May 05, 2011

IFDA News

The Food and Drug Administration yesterday announced the first two regulations to implement portions of the Food Safety Modernization Act. The first rule covers FDA's new authority to administratively detain food if the agency believes it to be unsafe or produced under insanitary conditions. Previously FDA was only allowed to detain product when it had credible evidence of a threat. The second rule requires anyone importing food to inform FDA if any country has refused entry to the same product. Visit IFDA's regulatory watch to access both rulings and to find out more about the Food Safety Modernization Act. IFDA will be providing a summary of the rules when it becomes available. For more information contact the IFDA government relations department.

Operator News

A former Outback Steakhouse executive launched Fitlife Foods in Tampa, FL, a takeout place offering fresh-made, heat-at-home meals. Three more outlets are planned for the area, reported St. Petersburg Times. Full Story

The "local" claim on U.S. restaurant menus increased 13% in the past year, according to Mintel Foodservice. Mintel Menu Insights sees a push toward indigenous ingredients this year, taking the local trend a step further. Full Story

Retail News

Albertsons LLC plans to remodel its stores in the Baton Rouge, LA area over the next few months by adding a new decor package, plus expanded perishables and local favorites. Stores will be re-set to encompass several features, including hot wing bars, fresh sushi, more service deli offerings, more meats and added wines, spirits and beers, plus a wide range of local staples, reported Supermarket News. Full Story

Discount grocers are carrying products to cater to local tastes. For example, Save-A-Lot's Earth City, MO-based store stocks pork steak, fish breading mix and some local barbecue sauces. "In the past, say five years ago, we had the same assortment in every store in the country," noted the chain's CEO. "But now about 85% is the same, and 15% of our assortment is more tailored to the area," reported STLToday.com. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Industry News

Sara Lee Corp. is evaluating "strategic options" for its international bakery and North American refrigerated dough units, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

View Today! The Food Institute reports on wholesale food prices in the May 5 edition of the Lempert Report, hosted by Phil Lempert. Today's edition also discusses what supermarkets can learn from fraternity chefs. Click here to view.

Companies named to the Fortune 500 list include: Wal-Mart Stores (No. 1), CVS Caremark (No. 21) and Kroger (No. 25). Wal-Mart is No. 1 for the second year in a row and the eighth time this decade. Full List

Coca-Cola Co.'s roster of about 3,500 beverages is three times larger than 10 years ago. Nearly 25% of the company's global sales are low- or no-calorie drinks, reported The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

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

U.S. food makers are expecting an earnings or revenue boost from favorable foreign exchange rates. Currencies that recently gained against the U.S. dollar are expected to offset some of those challenges for companies with a strong overseas presence, such as Kraft, Sara Lee, H.J. Heinz and Campbell Soup. Foreign exchange could boost the reported revenue of major U.S. food makers by an average of 2.2% each this year, estimated a Sanford C. Bernstein & Co. analyst, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Consumers value food and beverage products that are a good source of vitamins over minerals and supplements, according to Getting Vitamins from Food and Beverages is First Priority for Consumers, a study from Ipsos Marketing. Protein, minerals, fiber, omega 3 and antioxidants are less important. Full Story

Mars, Kellogg's, General Mills and Kraft Foods are among the top consumer goods advertisers ranked by display ad spending, according to first quarter 2011 data from comScore Ad Metrix. Nearly 1.1 trillion display ads were delivered to U.S. internet users during the quarter. Facebook accounted for 346 billion impressions, nearly double the number it delivered in first quarter 2010, and accounting for nearly one-third of all display ad impressions delivered. Full Story

Nearly 25% of shoppers are willing to pay more for something if it makes them feel like they are contributing to saving the environment. Shoppers ages 18 to 34 are slower to embrace making purchasing changes to benefit the environment than those shoppers ages 35 to 44 and 55 to 64, according to The Checkout, released by The Integer Group and M/A/R/C Research. Results show that all consumers are willing to make easy changes, but when it comes to doing something that requires more time, money and effort, such as only purchasing locally-grown organic food, the amount of willing participants drops. Full Story

The Russian Federation does not have a standard in place for "organic" labeling. As a result, products can be imported using the organic labeling of their country of origin. After a notable decline in sales of most types of organic products in Russia in 2009, the sales value of organic packaged food in 2010 grew by 14% to reach $220.6 million. Organic baby food shows the fastest development, with growth of 25% in current sales value and 11% in volume, noted FAS. FAS Report Meanwhile, Russia will see a "huge" recovery in grain crops this year as will Ukraine, a senior economist and grain analyst at the FAO forecast, reported Reuters. Full Story

Health News

A blend of fruit juices may have benefits for the heart, according to research from the British Heart Foundation. Researchers looked for polyphenols, with the most active fruits including blackcurrant, blueberry, aronia (choke berries), cranberry, lingonberry and grape, reported BBC News. Full Story

Washington News

USDA proposed a rule to amend the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances to reflect recommendations submitted to the Secretary of Agriculture by the National Organic Standards Board. The recommendations addressed in this proposed rule pertain to establishing exemptions for two substances, fenbendazole and moxidectin, on the National List as parasiticides in organic livestock production. Full Notice

USDA awarded an additional $1 million of 2011 Market Access Program funds to the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), which plans to use the funds to augment their ongoing beef promotion in South Korea. USMEF revealed a five-year, $10 million initiative to regain and expand U.S. beef markets in Korea. Full Story

Market News

Heavy rain on Dec. 11, 2010 caused significant cherry losses in the primary cherry producing region in the Central Valley, south of Santiago, Chile, according to the Chilean Fruit Producers Association. Based on reports from the growers, the Association estimates that between 1.2 million and 1.5 million cartons were damaged, the equivalent of 6,000 to 7,000 metric tons, noted FAS. FAS Report

China's fresh strawberry production is estimated at 1.35 million metric tons (MMT) in 2010, a 10% decrease from 2009. Frozen strawberry production in 2010 is down 10% at 130,000 MT. China's exports of frozen strawberries will increase by 9% to 105,000 MT in 2010, noted FAS. FAS Report

A smaller apple crop is expected in South Africa for marketing year 2010/11, due to unfavorable weather conditions. Gala apples will be down by 21% compared with last year and Golden Delicious will be down 20%. Current expectations for the late season varieties are that Granny Smith will be 15% less than last year, noted FAS. FAS Report

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