Industry News

Wholesale finished consumer food prices inched up only slightly in July but were still up 7.1% from a year earlier, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Full Story

Personalization is a multi-dimensional experience rather than a discrete, singular component of shopping, according to Personalized Grocery Shopping, An In-Depth Shopper Interview, a report released by Brick Meets Click. The report examines how shoppers are using and thinking about grocery shopping technology from the viewpoint of a Safeway shopper, who frequents the chain every 1.5 to two weeks and purchases for a family of three. Full Report

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.

Cargill resumed ground turkey production at its Arkansas plant that was the source of a recall. Production resumed after the addition of new safety measures approved by USDA, including increasing by 25% an anti-bacterial wash for just-slaughtered birds, and adding two new anti-bacterial baths during the evisceration process. While the Arkansas plant is now producing a limited amount of 93% lean ground turkey, Cargill has not determined when it will resume making its 85% lean product, reported The Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

BJ's Wholesale Club Inc.'s sales of food increased by approximately 5% in its second quarter for the second year in a row, driven primarily by an 8% increase in perishable foods. On a two-year stacked basis comparable club sales of perishable foods increased by approximately 16%. Full Story

New! The Aug. 17 edition of New Products Hits and Misses with Phil Lempert profiles: Mediterranean Baked Lentil Crackers Sea Salt Flavor; Ciao Bella Sorbet Bars Blueberry Passion Flavor; Alexia Sweet Potato Crisp Bite Sized Puffs; Dr. McDougall's Right Food Asian Entree Thai Peanut Noodle Flavor; and Crunchy N Yummy Freeze Dried Bananas. Click here to view.

About 60% of consumers reported drinking regular hot coffee or tea within the last month, second only to the 62% of consumers who had a non-diet carbonated soft drink during the same time period, according to Technomic's Market Intelligence Report: Coffee and Tea. Overall, grocery, drug and mass-merchandise stores experienced a 15.9% increase in coffee sales from 2007 to 2010. Green tea is of interest to nearly 73% of consumers, making it the most appealing flavor for hot or iced tea. Full Story

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

Food Institute News

The Consumer Federation of America will host the 34th Annual National Food Policy Conference in Washington, DC. The event, to be held Oct. 3 and 4, is co-sponsored by The Food Institute. This year's conference will focus on key issues facing consumers, the food industry, and government and will analyze the impact of federal budget cuts on government food programs; examine reauthorization of the 2012 Farm Bill; explore key nutrition initiatives; and discuss the next steps in food safety. Speakers and panelists will examine how the global food system must evolve to feed a growing world population and examine consumer food priorities and trends. Please click here to register for the conference or contact Sally Karwowski at 202-939-1005 for more information.

Encore Fruit Marketing Inc. Since 1989, Encore Fruit Marketing has been an innovative leader in providing processed fruit and vegetable ingredients to the food and beverage industry. Encore's service driven professionals match customer requirements with qualified global suppliers. Encore excels at sourcing unique SuperFruit functional ingredients like Goji berry, SeaBuckthorn and Pomegranate, and we offer a full line of Tropical ingredients, including Coconut. Based in San Dimas, CA, Encore is staffed to handle the toughest assignment and loves a challenge. To learn more about this Food Institute member, please visit: www.encorefruit.com. Interested in seeing your company featured here? Email us for more details.

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International News

Asda raised its target for smaller-format shops to 250 as it integrates the purchase of the Netto chain and opens more outlets. The retailer is opening eight smaller stores a week and converted 61 Netto outlets so far, with its 100th supermarket opening next week. The company aims for 180 of the format by year-end, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

Washington News

CB Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries filed a Joint Plan of Reorganization and related disclosure statement with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. The plan effectuates an agreement between the company's lenders and the official committee of unsecured creditors that was appointed in the company's Chapter 11 cases to split proceeds of sales of the company's assets that provide for a recovery to unsecured creditors. A hearing was scheduled for Sept. 9. Full Story

Some 18 Dallas-area Burger King locations are going on the auction block, reported Dallas Business Journal. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Market News

About 2.3% fewer fresh potatoes were sold last year than in 2009, according to Potato Sales & Utilization Estimates, a report from the U.S. Potato Board. Meanwhile, after significantly exceeding exports in 2007 and 2008, fresh imports returned to a level comparable to exports. In 2010, fresh foodservice sales vs. year ago were estimated to be off 1% compared to retail's decline of 3.1%. Nevertheless, over the past 10 years retail's share of total U.S. domestic sales has been relatively stable, accounting for between 57.7% and 60% of annual sales. Full Report

The forecast for the 2011 cranberry crop is 7.50 million barrels, up 10% from 2010. If realized, this will be the second largest production on record. Production forecasts are up from last year in Massachusetts, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin but down in New Jersey, according to USDA. Full Report