Industry News

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Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. updated its growth plans for the current fiscal year, which includes cutting back on total capital spending. However, the company will continue to accelerate its investment in its international operating segment during the next two fiscal years. New store growth will also remain part of Wal-Mart's U.S. strategy, with more emphasis being placed on relocating and expanding existing discount stores to supercenters. Full Story

Independent grocery retailers reported a 1.94% net profit before taxes and overall store margins of 25.55%, according to the 2007 Independent Grocers Survey from FMS Solutions and the National Grocers Association. Full Story

The Walgreen Co. is changing along with the drug store industry by increasing its fountain drink, coffee and snacks offerings through its newest concept Café W. The concept, which is a compact counter version of a convenience store's beverage and snack area, is still in the testing phase with more than 100 across the country, noted Catherine Lindner, Walgreen's divisional vice president of marketing development, reported CSP Daily News. Full Story

Emerald City Smoothie plans to open up to 10 franchises in Jacksonville, FL, along with multiple locations in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Miami, West Palm Beach and Orlando, FL, as part of its plan to open 250 stores by 2010, reported Jacksonville Business Journal. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Online search appears to represent a significant marketing opportunity for consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands, according to a study from comScore, Inc. that analyzed the role of online search in generating website traffic for a number of consumer packaged goods categories. A majority of U.S. consumers visited websites for CPG product categories during the three months ending April 2007, with search driving a significant percentage of visitors in all the categories. Food products represented the largest search marketing opportunity with nearly 44 million category site visitors, reported CNN Money. Full Story

Food Institute News

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Harvey Alpert & Company Founded in 1977, Harvey Alpert & Company has over 29 years experience in bringing airlines and leading brands together. Harvey Alpert & Co. is the exclusive national sales and marketing representative for a portfolio of national recognized food and beverage manufacturers. For more information please visit: www.harveyalpertco.com Oakfield Farms is the industry leader in fully-assembled, shelf-stable snacks and meals for airlines. With a wide array of packaging options, Oakfield Farms allows airlines to tailor the snack size, packaging and components to suit their unique needs. For more information please visit:www.oakfieldfarms.com Interested in seeing your company featured here? Email us for more details.

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International News

Italian authorities are investigating pasta manufacturers over alleged price fixing, after a warning in July that pasta prices would surge by 20% by the Fall. Authorities are investigating whether members of the Industrial Union of Pasta Makers, which represents about 85% of the market, conspired to fix the price of spaghetti, fettuccine and other pastas, reported BBC News. Full Story

Health News

Men who eat whole-grain breakfast cereal regularly are less likely to develop heart failure than those who eat it rarely or never, according to a study in the Archives of Internal Medicine, reported CBSNEWS.com. Full Story

Washington News

Farm-state senators crafted a tentative compromise on a $288 billion Farm Bill, but they already face bipartisan criticism that the bill does not do enough to cut government subsidies, reported Business Week Online. Critics say the legislation is too heavy on subsidies for wealthy farmers and should spend more money on conservation programs designed to protect the land and on food programs for the poor. Full details of the five-year bill, scheduled to be considered by the Senate Agriculture Committee Oct. 24, have yet to be released. Full Story

Membership Warehouse Club Sales Reach $116.6 Billion in 2006 The membership warehouse club industry reached $116.6 billion in sales in 2006 - an 8.5% increase over 2005 - and is headed toward sales of over $170 billion by 2011, according to the latest edition of the Membership Warehouse Clubs Industry Overview, part of the Supermerchants series published by alternative format expert James M. Degen & Co. This report covers company specific market size and growth, membership, physical characteristics, consumer demographics, buying practices, competitive response and an outlook for future developments. Click here to order.

Market News

The proportion of seafood that is farmed is surprisingly large and growing fast. "The latest figures of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) say it is close to 50%," observes Patrick Sorgeloos, an aquaculture specialist from the University of Ghent, and an advisor to the FAO. However, environmental groups lodge a long list of grievances against aquaculture, including how shrimp ponds destroy mangrove forest and how fish, especially salmon, escape from their cages and breed with their wild cousins, weakening their genetic stock and ability to survive and reproduce, reported BBC News. Full Story

2007 Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report The 2007 Technomic Top 500 Chain Restaurant Report is the most comprehensive ranking, analysis and overview of the U.S. chain restaurant industry. The Top 500 helps readers develop sales and marketing strategies, identify growth opportunities and monitor segment and menu category performance. The report features total restaurant industry and Top 500 share by menu category, Top 100 restaurant brands, Fastest growing chains and New "emerging" entrants to the Top 500. For more information, click here.