Retail News
Some $27.64 billion will be spent on food and drinks for
the Thanksgiving holiday. Overall
Thanksgiving sales are expected to increase 3% from 2008 and
reach $29.9 billion, down from the $30.69 billion logged in
2007, according to IBISWorld. Turkey is the single largest
Thanksgiving purchase, with 47.1 million birds expected to
be consumed this holiday, an increase over last year's 45.3
million birds. Thanksgiving turkey consumption will also account
for nearly 19% of all turkeys produced in the U.S. during
2009. Full
Story
Giant
Eagle redesigned the floorplan and products carried at its
prototype Express store in
Pittsburgh,
reported
ddimagazine.com. The changes were based on considerable
sales analyses and ample customer feedback over the course
of the store's first 15 months in operation, according to
Kevin Srigley, Giant Eagle's senior vice president of new
formats. The overhauled Giant Eagle Express has a renewed
focus on providing high-quality meal solutions, both ready-to-eat
and ready-to-heat. Fresh and frequently purchased conventional
items were repositioned front and center and the store features
an expanded cold drinks case near the checkout.
Full
Story
Some 24% of American adults claim to have
eaten less this year to ensure their children have enough
food, while 8% claim to have gone to bed hungry at least
once in the past year due to lack of money for food, according
to the 2009 Hormel Hunger Survey. If they were unable
to buy enough food for themselves or their family, 38% of
Americans would be very uncomfortable asking for food donations.
Full
Story
Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. expects to
enter into an agreement through one of its wholly-owned subsidiaries
to create a joint venture with Shell Oil Products U.S.
to operate approximately 100 convenience stores in the greater
Chicago metropolitan area. The majority of the 100 stores
would be operated by Couche-Tard's Midwest Division under
the Circle K banner. Full
Story
Wegmans Food Markets' strategy involves
growth largely outside New York state. The company will
open its first store in Massachusetts in 2011. "We see our
growth in a defined crescent between Washington and Boston,
extending from Pennsylvania, Virginia and Maryland and up
into Massachusetts," Danny Wegman stated, reported The
Ithaca Journal. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
About 17% of consumers plan to use social
media during their holiday shopping, and among those,
60% plan to use social media to find discounts, coupons and
sale information, according to Deloitte's 24th Annual Holiday
Survey of retail spending and trends. While 52% of those
who expect to use social media during the shopping process
are in the 18-29 years old age group, 33% are in the 30-44
years old age group and 12% are in the 45-60 years old age
group. Full
Story How can you target these
consumers? Regulating The New Social Media
... What You Need To Know Before You "Tweet," a Food Institute
webinar, discussed the regulatory and legal repercussions
companies face in using social media outlets. Webinar participants
included Mary Engle with the Federal Trade Commission, Violet
Aldaia of Brand Edge Global, David Mallen with the National
Advertising Division of the Better Business Bureau, and Richard
Leighton with the law firm of Keller and Heckman. To purchase
a recording or learn more, click
here.
C-store
retailers should create a space that is intuitive "for
both the body to navigate to and for the mind to visually
engage with," according to Kim Zenchak, director of customer
and shopper insights at Cadbury North America, who spoke at
CSP's 2009 Consumer Insights Forum. Another point to consider
is what people come to your c-store for, and editing product
selection based on that knowledge, noted the executive, reported
CSP Daily News. Full
Story
NCR Corporation and MOD Systems, Inc. launched
a digital kiosk download pilot that allows consumers to
choose from movies and TV shows stored in a kiosk, download
the title to a secure digital memory card and playing the
movie on a home television. Full
Story
Manufacturer News
Coupon distribution among CPG manufacturers is up 11%
year-to-date through the third quarter of 2009 compared
to the same period last year, resulting in the distribution
of 231 billion coupons in the marketplace to date this year,
according to the Third Quarter 2009 Consumer Packaged Goods
(CPG) Coupon Industry Facts Report released by NCH Marketing
Services, Inc., a Valassis company. A 23% increase in year-to-date
coupon redemption volume was noted during this same time period.
