Food Institute News

Headlines

2013

Grab $4 more for Groceries: Consumer Food Spending 2013
The Food Institute talks trade, production with Kurdistan officials
The Online Grocery Shopper ... what attracts consumers to online shopping?
Understanding the Food Business ... One Deal at a Time
• Juice sales energize the market
• Expert Panel explores FDA's latest Food Safety Modernization Act directives
• Food Industry Scales Back Merger Actvity in 2012
Just Published- The Almanac of the Canning, Freezing, Peserving Industries - 2012 edition
FSMA Webinar addresses Hazard Analysis & Preventive Controls for Human Food

2012

Snack Time isn't "Just-for-Kids" Anymore
Changes in store for Food Labels
The Early Bird "catches the savings"
Drought Impact: Family of Four will spend $6.75 more weekly
Spotlight on Canned Vegetables
Fresh Produce Industry Explored in newest Food Institute Almanac
Retail & Wholesale Food Price Review explores 10 years of data
Are you ready if OSHA calls at your door?
Food Deflation Arrives in Your Supermarket
FDA Records Access under FSMA - A Major Impact
Dollar Stores: Challenge Or Opportunity For Food Marketers?
Changing Demographics impact Food Spending
What's Trending with Juice Products?
The Future looks bright for Mergers and Acquisitions
Recalls on the Rise - Be Prepared with Food Products Recall Manual
Merger & Acquisition Activity is Healthy and Growing
Looking to Buy or Sell a Business? What you must know before signing
Asia's Growing Interest in the U.S Food Sector
Food Mergers up in 2011, but slow in second half
New Food Safety Rules Generate More than 600 Comments - Be Ready When Additional Regulations Surface


2011

Seneca's Dean Erstad elected Chairman of The Food Institute
Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner 'Gobbles-Up' Savings
Food Industry Mergers And Acquisitions Up Sharply In 2011
The Food Institute Partners with the IGA Coca-Cola Institute
Food Policy Issues Explored at National Food Policy Conference
Private Equity Behind Bevy of Food Deals
The Food Institute's "TopTen" Facts about FSMA
Changing Marketplace impacts Food Inflation and Shoppers
FDA's Enactment of FSMA Predicted to be On Time
Webinar Series Addresses New Food Safety Modernization Act
Food Retailers Cope with Higher Inflation than Shoppers
Producer Prices Highest since 1974
Food Institute Announces April 2011 Webinar Schedule
New Food Safety Law Will Be A "Game Changer"

 

2010

Webinar Set for January 6, 2011 - Understanding the new Food Saftey Legislation
A&P was a 'force to reckon with'
Press Only Invited to Preview 2010 Edition of Food Industry Review
Mergers & Acquisitions Continue to Set Record Pace within the Food Industry
Thanksgiving Turkey Prices Alone May Result in More Expensive Holiday
Food Institute partners with Capital Roundtable for in-person seminars
Food Industry M&A's Up 30% In First Half
Food Institute hosts webinar entitled "The Future of Food Retailing - 2010"
Cracking The Code For "Eating In" To Be Topic Of New Webinar

2009

Hy-Vee Executive Joins Food Institute Board
Economic Downturn Presents Opportunities And Challenges
Could Food Inflation Be Reignited This Year?
Consumers Put Brakes On Food Spending in 2008
What Will The Obama Era Mean For The Food Industry?
Budget-Conscious Shoppers Buying Less Food


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Grab $4 more for groceries: Food Institute consumer food spending analysis

Upper Saddle River, NJ (April 22, 2013) Feeding a family of four at home will cost about $4 more each week this year than in 2012. Meanwhile, away-from-home food spending is projected to rise about $2.40 each week.

Nearly a quarter of that projected increase in retail food prices will come from the meat case, where prices are seen rising almost $1 per week from 2012 levels. As a result, overall expenditures for food-at-home are forecast to total about $108 per week this year for a U.S. household of four.

"Information about where food costs and expenditures may be headed is valuable for our 1,700 members and the entire food industry, for their marketing and growth strategies," commented Food Institute President and CEO Brian Todd. "U.S. consumers should be aware that even with increased food inflation, U.S. food costs as a percent of overall annual expenditures continue to make up only about 7.7% of their total spending - the smallest among almost all nations."

These projections are derived from analysis of statistics in The Food Institute's soon to be released Demographics of Consumer Food Spending book and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's monthly food price outlook. Food category price projections will be available to Food Institute members in an upcoming issue of the weekly FOOD INSTITUTE REPORT and online. For information about access to The Food Institute resources, and for interviews, e-mail Lina Khouri Bush at Lina.Khouri.Bush@foodinstitute.com, or call 201-791-5570, ext. 214.

About The Food Institute
The Food Institute serves as a single source for current, unbiased and relevant information about the food industry from farm to fork. This trade association provides balanced coverage of industry issues through multiple media so professionals worldwide can tap in when and how they choose. www.foodinstitute.com .

Iraqi region's government officials discuss business opportunities for U.S. food companies

Upper Saddle River, NJ (April 16, 2013) The Food Institute President Brian Todd talked U.S. food business opportunities with Kurdistan Regional Government officials April 8 during a roundtable meeting at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, D.C.

Food production and agriculture opportunities in the northern Iraqi region were highlighted during the meeting, which included the Kurdistan region's Minister for Coordination Qubad Talabani and Foreign Affairs Minister Falah Mustafa, as well as Dr. Fuad Hussein, chief of staff to the president of the Kurdistan regional government, Massoud Barzani. U.S. participants included Steve Lutes of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Steve Nadherny of Case New Holland, John Schnittker of Lindsay Corp., and John Sullivan of Mayer Brown law firm and chairman of the Iraqi-U.S. Business Dialogue, a group that facilitates private-sector business development in Iraq as well as trade between the two countries.

The Kurdish region is rich in livestock and arable land that is suitable for a large diversity of crops. The region is at a crossing point of the Middle East and Europe, bordered by Turkey, Armenia, Syria and parts of Iraq. "The Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) is looking to stimulate agricultural and food trade in the region and doing so in partnership with U.S. companies would benefit both," stated Brian Todd. "Ultimately, the KRG foresees popular products in Kurdistan, such as pomegranates and honey being available across the globe."

A trade mission to the region involving U.S. food companies is in the works, where executives can see first-hand opportunities arising in the region.

About The Food Institute
The Food Institute serves as a single source for current, unbiased and relevant information about the food industry from farm to fork. This association provides balanced coverage of industry issues through multiple media so professionals worldwide can tap in when and how they choose. www.foodinstitute.com

The Online Grocery Shopper ... what attracts consumers to online shopping?

Upper Saddle River, NJ (March 12, 2013) On Wednesday, April 10, 2013 at 1pm ET, The Food Institute will partner with custom market research firm, The Hartman Group, to offer a 30-minute insightful webinar on what attracts consumers to online grocery shopping. Accessibility is not an issue for the online grocery shopper; in fact, two-thirds of online grocery shoppers live within walking distance to a grocery store. The reality is that we live in a high-tech, high-speed digital world - a world where shopping occurs at any time of the day, or night. What does that mean for food and beverage categories?

Guest speaker, Davey McHenry, Director of Client Engagement at The Hartman Group, will explore emerging opportunities and ways to engage more consumers in a new era of digital technology. In her presentation, Ms. McHenry will share topline insights from the company's latest report, The Online Grocery Shopper. This report studies today's online grocery shopper and helps one understand the ways food companies can connect consumers to their products in a digital world. Price is just $59 for non-members ($49 for Food Institute members,) For more information and to reserve your seat, CLICK HERE.

Understanding the Food Business ... One Deal at a Time

Upper Saddle River, NJ (March 6, 2013) The just-published 2012 edition of the Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions Guide, a proprietary Food Institute publication, organizes a busy year of the significant deals of 2012, with a glimpse into what's in store for 2013. This annual publication explores trends in specific food and beverage industries, as well as insight into international markets. The easy-to-use accessible format is organized into twenty five groupings, covering numerous categories ranging from food processors to investment banks/firms to retailers of all kinds.

Uncover why some deals are successful, while others have issues closing. This reference guide examines the "why" at varying stages of the "deal." The Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions Guide, 2012 edition, offers many things to many people, preparing multinational corporations and small businesses alike. Learn why public companies need to prepare for shareholder litigation, what Congress is doing to regulate consolidation within the food industry and what to expect for "poison pill" agreements moving forward.

Why spend time surfing the internet or digging through old files to find the information you need? With the flip of a page, or the click of the mouse, The Food Institute's Mergers & Acquisitions Guide provides the insight you need. Available in a Print/Disk version or in PDF format, this is a business tool that you don't want to be without! Order your copy today by clicking here.

Juice sales energize the market

Upper Saddle River, NJ (March 5, 2013) Did you know that the price per ton of apples utilized for juice and cider was up significantly over the past year, and that jump was the highest in the past five years? And, are you aware that annual USDA purchases of bottled juices increased by almost 11% -- or that orange acreage for processing decreased by over 9600 acres? Lots of changes are impacting the U.S. juice market and The Food Institute is the one company that understands why. Our extensive research and thorough analysis uncover how the changing trends are impacting U.S. juices.

Everything you want, or need, to know about juice products is covered in the just-published Almanac of Juice Products, 2013 edition. Information has been gathered from a multitude of sources and is readily available in this easy-to-use reference guide. As part of the exclusive Food Institute Almanac Series, the juice book follows market trends, and studies all variables which are fundamental to making proper forecasting decisions. Time-sensitive statistics include information from industry sources and U.S. Census Bureau data.

The information you need is just a click away. Available in the format that best fits your needs, Print, PDF, or Print/Disk combination, so order your copy now by clicking here.

Expert Panel explores FDA's latest Food Safety Modernization Act directives

Upper Saddle River, NJ (January 29, 2013) Last week, The Food Institute and OFW Law delivered a powerful and informative webinar which examined the latest FDA initiatives with regard to Preventative Controls and Hazard Analysis as dictated by the Food Safety Modernization Act. A 90-minute webinar presentation discussed recent developments and evaluated the key components which will dramatically change how food businesses operate, regardless of where a business falls within the food chain.

Highlights of the event included detailed analysis of the changes to registration and recordkeeping regulations, amendments to CGMP regulations and a thorough breakdown of all Preventive Control aspects. Guest speakers from OFW Law discussed areas which are not in the proposed rule, but indicators reveal that the subject matter will make its way to final rules. Knowing what to expect and helping you prepare for these imminent changes is the cornerstone for Food Institute webinars and seminars. Last week's event was recorded and is now available for purchase. A handout of all slides used throughout the webinar accompanies the recording. CLICK HERE to purchase.

Plans are now underway for our next FSMA event, slated to air in late February 2013. If you would like an event summary, please contact doreen.pfeiffer@foodinstitute.com and one will be sent to you as soon as it is finalized.

Food Industry Scales Back Merger Activity in 2012

Upper Saddle River, NJ (Jan. 29, 2013) Some 301 mergers were recorded by the Food Institute through the end of 2012, down about 21% for the year when compared with 2011.

The Food Institute's 2012 Food Business Mergers and Acquisitions offers a comprehensive record of food industry M&A for the year, and will be available in March. The Food Institute tracked the biggest mergers and acquisitions throughout the year: the sale of supermarket giant Supervalu and food processor Kellogg Company's purchase of Procter & Gamble's Pringles business, a brand that earns $1.5 billion in sales across more than 140 countries; Campbell Soup Company's Bolthouse Farms $1.55 billion deal; ConAgra Foods' $6.8 billion purchase of Ralcorp Holdings and more.

Food Company M&A Slowdown through Q2

Through the first two quarters of the year, the food industry was involved in 157 mergers and acquisitions, with the second half maintaining that pace to close with 301 in total. Despite the attention paid to noteworthy mergers and acquisitions of 2012, the decline in total deals, and specifically in investment firms and bank activity, indicates how temperate the environment was for M&A.

"Fiscal uncertainty and frustration with Washington politics created a hesitant approach to M&A among investment firms and private capital in 2012, as the market reacted strongly to news of breakthroughs or impasses in sequestration negotiations," stated Henry Mollman, a Food Institute industry analyst.

Investment firms and banks continued to play a reduced role in deals in the second half, and finished the year with 49 mergers finalized or left incomplete, or 27.9% fewer than in 2011. The Food Institute found food processors experienced a similar year in 2012 as they did in 2011, with 83 total mergers last year. There were five more acquisitions last year compared with 2011, the third-straight year of increased acquisitions after 2009's low of 58. While fruit and vegetable processors recorded 11 acquisitions, an increase of eight over the prior year, meat processors were involved in only two, down from nine in 2011.

To reserve a copy of the annual Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions publication, contact Sue Antista at sue.antista@foodinstitute.com. Members can save 10% on purchases of the book.

About The Food Institute
The Food Institute strives to be the best "single source" for current, unbiased and relevant information about the food industry from farm to fork. This association provides balanced coverage of industry issues through multiple media so industry professionals worldwide can tap in when and how they choose. For more information, visit www.foodinstitute.com

Just Published: The Almanac of the Canning, Freezing, Preserving Industries - 2012 edition

Upper Saddle River, NJ (Jan. 14, 2013) Put the power of accurate data at your fingertips, with The Almanac of the Canning, Freezing, Preserving Industries - 2012 edition -- now available. This two-volume set contains more than 1,000 pages of indispensable data and analysis to save you time, put crucial facts at your fingertips and answer questions fast for you to make informed business decisions.

