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August 27, 2010 | |
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Operator NewsThe fast casual restaurant category accounted for estimated sales of $23 billion in 2010, up nearly 30% since 2006, according to Mintel. Full Story The restaurant sector's recovery from the most recent U.S. recession has been significantly slower compared to that of previous recessions, according to consulting firm Kurt Salmon. "More than two years after the start of the Great Recession, consumer spending at restaurants is 10% less than an average of the nation's four prior recessions for the same recovery period," according to Kurt Salmon's Todd Hooper. Full Story
Industry NewsFollowing four consecutive increases, U.S. expenditures for food & beverages (excluding foodservice) declined 3.2% in the second quarter of 2010, according to just-released data from Bureau of Economic Analysis. Overall consumer expenditures rose 2% from the prior quarter. BEA Data Cooked white turkey meat, or deli meat, distribution in the marketplace grew 6% in 2009 to more than 467 million-lbs., with nearly half (43%) being distributed to foodservice operations, according to the National Turkey Federation's (NTF) 2009 Marketplace Survey, conducted by AgriStats, Inc. The top three turkey products produced are whole birds (more than 1 billion-lbs.), cooked white meat (more than 467 million-lbs.) and ground turkey (more than 415 million-lbs.). Full Story Fancy frozen popsicles - both purchased and homemade - are reportedly becoming the new gourmet treat of choice for adults looking for a little nostalgia. Frozen pop shops across the country have developed cult followings, while carts have become staples in farmers markets in Portland, Oregon and Los Angeles. Whole Foods Markets stores in Austin and Houston carry Goodpops, which are made by Manuel Flores and his wife at their Austin shop that opened last year. Locopops, which caters to humans and dogs, now has stores in Durham, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, with carts at the University of North Carolina and Duke University during the school year. Flavors include bacon, hot sauce and chili peppers. Atlanta-based King of Pops, which started in March, now sells nearly 2,000 pops a week and is booked for two weddings this fall, reported The Associated Press. Full Story Latest sales & earnings from food-related companies (Updated daily - FI Membership Required) Retail chocolate sales increased 3% from 2008 to reach a record $17 billion in 2009, according to Chocolate Market in the U.S.: Trends and Opportunities in Premium, Gourmet and Mass Chocolate Products by Packaged Facts. The U.S. chocolate market will exceed $19 billion in 2014. The demand for premium chocolate will persist as a leading growth trend, especially when the economy recovers. Full Story Delhaize America upgraded its fleet performance management tools across its Food Lion, Hannaford, and Sweetbay Banners, using XATA Corp.'s Xatanet in 780 trucks, reported Progressive Grocer. Full Story China Resources Enterprise Ltd. may spend as much as $707 million on acquisitions by the end of the year. China Resources opened more than 300 supermarkets in the 12 months ended June and closed more than 100, according to CFO Frank Lai, who noted that it will expand the business at a similar pace this year. The company also plans to open coffee shops at some of its 200 hypermarkets, deeming it a good time to tap the China coffee market, reported Bloomberg.com. Full Story Nestle SA is investing $487 million in a global push to increase the quantity and quality of its coffee. The company plans to train thousands of farmers over 10 years and provide them with new coffee trees. The company will not own the plantations or bind farmers into long-term contracts, but chief executive Paul Bulcke thinks the relationship the company develops with the farmers will lead them to sell to Nestle, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required) Nestle opened two premium chocolate production lines in Russia, reported Australian Food News. Full Story Health NewsBlack rice is a good source of antioxidants, according to research from the Louisiana State University Agricultural Center. The study authors noted that black rice bran could be used to boost the health benefits of breakfast cereals, cakes, cookies and other foods. It could also be added to beverages, and may serve as food coloring, reported HealthDay. Full Story
Washington NewsIn the U.S., hourly compensation costs for all employees in food and beverage manufacturing rose 3.1% from the 2007 level to $23.25 in 2008, according to a report from The Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is a larger increase than the 2.4% gain in compensation for all manufacturing. Full Report, Food & Beverage Compensation Five states and the District of Columbia reported statistically significant employment increases from July 2009 to July 2010, while four states experienced statistically significant declines, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The largest statistically significant over-the-year employment increases were posted in Texas (134,600), Indiana (47,600), Massachusetts (36,600) and the District of Columbia (21,300). The largest statistically significant job losses occurred in California (103,900), New York (51,400) and Georgia (39,100). Full Story Bashas' secured lenders agreed to drop a planned appeal of the company's reorganization plan after the chain agreed to improve some of the plan's debt-repayment terms. The settlement allows Bashas' to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection after more than 13 months and start making payments to its creditors, reported The Arizona Republic. Full Story Market NewsIn line with lower production and recession-strapped consumers, per capita disappearance of all mushrooms decreased 2% to 3.55 pounds in 2009/10, noted ERS. This is down 12% from a decade earlier and the smallest per capita domestic disappearance since 1988/89. Meanwhile, this summer, fresh-market vegetable area for harvest for 11 selected crops (excluding summer nonstorage onions and melons) is forecast to increase 3% from a year ago. If realized, this will be the first increase in summer fresh-vegetable acreage since 2001. Vegetables and Melons Outlook J.D. Heiskell & Co. and Land O'Lakes Purina Feed created a company, Golden State Feed and Grain. The company will operate Land O'Lakes Purina Feed's feed mill in Hanford, CA and J.D. Heiskell's feed mill in Pixley, CA, reported The Fresno Bee. Full Story (Free Registration Required) British scientists decoded the genetic sequence of wheat. The researchers will post the code on the internet, reported The Associated Press. Full Story
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