Retail News
The retail cost of menu items for a classic Thanksgiving
dinner for 10 people increased about 13% to $49.20 this year,
according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. A 16-lb.
turkey came in at $21.57 this year, an increase of about $0.25/lb.
compared to 2010 and the largest single item increase in the
meal. Full
Story
Over 20% of Americans reported to Gallup that they did
not have enough money to buy the food they or their families
needed in October, closing in on the record-high 20.6% reported
in November 2008. The percentage reporting they did not have
enough funds to provide adequate shelter, healthcare and medicines
also increased. Full
Story
Haggen will open a new store concept, Northwest Fresh,
in Bellevue, WA on Nov. 16. The location represents the first
in what will be a three-year roll-out of a complete redesign
and rebrand of its products, services and shopping experiences.
The store will include a convenience store area in the front
with must-have items such as milk, eggs and coffee; new Haggen's
Original private label items; a Fish & Chips bar; and Bellingham,
WA-centric "store within the store" specialty shops. Full
Story
Since its acquisition of social media company Kosmix, Walmart's
@WalmartLabs has been tapping talent in the social media segment,
according to a report from Citi, stepping up the retailer's
investment in its multi-platform channel. Walmart is expected
to remain laser focused on driving sales through its social
media sites and increasing its direct to consumer marketing
efforts. Full
Report
GE Lighting recognized retailers with the LED Retailer
of the Year and GE Retailer of the Year awards.
LED Retailer of the Year was awarded to The Fresh Market for
retrofitting at least 20% or more of their fleet of stores
to LED and attaining at least 20% energy savings or more by
moving to an LED technology, while GE Retailer of the Year
was awarded to Walgreens for transitioning from F28 to F25
linear fluorescent lamps and achieving a 9% energy savings.
Full
Story
Supermarkets are expanding into Northeast Washington,
DC, an underserved "food desert," with Aldi
opening a location in the neighborhood and three other markets
scheduled to open in Maryland's Prince George county, reported
The Washington Post. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Sheetz, Inc. is building a health and wellness center
at its distribution facility in Claysburg, PA. Scheduled
to open in the fall of 2012, the center will include fitness
equipment, a quarter-mile exercise track and provide health
assessments, lifestyle coaching and disease management services
for employees and their families. Full
Story
HoneyBaked Ham is adding temporary locations in several
Cincinnati, OH-area Kroger stores for the holiday season,
reported The Cincinnati Enquirer. Full
Story
Manufacturer News
Smithfield Packing Company will expand its facility in
North Carolina's Lenoir County. The company plans to invest
$85.5 million during the next three years and will add a new
product line of packaged meats. Full
Story
Meanwhile, Smithfield Packing will shift production from
its Portsmouth, VA plant to Kinston, NC and permanently
close the Portsmouth facility in early 2013. The Portsmouth
plant produces hot dogs and lunchmeat. Full
Story
Penford Corporation entered into an agreement to acquire
Carolina Starches. Penford will purchase the company interests
and certain assets of the businesses currently operated by
Carolina Starches, LLC and Keystone Starches, LLC. Carolina
Starches produces and sells modified starches and starch blends
domestically and in several export markets. Full
Story
Dole Food Company, Inc. made an equity investment in Healthy
Foods, LLC, producer of the yonanas frozen treat maker.
Dole and Healthy Foods will expand the yonanas product line
and its distribution in retail, commercial and food service
outlets internationally. The yonanas frozen treat maker and
new packaging will be co-branded DOLE-yonanas. Full
Story
Scientists are developing lab-grown meat. The first
lab-grown hamburger will cost around $345,000 to produce,
according to a vascular biologist at the University of Maastricht
in the Netherlands, who is looking to unveil the item soon,
reported Reuters. Full
Story
Brooklyn Water Enterprises Inc. launched The Original
Brooklyn Water Bottling Co. in partnership with Keystone
Water Company. Brooklyn Water Enterprises produces Brooklynized
water for use in all its restaurants' food, beverage and bakery
products, and the bottling company began delivering water
to The Original Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. from the first of
several planned regional bottling facilities. Full
Story
Anheuser Busch will introduce Bud Light Platinum on
Jan. 30, 2012. The product, which has a slightly sweeter taste
and higher alcohol by volume (6%), will be available in 12-oz.
