Industry News

Ralcorp Holdings, Inc.'s Board of Directors unanimously reiterated its rejection of ConAgra's proposal to acquire the company. Ralcorp is determined not to enter into negotiations with respect to that proposal. Full Story

View Today! The Food Institute provides information on store sales in the Sept. 19 edition of the Lempert Report, hosted by Phil Lempert. Also, are people eating healthy? Click here to view.

Coke will launch 12.5-oz., 89-cent bottles and reduce the suggested retail price of its eight-pack of 7.5-oz. "mini" cans by about 20% to $2.99. Coke is adopting the strategy from Mexico, where bottling partners began diversifying package sizes to offer more price options following the 1994 peso devaluation and economic crisis, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Marfrig Alimentos SA agreed to sell its U.S. and European distribution unit, Keystone, for $400 million to Martin-Brower Co. to boost its cash position. The sale should be concluded in the fourth quarter, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

Ralphs, Vons and Albertsons lost about 37% of market share since a 2004 grocery workers strike, according to Strategic Resource Group. Farmers markets, discount shops, small independents and warehouse clubs moved into the business as many shoppers refused to cross picket lines. Additionally, in the last 15 months Target began carring fresh groceries in 140 area stores, reportedly the fastest conversion rate for a retailer in that region in U.S. history, reported The Los Angeles Times. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

The top reason worldwide Facebook users stop following a brand is because it is "no longer of interest to me" or "the information available was not interesting," according to a survey from DDB, Paris and OpinionWay. Fans in the U.S., UK and France are following fewer brands; are less likely to press like, post on a brand's wall or recommend it to friends; and are less inclined to participate in brand pages' games, events and competitions, reported Advertising Age. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Food Institute News

Last Chance to Register for Session Three! On Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 12 p.m. (EST), The Food Institute and OFW Law will offer the third installment of the year-long webinar series on FDA implementation of the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). This session's topic is FDA rules governing preventative controls. What can you do to get ready? And, how will these new regulations serve as a key weapon against foodborne illness and provide safer food for all? Also planned is a discussion on draft guidance of new Dietary Guidelines and an understanding of how user fees will be calculated for Fiscal Year 2012. Click here to learn more and sign up.

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International News

PepsiCo, Inc. signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture of China to promote sustainable agriculture projects and accelerate the development of the Chinese countryside. As part of the joint initiative, PepsiCo and the Ministry of Agriculture will build and operate demonstration farms that leverage advanced irrigation, fertilization and crop management techniques. They also will collaborate to promote best practices across China's farming system to improve yields, increase income levels and raise living standards for farmers. Full Story

Washington News

Costco won a court decision that blocks women who accused the company of gender bias from suing as a group, but the court left open the possibility that the case could regain class-action status, reported Reuters. Full Story

Lab tests by Colorado health officials confirmed that a listeria outbreak that killed at least two people is linked to cantaloupe grown at Jensen Farms, reported Reuters. 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.

Market News

Clemson University rolled out CaroTiger, a new late-season peach cultivar that will be available to growers in January 2013. A peach specialist from the university claims CaroTiger will fit into an important niche in the late-season when many cultivars at this time of the year may have marginal eating quality, drop prematurely or are susceptible to disease, reported Southeast Farm Press. Full Story

California's Coachella Valley is poised for a significant growth in date volume over the next several years as substantial new acreage of date palms have yet to come into production. The area is expecting production of 45 million-lbs. this year, compared to 38 million-lbs. last year, noted the manager of the California Date Administrative Committee, reported The Produce News. Full Story