August 16, 2011

IFDA News

When it comes to protecting millions of dollars of valuable inventory from theft or tampering, the difference between being proactive vs. relying on luck can be very costly. During the session "Facility Security: How Vulnerable is Your Distribution Center?" at the 2011 Distribution Solutions Conference, security expert Barry Brandman will explain the essential components of a successful loss prevention program and show you how to dramatically minimize your company's risk. Brandman will explain why most alarm and video systems don't protect facilities from internal theft and outside break-ins, discuss the seven biggest myths about facility security, and share best practices that have been working effectively for other distributors. To access full information on the conference, taking place October 24-26 in Fort Worth, TX, click here.

Distributor News

As of Aug. 15, U.S. average diesel fuel prices were $3.835 per gallon, down 0.062 cents per gallon from a week ago, and up $0.856 from one year ago. Full Story

Operator News

OSI Restaurant Partners plans to expand its Bonefish Grill banner the quickest of any of its concepts. Meanwhile, Outback Steakhouse may open restaurants for lunch on weekends and added wood-fired grill items to its menu. OSI may hold an initial public stock offering, reported The Tampa Tribune. Full Story

Tim Hortons began allowing customers to add espresso shots to their coffee and order a number of cold and hot cappuccino and latte drinks that use espresso as an ingredient, reported The Buffalo News. Full Story

Five Guys Burgers and Fries is looking for suppliers and potential business partners in Western Europe. The chain opens an average of five stores per week in the U.S., reported Bloomberg Businessweek. Full Story

Retail News

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. purchased a $48.2 million stake in Dollar General Corp., reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

Publix's experiment with curbside grocery service continues a year after it began, but the chain still does not know if it will expand the pilot program, reported The Lakeland Ledger. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Industry News

The J. M. Smucker Co. will cut coffee prices for brands including Folgers an average of 6%. The price cut was driven by declines in the green coffee futures market, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

U.S. scientists discovered a naturally-occurring agent that destroys the bacteria that causes meat, fish, eggs and dairy products to rot. Researchers at the University of Minnesota reported that bisin reduces the growth of bacteria including E. coli, salmonella and listeria, reported Fox News. Full Story

Ingersoll, United Technologies Corp.'s Carrier and shipping line AP Moeller-Maersk A/S are among companies promoting cold-chain technologies in India, where about $6.6 billion of food is lost each year because of a lack of chillers and poor infrastructure. The push is helping local farmers sell more goods at home and abroad, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

Washington News

Some 1,250 schools received honors from USDA's HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) for expanding nutrition and physical activity opportunities. Schools participating in the HUSSC voluntarily adopt USDA standards for food they serve at their schools, agree to provide nutrition education and to provide opportunities for physical activity. Full Story

Market News

Orlando citrus consultant Elizabeth Steger predicts growers will produce 142 million boxes of oranges in 2011-2012, or 2% higher than last season's crop of 139 million boxes. Louis Dreyfus Citrus Inc. was slightly more optimistic at 146 million orange boxes, a 5% increase, reported The Lakeland Ledger. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

A mild California summer has been a boon to the state's kiwifruit grower-shippers. The California Kiwifruit Commission's preliminary crop estimate was conservative, and "it has all the potential to be very close to or as big as last year's volume" of 8.5 million tray equivalents, noted the assistant manager of the commission, reported The Packer Online. Full Story

Sugar may advance 6% by December as China and Indonesia replenish stockpiles and the crop declines in Brazil. Futures in New York could gain to 29 cents a pound, according to the median in a Bloomberg News survey of eight exporters, importers and traders at a conference in the Philippines, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story

The IFDA Daily Update

To view our editorial policy, click here.

IFDA Membership

For more information about becoming a member or partner
of IFDA, click here.