Specialty Food News presented by NASFT in affiliation with The Food Institute

The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade, Inc., 120 Wall Street, 27th Floor, New York, NY 10005 - www.specialtyfood.com

January 07, 2005

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U.S. scientists have discovered that organic ketchup contains higher levels of lycopene, which protects against cancer. Scientists Mary Chapman and Betty Ishida, working at the Agricultural Research Service in Albany, CA, tested lycopene levels and antioxidant activity in 13 different ketchup brands. Their findings indicate that the three organic varieties had higher levels of lycopene, reported Just-food.com. Full Story

Drinking organic milk has more health benefits than drinking non-organic, according to a study by the Danish Institute of Agricultural Research, which is part of the University of Newcastle's Quality Low Input Food Congress. The study showed organic milk has higher levels of vitamin E, omega 3 essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which help beat infections, reported BBC News. Full Story

For Immediate Release - News Direct From The Specialty Food Trade

Learn "The Art of Giving Great Service" from veteran specialty food retailer Ari Weinzweig, co-founding partner and CEO of Zingerman's in Ann Arbor, MI., at an interactive, hands-on workshop on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2005, at the 30th Winter Fancy Food Show® Educational Program in San Francisco. Spend three hours developing individual Action Plans for customer service improvements and how to implement them into your own business or department. Workbooks will include samples of tools and training materials used at Zingerman's, known for its high customer service standards and innovative service philosophy. Click here for more information or to register.

Later this month, the Aspen Mulling Company will launch its Aspen Taste™ brand at the Winter NASFT Fancy Food Show® to be held Jan. 23 - 25 in San Francisco. Aspen Taste Mulling Spices, with its new name and package, are now available for the grocery market in a new, easy-to-display 3-oz. package featuring contemporary graphics. The mulling spices are all natural and kosher certified. Full Release

For the winter season, Marich Confectionery, based in Hollister, CA, has added a House Blend of Chocolate Coffee Beans, a mixture of Milk, Dark, White and Marbled chocolate espresso beans. The beans are available in 10-pound bulk cases. Full Release

UPDATED GUIDELINES: To learn how to submit news releases to be considered for this section, please click here.

LesserEvil Snack Co., a startup healthy snack company, is looking to capitalize on a need among upscale baby boomers for healthy, convenient versions of snacks for which they are willing to pay a premium. Its initial line of four low-fat, sugar-free popcorn varieties are made with gourmet ingredients and without preservatives and trans-fatty acids. Initial distribution will focus on GNC stores and Balducci's in the New York metro area, but the company is also filling mail orders for gourmet shops across the country. It is in the process of signing on distributors for its planned expansion to natural grocery stores like Whole Foods and Wild Oats and vitamin stores, as well as gourmet and specialty shops across the East Coast over the next six months and to the West Coast in March, reported Advertising Age.

While most mature adults ages 55 or older (88%) consider themselves "active" and on-the-go many continue to face significant obstacles to getting the nutritious, good-tasting meals they want and need, according to a new survey conducted for ConAgra Foods Inc.'s Golden Cuisine line. Full Story

5 Myths of Consumer Shopping Behavior: A multi-disciplinary approach to Shopper Insights uncovers five myths about consumer shopping behavior, reports The Hartman Group's HartBeat. These commonly held assumptions do not hold true: 1) Brand Loyalty Drives Shopping Behavior, 2) Retail Environments Build Brand Loyalty, 3) Behavioral Scripts Drive Shopping Behavior, 4) Shopping Behavior is About Fulfilling Fixed Needs, 5) Shopping Behavior Varies by Category. Full Story To download a FREE white paper introducing The Hartman Group's pioneering efforts in Shopper Insights, click here.

Certified organic peach processor, George Noroian, renowned for his fancy label, Fruitful Valley, died on Dec. 28, 2004, at the age of 89 in Palo Alto, CA. He is remembered for his sweeping reforms in the federal and state FDA regulatory system, forcing secret food processing regulations into the public domain. Full Story

Bruegger's new "Meals to Go" carry-out catering service provides an assortment of its most popular menu items for any group setting. "Meals to Go" is offered nationwide at all Bruegger's company-owned bakeries. "Meals to Go" is designed for guests wishing to provide breakfast, lunch or dessert for group settings and is ideal for office meetings, working lunches, field trips, and office parties. Full Story

Boston Brewing Co., the maker of Samuel Adams beer, is planning a $7 million expansion of its Cincinnati brewery. The project will be completed by September and will allow the company to brew about two-thirds of its Samuel Adams beer in Cincinnati - about 800,000 barrels a year, up from 600,000 now. The company has another brewery in Boston, reported USA Today. Full Story

LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA completed its offer to buy Scotch whisky maker Glenmorangie PLC, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Brazil expects coffee export revenue to jump 25% in 2005 as farmers profit from a surge in prices, reported Bloomberg.com. Coffee exports probably will rise to $2.5 billion this year, from $2 billion in 2004, according to Linneu da Costa Lima, production and trade secretary at Brazil's agriculture ministry. Full Story