glass bottles in six- and 12-packs. Full
Story
Foodservice News
McDonald's will open more than 1,300 new restaurants
and renovate 2,400 locations in 2012. Full
Story Meanwhile, McDonald's is looking to capitalize
on the depressed commercial property market and purchase
more of the land and buildings where it operates, reported
The Globe and Mail. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Starbucks Corp. purchased juice company Evolution Fresh
for $30 million in cash, and plans to introduce a new health
and wellness retail concept to serve juice in early-to-mid
2012. The company also plans to expand Evolution Fresh's current
distribution from retail stores including Whole Foods Markets
and PCC Natural Markets stores on the West Coast into Starbucks
company-owned retail stores. Full
Story
MBM Foodservice will invest $12.6 million in a distribution
facility in Newnan, GA. Full
Story
Restaurant Roundup: Wendy's Co. will roll out
a burger called The W that is smaller than the company's premium
burgers but bigger than its value choices, reported Columbus
Business First. Full
Story (Free Registration Required) ... Cosi Inc. remodeled
eight downtown Chicago stores after positive results in single
stores located in Chicago, Virginia, Manhattan and Connecticut,
reported Chicago Tribune. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Health News
Eating more cereals and whole grains could reduce the
risk of developing colorectal cancer, claims a study published
in the British Medical Journal. However, analysis of
25 previous studies found that fruit and vegetable fiber did
not reduce risk, reported BBC News. Full
Story
Washington News
Cimino Bros. Produce was ordered into Chapter 7 bankruptcy
liquidation by a federal judge. Cimino Bros. filed
for Chapter 11 reorganization in Nov. 2009, reported The
Packer Online. Full
Story
Many retail chains are looking at the Moo & Oink properties,
according to an attorney. The company could be sold as a whole
or in pieces, including its website and branded products as
separate from the retail stores. A bankruptcy judge is open
to an auction, reported Chicago Sun-Times. Full
Story
USDA streamlined a host of programs and processes
in an effort to help farmers, ranchers and businesses gain
efficiency. Full
Story
USDA selected 67 projects nationwide that are focused
on helping rural agricultural producers reduce energy
consumption and costs; use renewable energy technologies in
their operation; and/or conduct feasibility studies for renewable
energy projects. Full
Story
United Natural Foods, Inc. initiated a voluntary recall
of Gentes Foods Gordita Black Bean Tortillas because they
have the potential to be contaminated with Clostridium botulinum.
Full
Story
Global News
Unilever is reportedly exploring options to restructure
its food business, according to a source, reported
Financial Times. One of the options the company has looked
at in recent months is reducing Unilever's North American
food business. Full
Story (Subscription Required)
Japan will participate in talks on joining a U.S.-backed
Pacific Rim free trade zone, reported Washington Examiner.
Full
Story
Market News
Washington's apple crop is smaller than originally
projected, due to the smaller red delicious crop
and late crop this season, according to a November estimate
by Wenatchee Valley Traffic Association and Yakima Valley
Growers-Shippers Association. About 102 million apples are
expected, down from the Aug. 1 estimate of 106 million, reported
The Packer Online. Full
Story
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is driving the wholesale price of
choice beef to a nearly eight-year high as it stocks higher-quality
cuts. Cattle prices already were rising as the Texas drought
limited supplies, but Wal-Mart's decision widened the price
difference between choice and select cuts by as much as $0.19/lb
from $0.03/lb. in three months. Analysts expect that the difference
will not fall in the near future, as grocers are stocking
their stores with more choice meat and summer drought conditions
reduced the number of cattle that can make the higher grade,
reported The Wall Street Journal. Full
Story (WSJ Subscription Required)
Homegrown Organic Farms is importing produce from
Mexico and South America. The imported produce will
be packed under a new label, Bella Terra Organics, reported
The Packer Online. Full
Story
More than 33% of the U.S. is now in a drought, the
nation's highest percentage in almost four years, according
to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Drought now extends all the way
from western Arizona to central North Carolina, reported USA
Today. Full
Story
The California cantaloupe industry is calling for
growers and handlers to fund research to ensure food safety
and restore consumer confidence. The Jan. 11 invitation-only
meeting will include research funding discussions from growers
and handlers from other regions or the U.S. and the world,
reported The Packer Online. Full
Story
Stem and Bulb Nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) was
found in New York imported garlic seed. Full
Story
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