership Required)

Food Institute News

Now Available for Purchase! The Food Institute's 231-page 2011 Almanac of Canned Vegetables reports five-years of data, including acreage, production, consumption, as well as imports and exports. This publication, produced exclusively by FI analysts, uses information from various sources such as USDA, the U.S. Census Bureau and SymphonyIRI and puts everything in one place - just for you. To learn more and purchase, click here.

Pear Bureau Northwest The Pear Bureau Northwest is a non-profit marketing organization that develops and supports national and international markets, and conducts research, for fresh USA Pears grown in Washington and Oregon on behalf of 1,600 growers. Headquartered near Portland, OR, the Pear Bureau Northwest provides promotional materials and marketing support for nation-wide, regional and international retail, food service and school food service programs. The Pear Bureau Northwest hosts the largest website dedicated to fresh pears at www.usapears.org. Interested in seeing your company featured here? Email us for more details.

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International News

Kraft Foods Inc. began another round of price increases for its coffee brands in Europe, reported Bloomberg.com. The company expects single-serve coffee to make up as much as 80% of its coffee sales in Europe in 10 to 15 years. Full Story

UK supplier of ink and barcode equipment Domino Printing Sciences Plc sees its joint venture for tracking eggs in the U.S. expanding in other countries. Domino is working on new technology, including inks which change color as a food ages, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

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.

Washington News

FDA requested a permanent injunction against American Mercantile Corp., Ingredients Corp. of America and the owner and president of the companies. FDA claims that the companies violate the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act by preparing, packing and holding food under insanitary conditions. Full Story

Market News

U.S. farm exports reached an all-time high of $75 billion during the first half of fiscal year 2011, noted USDA. Exports for fiscal 2011 are 27% higher than the same period last year. This puts the U.S. on track to reach the current USDA export forecast of $135.5 billion by the end of the year. China was the top export market with $15.1 billion in farm exports, accounting for nearly 20% of all U.S. agricultural exports. Full Story

Testa Produce, Inc. opened a 91,000-sq. ft., $20 million distribution center in Chicago. The facility, which is aiming for LEED Platinum certification, incorporates a 750kW wind turbine and 180 solar panels. Full Story