Tuesday, March 8, 2005

Wine and beer case sales climbed to record heights, gaining 3.4% and 0.7% in 2004, due to consumer demand for pricey cocktails, fine wines and imported beers, according to the 2005 edition of Adams Handbook Advance. Full Story

Meat departments should collaborate with wine departments on promotions, said panelists at the Annual Meat Conference. The nation's No. 1 wine retailer, Costco Wholesale, deliberately positions meat departments next to the wine sections in club stores that sell wine, reported Supermarket News. Full Story



Roundy's Inc.'s CEO talks about the company's plans, including opening 10 new stores this year, but denies current discussions with Dominick's, a Safeway-owned Chicago-area chain, reported The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The future may include converting a second Pick 'n Save into an upscale Metro Market, which carries Pick 'n Save goods plus a wider offering of meats, produce and pastry with such amenities as a juice bar and a café. Full Story (Free Registration Required)



The Senate defeated dueling proposals to raise the $5.15-an-hour minimum wage. Democrats proposed increasing the minimum wage by $2.10 over the next 26 months. Republicans countered with a smaller increase, $1.10 in two steps over 18 months. Full Story

Half of retailers are expanding Hispanic product offerings, but supermarkets are the most aggressive at 58% of those surveyed by VNU Business Media. Polled were 500 retailers from the grocery, convenience, drug, mass and specialty store channels. Of the convenience store operators surveyed, 48% are expanding their Hispanic product offerings, mostly in snack and candy, while only 15% are not expanding for Hispanics, according to CSNews Online. Full Story



Twelve grocers confirmed their commitment to stock and sell food that is grown in the Midwest by certified organic farmers, during the FamilyFarmed.org EXPO's Local Organic Trade Show. The retailers also agreed to carry products bearing the FamilyFarmed.org label. Whole Foods Market, a founding retailer in the FamilyFarmed.org program, already carries many products from participating local organic producers in its Chicago units, reported Progressive Grocer. Full Story



Kerry Americas introduced a soy flour from Nutriant that meets the American Association of Cereal Chemists International's definition of a whole grain. The Nutriant soy flour features 80% more dietary fiber than whole wheat. However, the FDA does not currently consider soybean a whole grain, reported Bakingbusiness.com. Full Story

Reser's Fine Foods is hoping to launch its own line of products made from organically grown and produced ingredients. If the company is able to develop organic offerings on par with some of its existing products, it plans to go into production late this summer with a limited line of organic products that will represent each of its categories, which include salads, Mexican offerings, entrees and desserts, reported The Business Journal of Portland. Full Story (Free Registration Required)



Organic Pastures Dairy Company Fresno, CA was sent a warning letter by FDA for distributing unpasteurized milk, buttermilk, butter, cream and colostrums in interstate commerce. Full Story

Brooklyn Cheesecake & Desserts Company, Inc. is planning a commercial grade e-commerce site to sell its "Original Brooklyn Cheesecake" online direct to consumer and to support wholesale retail and fundraising sales. Full Story



Luna Mercato offers 21 kinds of cream cheese based spreads. Four spreads that are now offered at a Whole Foods location are Feta Dill Spread, Wasabi Dragon Spread, Jezabel Spread and Aloha Spread, which is made only for Whole Foods, reported, Business First of Louisville. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Rainier Wine introduced two lifestyle wine brands that are targeted directly to women: Grand Embrace and Mad Housewife. Full Story

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