The Food Institute compiled data from USDA canning regulations to labeling laws & regulations that will keep you on top of the food industry facts & figures necessary to the success of your business. This resource contains valuable information for food processors, laboratory personnel, market researchers, food buyers, sellers and importers & exporters, machinery suppliers and regulatory personnel. The 92nd edition Almanac answers some of the processing industry's most prevalent questions, such as:

  • What are the current FDA labeling regulations?
  • What new USDA Grades have been issued?
  • How have consumption trends of fruits and vegetables varied over the past decade?
  • How has the yield, acreage, production and value for spinach, tomatoes, peas and other vegetables changed since 2004?

This complete and comprehensive desktop reference features regulatory information on labeling, a summary of the Bioterrorism Act, U.S. food import & export data, USDA quality grades, FDA product standards, raw product statistics (acreage, productions, yield & value), conversion factors and per capita consumption data. It also includes a list of industry-related associations and meetings. This book was made with industry experts in mind - The Almanac of the Canning, Freezing, Preserving Industries is available in a printed set or as a searchable PDF file. To view a sample page and purchase this publication as a print set or electronic copy, visit http://www.foodinstitute.com/almanac.cfm

About The Food Institute
The Food Institute strives to be the best "single source" for current, unbiased and relevant information about the food industry from farm to fork. This association provides balanced coverage of industry issues through multiple media so industry professionals worldwide can tap in when and how they choose. For more information, visit www.foodinstitute.com

FSMA Webinar addresses Hazard Analysis & Preventive Controls for Human Food

Upper Saddle River, NJ (January 8, 2013) The Food Institute and premier FDA/USDA law firm OFW Law will present a 90-minute webinar on Thursday, January 24, 2013 to explore the proposed rule, issued on January 4, 2013 by the Food & Drug Administration. This FDA proposed rule covers hazard analysis and preventive controls for human food. What would this proposed rule do? It would modernize the existing CGMP regulations for human food. Additionally, the proposed ruling would require each registered food facility, unless exempt, to perform a hazard analysis and develop a written food safety plan addressing any hazards reasonably likely to occur in its products. It would also expand the definition of "farm" in FDA's registration regulations (thereby broadening the farm exemption from registration and the new preventive controls requirements.)

Throughout the course of this 90-minute presentation, The Food Institute and OFW Law will discuss the subject matter listed below:

  • Proposed changes to the existing CGMP regulations
  • Who must comply with the new requirements
  • Who is exempt
  • What is not in the proposed rule (e.g., food defense)
  • What is not in the proposed rule but may be in the final rule (e.g., testing of raw materials and ingredients, finished product testing, environmental monitoring, supplier approval and verification requirements)
  • Proposed new recordkeeping and records access requirements
  • The proposed dates for compliance

Join The Food Institute and OFW Law on January 24, 2013 for 90 minutes as they explore the newest ruling and evaluate the two year delay on the Food Safety Modernization Act. Increased FSMA activity is expected in the coming months, and we will be delivering that information on a timely basis through informative webinars. Each webinar will offer attendees a broad overview of step-by-step FDA implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act and how all of the pieces will fit together. If interested, prior FSMA webinars, previously recorded, are also available for purchase. Register today for this informative event by CLICKING HERE.

Snack Time isn't "Just-for-Kids Anymore"

Upper Saddle River, NJ (October 1, 2012) Snacking has become the hottest food trend impacting food and beverage businesses and the time is now for all marketers to take notice and understand what's happening, and why it's happening. Join The Food Institute, NPD Group and Snack Food Association on Thursday, November 1st as they address this evolving market in a one-hour webinar, Snacking in America.

Designed to present a clearer view of decisions and attitudes which are driving snack consumption, Snacking in America will offer plenty of "food-for-thought" for long term business opportunities. Eating patterns in the United States have changed, with one out of five eating occasions now considered a snack. Gain insight into the "morning occasion" and explore the relationship between snacking and health. Uncover the key motivational needs driving snack choices. And, what are the top snacking choices "in-home" and "away-from-home" - and, more importantly, why?

The webinar is designed for all interested in what will certainly be one of the big topics impacting the future of the food industry. Register today or obtain more information by clicking here.

Changes in store for Food Labels

Upper Saddle River, NJ (September 25, 2012) The Food Institute will present a 2-day conference entitled The Changing Face of U.S. Food Labels: The Basics & Beyond. This event is designed for a global audience, including regulatory affairs and quality assurance personnel, government officials, the legal community, advertising and marketing personnel, academia and policy makers. The event kicks off on Wednesday, October 17, with sessions running from 3pm-5pm, immediately followed by a networking reception. Sessions resume on Thursday, October 18 at 8am and continue throughout the day.

Day 1 will provide a Food Labeling Overview, a discussion of key federal agencies, their jurisdiction and organization. A dialogue detailing categories of food products and how each is regulated will be covered during this time. Mandatory Label Information will offer all in attendance a snapshot of requirements for all food labels. Topics explored at great length will include statement of identity, net contents declaration, ingredients list, signature line, nutrition facts and other mandatory information, such as warning statements and/or country of origin.

Thursday morning will commence with a session on Claims, specifically addressing Nutrient Content Claims and a range of Health Claims. A comprehensive review of Dietary Guidance Statements and Claims Substantiation will be offered, in addition to buzzwords like "Made in the USA", "Natural" and Animal Production Claims. State Laws and Class Action Suits, including California Prop 65, will be brought to the attention of attendees. As the food labeling litigation trend is exploding throughout the country, benefit from the expertise offered by company counsel with regard to defending a lawsuit and how to avoid ever becoming a target. The Thursday session will close with a segment on where food labeling is headed. Final rulings are being handed down on menu labeling, vending machine labeling and "gluten free" labeling in the very near future. Proposed rules are in place for changes to the Nutrition Facts Panel. FDA action is targeting "whole grains" and dietary guidance statements on packaging.

In response to the heightened activity with food labeling, The Food Institute 2-day conference is a must for executives who require timely information covering the changes to labeling requirements. Robert Hahn and Bruce Silverglade, partners with Washington, D.C.-based firm OFW Law, will lead the panel and deliver the most updated information and analysis pertaining to food labeling.

Register online by CLICKING HERE. Any questions can be directed to Doreen Pfeiffer at doreen.pfeiffer@foodinstitute.com or by calling 201-791-5570, ext. 218.

The Early Bird "catches the savings"

Upper Saddle River, NJ (September 25, 2012) The Food Institute's flagship publication, Food Industry Review, 2012 edition - will be released shortly. And, for a limited time only, The Food Institute will waive shipping charges for all who pre-order the guide.

Food Industry Review is THE reference resource covering the U.S. food industry. Valuable information is available for the success of your business, whether it's retail, foodservice or manufacturing. The soon-to-be-released reference guide is filled with indispensable data and analysis on supermarkets, membership clubs, supercenters and convenience stores. This must-have edition also provides a comprehensive look at the foodservice industry, covering restaurants, vending and non-commercial outlets. Catch a glimpse at the heightened activity with food manufacturers as well.

Reserve your copy now by CLICKING HERE or calling Sue at 201-791-5570, ext. 212. This special pre-publication offer is available only for a limited time.

Family of Four will spend $6.75 more weekly on Food in 2013

Upper Saddle River, NJ (Sept. 7, 2012) The Food Institute reports that food inflation, including the impact of the severe drought in the Midwest this year, will cost a family of four $351.12 more in food spending in 2013 than in 2012 - approximately $6.75 a week. Food-at-home spending will increase about $4.00 a week, and away-from-home spending by about $2.50, according to The Food Institute. These figures are only slightly more than the 2.5% to 3.5% increase projected by USDA for all of this year. The numbers do not add completely due to rounding.

The cost is calculated by the Upper Saddle River, NJ-based trade association using USDA's latest food price projections for 2013, indicate prices for food-at-home will increase as much as 4.0% next year, with food away-from-home prices projected to rise as much as 3.5%. Food Institute members can find the complete breakdown by category at www.foodinstitute.com/outlook.cfm. The Food Institute combined the recent USDA figures for 2013 with its annual book, the Demographics of Consumer Food Spending, which relies on data from the BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS to forecast 2013 household food spending.

A breakdown by department shows most of the increase will be spent at meat counters, where annual costs are seen rising about $44 next year for a family of four, and about $30 for a two-person households, according to The Food Institute's estimates. Beef costs would account for nearly one-third of that increase. Fresh produce prices will add another $23.44 to a family's grocery bill next year, but processed fruit and vegetable expenditures should go up only about $11, The Food Institute projects. Canners and freezers may take note of this opportunity to promote their products. And for those families eating away-from-home; two-person households will be spending an average $86.73 more next year, with a family of four spending an additional $125. However, as is always the case with food, these spending projections could vary as substitutions are made in one category or another. Consumers could opt to spend more on canned and frozen products to offset higher prices for fresh; or buy poultry instead of higher-priced beef. Other discounts offered by manufacturers and retailers, including coupons could impact expenditures as well. Stay tuned to The Food Institute as the impact of this year's drought plays out.

Spotlight on Canned Vegetables

Upper Saddle River, NJ (July 23, 2012) The newest reference guide to join The Food Institute's popular almanac series is the 2012 release of the Almanac of Canned Vegetables. Utilizing data from a multitude of sources, Food Institute analysts evaluate data from government agencies, such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Census Bureau, and link this knowledge with expertise extracted from prominent food-industry market research firms, to provide clients with time-sensitive market intelligence and expertise. This comprehensive reference guide includes five years of exclusive price trends, production data, statistics on import and export volume, and so much more.

Available in print or PDF versions for only $195 (a print & disk version is available for only $245), this guide assembles all the data into one source. The reference book has everything needed to stay competitive in today's ever-changing marketplace. Also included are illustrated charts and graphs, suitable for presentation purposes. Order your copy of the Almanac of Canned Vegetables, 2012 edition, today! CLICK HERE or contact Sue Antista at sue.antista@foodinstitute.com or call 201-791-5570, ext. 212.

Fresh Produce Industry explored in newest Food Institute Almanac

Upper Saddle River, NJ (July 11, 2012) The Almanac of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables offers cutting-edge information which supplies produce industry executives with the insight to make informative business decisions and stay one step ahead of the competition. Compact and easy-to-use, the Almanac of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables is an invaluable resource which covers five years of market trends, and provides the knowledge to forecast key factors such as pricing and production for the commodities that directly impact business.

The Food Institute has compiled the research into a comprehensive 506-page book, complete with detailed charts and graphs, suitable for use in presentations. Dozens of sources have been utilized to provide time-savings to those who need this information at their fingertips. Also included in this research guide is a Glossary of Specialized Terms and Metric System Equivalents.

Offering a global perspective, the Almanac of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables examines dozens of categories of fresh produce, and discusses world production and imports/exports. From berries and melons to artichokes and lettuce, this newly-released guide has you covered!Gather statistical information which may impact your business. Some highlights found within this reference guide include:

  • U.S. fresh apple imports in 2011 fell to a five-year low, totaling 310.6 million-lbs., with over 60% being sourced from Chile.
  • Bearing acreage for oranges in the U.S. was 628,800 acres in 2010/2011, a 2.2% decrease from 2009/2010.
  • U.S. exports of mushrooms increased 3.46% to 22.1 million-lbs., with Canada taking 87.9% of the share.
  • Per capita consumption of sweet potatoes increased 21.1% to 6.3-lbs., the highest level in fifteen years.

Available in print and PDF versions for only $195, the Almanac of Fresh Fruits & Vegetables serves as an invaluable source. The guide is also available in a Print & Disk version for $245. CLICK HERE for ordering information or contact Sue Antista at 201-791-5570, ext. 212 or via email at books@foodinstitute.com

Retail & Wholesale Food Price Review explores 10 years of data

Upper Saddle River, NJ (June 27, 2012) The Food Institute is often asked for historical information on a variety of food products. Requests arise from all factors in the food industry, from growers and processors, to brokers, buyers, and investment & research firms.The information on retail and wholesale prices available in this publication can be utilized in a plethora of ways, and should hold a prominent place on the shelf - or in the database - of every player in the food industry, as it can be used for projects ranging from new business planning to price forecasting models.

The Retail & Wholesale Food Price Review, 2012 Edition, covering Producer Price Indices and Consumer Price Indices, reports on virtually every category impacting the food business. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics is captured in charts and graphs throughout the publication. Producer Price Index data are used widely by the business community, as well as government. They serve as an economic indicator, capturing price movements before they reach the retail level. They are also used as a deflator of other economic series for price changes and to translate those series into inflation-free dollars.The Consumer Price Index offers a way for consumers to compare what the market basket of goods costs this month verses a prior time period. The CPI affects nearly all Americans because of the many ways in which it is used. This research guide illustrates ten years of price index data and addresses:

How does the Producer Price Index differ from the Consumer Price Index?
How are PPI's used? How are they weighted?
How is an index interpreted?
How are PPI data and CPI prices collected and reviewed?
Is the CPI a cost of living index? Is it the best measure of inflation?
Whose buying habits does the CPI reflect?
What is the CPI "market basket"? How is it chosen?

