Retail News
Most fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods cost less than
foods high in fat, sugar and salt, according to a USDA study
based on national average prices from Nielsen Homescan data. The
study found that when comparing the cost of foods by weight or portion
size, grains, vegetables, fruit and dairy foods are cheaper than
most meats or foods high in saturated fat, added sugars or salt.
The USDA study also criticized a 2010 report from the University
of Washington that found calorie-for-calorie junk food is more cost-effective
for low-income people than eating healthy, reported The Associated
Press. Full
Story, Study
Edible Arrangements processed more than 700,000 orders the week
of Mother's Day for arrangements filled with 5.6 million strawberries
and 1.5 million pineapple hearts. Full
Story
Kroger Co. is experimenting with building larger convenience
stores with more fresh food offerings to ward off competition
from smaller grocery formats. The company is building such stores
in markets where it already operates full-service supermarkets in
an attempt to replicate the success it has had integrating supermarket
and convenience offerings in markets like Wichita, KS where Kroger
has long operated the Dillon's supermarket and Kwik Shop convenience
brands, reported Supermarket News. Full
Story
Busken Bakery and United Dairy Farmers are expanding their
partnership, putting fresh-baked goods into UDF stores
outside Greater Cincinnati for the first time. Busken Bakery donuts
will be available in 134 UDF stores, up from 116. Some of the additional
stores are in Dayton, which will start carrying Busken products
on May 28, reported The Cincinnati Enquirer. Full
Story
New Store News: Pagano Development Co., Inc. acquired a
17-acre site in Marlboro Township, NJ for a Whole Foods-anchored
retail property. Full
Story
Safeway found its next chef, Davie Histed, who will develop
foods to give shoppers affordable meal options. He was selected
through the company's "Search for Our Next Chef" competition.
Full
Story
Manufacturer News
"Accelerate, innovate, cultivate" is Tyson Foods'
strategy to grow its business, according to its CEO at the BMO
Capital Markets 2012 Farm to Market Conference. The company will
speed growth through its international businesses in China, Brazil,
Mexico and India, and will grow its value-added product sales domestically.
Full
Story
Men are generally more reluctant to try vegetarian
products, according to a study published in the Journal
of Consumer Research. Consumers are influenced by a strong
association of meat with masculinity, especially in Western cultures.
In a number of experiments that looked at metaphors and certain
foods, like meat and milk, the authors found that people rated meat
as more masculine than vegetables, reported Science Daily.
Full
Story
Goya Foods Inc.'s Florida operations distributes
1,500 products to retailers from 16 warehouses and distribution
centers. The company also recently introduced frozen foods and soft
drinks such as malt soda, coconut water and nectars, reported Tampa
Bay Online. Full
Story
New Product News: Guayaki's Yerba Mate tea
is now available in a sparkling beverage. Full
Story
Foodservice News
More than three in five U.S. adults (63%) dined at a fast food
restaurant chain in the past month and about half dined at a
local casual dining establishment (53%) and a casual dining restaurant
chain (50%), according to the results of The Harris Poll. Seven
in 10 Americans (71%) claim they find themselves cooking more instead
of going out in order to save more money. Full
Story
Fast-casual chains strengthened their gains on the overall restaurant
industry, with the top 150 fast-casual chains growing 8.4% to
$21.5 billion in 2011, a faster rate than in 2010, according to
Technomic's Fast-Casual Top 150 report. Fast-Casual segment
leaders included Panera Bread (Bakery Cafe), Chipotle Mexican Grill
(Mexican), Zaxby's (Chicken) and Panda Express (Asian/Noodle). Full
Story
More than half of consumers would use an electronic payment
system if available, and 55% of restaurants claim electronic paying
systems will soon become more popular. Some 39% of consumers
would use electronic ordering systems, including Ipad menus and
wine lists if available, reported the National Restaurant Association.
Full
Story
Companies are using social networks to share information better
among their employees and bring customer ideas for new product designs
to market earlier. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers uses an internal social
network that resembles Facebook to teach its managers. The chain
introduced its new Tavern Double burger line last month, and is
already kitchen-testing recipe tweaks based on customer feedback,
reported USA Today. Full
Story
Restaurant Roundup: Hurricane Grill & Wings signed five
development agreements, adding 28 locations in four new states.
Full
Story
Executives on the Move: Starbucks named several leadership
changes, including appointing Lucy Lee Helm EVP, general counsel
and secretary and Arthur Rubinfeld chief creative officer and president,
Global Development and Evolution Fresh Retail. Full
Story
Health News
Coffee drinkers are a little more likely to live longer,
regardless of whether they consume regular or decaf, according to
a study of 400,000 people published in the New England Journal
of Medicine. The study found men who had two or three cups a
day were 10% less likely to die at any age compared with those who
drank no coffee, while for women it was 13%, reported The Associated
Press. Full
Story, Study
Abstract
Some 96% of main entrees sold at top U.S. chain eateries exceed
daily limits for calories, sodium, fat and saturated fat recommended
by USDA, according to an 18-month study conducted by the Rand Corp.
and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Entrees at family-style
restaurants on average have more calories, fat and sodium than fast-food
restaurants, reported USA Today. Full
Story
Washington News
USDA cited Suncoast Distribution Inc. of St. Petersburg,
FL, for failure to pay for produce. The company did not
pay $307,080.94 to seven sellers for 53 lots of produce. This is
in violation of the Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA).