Additionally, marketers are increasing the face value of coupons,
up to $1.43 from $1.31 in the third quarter compared to a
year ago. Offer durations average 10.8 weeks. Full
Story
PepsiCo's Gatorade brand is looking to
increase falling sales with a new line of drinks targeting
athletes. The new drinks, named Prime, Perform and Recover,
are formulated to be consumed before, during and after athletic
activity, according to industry sources. The line is expected
to be unveiled early next year and its marketing would reverse
Gatorade's previous efforts to broaden the brand's appeal,
reported Crain's Chicago Business. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
The European Commission will rule on Kraft Foods Inc.'s
unsolicited takeover offer for Cadbury by Dec.
14, reported AFP. Full
Story
About 73% of natural products consumers are eating the
recommended amount of fruits and vegetables and 68% are choosing
organic foods to bolster their health, according to a
MamboTrack study by Mambo Sprouts Marketing. Some 57% reported
adding more "raw" and "whole" foods into their diet. Most
(59%) expect to buy more organics in the coming year. However,
many are seeking to make organics more affordable by shopping
sales (53%) and using coupons (51%). Interest in buying local
is on the rise with consumers shifting natural and organic
dollars away from local gourmet markets (16%) and discount
stores (15%) in favor of farmer's markets (52%) and local
food co-ops (43%). Full
Story
New
Product News: Yildiz Holding A.S.'s Godiva Chocolatier
introduced Godiva Coffee, a line of specialty coffee in seven
flavored and regular varieties, three versions of a classic
Breakfast Blend and four truffle-inspired flavors: French
Vanilla, Chocolate Truffle, Hazelnut Creme and Caramel.
Full Story ... Shelby
Signature Foods will introduce its first product with
IDEA Foods Inc., a premium extra virgin olive oil to consumers
in select retail stores under the "Shelby Signature Foods"
brand within the next two months. Full
Story ... Diamond Foods, Inc. will add Pop Secret
Jumbo Popping Corn Kernels to its Pop Secret product line
in early 2010, and will launch the product into select markets.
Full
Story ... Wawa
Inc. reintroduced its Turkey Bowl and Gobbler sandwich
for a limited time, reported Convenience Store News.
Full
Story
Private equity firm Mistral Equity Partners invested $24
million in Chef Solutions Holdings, LLC and its affiliates,
which operate through its subsidiary Orval Kent Food Company,
Inc. Full
Story
Foodservice News
Arby's
will expand its dollar menu to more locations in an effort
to increase sales, according to The Associated Press.
The menu, which includes chicken, ham and cheese, and small
roast beef sandwiches, has been in testing for 10 months,
mostly in the Southeast.
Full
Story
McDonald's
is focusing on speed as it tries to increase customer satisfaction
and gain market share. Innovations the company is utilizing
include warming trays that hold 50% more burgers and software
that streamlines ordering, reported Bloomberg.com.
Full
Story
Restaurant
Roundup: El Pollo Loco is bringing back its Chicken
Tamales through the end of the year, reported QSR Magazine.
Full
Story ... Ben & Jerry's will introduce the "Dulce
Almond" flavor as a special batch flavor at Scoop Shops
nationwide on a limited-time only basis in 2010. Full
Story
Health News
Moderate consumption of fructose-containing sweeteners
may produce modest but significant changes that may contribute
to the development of metabolic syndrome, according to research
from the University of Washington published in Physiology
& Behavior, reported Beverage Daily. Full
Story
Washington News
FDA published the 2009 FDA Food Code, a model code and
reference document that provides a scientifically sound
technical and legal basis for regulating the retail and foodservice
segment of the food industry. Among the changes to the previous
food code released in 2005 are the inclusion of cut leafy
greens to foods that that require time and temperature control
for safety and a corresponding reference document, added requirements
to improve awareness of food allergen concerns, the restriction
from a restaurants' children's menu of undercooked beef when
requested by a customer and the enhancement of several requirements
related to the sanitization of equipment and surfaces. Full
Story, 2009
Food Code
NutraCea filed a voluntary petition for protection under
Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. None of the company's
subsidiaries, including its Brazilian rice bran oil operation,
Irgovel, were included in the bankruptcy filing. Full
Story
CVS Caremark Corporation agreed to pay a settlement of
almost $1 million over allegations of misleading customers
and unfair business practices resulting from the sale of expired
products including baby formula and over-the-counter medications
in New York. This is the second settlement that CVS agreed
to following charges of selling expired goods in the state.