Available in print and PDF versions for only $95, the Retail & Wholesale Food Price Review, 2012 Edition, serves as an invaluable source and can be purchased by CLICKING HERE. Phone and email orders can be directed to Sue Antista at 201-791-5570, ext. 212 or sue.antista@foodinstitute.com

Are you ready if OSHA calls at your door?

Upper Saddle River, NJ (June 7, 2012) From time to time, food industry establishments are subject to inspection by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or its state counterparts. The results of an OSHA inspection can lead to civil fines, adverse publicity, abatement proceedings, and, in some cases, criminal proceedings. It is, therefore, of the utmost importance to be familiar with OSHA's authority and inspection procedures.

Many unsuspecting companies become entangled in the complexities of routine OSHA inspections. From the 4th quarter 2010 through 4th quarter 2011, bakery product manufacturers received 562 citations from 115 inspections, paying $1.67 million in federal fines. Eating establishments were cited 333 times, and paid out almost $442,000 to the federal government. And, grocery stores were caught with 77 OSHA violations, resulting in fines in excess of half a million dollars.

The Food Institute and OFW Law recently completed an up-to-date inspection manual, which provides critical knowledge for action before, during and after an OSHA inspection. This must-have reference guide details the rights and responsibilities of employers, employees and OSHA compliance officers. Available in print and PDF versions, the OSHA Inspection Manual, 4th edition, serves as an invaluable source and can be purchased by clicking here or by calling Sue Antista at 201-791-5570, ext. 212.

Food Deflation Arrives in Your Supermarket

Upper Saddle River, NJ (May 22, 2012) On June 20, 2012, The Food Institute and Willard Bishop will present a one-hour webinar to discuss the issue of food prices, including deflation in 2012 and beyond. The presentation will begin at 12pm EST.

Jim Hertel and Craig Rosenblum, of Willard Bishop, will be moderated by Dr. John Stanton of St. Joseph's University, to provide unique and unparalleled insights into the future of food retailing. This popular event is one of the most anticipated webinars each year and is a must for food and beverage retailers, manufacturers, restaurants, suppliers, distributors, industry consultants and trade press!

During the most recent bout of food inflation, many retailers attempted to pass along cost increases with limited success, as there is too little growth in consumer income and too much value channel competition. Now, as food inflation may be ending, major questions are emerging such as:

o What is the outlook for food prices over the next 24-36 months?
o Will commodity cost declines ripple through manufacturer costs and ultimately pass on to retail?
o Will energy cost impact food prices?
o How will Private Label and traditional supermarket channels be impacted?
o Who will emerge a winner? And, who will lose as a result?

Panelists will dig into retailer strategies and identify actions/consequences that retailers will face in the year ahead. A thorough understanding of the impact that food deflation will have on food retailers will be analyzed and explored. Additional information and registration for the event can be found by clicking here or by contacting Doreen Pfeiffer at 201-791-5570, ext. 218.

FDA Records Access Under FSMA - A Major Impact

Upper Saddle River, NJ (April 19, 2012) While the FDA proposed rules implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act have been temporarily delayed, don't be lured into a false sense of stasis. FSMA implementation is coming, and companies should be preparing now!

One of the most significant changes wrought by FSMA will be the greatly expanded access that FDA will have to company records. Prior to FSMA, for most food facilities, FDA access was limited to labels and records of interstate shipment, and FDA needed to make a written request for shipment records. Under FSMA, FDA's records access authority is radically expanded. During routine inspections, FDA will be entitled to inspect and copy the inspected facility's hazard analysis, preventive controls plan, records validating its preventive controls, verification records, monitoring records, food safety training records and more. For importers, FDA may see its Foreign Supplier Verification Program and related records. And, that's just the beginning.

In response to these looming changes, The Food Institute will host a one-hour webinar on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 from 12pm-1pm EST to discuss recordkeeping requirements which require immediate action from all food and beverage companies. For more information and to register for this event, please click here.

Dollar Stores: Challenge or Opportunity for Food Marketers?

TEMPE, AZ (April 17, 2012): Food retailers and manufacturers are faced with numerous challenges and opportunities this year and beyond according to Food Institute President, Brian Todd, who spoke on April 17 at the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Executive Conference in Tempe, AZ. “Faced with more and more places for consumers to purchase food, traditional supermarkets have to compete more aggressively for budget-conscious consumers. At the same time, however, food marketers can now approach more diverse types of retailers to sell their products to,” commented Mr. Todd.

One retail format that will continue to sell more food is dollar stores, which will grow rapidly over the next 5-8 years and stock up their food aisles and freezer cases as well. Some sources project there will be 33,000 dollar stores operating by 2020.

Consumers get a bit of a break on retail food prices this year compared to last, as they are projected to rise 2.5% to 3.5% in 2012, well below the 4.8% rate increase experienced in 2011. Unfortunately several of the categories that drove prices sharply higher in 2011 will continue to rise above the average in 2012 noted Mr. Todd. Beef prices, which jumped 10.2% in 2011 will likely increase over 5% or more this year due to limited supplies and higher feed costs. What impact, if any, the commotion over finely textured beef has on prices yet to be seen, but some analysts project that could contribute to further increases in beef prices.

And while the population of the U.S. is still increasing, and is the only developed nation to be doing so, Mr. Todd notes that growth is slowing from prior years. “In 2011, the U.S. population grew by just 0.74% according to the Census Bureau, down from 0.84% in 2010 and well under the 1% annual growth that was the norm in the 1990s. The current population of 311.6 million is actually 1.6 million less than the Census has projected a few years ago. And that means that retailers will have to work harder to increase sales that had been positively impacted by an ever-growing population.

It will be an interesting and exciting year for the food industry and The Food Institute, based in Upper Saddle River, NJ, will continue to keep members informed in an unbiased, timely and accurate manner, as it has since 1928.

Changing Demographics impact Food Industry

Upper Saddle River, NJ (April 4, 2012) Updated with the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data, The Food Institute's Demographics of Consumer Food Spending 2012 Edition contains over 170 pages of invaluable data for any marketer of consumer goods. The questions that CPG companies and restaurants should be asking when considering target markets and consumers' willingness to spend can be answered by the information included within the publication and is readily available in an organized format. One of the multiple books available in The Food Institute's suite of products, the Demographics of Consumer Food Spending 2012 Edition fits within any marketer's library and offers direct, actionable information that both reflects current demographic compositions in the U.S. and provides a forecast for the future based on measurable trends.

While it will surprise no one that consumers spent less money for the third consecutive year in 2010, where that money was spent is not as obvious. While the average consumer spent $1 more on fresh vegetables, they spent $14 more on processed vegetables - suggesting that the frugal consumer will purchase the product with the longer shelf life. And while the data may confirm some assumptions that consumers in the Western region of the U.S. spent 2.3% more of their food budget on fresh fruit and 1.2% more on fresh vegetables than consumers in the Northeast, those aged 25 to 34 spent 0.5% more of their total budget on fruits and vegetables than their Western counterparts. With the Demographics of Consumer Food Spending 2012 Edition, no one need rely on conjecture when evaluating their customer base.

Recent Census data also reported that the Asian population in the U.S. grew by 46% to total 14.7 million between 2000 and 2010, more than any other major race group. The Asian population was largest in California at 5.6 million, followed by New York at 1.6 million. Where are those consumers spending their food budgets? Do they purchase more food for consumption at home more than any other ethnic group? Which types of meats do they typically buy? These and other detailed questions can easily be answered by the latest version of The Food Institute's intuitive publication. Population data is broken down into age, region, pre-tax income, occupation, gender and household composition, among other segments, and cross-referenced among categories to give the most complete picture of the diverse households in the U.S.

The Food Institute's Demographics of Consumer Food Spending 2012 Edition is now available in both physical and digital form and at multiple price points to fit any budget. The extensive data is assembled in a variety of formats to offer visual representations of the changing demographic landscape in the U.S. Simply scanning over the contents will provide a detailed look of consumer spending faster than one could be communicated in any other medium. Whether it is the first tool applied or the last, the Demographics of Consumer Food Spending 2012 Edition will make an immense contribution to any market research endeavor. Books can be ordered online by clicking here or by contacting Sue Antista at (201) 791-5570, ext. 212.

What's Trending with Juice Products?

Upper Saddle River, NJ (March 28, 2012) Each year, The Food Institute publishes a comprehensive Almanac series which follows important market trends. The newly published Almanac of Juice Products, 2012 Edition, provides the necessary tools to analyze and understand the variables which impact the juice business. This all-inclusive reference guide, compiled by and unique to The Food Institute, details all the information you need to know from a multitude of sources.

This timely guide reports on five years of data, discusses sourcing decisions and defines market strategies, thereby enhancing knowledge and providing the power to make key strategic decisions for any business. This manual offers exclusive Food Institute price trend data, collected from industry sources and U.S. Census Bureau data.

Be one of the first to have the Almanac of Juice Products, 2012 Edition. CLICK HERE or contact Sue Antista at sue.antista@foodinstitute.com (or call 201-791-5570, ext. 212.)

The Future looks bright for Mergers and Acquisitions

Upper Saddle River, NJ (March 15, 2012) The recent Food Institute webinar, "Looking to Buy or Sell a Business? What you MUST know before signing" featured Calabasas Capital's Rick Andrade. In discussing merger and acquisition activity, Mr. Andrade stated that "cash is ready to be deployed in 2012", referencing the increasing number of deals that we have seen and are expected to see this year. And, while we have not yet returned to the heightened activity that The Food Institute was seeing before the financial crisis, we are back on target with the levels seen in 2005 and 2006. He stressed the ideal that buyers and sellers alike must focus their efforts on a multitude of factors, and not solely on business performance.

In discussing the "anatomy of a food deal", Mr. Andrade identified and provided what he calls the " four key pillars" which support merger and acquisition activity. Seller motivation addresses the real reason behind the sale of a business, whether it is simply that the owner wishes to retire or a completely different issue, perhaps increasing global competition or the fact that partners might no longer have the same vision. Selection of the buy/sell advisory team sets up the sales process and ultimately, the structure of the deal.

As merger and acquisition activity has picked up in recent months, many industry experts believe that the bigger deals are ready-to-go, after the lackluster performance of recent years. The Food Institute follows each and every deal in the food and beverage business and reports this information in an annual reference guide, which can be purchased by clicking here. The webinar has also been recorded and is now available for viewing by registering here or by contacting Sue Antista at 201-791-5570, ext. 212.

Recalls on the Rise - Be Prepared with Food Products Recall Manual

Upper Saddle River, NJ (March 6, 2012) Recalls of food products continue to climb and The Food Institute reports that recalls in the fourth quarter of 2011 were up in excess of 50% over the same period as the previous year. The Food Products Recall Manual has been utilized by thousands of companies over the past decade, and had just been updated with cutting-edge information on dealing with food recalls.

The decision to remove a product from both distribution channels and consumer hands involves a multitude of legal and business considerations. Food firms, from the largest consumer product manufacturers to the smallest specialty food producer, must be prepared to react expeditiously to any potential recall.

This fourth edition of the Food Products Recall Manual includes step-by-step guidelines, starting with the basics of dealing with the press in the event of a recall. Many companies do not even have an idea what their responsibilities are to government agencies, such as the Food & Drug Administration and the Department of Agriculture, and what penalties could be incurred for not following the rules. Furthermore, under the new Food Safety & Modernization Act, the government has an even larger stake of what happens during a recall.

Recalls are not pleasant experiences. Given the public's growing concern about food safety, a recall can quickly escalate into a local, national or even international news story. But, it need not be a cause for panic. Following responsible and sensible procedures, as outlined in the updated Food Products Recall Manual, can help contain any fallout. The manual also includes special sections on "Handling the Logistics of a Product Recall", contributed by Stericycle ExpertRECALL, and a section on "Handling the Media" by Dezenhall Resources.

The guide can be ordered online by clicking here, or by calling Sue Antista at (201) 791-5570, ext. 212.

Merger & Acquisition Activity is Healthy and Growing

Upper Saddle River, NJ (March 1, 2012) The Food Institute just released the Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions 2011 guide, the newest edition of the annual publication. The 2011 version recounts a shaky year in dealmaking as buyers and sellers watched an up and down swing as markets reacted to daily updates in the Eurozone and threats by rating agencies of downgraded assets. The book contains a list of all mergers involving U.S. firms recorded by the Food Institute, and includes analysis of every industry segment. Trends observed over the year are included in the 2011 edition, such as consolidation in the foodservice industry as well as distressed retail assets coming under new ownership among other retailers.

The book contains a record of the 381 mergers executed in fiscal 2011, an increase of about 20% over the 317 deals in 2010. While the numbers are comparatively high when considering the lull in 2009 that followed the recession, with mergers dipping to 264, the 20% rise in activity reflects growing M&A interest in growing segments such as online services and analytics and the re-entry of private capital and investors into the food industry.

