Industry News

General Mills and Kraft launched online word-of-mouth networks. General Mills' "Pssst..." gives members the latest product news and offerings. The site, pssst.generalmills.com, currently has 100,000 members. Kraft's Kraftfirsttaste.com lets consumers share the newest coupon and sampling offers, and includes features such as a member spotlight, product reviews, discussion boards and a photo-sharing tool, reported Brandweek. Full Story

Archway & Mother's Cookie Company closed its Battle Creek headquarters and will close its Ashland, OH plant on Oct. 6. Archway is owned by Catterton Partners, a private equity firm, and runs another Archway plant in Kitchener, Ontario, according to Mansfield News Journal. Full Story

Processed or value-added Asian vegetables have tremendous market potential in the U.S., according to S. Alan Walters, associate professor at Southern Illinois University. Asian populations are increasing in the U.S. and non-Asians are developing a taste for many traditional foods from the region, such as napa cabbage and Asian eggplant, reported ScienceDaily. Full Story

R.A.B. Food Group, LLC changed its name to The Manischewitz Company. In addition, the company completed upgrading and modernizing its Newark, NJ-based production facility. Full Story

The Made In Japan Teriyaki Experience restaurant concept could have as many as six locations in the Buffalo, NY area early next year. Founded in 1986, the Canadian-based Teriyaki Experience has grown to include more than 100 units, primarily in Canada. It also has restaurants in Europe, Central and South America and the Caribbean. The first U. S. unit debuted in Atlanta in June 2007 and there are currently three sites up and running, including a new Watertown, NY location. Franchise agreements were recently inked for multiple restaurants in California, Arizona and Iowa, according to The Buffalo News. Full Story

International News

McDonald's Corp. will speed up its expansion drive in central and eastern Europe, according to McDonald's President and COO Ralph Alvarez. The group plans to invest another $1 to $1.1 billion in its European restaurants next year, shifting focus to former communist nations to the east, which unlike many of the more developed markets, have so far been mostly immune to the global slowdown, according to Reuters. Full Story

Meanwhile, McDonald's Corp. raised prices in China by between 50 fen (57 HK cents) and 1.50 yuan at its 953 outlets, the third rise this year as it combats higher food, paper, labor and utility costs. The move, which took effect on Sept. 29, followed similar price increases in June and January, reported South China Morning Post. Full Story (Subscription Required)

Spicy Pickle Franchising, Inc. acquired Bread Garden Franchising, Inc., the franchisor of the Bread Garden Urban Cafes, a chain of franchised fast casual restaurants located in the greater Vancouver, Canada area. With this purchase, Spicy Pickle will have 53 restaurants in both the U.S. and Canada. Full Story

Washington News

Stanislaus County, CA-based lawmakers are considering changes to its zoning code that would give the city more control over where new fast food restaurants can be built and how they operate. If the law is approved, fast food restaurants would be prohibited within 500 feet of schools and parks, and would not be allowed to use trans fats or styrofoam containers. Drive-through windows would also be discouraged, reported The Modesto Bee. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

USDA issued a public health alert due to concerns about Salmonella that may be associated with raw, frozen, breaded and pre-browned, stuffed chicken entrees. The alert was initiated after an investigation and testing conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health and Minnesota Department of Agriculture determined there is an association between products such as chicken cordon blue and chicken breast kiev and 32 illnesses in 12 states. Full Story

Market News

The prospective area for harvest of 11 selected fresh market vegetables during the fall quarter is forecast at 151,370 acres, down 4% from last year. Area forecasted for fall melon harvest is 15,600 acres, up 1% from last year. Meanwhile, summer storage onion production is forecast at 51.5 million hundredweight, down 10% from last year. Storage onion harvested area is forecast at 99,620 acres, down 8% from 2007. USDA Vegetable Report

Harvest operations in California peach, plum and nectarine orchards are slowing down, as farmers faced some challenges this summer. Prices farmers earn dropped in mid-season, and plum growers lost some of their fruit to freezing weather in April, reported California Farm Bureau.