Industry News

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Wholesale prices for finished consumer foods fell an unadjusted 0.2% in April from the prior month. Leading the April decrease, the index for fresh and dry vegetables dropped 10.2%. Lower prices for eggs for fresh use also contributed to the finished consumer foods decline, according to the just-released Producer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Consumer Price Index for food and other items will be released May 19. Full Story

The J. M. Smucker Company will increase the list price for the majority of its Folgers, Dunkin' Donuts, Millstone and Folgers Gourmet Selections coffee products sold in its U.S. retail coffee market. Prices will increase an average of 4% on impacted items. Prices for coffee sold in the company's other business areas are also increasing during the current fiscal quarter. Full Story

Now Available! Eating In, a Food Institute webinar presented in cooperation with Willard Bishop and The Coca-Cola Retailing and Research Council, provided solid information on how customers are thinking about and approaching the planning, preparation, consumption and even clean-up for meals. The webinar highlighted results from a study sponsored by the Coca-Cola Retailing and Research Council - North America using NPD Group data. To purchase the recording, click here.

Some 79% of Americans do not believe the recession is over and 71% plan to continue the saving habits developed over the past few years, according to a survey released by ConAgra Foods. In the past year, 75% of Americans cooked more meals at home and will continue to do so. About 79% will continue to focus on saving by using coupons, store specials or a budget, and 63% will continue to cut back on premium purchases. Full Story

The Inventure Group, Inc. expects its Jamba All Natural Smoothies line to be distributed in more than 5,000 new stores by the end of the second quarter of 2010. 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.

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

Hain Pure Protein Corporation completed the sale of its Kosher Valley brand to Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc. Full Story

Food Institute News

Purchase Today! The Almanac of Processed Fish & Shellfish 2010 follows important market trends, gathering information from numerous sources to determine past market trends, while arming you with information to forecast such key factors as pricing and production for the commodities that impact your business - regardless of your place in the food chain. The book includes landings exports and imports, per capita consumption and numerous charts and graphs. To purchase a copy and learn more, click here.

J. M. Degen & Company J. M. Degen & Company is a market research and consulting firm focused on all channels of the food industry. In addition to providing proprietary market research and consulting to food manufacturers, the Degen Company also publishes research reports for general subscription under the name Supermerchants®. Supermerchants overview reports cover various retailing channels such as membership warehouse clubs, supercenters, specialty wholesale-retailers including dollar stores and convenience retailers such as drug stores, convenience stores To learn more about this Food Institute member visit: www.degenconsulting.com. Interested in seeing your company featured here? Email us for more details.

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International News

Carrefour's Turkish subsidiary CarrefourSA signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Ipek, a supermarket chain in Turkey, for €24 million. Full Story

Health News

Consuming bacon, sausage, hot dogs and other processed meats can raise the risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to a study published in Circulation. The American Meat Institute objected to the findings, stating it was only one study and that it stands in contrast to other studies and the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, reported Reuters. Full Story

Washington News

The Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation (HWCF) joined First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America in revealing a pledge to reduce 1.5 trillion calories by the end of 2015, a decrease HWCF member companies intend to sustain in subsequent years. Participating companies will pursue their calorie reduction goal by developing and introducing lower-calorie options, changing recipes where possible to lower the calorie content of current products, or reducing portion sizes of existing single-serve products. Full Story

Market News

ERS released a comprehensive overview of local food systems, which explores alternative definitions of local food, estimates market size and reach, describes the characteristics of local consumers and producers, and examines early indications of the economic and health impacts of local food systems. Statistics suggest that local food markets account for a small, but growing, share of U.S. agricultural production. For smaller farms, direct marketing to consumers accounts for a higher percentage of their sales than for larger farms. ERS Report

Brazil-based orange growers and juice processors Citrosuco Paulista S.A. and Citrovita Agro Industrial Ltd. entered into an agreement to merge, reported The Lakeland Ledger. Full Story