Full
Story
Target
agreed to pay $375,000 and alter its business practices in
New Jersey as part of a settlement with the state. State
officials stated the company will no longer sell non-prescription
drugs or infant formula beyond their expiration dates, nor
will it sell merchandise for more money than the displayed
price, reported The Star-Ledger. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Global News
Wal-Mart Stores (UK) sold Asda for £6.9 billion
to Corinth Services Limited, a Wal-Mart group company,
as part of a "group reconstruction" and for reasons
of "good financial management," reported
The Daily Telegraph. Full
Story
More than $20 billion of consumable food and drink is
thrown away in Britain each year, according to a study
from the Waste and Resources Action Program. The study also
found that Britain's food waste amounts to an estimated 6.6
million tons per year. Full
Story
Market News
Soaring feed costs, the global recession and unfounded
H1N1 flu fears are the main causes of the two-year-old downturn
seen by U.S. hog farmers, according to USA Today. Pig
farmers lost an average $23 on each hog sent to market since
the crisis began in fall 2007, or a total of $5.3 billion,
stated Steve Meyer of Paragon Economics. Losses peaked at
about $43 in August. Thousands of the U.S.'s 67,000 hog farms
will shut down before the crunch likely ends in mid-2010,
claims Ronald Plain, economics professor at University of
Missouri. Full
Story
Lower consumer demand is reducing Tyson Foods' Cornish
game hen production. The sluggish economy dampened Cornish
hen sales both in the U.S and abroad, stated Tyson spokesman
Gary Mickelson. Tyson Foods claims about two-thirds of the
Cornish hen marketshare nationwide and processes just over
one million Cornish Game Hens per week for domestic and international
retail and foodservice, reported Northwest Arkansas News.
Full
Story
Florida citrus leaders temporarily amended the state's
acid quality standards to allow for more shipments of
navels that have lower acid levels. The season's unusually
warm and dry growing season has been producing navel oranges
with lower anhydrous citric acid levels. In a Nov. 10 emergency
conference call, the Florida Citrus Commission voted to adjust
the rules allowing reduction of navel minimum acid levels
from .4% to .36%, reported The Packer Online. Full
Story (Subscription Required)
California farmers started the navel orange harvest about
three weeks ago and heavy shipments to retailers started.
California Citrus Mutual calls quality and color very good,
with high sugar content. Mandarin orange growers are also
shipping from California orchards. The crop volume is reported
as a little larger than last year, reported California
Farm Bureau.
The California Kiwifruit Commission claims this year's
crop is in line with average production, after a short
crop last season. Quality is excellent. Farmers claim they
expect less competition from imported fruit, in part because
currency exchange rates have made it more expensive, reported
California Farm Bureau.
Meanwhile, the New Zealand government is giving a multimillion
dollar boost to efforts to develop new kiwifruit varieties.
The government is joining forces with Zespri International
Ltd. in a seven-yearlong breeding program totaling nearly
$28 million, reported The Packer Online. Full
Story (Subscription Required)
USDA is accepting written comments on a recommended decision
to amend the federal marketing order regulating the handling
of kiwifruit grown in California. The proposal to revise the
marketing order was recommended by the Kiwifruit Administrative
Committee, which is responsible for local administration of
the order. Full
Story
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IGA
Coca-Cola Institute Perspective 