The first half of the year started positively with a combined 196 announced and finalized mergers, a rise of approximately 27% over the previous year and about a 65% rise from 2009's 117 total mergers, but a 17.6% drop when compared with 2008's 238. Boosted by a strong first quarter, M&A declined somewhat in the second quarter, partly a reaction in the market to uncertainty fostered by poor economic data in the U.S. and the debt crisis in Europe. At the time, many analysts predicted that cash-rich strategics would return to the market ahead of private equity in deals unless logical buyers did not exist for assets. Companies that waited through the recession and saved capital emerged to scoop up companies and make acquisitions that supplemented organic growth, as growing economies could no longer be relied on for revenue.

In a year that saw the merger of two large supermarket chains as well as the falling apart of a Diamond Foods/Procter & Gamble deal for the Pringles business that would have reshaped the snack food industry, the Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions 2011 book recaps the deals that were completed or left open at the end of the year while also providing an outlook into 2012 and beyond. The deals being made today will indicate what can be further expected as an economic recovery continues to gain traction, and offer an informed resource when forecasting possible acquisitions.

The Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions 2011 book represents information which can be used by both industry and equity analysts seeking data available nowhere else. Alongside balance sheets and multiples charts, Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions 2011 offers information that can put a potential deal into better focus or provide a unique perspective with records of similar mergers. Click here for more information and to purchase this unique publication.

Looking to Buy or Sell a Business? What you must know before signing

Upper Saddle River, NJ (February 23, 2012) As the markets begin their slow climb back this year, many business owners and entrepreneurs have emerged from hiding to once again consider a serious move to either buy a new business, or sell their existing one.

If the time has come to consider buying or selling a food or beverage business, it is important to understand that there are many issues to address. Whether the company is being bought out by family members or acquired by a multinational consumer packaged goods (CPG) conglomerate, having a plan and knowing your options can make a big difference. For sellers, 2012 is seeing "sales multiples" return to pre-recession levels, making this year an ideal time to test out the waters. And for buyers, there's nothing more satisfying than the ability to control your own destiny, or add a new acquisition to an existing product line.

The Food Institute is hosting a one-hour webinar on March 13, 2012 which will address the key steps to a successful sale/purchase, including finding the right fit, determining a company's worth, the importance of the seller, due diligence, finding the right team to manage the deal and finally, closing the deal. Registration details can be found by clicking here.

Asia's Growing Interest in the U.S. Food Sector

Upper Saddle River, NJ (February 23, 2012) On March 16, six representatives from the China-based Hunan Science & Technology Department will visit The Food Institute headquarters in Upper Saddle River, NJ to increase their understanding of the United States' food safety system, including the inspection process and changes currently being implemented under the Food Safety Modernization Act.

This is the second visit from Chinese food industry representatives as last year, executives from the Hunan Provincial Quality & Technology Supervision Bureau visited with Food Institute President & CEO Brian Todd to learn of the U.S. food industry.

"The Food Institute's rich history makes us an ideal source of information for foreign companies looking to learn more about working with and within the U.S. food industry. Since 1928, we have been the best single source for current, timely and relevant information about the entire food industry from farm to fork. We remain committed to delivering unbiased and complete information and the fact that the world's most populous nation is turning to this organization, is a testament to our success," stated Brian Todd, President & CEO of The Food Institute.

The Food Institute has become a resource for several foreign governments and food companies, having hosted a delegation of food retailers from Vietnam and Cambodia and secured members that represent Germany, Italy, Peru and the food sector of several other countries.

Food Mergers up in 2011, but slow in second half

Upper Saddle River, NJ (January 24, 2012) A robust start to 2011 provided a reason for optimism among eager dealmakers and analysts that a nascent economic recovery was already being borne by the markets. Private equity investors were active during the first half of the year, peaking with affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. reaching an agreement to acquire BJ's Wholesale Club for approximately $2.8 billion in cash. Roark Capital Group also continued to pursue interests in the food industry, purchasing the beleaguered Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. for about $430 million, while the chic Crumbs Holdings LLC merged with 57th Street General Acquisition Corp.

Those deals were among many that fostered increased expectations for the second half of the year, as some analysts began questioning whether their forecasts for 2011 had perhaps been too conservative. Predictions for an expedient recovery in mergers and acquisitions were leveled, however, at around the midpoint of the year when an acknowledgment that Greece would require a second bailout package to prevent a collapse sent markets reeling.

At the midpoint of the year, analysts responded to the disconcerting news by amending their previous outlooks and adopting a bearish stance. "Dealmakers sat on their hands and coffers, waiting for further developments as the M&A market hobbled along, buoyed by smaller deals that demonstrated a conservative attitude toward acquisitions," commented The Food Institute's Henry Mollman, who tracks food industry mergers and acquisitions.

Rather than focus on acquisitions to improve profits or increase a banner's footprint, many organizations instead sought to streamline their own operations rather than expand into new territory with uncertain consequences. Food processors looking to divest pieces that do not fit the larger portfolio of brands were sold off while other interests were retained, a trend expected to continue in a rosier, but still uncertain 2012. Sara Lee Corp.'s sale of its North American foodservice coffee and tea operations to The J.M. Smucker Company for $350 million and concurrent establishment of a long-term partnership to collaborate on liquid coffee innovation may represent the model for many transactions going forward.

The Sara Lee sale, Ralcorp Holdings' decision to separate Ralcorp and Post Foods and Kraft Foods' split into two companies all indicate a shift in corporate attitude toward internal concerns rather than external interests. "Distressed or undervalued asset purchases and business spin-offs are the transactions that corporations will be attracted to, both to assist reorganization efforts and placate investors by removing value-sapping assets from the ledger," predicts Mollman. Rather than lock up considerable assets in a deal that may be consummated long after the debt crisis in Europe is resolved and markets react, dealmakers will seek mergers and acquisitions that are in line with wider corporate strategies without significantly altering their path.

The freezing of the markets was thawed somewhat by the announced merger of BI-LO, LLC and Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc. While the $560 million agreement will create an organization of approximately 690 grocery stores in eight states throughout the southeastern U.S., its surprising announcement is more of an outlier within the industry than a harbinger of increased M&A activity, and many analysts have not adjusted their own forecasts in light of the development. While the timing of the merger does encourage higher expectations for future deals, it should not be read as an indication of anything but two formerly bankrupt assets recognizing an operational opportunity without each of the companies' retail footprints causing conflicts, Mollman advises. Both Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie had been the subject of acquisition rumors for some time, but when a cautious M&A environment produced no suitors, the retailers entered into a merger that would increase their respective sizes without forcing changes in both companies' operations.

After engaging in fewer food industry mergers and acquisitions in 2010, private equity was involved in 69 deals last year, an increase of 50% over 2010 but still below the two consecutive years of 96 mergers and acquisitions recorded in 2009 and 2008. Within the food industry, investment firms and banks were responsible for about 18% of acquisitions in 2011, compared with about 14.5% in 2010. In total, The Food Institute tracked 384 mergers in fiscal 2011, an increase of about 21% over the 317 deals in 2010.

New Food Safety Rules Generate More Than 600 Comments -- Be Ready When Additional Regulations Surface

Upper Saddle River, NJ  (January 17, 2012)- The most sweeping reforms of the nation's food safety rules in over seventy years are being implemented by the Food & Drug Administration and have led to an influx of comments from the industry and the public. Through mid-January, FDA had already received 614 comments on various aspects of the proposed regulations, according to a tally by The Food Institute, an Upper Saddle River, NJ based trade association. "Knowing that these new regulations will have a substantial impact on the way companies do business for years to come, the food industry has been very vocal regarding the new rules, as it looks to work with the Food & Drug Administration in further ensuring the safety of the U.S. food supply," commented Brian Todd, President & CEO of The Food Institute.

The FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) was signed into law by President Obama just over a year ago and while FDA has made substantial progress since then, the industry eagerly awaits several proposed rules, including an integral one on the safety of fresh produce, which will likely be in excess of 125 pages. Already delayed by several weeks, The Food Institute reports that FDA will likely not release three additional proposed rules until early February. The rules nearing release focus on Hazard Analysis & Preventive Controls for Human Food and Animal Feed/Pet Food; and the Foreign Supplier Verification Program.

The Food Institute will sponsor an informative 90-minute webinar on February 6, 2012 from 12:00pm - 1:30pm EST to review the latest proposed rules. Robert Hahn and Jolyda Swain, partners with Washington, D.C.-based firm OFW Law, will guide attendees through these complex new laws. Dr. Purnendu C. Vasavada, coordinator for the Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance, will share his vast knowledge on the subject matter with all in attendance. This webinar will deliver the most updated information and analysis and is designed for anyone in need of the most up-to-date information pertaining to food safety. Register online at http://www.foodinstitute.com/FSMAwebinar.cfm Contact Doreen Pfeiffer, 201-791-5570, ext. 218, The Food Institute, for additional information.

 

Seneca's Dean Erstad elected Chairman of The Food Institute

Upper Saddle River, NJ  (December, 12, 2011)- At the most recent meeting of the Food Institute's Board of Trustees, Dean Erstad, Senior Vice President Sales for Seneca Foods Corp. was unanimously elected Chairman of the 83-year old trade association as his predecessor, Donna George President and Chief Operating Officer of Dr. Schar USA Inc. concludes her service and becomes Past Chair of the Institute.

Michael Sansolo, of Sansolo Solutions was elected Vice Chairman, followed by Doug Fritsch, Senior Vice President Retail & Business Development of IGA USA who, at the same meeting, was elected Treasurer of the association.

Other members of the Board include: Bill Bishop, Chairman, Willard Bishop; Susan T. Borra, Senior Vice President, Communications, Food Marketing Institute; Paula K. Correy, Vice President, Western Region, Hy-Vee. Inc.; Frank DiPasquale, Chief Executive Officer, School Nutrition Association; Jamie Gronowski, President of Operations, Acosta; Peter Lavoy, former President of Foodtown; C. Winston (Win) Taylor, Saint Joseph's University, and Brian Todd, President of The Food Institute.

Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner 'Gobbles-Up' Savings

Upper Saddle River, NJ (November 14, 2011) -Wholesale prices for ingredients of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner are a mixed bag in 2011 when compared to prices in 2010, according to data compiled by The Food Institute. The percent change is wide, varying from a decrease of 29% for 2 ½ dozen packs of celery to an increase of 40% on 5/10-lb. bags of fresh potatoes from Idaho. The main component of dinner, the turkey, is looking at an increase of almost 10%.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all food is now projected to increase 3.5% to 4.5% in 2011, with food-at-home (retail) prices forecast to rise 4% to 5% but trending toward the upper end of that range, according to Food Institute projections, as noted in the Oct. 31, 2011 edition of the Food Institute Report. Center-of-the-plate items contributed significantly to the higher price projection for 2011, with meat, poultry and fish accounting for one-eighth of the entire food-at-home CPI figure and for which prices are seen climbing as much as 6.5% this year following almost no inflation the prior two years. Wholesale food price advances outpaced those at retail for the fourth straight month in September, as retailers continued to slowly pass along increases they began encountering back in early 2010. The Food Institute projects that retail food prices by the end of 2011 will be about 7% higher than a year earlier.

Price increases from feed corn, soybeans and fuel affected turkey prices in 2011. A bushel of feed corn stood at $6.45 as of Nov. 2, compared to $5.75 the same time last year, a 12.2% increase. The 2009, the price was $3.82. (The Food Institute tracks feed corn futures prices weekly - see page 24 of the Food Institute Report.) According to USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, preliminary October prices received for live turkeys was 77.2 cents per pound, compared to 73.4 cents in October 2010 - a 5.2% increase. However, turkeys raised in the U.S. during 2011 were 248 million, up 2% from the number raised during 2010, noted National Agricultural Statistics Service's Turkeys Raised September report. This indicates that while wholesale prices of the bird is up almost 10%, there continues to be strong demand.

With the exception of frozen carrots, traditionally-used processed fruit and vegetables all saw increased prices in 2011 as compared to 2010, according to prices exclusive to The Food Institute. Prices for canned sliced apples have been increasing since last year due to an expansion of the worldwide market for the item, as well as increased demand. Higher pecan prices, being seen up almost 20%, are being contributed to the drought in the Southern U.S. dropping yields, and also increased demand for the product. The market situation for frozen carrots is doing better than in 2010, but prices will be back on the rise towards the end of this year as production in 2011 was lackluster due to low yields.

Click here to view Wholesale Prices for Thanksgiving Staples - 2011 versus 2010

Food Industry Mergers And Acquisitions Up Sharply In 2011

Upper Saddle River, NJ (Oct. 14, 2011) -Mergers and acquisitions within the food industry were recorded by The Food Institute at 273 total deals through the first nine months of 2011, a 39.2% increase over the previous year's 196. Of the 273 transactions, 180 were completed and 93 remained unclosed or had fallen apart. In the third quarter of 2011, companies engaged in 77 mergers or acquisitions, or about 28.2% of the year-to-date total. At the same time, private equity deal volume fell 23% in the third quarter from the same period last year, according to Thomson Reuters data. The total number of third-quarter deals also declined by 9% from the second quarter.

M&A bankers stated that fears of a "double dip" recession, the European debt crisis and continued market volatility held up a lot of acquisition activity, and those problems are not anticipated to be resolved in the near future. Investment banks and investors showed particular interest in the retail industry, where the most significant acquisition was made by Beacon Holding Inc., an affiliate of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P., and funds advised by CVC Capital Partners, who purchased BJ's Wholesale Club in an all-cash transaction valued at approximately $2.8 billion.

