Retail News
 Total
retail e-commerce spending reached $129.8 billion for the
full year 2009, below the previous year's total of $130.1
billion, according to comScore, Inc. Online retail spending
reached $39 billion in the fourth quarter of 2009, up 3% versus
a year ago. Full
Story
Kings
Super Markets, Inc. will implement Guiding Stars in all 24
grocery stores located in New Jersey and Long Island,
NY. Full
Story
Retailers'
alcohol beverage categories will be shaped to take advantage
of some opportunities and address shoppers' newfound frugality,
according to The Nielsen Co.'s quarterly Economic Advisor
Beverage Alcohol Webinar. Consumers are gravitating toward
big and small packages, with growth being seen in 30-packs,
to satisfy consumer' desire for more value per serving, and
four-packs, as consumers experiment with craft offerings,
reported Convenience Store News. Full
Story
Manufacturer News
Calavo Growers, Inc. established a majority-owned subsidiary,
Calavo Salsa Lisa, LLC, and that business acquired Lisa's
Salsa Company. Calavo
Salsa Lisa will be produced in St. Paul at the former Lisa's
Salsa Company's 8,000-sq. ft. facility, which Calavo Salsa
Lisa will expand to 10,500-sq. ft. Full
Story
Global
cheese consumption is expected to reach 21 million metric
tons by 2015, according to a report by Global Industry
Analysts, Inc. Growth in the market will primarily be driven
by a resurgence of demand fundamentals, such as improving
income levels, strengthening consumer sentiment/confidence,
waxing propensity to spend and an increase in the adoption
of Western-styled food across Asian countries. Full
Story
Berlin
Packaging entered into a definitive agreement to acquire All-Pak,
Inc. The transaction is expected to close by the end of
February. Full
Story
The
Partnership for a Healthier America launched with plans
to "make meaningful and measurable commitments to fighting
childhood obesity." Numerous foundations and nonprofits
are involved, including The California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente,
Nemours, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the W.K. Kellogg
Foundation and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.
Full
Story
Disney
will develop a program in collaboration with First Lady Michelle
Obama supporting "Let's Move." Disney will create
a series of PSAs featuring the First Lady and leading Disney
Channel stars to inspire healthier eating habits, physical
activity and more. Full
Story
New
Product News: Campbell Soup Company's North America
Foodservice division will launch three Pace specialty salsas.
Full
Story ... Tyson Food Service is launching Tyson
Cut & Ready chicken and IBP Cut & Ready beef and pork, each
in four different cuts, reported Meat & Poultry.
Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Executives
on the Move: Nestle Waters North America Inc. stated
that Tim Brown will assume the role of president and CEO as
market head for Nestle Canada Inc. this month. Dimitrios
Smyrnios will replace Mr. Brown as EVP retail operations,
reported CSP Daily News. Full
Story ...
DCI Cheese Company added some new employees, including
a Sales Director for the East Coast, reported WisBusiness.com.
Full
Story
Foodservice News
Restaurant
Roundup: MyMenu
is offering single unit franchise opportunities throughout
the Midwest. Full
Story
... Burger
King's net restaurant count increased by 95 restaurants
in its second fiscal quarter. Full
Story
Shakey's
USA named Craig Hopkins SVP of corporate and franchise development,
reported Nation's Restaurant News. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
New
Store News: La Salsa Fresh Mexican Grill opened
a restaurant at George Bush International Airport. Full
Story ... Stevi B's Pizza will open three Central
Florida locations, reported QSR Magazine. Full
Story ... Johnny
Rockets opened a location in Cancun. Full
Story
Health News
Beers containing a lot of hops or pale barley malts could
promote better bone health due to their dietary silicon
content, according to findings published in the Science
of Food and Agriculture, reported Beverage Daily.
Full
Story
Lack of availability and taste preference are some of
the reasons adolescents do not reach their recommended wholegrain
intake, claims a study published in Journal of the
American Dietetic Association. Young people on average
consume around 0.6 to 0.7 servings of wholegrain foods per
day, compared to the recommended three servings, reported
Food Navigator USA. Full
Story
Washington News
Idaho Sen. Tim Corder is seeking to revamp rules governing
where and how large poultry farms are operated. This comes
as the state, as well as Nevada, courts California egg producers
that may move out of the state as Proposition 2 takes effect
in 2015, reported The Modesto Bee. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
The Metro Health Board in Louisville, KY endorsed plans
to bring in a trans-fat ban in the city within 18 months.