As a result, Suncoast Distribution Inc. cannot operate in the produce
industry until May 9, 2014, at which time it may reapply for a PACA
license. Full
Story
FDA is providing an opportunity for public comment on an extension
of a proposed collection of information, Irradiation in the
Production, Processing, and Handling of Food, until July 16.
To ensure safe use of a radiation source, the FD&C Act requires
the label of x-ray tube sources bear appropriate and accurate
information identifying the source of radiation and  the
maximum energy of radiation emitted. The inspection of records
is the only way to determine compliance with the regulations for
treatment of foods with ionizing radiation, according to FDA. Full
Notice
Bakery El Monte Sinai Corp. initiated a voluntary recall of
rainbow cake because it may contain undeclared eggs. Full
Story
Raj Foods LLC. initiated a voluntary recall of approximately
3,300-lbs. of Halal beef samosa products because a meat ingredient
used in the product may have been produced in a facility that is
not federally inspected. Full
Story
Global News
Starbucks opened its first store in Finland at Helsinki
Airport. Full
Story
A World Trade Organization appellate panel claimed U.S. "dolphin
safe" tuna labeling rules unfairly discriminate against Mexico,
raising the possibility of sanctions on U.S. goods if the rules
are not modified or dropped, reported Reuters. Full
Story
Clayton Dubilier & Rice and Bain Capital did not advance to
the second round of the auction for Permira's frozen-food company
Iglo Group. There may be four bidders remaining in the process,
including private equity firms Blackstone Group LP, BC Partners
and PAI Partners, and potentially Thai company Charoen Pokphand
PCL, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full
Story (WSJ Subscription Required)
A two and a half month fishing ban began in most parts
of the South China Sea as part of ongoing efforts to rehabilitate
the area's marine resources. The fishing ban was adopted to promote
the sustainable development of the fishing industry and protect
the fundamental interested of fishermen, reported China Daily.
Full
Story
Market News
Northwest cherry growers are optimistic about the looming
cherry harvest. The five states, including Washington,
which make up the regional group are forecasting a crop of 20.3
million boxes for sale on the fresh market, up from 18.3 million
boxes last year. Washington is the largest producing cherry state
by far with an estimated crop this year of 16.7 million boxes, reported
Yakima Herald. Full
Story
More than half of Michigan's apple crop could be lost due
to late-April freezes, and the state's southwestern fruit
production is a near-total loss. The damage to that part of the
state applies to apples, peaches, plums and cherries. "Essentially,
there is no tree fruit in southwest Michigan," stated the general
manager of Greg Orchards & Produce Inc. Grower-shippers in the
Fruit Ridge region of Michigan, where the majority of the state's
apples are grown, stated they should have a much better handle on
the extent of damage in June, reported The Packer Online.
Full
Story
Kudzu bugs are spreading rapidly from south to north,
although heavy populations apparently have decided to stay in South
Carolina. The bugs are being found on early-planted soybeans, and
similar observations are being made in other states, reported Southeast
Farm Press. Full
Story
A looming grape shortage and growing demand for California
wines have driven grape prices higher, with some grape
prices doubling in the span of a year. Wineries hit hard by the
recession are exploring alternative ways to maintain lower prices
for consumers, even while their production costs are rising, reported
Western Farm Press. Full
Story
APHIS submitted information collection requests to OMB for review
and clearance, including collections related to the quarantine
for Hawaii and U.S. territories. APHIS will collect information
from individuals involved in growing, packing, handling and transporting
plants and plant products, and the information collected will be
used to determine compliance with regulations and for issuance of
forms, permits, certificates and other required documents. Another
request was for information collection activities related to the
importation of peppers from certain Central American countries.
Full
Notice
An AMS final rule revised and amended the regulation used to
administer the Market Access Program (MAP) by updating and merging
application requirements and activity plan requirements to reflect
the Unified Export Strategy system currently in place. The revisions
also clarify the eligibility of activities designed to address international
market access issues; modify the list of eligible and ineligible
contributions; eliminate the Export Incentive Program/MAP as a separate
subcomponent; and make other administrative changes for clarity
and program integrity. Full
Notice
Penn Cove Shellfish must wait at least two weeks before resuming
operations after the Washington Department of Health shut down
shellfish harvests May 15 because of a diesel fuel leak from a derelict
crabber that caught fire and sank days earlier. Reportedly the country's
oldest and largest mussel farm, Penn Cove Shellfish is concerned
that next year's crop of larvae may be exposed, and a little over
a million lbs. Of this year's mussel harvest may be contaminated,
reported The Seattle Times. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Almost every Florida Department of Citrus program will be reduced
in its new fiscal year under a proposed budget 10.3% smaller
than the current spending plan. The Florida Citrus Commission reviewed
a proposed $50.4 million budget for the Florida Department of Citrus'
2012-13 fiscal year beginning July 1, down $5.8 million, reported
The Lakeland Ledger. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Damage from a hail storm on Apr. 11 totaled $79.3 million in
California's central San Joaquin Valley. Among the crops damaged
were nectarines, peaches, plums, cherries, pistachios, raisin grapes,
lettuce and almonds. In Kings County, one of the region's hardest
hit, agricultural officials requested a disaster declaration from
the state and USDA, reported The Fresno Bee. Full
Story (Free Registration Required)
Dongwon applied to become a participating company with the International
Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). ISSF is an international
coalition designed to improve global tuna fisheries. Full
Story
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