Other notable deals included the acquisition of Arby's Restaurant Group for $430 million by a Roark Capital Group in the third quarter. The Atlanta-based sandwich chain was divested by the Wendy's/Arby's Group, which will retain an 18.5% ownership interest in the Arby's business. On Oct. 3, Sara Lee Corp. also completed the sale of its North American Refrigerated Dough business to Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products, Inc., a division of Ralcorp Holdings, Inc., for $545 million, a business that generated revenues in excess of $300 million in fiscal 2010. Finally, Diamond Foods, Inc. signed a definitive agreement to acquire the Pringles business from The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) in the third quarter, a transaction valued at $2.35 billion. Under the terms of a split-merge agreement, P&G will establish a separate entity to hold the Pringles business, which will be distributed to electing P&G shareholders in a tax-efficient transaction with a simultaneous merger with Diamond.

For the remainder of 2011, and looking ahead to next year, any stability gained over the past year evaporated in the minds of private equity buyers and firms looking to spend cash to expand in markets that are becoming more and more competitive. Consumer attitudes, commodity prices and thinning profit margins are all contributing to larger trends within the mergers and acquisitions market, and the comprehensive research and analysis performed by The Food Institute provides insight into the micro- and macroeconomic factors that impact the food industry. The 83-year old organization reports on markets within the sphere of food processors as well as the infrastructure supporting the industry and capital from private equity. Specifically, the Food Institute offers a constantly updated merger database, consumer and producer food price tracking, market reports and multiple publications that include specific data as well as information relevant to any individual or firm with a business interest in one of the many segments of the food industry.

The Food Institute Partners with the IGA Coca-Cola Institute

Upper Saddle River, NJ (August 15, 2011) - The IGA Coca-Cola Institute, founded by IGA (Independent Grocers Alliance) with the support of The Coca-Cola Company, is dedicated to providing learning resources for food retailers worldwide. A recent commitment to form a strategic alliance with The Food Institute, one of the food industry's oldest and most respected news and information providers, will add a new venue for communication to the food industry.

Under the partnership, The Food Institute will promote IGA's portfolio of retail learning options via The Food Institute website at http://www.foodinstitute.com/strategic.cfm. This includes the unique International Supermarket Management Class slated for October 2-7, 2011 and the Retail Executive Leadership and Family Business Program scheduled for next year. Meanwhile, a bevy of Food Institute publications will be featured and available for purchase on the Institute's website at http://www.igainstitute.com/Community/FoodRetailArticles.aspx

"No single source of information is more respected in the food industry than The Food Institute," cited a recent quote from IGA. "Our members will now have access to the best, most up-to-date industry information available without leaving our website."

"The partnership between the IGA Coca-Cola Institute and The Food Institute will benefit members of both organizations," adds Food Institute President Brian Todd.

About the IGA Coca-Cola Institute
The IGA Coca-Cola Institute's mission is to increase the people performance and business effectiveness of a worldwide retail community through online learning, classroom training and a resources center. The Institute cultivates not only the improvement of work skills and job performance, but also the personal growth of individuals committed to life-long learning, ethical standards, and full participation in their communities.

For the last 20 years, the Institute has been dedicated to providing learning resources for food retailers worldwide. They recognize that to remain relevant, retailers need to improve their performance everyday. Currently, the Institute serves 5,000 stores and 41,000 students in six languages. This is why the Institute provides training programs that are customizable, easy, effective and specialized for the food retail industry. For more information, visit the Institute's website, email igainstitute@igainc.com, or call (773) 695-2611.

About the Food Institute
Founded in 1928, The Food Institute is a non-profit, membership-based information and reporting association. Membership includes more than 2,000 companies spanning the entire food distribution system. Benefits of membership include Today In Food, a daily e-mail update; weekly issues of the Food Institute Report, which covers breaking news, government news, and market news in addition to commodity pricing information; specialty reports and publications, including the comprehensive annual publication of the Food Industry Review; and access to http://www.foodinstitute.com. For more information visit their website or call (201) 791-5570.

Food Policy Issues Explored at National Food Policy Conference

Upper Saddle River, NJ (August 8, 2011) -The Food Institute is pleased to announce that it will partner with the Consumer Federation of America for the 34th Annual National Food Policy Conference, scheduled for October 3-4 in Washington, D.C. This conference is designed to focus on key food policy issues affecting consumers, the food industry and the government.

The conference will examine consumer food priorities and trends; analyze the impact of efforts to reduce federal spending on government food programs; and consider how our global food system must evolve to feed a growing world population. Speakers and panelists will examine reauthorization of the 2012 Farm Bill; explore key nutrition initiatives; and identify the next steps in food safety.

Collaboration between these trade organizations provides food industry personnel with vast resources. The Food Institute provides its membership with timely and relevant information about the food industry through a variety of media channels, as the Consumer Federation of America strives to advance consumer interest within the food industry through research, advocacy and education.

For additional information and to register for this event, please click here.

Private Equity Behind Bevy of Food Deals

Upper Saddle River, NJ (July 20, 2011) Merger and acquisition activity was heightened in the first half of 2011 compared to the previous year, with The Food Institute recording 196 announced and closed deals through June. These numbers represent an approximate 27% increase in total M&A over the same period in 2010 and about a 65% rise from 2009's 117 total mergers. "Investment firms and banks continue to play an influential role in food industry M&A activity, showing interest in devalued assets or in companies well-positioned to thrive in a down economy. A prime example is William Ackman's five million share investment in Family Dollar Stores Inc., making his Pershing Square Capital Management the retailer's largest shareholder," commented Brian Todd, President & CEO of the 83-year old trade association.

Private equity firms helped shape numerous deals within the food industry. Investment firms and banks participated in 39 acquisitions in the first half of 2011 versus 24 the prior year. A notable deal included BJ's Wholesale Club agreeing to be acquired by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. and funds advised by CVC Capital Partners in an all cash transaction valued at approximately $2.8 billion.

Deals among food processors increased as well, with 45 deals either announced or completed, a rise of about 32.4% from 2010 and 50% over 2009. Specialty food makers continue to be an attractive target for acquisitions. Meyer Natural Foods acquired organic beef brand Dakota Beef.

Sara Lee Corp. acquired Aidells Sausage Company for $87 million. Among gourmet and specialty sauce and condiment manufacturers, Beaverton Foods Inc. acquired Pacific Farms, making it the largest processor of wasabi products in North America.

Retailers were also involved in more acquisitions through mid 2011 vs. the prior year; 43 deals this year compared to just 23 in 2010. The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. sold seven Super Fresh stores in Maryland and one Super Fresh location in Washington, DC to Mrs. Green's Natural Market. A&P received bids for 12 of the 25 Super Fresh stores put up for sale. The Lowe's grocery store chain purchased Super S Foods.

The Food Institute has the expertise to provide an informative view on the current merger environment as well as the regulatory burdens faced by dealmakers. Weekly publications from The Food Institute, coupled with a comprehensive merger database, allows The Food Institute to keep pace with timely industry happenings. A recent M&A webinar, "The Art of the Deal", featured legal and financial experts and is now available in a recorded version. And, the annual Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions publication offers proprietary information and a unique perspective to all who seek a thorough understanding of mergers and acquisitions. Please click here for additional information.

The Food Institute's "Top Ten" Facts about FSMA

Upper Saddle River, NJ (July 19, 2011) The Food Institute is pleased to present the Top Ten reasons that you need to attend the Food Safety Modernization Act Webinar Series.
10. FDA now has the authority to order recalls -- even if you refuse -- how can that be?
9. Is it possible? is there a chance? - that some food from your facility could cause serious health consequences? If so, your registration can be suspended!
8. FDA will soon be able to "sneak-a-peek" at many of your new records during an inspection - what will they find? What are they allowed to look for?
7. Domestic food facilities - Are you considered "high risk?" - If so, FDA will be watching more frequently - what made you "high risk" ... and, how can you remove that stigma?
6. Do you have a hazard analysis plan? How do you even begin to implement it? And when? FDA's required preventative controls coming very soon ........
5. Have you sold "reportable foods" that could pose a health risk? What's your plan? How will you notify your customers? Better find out - or your business could be compromised!
4. Fruits and vegetables - you must be safe too - new FDA standards coming - do you know what they are?
3. And, what exactly are Food Defense Mitigation Measures? Don't know - they will soon be required - and you will need to know!
2. How often do you need to re-register with the FDA? What happens if you don't? And, what are the re-registration rules?
And the #1 reason to attend the FSMA webinar Series ....... Fees and fines for re-inspections are looming! - Taking a chunk from your profits - Don't let that happen - Better safe than sorry!
For more information and to register, visit www.foodinstitute.com/FSMAwebinar.cfm

Changing Marketplace impacts Food Inflation and Shoppers

Upper Saddle River, NJ (June 17, 2011) According to Michael Sansolo, moderator of the recent Food Institute-sponsored webinar on the Future of Food Retailing, "some tumultuous changes are now impacting the food industry." The latest U.S. Dept. of Agriculture reports indicate that food inflation will stay with us, and, will be driven primarily by commodity pricing. Shoppers paid 4% more for their basket of groceries in recent months, according to a recent Dow Jones report. This webinar explored the increasing pressure on the food industry and shed much insight into the forces behind food inflation and unique ways to circumvent what is happening.

Jim Hertel, Managing Partner at Willard Bishop, suggested varying ways to target better pricing in what many consider a fairly dismal market. His three-step approach included getting smarter on cost structure, examining costs on profit & loss statements and leveraging "vendor resources." His associate, Craig Rosenblum, also of Willard Bishop echoed his thoughts, stating, "a good price image is about more than price."

Food inflation, coupled with variables such as unemployment, private label and commodity pricing, continues to impact traditional grocers, non-traditional grocers and convenience outlets. The Future of Food Retailing 2011 webinar explores this and offers a valuable resource to all who view it. The webinar has been recorded and is now available for viewing by registering at http://www.foodinstitute.com/foodretailing2011.cfm or by contacting Sue Antista via email or at 201-791-5570, ext. 212.

FDA's Enactment of FSMA Predicted to be On Time

Upper Saddle River, NJ (June 2, 2011) Passed on four months ago, provisions of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) are already being implemented by The Food & Drug Administration. "FDA is going to do everything humanly possible to meet these deadlines," commented John Bode, partner at OFW Law, at a webinar on implementing the FSMA, and sponsored by The Food Institute.

"There has been a fair amount of trade press that the appropriations are not going to be there, and therefore, the FSMA is going to be delayed because Congress won't appropriate the money that the act needs for implementation. I think that's rubbish. The FSMA has expansive new enforcement authorities, it has major new self-funded programs and it has an ambitious program for expansion of agency inspections. Only the third one, the FDA inspections, is highly dependent upon dramatic increases in agency funding. It doesn't really take much money to write regulations," added Mr. Bode in response to a question about possible delays in the regulatory process.

In the inaugural event of the of The Food Institute's 12-part webinar series, it was noted that there are numerous deadlines for FSMA implementation following the January 4, 2011 enactment of the legislation and these will discussed in future webinar segments. The Food Institute will hold the 12 one-hour webinars throughout the course of the next year. Our first segment, held on May 25th, kicked off the series and will be followed a second event on Tuesday, June 28th. These webinars will be offering information on topics including FDA rulemaking activity, proposed rules and extensions of comment periods, guidance document developments and FDA public meetings, speeches and other outreach activities. All sessions will be recorded for future access. For additional information, please visit http://www.foodinstitute.com/FSMAwebinar.cfm or contact Sue Antista at or 201- 791-5570, ext. 212.

Webinar Series addresses new Food Safety Modernization Act

Upper Saddle River, New Jersey (May 2, 2011) The Food Institute and Washington,D.C.-based law firm Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC will offer a year-long webinar series on FDA implementation of the new Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA.) Twelve one-hour webinars will be offered throughout the year, offering information on the following topics -- FDA rulemaking activity -- Guidance Document Developments -- FDA public meetings, speeches and other outreach activities -- Significant studies, reports and notices mandated by FSMA -- Agreements between FDA and other government agencies regarding FSMA implementation -- Food traceability pilot programs -- FDA's use of new FSMA enforcement powers -- Upcoming deadlines -- Analysis, and so much more!

Each webinar will offer attendees a broad overview of step-by-step implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act and how all pieces will fit together. Each registrant will also be provided with useful tools, including a calendar, detailing relevant statutory and regulatory deadlines. Don't miss out on this informative series. For more information and to register for this one-of-a-kind event, please visit www.foodinstitute.com/FSMAwebinar.cfm

Food Retailers Cope With Higher Inflation Than Shoppers

For the past 17 months food retailers have been feeling the pinch of higher food prices more than consumers, and it looks like that will continue even longer,stated Brian Todd, President & CEO of The Food Institute, a trade association that delivers food industry information, headquartered in Upper Saddle River, NJ.

That said, February marked the tenth straight month in which retail food prices increased over prior year levels, with the February Consumer Price Index for food-at-home up 2.8% from 2010. This is a contrast to the nine months of food price deflation experienced in 2009.