The proposed ban will have a phase-in period of 12 months
for prepared foods and 18 months for baked goods, reported
Food Navigator USA. Full
Story
Recording Now Available! Understanding
FDA's Reportable Food Registry (RFR), a webinar hosted
by The Food Institute and Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz
PC, discussed FDA's current thinking regarding the RFR. Webinar
moderator Robert Hahn provided insight on the legal obligation
of reporting an adverse event through the RFR. To purchase
the recording, click
here. FI Members -Use Your Rewards Card And Pay
Just $99!
Global News
Kraft Foods Inc. will not reverse a decision
by Cadbury Plc to close a manufacturing plant near Bristol
because the British firm's plans were too advanced to change
them, reported Reuters. Full
Story
Eight parties sent non-binding
bids to buy just over a third of Slovenia food retailer
Mercator, reported Reuters. Full
Story
Discount Investment Corp gave shareholders
of Super-Sol a week's extension to approve its proposal
to buy another 8.3% of the Israel supermarket chain, reported
Reuters. Full
Story
Elevation Burger signed its first international
franchise deal and plans to expand into the Middle East
later this year, reported Nation's Restaurant News.
Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Dairy Queen will
open its first restaurants in Macau and Egypt in 2010.
The company believes there is potential to open 40 to 50 restaurants
throughout four to five additional Egyptian cities.
Full
Story
Market News
Southern hemisphere apple production is expected to be
up slightly in 2010, but pear volumes could be down significantly.
About 1.4 million metric tons of pears will likely ship from
those countries, 12% less than the year before. About 5.2
million metric tons of apples are expected to ship from growers
in Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, New Zealand and South
Africa this year, 1% more than in 2009, according to the World
Apple and Pear Association, reported The Packer Online.
Full
Story (Subscription Required)
China's raisin production is estimated at 155,000 metric
tons (MT) for 2009/10, an 11% increase from the previous
year due to favorable weather and expanded acreage, noted
FAS. Raisin consumption is steadily increasing because of
rising incomes, more buyer emphasis on health and nutrition
and China's fast-growing baking and confectionery sectors.
USDA believes that the food processing and bakery sector may
offer the best prospects for U.S. raisins. Education is extremely
important to increase market share. FAS
Report
E.A. Sween Co. signed a five-year lease for a 120,000-sq.
ft. cold storage building, reported Minneapolis/St.
Paul Business Journal. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Spanish food group SOS Cuetara put its rice business in
the U.S., Spain and the Netherlands up for sale, reported
Reuters. The sale may also potentially include the
group's rice business in Portugal. Full
Story
The United Fresh Produce Association Foundation launched
"A Salad Bar in Every School" campaign. Full
Story
Shipments of California pistachios reached a record 46
million-lbs. in December, boosted by a small crop in Iran,
reported The Fresno Bee. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Dakota Beef entered into a co-packing partnership
with North Dakota Natural Beef. Full
Story
The Oppenheimer Group reached a multiyear, exclusive marketing
agreement for domestic and export sales with Orchard View
Farms' cherries, reported The Packer Online. Full
Story (Subscription Required)
Produce Labeling & Coding of America introduced a palm-sized
printer that can be used in the field to create traceable
labels for produce. The printer is compatible with any Produce
Traceability Initiative-certified database program, reported
The Packer Online. Full
Story (Subscription Required)
Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration
(GIPSA) will amend the regulations under the Packers and Stockyards
Act regarding the registration of market agencies and
dealers. Under the current regulations, there is no expiration
date or renewal process for the registration of a market agency
or dealer under the P&S Act. Under the final rule, a market
agency or dealer's registration will not expire, provided
that the market agency or dealer timely files its annual reports
with GIPSA. Full
Notice
USDA prepared two pest risk analyses, one with respect
to fresh figs and pomegranates grown in Chile and one with
respect to fresh baby kiwi fruit grown in Chile. The analyses
evaluate the risks associated with the importation into the
continental U.S. of fresh figs, pomegranates and baby kiwi
fruit from Chile. Full
Notice
USDA prepared a pest risk analysis that evaluates
the risks associated with the importation of fresh male summer
squash flowers from Israel into the continental U.S. USDA
concluded that the application of one or more designated phytosanitary
measures will be sufficient to mitigate the pest risk. Full
Notice
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IGA
Coca-Cola Institute Perspective 
