Monday, March 7, 2005

Trader Joe's plans to open its New York City flagship store near Union Square, not far from a three-story, 48,000-sq. ft. Whole Foods store scheduled to open Mar. 16. Other supermarket chain outlets in the area include Gristedes, Garden of Eden and Food Emporium. This spring, Balducci's plans to open a 20,000-sq. ft. store, reported The New York Sun. Full Story (Free Registration Required)



United Natural Foods, Inc. plans to open a new state-of-the-art distribution facility in Rocklin, CA. The company plans to move its current operations in Auburn, CA to Rocklin by late summer of 2005. The new building is 487,000-sq. ft. and will be the largest facility in UNFI's nationwide distribution network. Full Story

Meanwhile, United Natural Foods, Inc.'s subsidiary, Albert's Organics, is opening a new distribution center in Indianapolis this summer. The expansion follows the recent opening of Albert's Twin Cities distribution center in Mounds View, MN, reported Progressive Grocer. Full Story





The Canadian government is considering halting imports of U.S. wines because of a softwood lumber trade dispute between the countries. If Canada makes good on the threat, it could cost the Washington state wine industry more than $4 million a year in export sales, according to The Tri-City Herald. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

United Supermarkets is installing a new labeling system for food products at a Lubbock, TX store that flags items according to specific health-related attributes, reported Progressive Grocer. Full Story



Starbucks plans to raise its coffee purchases from Africa, although the bulk of supply will continue to come from Latin America, reported MSNBC.com. Full Story

In reality, only about 10% of American consumers are truly green-conscious shoppers, according to presenters at the "Sustainability in the Inland Northwest" conference. These are the shoppers who actively search out such products and are willing to pay more to get them. Polls, however, indicate that a full 75% of Americans consider themselves sustainability-aware, "green"-savvy consumers, according to The Idaho Statesman. Full Story



The Hooah! bars, which took nearly three years to develop for the Defense Department, became available to civilian consumers in select stores last August and will expand to nearly 12,000 retailers this spring. Los Angeles-based D'Andrea Brothers LLC will manufacture, distribute and market the bars to the private sector and in turn, give a portion of all proceeds back to the military's research and development department, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Children who drink more milk do not necessarily develop healthier bones, according to a report published in the journal Pediatrics. The report also stresses exercise and modest consumption of calcium-rich foods such as tofu, reported MSNBC.com. Full Story

Rather than trying to ban "slotting fees," California state Sen. Liz Figueroa is pushing to impose civil penalties on retailers that fail to disclose to vendors the details of the arrangements, reported MSNBC.com. Full Story

California Assemblyman Guy Houston is proposing the "Commonsense Consumption Act," which would allow fast food outlets and other restaurants to be immune from lawsuits brought by people complaining they were made fat, reported The Oakland Tribune. Full Story



Proposed rules requiring organic livestock to be raised and fed on open pasture, favor Maine farmers who already rely heavily on grassland, reported MaineToday.com. Full Story

A spokesman for the Hyde Park Cooperative Society in Chicago advised a group of residents in Peoria, IL about the perks and pitfalls of starting a food co-op, reported PJStar.com. Full Story

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