Wholesale food prices jumped 3.9% in February alone, bringing the Producer Price Index for finished consumer foods 7.3% above last February. That was the largest year-over-year gain in that index since late 1974.

Wholesale food prices have been on the rise since October of 2009 and retail food prices have been rising since December of that year. Those retail increases, however, averaged 3.2 percentage points less than increases seen at the wholesale level over the16 months prior to February, according to The Food Institute.

“Retailers have been very reluctant to pass along all of the higher costs they have been facing to consumers,” noted Mr. Todd.

The Food Institute utilizes two government reports in its analysis: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) which is a survey of products purchased at retail outlets in the U.S.; and the Producer Price Index which is a survey of food manufacturers.

The Producer Price Index (PPI) is a family of indexes that measures the average change over time in selling prices received by domestic producers of goods and services. This contrasts with other measures, such as the Consumer Price Index (CPI), that measure price change from the purchaser's perspective.

Producer Prices Highest since 1974

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (March 16, 2011)- February 2011 marked the largest one-month increase in 37 years for wholesale food prices, climbing by 3.9%.

An analysis of the latest Producer Price Index Report by The Food Institute, Upper Saddle River, N.J., indicates that wholesale prices have not experienced an increase this great in many years. This number was only exceeded in November 1974 when spiraling oil prices resulted in sharp food price increases amounting to 4.2%.

"Food retailers in the U.S. have been very adept at holding price increases at a minimum for the past 18 months but the February surge will make that task more difficult in future months," commented Brian Todd, President and CEO of the non-profit trade association that has been providing information about the food industry since 1928.

 This latest increase in the Producer Price Index for finished consumer foods is driven by a 49% jump in fresh vegetable prices due to freezes and other crop issues in many farming areas.   Price increases of 4% or more during the month  for  beef and pork also added to the surge in the overall index. 

Of the 17 categories the Food Institute tracks on a regular basis, 13 posted increases during February, led by fresh vegetables, and followed by a nearly 10% jump in shortening and cooking oil,  a 7.6% jump in egg prices, a 4.1% gain in dairy prices and a 3.2% jump in coffee prices. 

Consumer Price Index released March 17, 2011
Retail food indices will be released soon by the government. The Food Institute will be ready with its analysis of how these latest figures may impact how much consumers will be paying for food purchased at retail outlets. A companion release from The Food Institute is coming soon.

The Food Institute strives to be the best "single source" for current, timely and relevant information about the food industry from "farm to fork." The Food Institute serves as a trusted source of information, providing balanced coverage of the issues, delivers information through multiple media so that industry professionals worldwide can tap in when and how they choose.

The Food Institute
Lina Khouri
Account Executive
201-791-5570 x. 214

Food Institute Announces April 2011 Webinar Schedule

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (March 14, 2011) - The Food Institute will host two informative webinars designed to address key issues impacting the food business. Each webinar is one hour in length and will offer those in attendance up-to-the-minute information, followed by a question & answer session.

Join us on Apr. 6th as we explore the role of Shopper Insights within the food industry. Shopper Insights have become a "must-have" decision-making tool for category managers, brand and retail marketers and merchandisers. Anyone intent on intensifying their efforts via more sophisticated segmentation channels and tighter collaboration with trade partners will benefit from the in-depth analysis of this market research study which will be shared with all registered attendees. For further information, or to register for this unique event, please visit http://www.foodinstitute.com/consumerinsights.cfm

And, on Apr. 12th, The Food Institute will examine Merger and Acquisition activity within the food sector. Two experts in the field will share their thoughts on past activity and offer strategies for the future. This webinar will explore key factors, which must be considered when determining whether a company is potentially appealing to buy, or sell. Analysis on expanding through acquisition, as well as economizing operations through consolidation, will be discussed. A legal expert will explain how the government - specifically the Justice Department and Federal Trade Commission - evaluates each potential union and why, they may or may not be considered favorably. As an added bonus, those registered for this event will have the opportunity to purchase an electronic version of the "just-published" Food Business Mergers and Acquisitions book for a discounted price! Registration and additional information for this webinar can be found at http://www.foodinstitute.com/mergers2011.cfm

New Food Safety Law Will Be A "Game Changer"

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (January 20, 2011) - Speaking at a recent Food Institute webinar, Dr. David Acheson, former Commissioner for Food Protection at FDA, described food safety legislation signed earlier this month into law by President Obama as "unquestionably...a game changer in the context of new food safety legislation and the impact on multiple sectors." The webinar, Understanding the New Food Safety Legislation, also featured John Bode, Principal Attorney at law firm Olsson, Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC.

While the food safety act been covered extensively by the national media, particularly the law's granting of mandatory recall authority to the FDA, many issues most relevant to the food industry have been glossed over. The law will grant a more aggressive FDA with greater regulatory authority, including the responsibility for defining "high risk" foods, which will determine the frequency that facilities or food producers are inspected.

As a result, according to the webinar, a facility that processes or holds an article of food particularly susceptible to one type of contamination may result in that facility, regardless of compliance history, being inspected at a similar rate to a facility with a pattern of regulatory noncompliance. Additionally, when FDA believes that there exists a "reasonable belief" that an article of food may cause severe adverse health consequences, a firm must provide access to all records concerning that article. Any articles of food that may have come into contact with the potentially contaminated food, or that may have been impacted in a similar manner, are also subject to total records access by FDA. Essentially, the bar is lowered from the existence of "credible evidence" required to support FDA's claims to "reasonable belief" in accessing records.

Many of the webinar participants were particularly interested in the overwhelming task of establishing a third-party system of accreditation bodies and auditors that FDA was given responsibility for. To clear the target of 600 inspections of foreign facilities, which represents a six-fold increase over the 100 inspections last year, FDA will need to rely on third-party auditors to shoulder the burden. Despite an uncertain amount of resources to accomplish this task, the number of foreign inspections are to double every year, finally reaching 19,200 inspections in 2016, a goal that Dr. Acheson described as "frankly impossible."

Much uncertainty remains surrounding the legislation, as funding is certainly going to determine how successful the government will be in reaching the ambitious goals set in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act. It is unlikely that the FDA will accomplish its targets for foreign inspections, and the agency will encounter resistance from states and local agencies in accepting a significant portion of the responsibility in domestic inspections. How the agency's budgetary restrictions will affect the initiatives remains to be seen, but many of the fiscal concerns that plagued the bill in its progression through Congress will continue to affect food safety efforts by the government both at home and internationally. Now that the work in passing the bill is concluded, the consequences of the law and its reach over industry remain cloudy, dependent on FDA's ability to accept its new responsibilities while balancing its limited funds.

To purchase of recording of the entire webinar, please visit http://www.foodinstitute.com/foodsafety2011.cfm

Webinar set for January 6, 2011- Understanding the New Food Safety Legislation

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (December 20, 2010) - The long-stalled Food Safety legislation passed through the Senate on Sunday evening and is slated for discussion and, most likely, a vote, on the House floor before the end of the week. The Food Institute has been following the developments alongside Washington-based law firm Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC. Legislation is expected to pass through the House before Congress enters the holiday break.
The Food Institute will offer an informative 90-minute webinar on January 6, 2011, exploring and explaining the impact of this new Food Safety Legislation. Be amongst the first to know how this proposed bill would increase the FDA's regulatory authority over the food production system in order to prevent contamination and food-borne illness outbreaks. The proposed legislation would give the FDA mandatory recall authority, require food producers to have qualifying plans in place for identifying and addressing safety risks, require importers to verify the safety of all imported foods, and more.

Scheduled to speak at the webinar are two experts in the area of food safety legislation. Dr. David Acheson, currently Managing Director, Food & Import Safety Practice, at Leavitt Partners, has also held numerous executive level positions within the Food & Drug Administration in which he was afforded an agency-wide leadership role for all food & feed issues, including health promotion and nutrition. Mr. John Bode, a principal at Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz PC, concentrates his practice in legislative and regulatory matters. He actively participated in the legislative efforts resulting in the enactment of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act of 2010. Before joining the firm, Mr. Bode served in three Presidential appointments at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and was responsible for approximately half of the USDA budget.

This webinar is a MUST for anyone involved in the area of food safety legislation. Up-to-the-minute information from our expert panel will provide in-depth coverage of the changing laws and their impact on each and every sector of the food industry. A question and answer session will follow to reply to any remaining concerns. For more details on this webinar, please visit www.foodinstitute.com/foodsafety2011.cfm

A&P was a 'force to reckon with' notes The Food Institute

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (December 13, 2010) - "Looking back almost 60 years into the Food Institute archives, The Food Institute reported A&P as a force to reckon with, as the retailer accounted for some 13% of all food store sales back in 1951," said Food Institute President Brian Todd.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. - A&P - filed a voluntary petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, to help facilitate A&P's financial and operational restructuring. The 395 A&P stores will continue to operate, according to the company's press release. Food Institute Report archives show A&P as an industry leader that operated upwards of 4,000 stores just 60 years ago.

In 1951, "A&P accounted for some 4,600 stores nationwide, and boasted $3.0 billion in sales. Nowadays Wal-Mart claims that position, with its nearly 3,000 stores ringing up an estimated $154 billion in food sales, accounting for about 18%-19% of all U.S. retail food sales," Brian Todd said.

A&P has gone through several configurations over the past 80 years or so, according to The Food Institute.

For example, the May 26, 1951 edition of The Food Institute Report sites signs of streamlining as a result of the growth of the traditional supermarket. "By 1930...A&P had 15,422 stores and was selling a billion dollars worth of foodstuffs per year. Six year's later [it] reluctantly read the handwriting, plumped for supermarkets." By 1951, its 4,600 stores did $3 billion in sales.

Press Only Invited to Preview 2010 Edition of Food Industry Review

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (November 10, 2010) - The Food Institute is pleased to present a FREE OF CHARGE one hour, PRESS ONLY WEBINAR EVENT. This event will feature the unveiling of the 2010 edition of the Food Institute's flagship publication, Food Industry Review, a proprietary book containing invaluable information for anyone with a connection to the food industry! Everyone in attendance will be offered a free CD of the newly published book to use when quoting statistics and highlighting trends throughout your media channels. All we ask is that anything you pull from the webinar or from the complimentary CD cite The Food Institute as your source of information.

"Putting the food industry together for you" marks the theme of this year's publication. Throughout the year, WE do the research, so you don't have to! The 2010 Edition is filled with comprehensive write-ups and detailed sales charts, and now includes chapters on social media, new concepts and sustainability. Other topics explored in-depth include retailing formats, private label, food business mergers and acquisitions, vending, restaurant and foodservice, new product launches, consumer trends, demographics of consumer food spending, organic, specialty and natural food and food processing.

Mergers & Acquisitions Continue to Set Record Pace within the Food Industry

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (November 8, 2010) - The Food Institute continues to explore merger and acquisition activity within the food sector as the record pace remains strong well into the 4th quarter of 2010. Several noteworthy trends have appeared as a result of this heightened activity. A strong increase in mergers within the Food Processors category as multi-product processors experienced the largest share in volume, and as fruit and vegetable processors doubled their totals. A commanding presence of investment firms and banks within the food industry has also been noted, as we have observed activity from these types of organizations in 14 transactions within the last three months. As investment firms and banks look to become a force in the food industry, we find that some companies may actually be better off as a privately held entity. Burger King Holdings, Inc. was recently acquired by 3G Capital. As Burger King Chairman John Chidsey indicated to investors, "We look forward to partnering with 3G Capital, whose proven track record as an investor, together with its financial and consumer brands experience, will serve to further strengthen the company, our restaurants and franchisees worldwide."

The recent purchase of American Italian Pasta Company by Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. marks a significant food processor acquisition. As stated by Ralcorp's Co-Chief Executive Officer & President, David P. Skarie, "through this acquisition, we have gained a complementary business and we intend to continue to invest in the combined businesses for sustainable and profitable growth." This trend continued into the snack segment with the July announcement that Lance, Inc, and Snyder's of Hanover, Inc. will merge their two leading snack food companies and emerge with a commanding presence in the salty snack field. "This historic transaction, based on initiatives that have been in the works for the past few years, have positioned us for this opportunity", declared Snyder's Chairman Michael A. Warehime. Many in the food industry echo thoughts of consolidating businesses and exploring opportunities, whenever available.

Food Institute members have the opportunity to explore all mergers and acquisitions through our members-only database on the Food Institute website. Additionally, the Food Institute markets an annual publication, Food Business Mergers & Acquisitions, which provides a comprehensive look into the significant deals of the year. This publication provides an analysis on the current deals and their anticipated effect on the food industry as a whole. For more information or to order the most recent version, please visit http://www.foodinstitute.com/manda.cfm

Thanksgiving Turkey Prices Alone May Result in More Expensive Holiday

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (November 4, 2010) - With Thanksgiving around the corner, consumers will soon be purchasing and preparing the holiday dinner, which, in all liklihood, will be slightly more expensive than in 2009, according to data from The Food Institute. Meanwhile, retail food prices have been outpaced by wholesale advances for the past year (for more on this, see Food Institute Report dated Oct. 25, page 1) and food-at-home prices are up 1.4% compared to a year ago, the largest increase this year so far, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (for more on this, see Food Institute Report dated Oct. 25, page 2.) Prices for tom turkeys thus far in 2010 are up over 30% compared to last year, averaging $1.05 per pound. The main reason for this large increase is the rising cost of feed for the birds, which is currently standing at $5.77 per bushel as of Oct. 27, compared to $3.70 in the same time period in 2009, a 56% increase. (The Food Institute tracks feed corn futures prices weekly - see Commodity Graphs, page 24.) Also, overall production of turkeys is down, according to USDA's NASS, with a 2% decrease to 242 million. In terms of the fruits, vegetables and nuts that are traditionally served, it seems to be a mixed bag compared to 2009. Canned pumpkin prices are up after two straight years of poor harvests and little carry-over from year-to-year. Pecan prices, meanwhile, are up over 40% from last year, attributed mostly to increased demand for the crop from China, leaving little for the domestic market. On the positive side, the other main canned vegetables are seeing a price decrease from 2009 due to last year's strong pricing across the board.

