Industry News

Kroger cut some prices in its latest quarter, fueling concerns that the slow U.S. economic recovery will cause another flare-up in the supermarket industry's price war, reported Reuters. Full Story

Green Bay, WI-based Port City Bakery, Inc. will use a $200,000 tax credit for an expansion project to improve its overall operations. The company, doing business as Alive and Kickin' Pizza Crust, produces frozen and wholesale pizza crusts for use in the foodservice and retail industries. Full Story

The volume of Coca-Cola's beverage sales grew for two straight quarters in North America for the first time in five years, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

HOWS Markets is closing all its locations except its Pasadena, CA-based store. Former sites in Torrance, CA and Canyon Country were converted into Super A Foods and Big Lots, reported The Los Angeles Times. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Capriotti's Sandwich Shop plans to open 50 locations in the Dallas market over a 10-year period. Full Story

Latest sales & earnings from food-related companies (Updated daily - FI Membership Required)

Food Institute News

A number of popular foods enticed consumers in 2009, and the food items that netted the largest dollar sales in 2009 were cold cereal and skim and low-fat refrigerated milk with $1.51 billion, according to Food Industry Review, 2010 Edition. This 600+ page publication is meant to provide readers facts, figures and analysis of the quantitative performance of food retailing. Featuring comprehensive write-ups and detailed sales charts, this year's edition includes new chapters on: Social Media- a new wave of marketing where dissemination of information is nearly limitless; Sustainability- a growing food industry movement receiving attention in every sector; and New Concepts. Other topics explored in-depth include retailing formats, private label, food business mergers and acquisitions, vending, restaurants and foodservice, new products launches, consumer trends, demographics of consumer food spending, organic, specialty and natural food and food processing. Click Here for more information.

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International News

Wal-Mart launched a 37,000-sq. ft. no-frills "compact hypermarket" store format in China targeting low-income and rural consumers. The store is expected to be the first of a series of stores using a bare-bones model developed in Latin America, reported AFP. Full Story

Grupo Bimbo will spend $200 million to construct a wind farm in Mexico that will generate almost 100% of the electrical power consumed by the company in the country. The wind farm, set to be operational by the end of 2011, will be located in Union Hidalgo, State of Oaxaca. 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.

Washington News

The House approved the $4.5 billion child nutrition bill 264 to 157, reported The Associated Press. Full Story, USDA Statement

NEED HELP COMPLYING WITH THE BIOTERRORISM ACT? A convenient reference source and guide to the Bioterrorism Act, as well as federal regulations and policies implementing the Bioterrorism Act, is available from The Food Institute. Authored by Olsson, Frank & Weeda, P.C., this guide can assist U.S. and foreign food industry users in understanding not only the strict legal requirements, but also FDA’s findings, conclusions, and views as set forth in rulemaking preambles and other documents. For more information or to order the book, click here.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs filed an administrative complaint against Nash Finch Co. for systematically discriminating against more than 80 women who applied for order selector positions at the company's Lumberton, NC-based facility. Full Story

Market News

Frontera Produce Ltd. purchased the assets of Borders Melon Co., expanding its onion and watermelon business, reported The Packer Online. Full Story (Subscription Required)