Click here for details on price fluctuations for Thanksgiving Commodities - 2009 versus 2010.

Food Institute Partners With Capital Roundtable On Seminar Series

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (Sept. 13, 2010) -The Food Institute is pleased to announce a partnership with The Capital Roundtable to promote informational exchange and professional networking among business leaders in the food industry and financial sectors.

America's leading provider of conferences for the middle-market private equity community, The Capital Roundtable is offering a series of private equity MasterClasses on private equity investing in food, restaurant, and heathcare companies.

Food Institute members will benefit from a $400 discount off The Capital Roundtable's standard rates to each of the three MasterClasses. Friends of the Capital Roundtable will receive a $300 discount on a full Food Institute membership.

Founded as a nonprofit organization in 1928, The Food Institute has served as a trusted source of news and information throughout the food and beverage industry.

A partnership with The Capital Roundtable will now afford Food Institute members an opportunity to come face-to-face with private equity experts interested in the food and beverage business.

The conferences will take place in New York City. The first MasterClass, on Private Equity Investing in Healthcare Companies, is slated for October 21, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., at The University Club in Manhattan. Dates and times for subsequent conferences, Private Equity Investing in Food and Beverage Companies; and Private Equity Investing in Restaurant Companies, will appear on the Food Institute's Tradeshow calendar, online at www.foodinstitute.com.  

For more information, contact:

The Food Institute
Lina Khouri
201-791-5570 ext. 214

The Capital Roundtable
Shaina Mardinly
212-832-7333 ext. 103

About The Food Institute
The Food Institute is a nonprofit organization with a single purpose: to provide information. The Food Institute strives to be the best "single source" for current, timely and relevant information about the food industry from "farm to fork." The association serves as a trusted source of information, providing balanced coverage of the issues. It delivers information through multiple media so that industry professionals worldwide can tap in when and how they choose. In addition to providing members with timely material via daily and weekly reports, the Food Institute also maintains a database on mergers and acquisitions impacting the industry, economic statistics and marketplace trends. Webinars are also offered to members and nonmembers, providing an educational base for people in the industry to interact with experts in a specific field. For more information, visit www.foodinstitute.com.

About The Capital Roundtable
The Capital Roundtable is America's leading conference company for the middle-market private equity community, focusing on the "need-to-know" information needs of general and limited partners, and their teams. Their conferences are regularly praised as among the best-managed
and best-attended in the alternative asset industry. For more information, visit www.capitalroundtable.com.

Food Industry M&A's Up 30% In First Half

Contact: Henry Mollman
201 791-5570, ext. 215

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (July 23, 2010) - Following a relatively quiet year for mergers and acquisitions in 2009, the first half of 2010 demonstrated a marked uptick in deals across many segments in the food industry. The Food Institute published its merger and acquisition analysis through the first half of 2010, reporting a 29.9% increase in mergers over the previous year. Investment capital flowed a little more liberally, demonstrated by the 20% increase in mergers among investment firms and banks in the first half of 2010. (Click here for table http://www.foodinstitute.com/fi6mos.pdf) Venturing into numerous segments in the food industry, private investment flooded into restaurants such as the iconic CKE Restaurants, Inc. as well as rapidly expanding upstarts like Wingstop Restaurants, Inc. Additionally, the 165-year-old Pabst Brewing Company changed hands from the charitable foundation parent of The S&P Company to Metropoulos & Co. and chief investor C. Dean Metropoulos for about $250 million. The deal placed the value and cache of the brand in Mr. Metropoulos' experienced hands, generating interest in the press due to the investor's history of reviving major food brands such as Vlasic Pickles and Chef Boyardee.

Elsewhere in the industry, activity among food processors grew at a modest rate with the biggest increases occurring in the multi-product, snack food and fruit and vegetable processors. Kraft Foods acquisition of Cadbury PLC captured the attention of the mainstream media across the Atlantic, but the finer stipulations of the deal, including Kraft's required divestiture of its frozen pizza business to Nestle S.A., were glossed over by many.

Mergers and acquisition activity in the supermarket category remained lively in 2010, doubling the total number of deals in 2009's first half, with many acquisitions following bankruptcy filings and the divestiture of regional assets by larger retailers. The most significant deal of the year was the Tops Friendly Markets' successful bid for Penn Traffic's assets, following the latter's Chapter 11 filing in November 2009. Tops acquired 79 Penn Traffic locations on Jan. 29, and subsequently sold five locations in western Pennsylvania to Giant Eagle, Inc. The thinning pool of distressed supermarkets and grocers makes such blockbuster deals less likely than in the recent past, but opportunities still exist for retailers with capital and the distribution reach to supply stores in new markets.

Looking ahead to the second half of 2010, M&A activity almost assuredly will exceed 2009's totals and continue to widen the margin between the years, expects the Food Institute. Anticipation for the remaining year will only be marked by optimism when compared to the previous year's subdued activity, with many economic signifiers indicating growth failing to meet expectations. Discouraging economic expansion has consistently reduced hopes for a large-scale and speedy recovery, however buoyed by hope, as unemployment numbers remain stuck at around 10% and consumers continue to spend at a tempered rate with confidence rebounding slowly and at a lesser rate than predicted.

The Food Institute merger database, updated weekly, provides a comprehensive record of all the notable and marginal M&A activity occurring within the food industry. Deals that change the landscape of the industry as well as those that serve as bellwethers for larger trends are reported, granting a perspective that ranges from the macro to the micro. All of the information is located in one archive on the Food Institute website, and is available to all members. In a business as segmented and diverse as the food industry, novice investors and veteran dealmakers alike can take advantage of the resources offered by The Food Institute.

Food Institute hosts webinar entitled "The Future of Food Retailing - 2010"

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ (June 8, 2010) -The Food Institute will partner with Willard Bishop to host a webinar entitled The Future of Food Retailing - 2010. This informative review will be held on Tuesday, June 29, 2010 at 12pm EST.

Food retailers are facing issues that leave many unanswered questions in today's economic environment. This webinar will address many queries concerning consumer-shopping behavior, such as when, and if, consumers will be buying more store brands as the economy improves. What is happening with food prices and what can retailers do to capitalize on current trends? And, what opportunities exist for grocery retailers with the abundance of empty storefronts?

The information gathered in this webinar will provide retailers with a solid way to explore opportunities in 2010 and beyond. The panel will investigate Walmart's Marketside exiting the market and uncovering the consequences, intended and unintended, of their actions. As the end of the current economic recession appears to be on the horizon, this webinar will provide critical information on the future of the food-retailing landscape.

A knowledgeable panel has been assembled which includes Jim Hertel and Craig Rosenblum, both of Willard Bishop, who will provide their unique and unparalleled insights into the Future of Food Retailing. Mr. Hertel sums it up best when he states "These have been turbulent times for food retailers. Most, but not all, have made it through and they wonder "now what?" Will shoppers return to buying premium products or has "value-seeking" become part of their DNA?" The panel will dig into retailer strategies, identify specific actions that retailers are taking and point out the winners and losers in today's ever-changing market. Michael Sansolo, the webinar moderator, has an excellent perspective of today's diverse shopper and how their habits impact the food industry.

This meeting is designed for food and beverage retailers, but should also appeal to manufacturers, restaurants, suppliers, distributors, consultants to the industry and the trade press. A copy of the report will be available to all participants. Sign up for this webinar at http://www.foodinstitute.com/retailfuture2010.cfm

Cracking The Code For "Eating In" To Be Topic Of New Webinar

Upper Saddle River, NJ (March 8, 2010) - The combination of food inflation and the recession has had predictable and well-documented consequences, such as growth in private label shares. However, some retailers, notably Wal-Mart, appear to be leveraging the economic down turn as they fundamentally change their shopper value propositions. If successful, these changes will alter supplier relationships as well as the landscape for competitive food retailers, in potentially seismic magnitude and with long-lasting dimensions. A new webinar from The Food Institute will delve into this topic which is detailed extensively in a new study called "Eating In," sponsored by the Coca-Cola Retailing and Research Council - North America.

This study brings together a powerful base of information from The NPD Group, sourced both from its ongoing work, as well as a custom survey done for the Council and this webinar featuring Joe Derochowski, Executive Director The NPD Group, Food and Beverage Services & Bill Bishop Chairman Willard Bishop will explore its findings in depth as well as give answer questions from attendees.

For years food retailers have tried to encourage customers to eat more meals at home, but only a few have "cracked the code." One reason is that up until now, food retailers did not have access to solid information such as this study provides on how customers were thinking about and approaching the planning, preparation, consumption, and even clean-up for meals.

This information gives retailers a solid platform to build a fact-based strategy. It also is translated into literally dozens of fresh insights and actions retailers can take as they focus on making it easier and more beneficial for their customers to eat more meals at home. Speakers will offer remarks focused on turning the new information and insights into action, providing a framework for retailers to use to develop their own strategies. There will also be opportunity for the audience to pose questions to the presenters.

The session is designed for retail executives, but should also be of interest and value to brokers, suppliers, and others with an interest in what will certainly be one of the big topics in food retailing in 2010 and beyond. A copy of the study is available for download when you sign up for the webinar at http://www.foodinstitute.com/eatingin.cfm

Hy-Vee Executive Joins Food Institute Board

Upper Saddle River, NJ (Sept. 8, 2009) - Paula Correy, vice president, western region, for Hy-Vee Inc. in West Des Moines, IA, has joined the Board of Trustees of the Food Institute, based here. Ms. Correy, a native of Iowa and long-time retailer, has been with Hy-Vee since 1999. Prior to that she managed department stores in the Midwest.

 Ms. Correy will join twelve other Trustees including Bill Bishop of Willard Bishop, Frank DiPasquale of the National Grocers Association, Mark Allen of the International Foodservice Distributors Association and Michael Sansolo of Sansolo Solutions LLC. Joseph Crocker of Crocker & Associates is current chairman, with Donna George of Schar USA Inc. being the incoming chair. Dean Erstad from Seneca Foods is currently treasurer. Other trustees include Pat Mulhern of Monarch Foods, Win Taylor, Peter Lavoy, and Nancy Glick of MS&L Worldwide.

 "Paula will bring a wealth of needed grocery retailing experience to our Board," says Brian Todd, Food Institute president. "We traditionally have at least one retail trustee, and now we have several. That's important due to all the activity now taking place at the retail level in the food industry. Paula, coming from one of the most progressive supermarket operators in the country, will provide us the high-quality retail input we really need to shape our informational and analytical products and services for the 21st century. I and all the Trustees warmly welcome her on board."

 Ms. Correy began her career with Hy-Vee as a manager of store operations in unit in Urbandale, IA. She subsequently became store director for the Hy-Vee supermarket in Mankato, MN. In 2002, she was promoted to the position of the chain's director of operations, followed by the appointment to the position of assistant vice president of Hy-Vee's Cherokee division. Her next post was that of vice president of perishables, followed by elevation to vice president marketing. She assumed her present position in 2008.

 She has been elected into the Hy-Vee Hall of Fame and was voted the Department Director of the Year. She currently serves on several committees, including those for information technology, general merchandise, pharmacy and perishables. She has also been on the boards of Midwest Heritage Bank and FDI and is currently a board member of D&D Foods. She lives in the Des Moines area with here husband and three children, Hailey, Tanner and Tye. An avid sports fan, she finds time for running and biking.

About The Food Institute
The Food Institute is the food industry's premiere go-to informational resource. Its products and services include the weekly analytical Food Institute Report, Today In Food daily electronic newsletter, and its website, which provides a broad range of information relative to the food industry including mergers and acquisitions, economic statistics, and a back-article archive. In addition, the Food Institute publishes statistical reviews, including the Food Industry Review, as well as regulatory guides on such issues as food safety, recalls and other subjects. These are produced in conjunction with a prominent Washington law firm, Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bose Matz PC. The Food Institute also produces webinars and seminars on food issues.

Economic Downturn Presents Opportunities And Challenges: Food Industry Review, 2008

Upper Saddle River, NJ (Feb. 18, 2009) - The food industry experienced many changes and upheavals in 2008. Companies have been looking for ways to stay ahead amidst the recession, which is becoming increasingly more difficult. Fortunately there is a go-to resource that caters to the oft overwhelmed professional who needs to stay abreast of the latest trends and news. Key information including demographics, CPI & PPI charts, as well as an overview of the year's mergers and acquisitions are revealed in the just released Food Industry Review publication, a 717-page compendium of important facts and figures that occurred in the food industry during 2008.

The Food Industry Review, 2008 ed., the Food Institute's flagship publication, has arrived to give all those in the industry a helping hand. No other publication offers such a comprehensive look at the food industry--from retail (including grocery stores, c-stores and warehouse clubs) to foodservice (including restaurants and vending). The review also examines consumer trends, new product trends, natural and organic foods, private label and economic trends.

"The Food Industry Review is a comprehensive resource guide to the food industry. It is a must for professionals looking to stay that important step ahead in the current unstable economic climate," noted Megan Myers, Publications Directory, at the Upper Saddle River, NJ-based trade association. Published annually by the Food Institute, Food Industry Review contains easy to read information that encapsulates an entire year and is available for purchase as a whole or by individual chapters.

For more information about Food Industry Review, 2008 or to order the publication, please visit http://www.foodindustryreview.com/buy.cfm.

About The Food Institute
The Food Institute is a nonprofit organization with a single purpose: providing information. The Food Institute strives to be the best "single source" for current, timely and relevant information about the food industry from "farm to fork." The association serves as a trusted source of information, providing balanced coverage of the issues. It delivers information through multiple media so that industry professionals worldwide can tap in when and how they choose. For more information, visit, www.foodinstitute.com.

Could Food Inflation Be Reignited This Year? Overall food prices are projected to rise less than 2008's 5.5% to a bit over 3%, but production cuts and a stronger U.S. dollar could impact.

Upper Saddle River, NJ (PRWEB) March 4, 2009 - While food inflation is projected to be under last year's 5.5% level it could be impacted by production cuts and a stronger U.S. dollar, according to Kenneth Zaslow, a senior analyst for BMO Capital Markets speaking at The Food Institute's webinar Where Are Food Prices Headed In 2009? (www.foodinstitute.com/foodprices.cfm) Reductions in production could "reignite inflationary pressures," noted Zaslow, pointing out that the recent slowdown in food inflation has been accelerated by declines in demand, and "trading down" by consumers.

Overall food prices are projected to rise 3% to 4.0%, noted Ephraim Leibtag, U.S. Department of Agriculture economist. Food-at-home prices however are seen rising between 2.5% and 3.5%, while food away-from-home is projected to rise between 3.5% and 4.5%. Center-of-the-plate protein items, such as beef pork and poultry are seen rising under 2008 levels, and dairy and egg prices are actually projected to decline this year after increasing at double-digit rates in 2008.

The Food Institute keeps industry professionals up to date on the latest economic and industry news. Find out about becoming a Food Institute member and joining thousands of other food industry professionals who have been doing so since 1928 at: www.foodinstitute.com.

About The Food Institute The Food Institute is a nonprofit organization with a single purpose: providing information. The Food Institute strives to be the best "single source" for current, timely and relevant information about the food industry from "farm to fork." The association serves as a trusted source of information, providing balanced coverage of the issues. It delivers information through multiple media so that industry professionals worldwide can tap in when and how they choose. For more information, visit www.foodinstitute.com.

Consumers Put Brakes On Food Spending Last Year

Upper Saddle River, NJ - (February 2009) - Americans spent an estimated $1.38 trillion on food last year according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis' most recent quarterly report- that's 2.47% less than food spending had been trending in the third quarter of 2008 and the largest quarterly adjustment since the government began tracking such data in 1947 despite soaring food price inflation. "It is safe to say the U.S. shopper reacted to the downturn in the economy more quickly than at any time in recent history and more vociferously than at anytime since immediately World War II when the government began tracking this data," commented Brian Todd, President of The Food Institute.

The behavior of the U.S. consumer changed significantly in the last half of 2008 as prices for food rose at the highest level in almost two decades. While no one can predict the future, The Food Institute will keep its members and the industry overall abreast of economic developments as it has since 1928. The Food Institute will hold a webinar on "What's Ahead For Food Prices," on Feb 24 at 1:00pm EST.

Following two years of accelerated food price inflation, what is the outlook for retail food prices in 2009? As the U.S. and global economies have fallen into a recession and commodity and energy prices have fallen 30% to 60% over the past few months, the food industry faces lower costs, but greater uncertainty.  Both the depth and
breadth of the current recession will have an impact on the food sector and ultimately affect the prices charged by retailers and paid by consumers.  This webinar will focus on the factors that led to the run up in inflation in 2007 and 2008, how these factors have changed over the past few months, and what that means for 2009 and beyond.

The event will feature USDA economist Ephraim Leibtag.  For more go to the Food Institute website at www.foodinstitute.com/foodprices.cfm

What Will The Obama Era Mean For The Food Industry?

Contact: Henry Mollman
201 791-5570, ext. 215

Upper Saddle River, NJ (Jan. 26, 2009) - It has only been a week since the inauguration, but changes are already being made by new appointees of President Obama, including USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack who listed child nutrition and improving food safety among his top priorities. Both of the issues and much more was discussed at the recent webinar The Obama Era: What Does It Mean For the Food Industry? Jan. 14, 2009. This event drew scores of attendees who received a look at the current administration and the challenges it will face in the coming years. A recording of the event can be download at www.foodinstitute.com/foodregs2009.cfm

The early hours of the Barack Obama administration proved very eventful, as the President wasted little time in addressing policy established over the previous eight years under the Bush administration. The immediate flurry of activity indicates that the what follows will bring profound and abundant change, and the group assembled by The Food Institute and Washington insider law firm Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz P.C. represents the most experienced and insightful professionals yet organized to focus on the ripples that will be felt by the food industry resulting from a sea change in Washington.

With a Democratic White House and a substantial Democratic majority in both houses of Congress, expectations are high for far-reaching legislation with significant repercussions for those in the industry. Former U.S. Congressman Charles Stenholm, known as "Mr. Agriculture" for his well-established experience in Congress on food and agricultural issues and immense knowledge of the business, provides a Washington veteran's familiarity with current representatives and the legislative process. Mr. Stenholm's contributions to the webinar will prove invaluable to anyone involved at any level in the food and agriculture business.

Attorney Marshall L. Matz, recent recipient of the Gene White Lifetime Achievement Award for Child Nutrition, discusses the importance of the reauthorization of the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004, set to expire on Sept. 30, 2009. Mr. Matz describes the many changes likely to be enforced in the reauthorization, particularly in relation to the obesity epidemic, an issue notably placed at the forefront of the new administration's health agenda, as well as the difficulties the reforms will encounter amid the balance of the Economic Stimulus Package and budgetary restraints. This issue will undoubtedly affect any food manufacturer as welfare reform, changes to the school lunch program and an increased importance on childhood nutrition will spill over into innumerable market segments.

The growing influence of consumer and health groups on an activist federal government will assuredly have a considerable impact on future regulations and legislation, and founder and former Chairman of the Food Institute Rick Frank discusses the various groups and representatives that will push for agendas and reforms marginalized by a pro-industry Bush administration. Food safety reform, which was not particularly emphasized over the past eight years, is one of 13 "urgent priorities" as compiled by the U.S. Government Accountability Office. As legislation concerning food safety is highly likely before the end of 2009, leading food industry legislative and regulatory expert Bob Hahn explores the possibilities for FDA reorganization or the creation of an entirely new entity to regulate food safety. With expanded federal authority on food safety issues, food processors and importers will be subject to greater compliance standards and will receive increased scrutiny from regulators.

Other issues discussed in the webinar were:

  I.     Issuance of a report from FDA's Science Advisory Board classifying CFSAN as in a "state of crisis"

 II.     Obesity epidemic continues to worsen, with increasing evidence that consumers not using or not understanding the nutrition label

 III.     States, cities, and counties beginning to enact their own food laws, including bans on trans fat in restaurant foods and nutrition labeling of restaurant foods

 IV.     Rising food prices, with some blaming diversion of grains to ethanol as a contributing factor

 V.     Economic downturn has increased food insecurity and demand for food assistance programs among low-income Americans

 VI.     Perception that FDA under Bush Administration has been "toothless"

A recording of the webinar can be found on the Food Institute website at www.foodinstitute.com/foodregs2009.cfm with more details and commentary.

The Food Institute is the foremost resource for information relative to the food industry and produces e-newsletters, printed analytical reports, guides and statistical reviews of food industry developments.

Olsson Frank Weeda Terman Bode Matz P.C. is a prominent Washington-based law firm that specializes in food legislation and regulation, including food safety, labeling and food importation.

Budget-Conscious Shoppers Buying Less Food

FOOD INSTITUTE PRICE INDICES DOCUMENT "PAINFUL" DECLINING UNIT MOVMENT IN FOOD SALES

Upper Saddle River, NJ - (Jan. 26, 2009) - Supermarket and restaurant chains saw their patrons buy less physical product at the end of 2008, year over year, according to the Food Institute's exclusive Prices Indexes. The Food Institute, based here, found that in December alone "deflated" sales at grocery stores fell 4.7%, after allowing for inflation, while eating and drinking places saw their "deflated" sales drop 6.6%. – among the largest declines the Food Institute has recorded since it began tracking this information two decades ago.

 "The impact of higher food prices on both U.S. supermarkets and restaurants is painfully apparent when looking at sales and inflation data from 2008's final quarter," commented Brian Todd, President & CEO of The Food Institute. "While people have to eat, they are opting to do so less often at restaurants, and are carefully traversing supermarket aisles in search of bargains and more economical meal solutions."

Even though there was some slight easing of food-at-home price inflation in the final months of last year, consumers cut back even more sharply on their expenditures at both food stores and restaurants. Operators saw growth in their business plummet to only about 3% in the final quarter as the government's Consumer Price Index for food-at-home hovered above 7%.

Food Inflation last year was at a 19-year high, and, while it is expected to ease somewhat this year, could still top 4%. "Budget conscious consumers, however, will likely be the norm for the foreseeable future, and will continue to look for values," added Todd.

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Would you like to be able to access this kind of information, as well as on other food industry topics 24/7? Become a member of The Food Institute. Go to www.foodinstitute.com and click on "Become A Member" on the menu bar at the top of the page. You will be able to receive the information-packed Food Institute Report, access the FI website with its food industry data bases, get the daily electronic newsletter, Today In Food, and benefit from substantial discounts on FI's webinars, seminars and publications.

Kraft Foods Join the National Grocers Association and Food Institute to Launch Student Learning Service

Upper Saddle River, NJ (May 27, 2008) - The Food Institute (FI) and The National Grocers Association (N.G.A.), in cooperation with Kraft Foods, are pleased to announce the launch of the Student Learning Service, a program designed to assist students pursuing a food industry career. The Student Learning Service (SLS) will make important industry information from the Food Institute accessible to the students -- and faculty -- of the member schools of the N.G.A. Food Industry University Coalition (FIUC).

“This is a fantastic program that taps into the Food Institutes vast knowledge and tools to benefit both students and faculty members,” says Richard George, Professor of Food Marketing, St. Joseph’s University, an FIUC member school. Here are some of the benefits the SLS -- executed in alliance with FIUC -- will provide:

Access to food industry data to support student efforts, particularly reports and presentations;
Details on job opportunities;
“Real time” information on developments within the food industry;
and Faculty assistance to develop course work

“Kraft understands the strategic imperative represented by this initiative,” says Denny Belcastro, VP, Customer Development and Industry Relations, Kraft Foods. “In supporting this program, we’re helping to ensure students will acquire the skills and talent essential to be the effective future leaders the food industry needs,“ The Student Learning Service will have several components and – by making the most of web technology – will be designed for ease-of-use. These components include easy access to FI databases/information resources through the FI website (www.foodinstitute.com) and N.G.A. website www.nationalgrocers.org; a career center; a subscription to FI’s “Today in Food Daily Update” e-newsletter and the weekly “FI Report.” Each university’s website also will provide access. Just some of the resources available include: the market information centers, mergers & acquisitions database; archive of back articles, research resources and the food price outlook.

“We believe the Student Learning Service is one of our most important initiatives launched in the last several years,” says Brian Todd, President and CEO of the Food Institute. “The service directly engages the student body of each school with the food industry real-time, and will provide students with the information and background they need to have as future leaders.”

The Student Learning Service also will include a number of new products currently in development, such as: public reports from iLumen Benchmarking Service, Competitive Promotions Report promotional review, a Crisis Management Center and financial reports. In addition, the LearnSomething training programs currently being developed for the Food Institute site would be available for sign-up.

The Student Career Center, aimed directly at the students, will be a tremendous resource. The center will not only provide information about careers after graduation, but also will include details on part-time summer employment and internships. In close association with the N.G.A. Coalition, FI would actively seek participation among all companies in the food industry (major corporations, processors, wholesalers, retailers, etc.) to solicit graduates and students, and would also actively solicit students for posting. This could be an immensely important service, not only for the students, but also -- especially -- for the industry at large, which can certainly benefit from the skills being acquired by tomorrow’s generation at Coalition schools.

“N.G.A. is excited about this new initiative for a number of reasons. One of N.G.A.’s key working agenda items is to recruit the next generation of quality leaders and entrepreneurs, this new program aids us in reaching that goal.” said Frank DiPasquale, Senior Vice President of the National Grocers Association.

The program is expected to launch in August to coincide with the start of the 2008-09 academic year. For more information please contact Christine Cunnick at 703-516-0700.