Industry News

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., responding to criticism that it has failed to provide adequate health benefits, will expand coverage for workers and open more than 50 health clinics in its stores. The company will more than quadruple the number of clinics this year after opening nine in Arkansas, Oklahoma, Florida, and Indiana last year, reported The Buffalo News. Full Story

McCormick & Co., which has found success in growing by acquisition, continues to pursue deals. As part of its restructuring plan, the company plans to trim its industrial business (which serves restaurants and the food industry) to focus on top customers, and will overhaul the spices and seasonings consumers buy, reported Baltimore Business Journal. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. plans to spend about $48 million to expand its manufacturing facility in Gainesville, GA. The plant, which already produces Eclipse, Doublemint, Extra and other gums, will add Altoids and Orbits to the mix in the upgrade, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Panera Bread voluntarily removed trans fat from its menu items. All Panera Bread menu items will be free of trans fat, with the exception of small amounts that occur naturally in dairy products, meat products and some condiments. Full Story

Supervalu Inc. wants to open as many as seven Sunflower Market stores in Central Ohio. The are part of a greater plan to open about 50 Sunflower markets over five years, reported Business First of Columbus. Full Story

The Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative will take control of Giant Food's Landover, MD processing plant on Mar. 26. The dairy co-op has been the plant's supplier of raw milk, so it will be taking over just the processing duties. The plant will be operated as Marva Maid of Landover, after the brand already available in Northern Virginia, reported TheWBALChannel.com. Full Story

Membership warehouses are one of the better growth areas in the retail business and the popularity of Costco and Sam's Club continues to grow, reported AZCentral.com. Full Story

Progressive Group Alliance formed an internal group Called PRO-C (Convenience Distribution Network) that will target foodservice distribution for the convenience store industry, reported MyIDAccess. Full Story

Anheuser-Busch Cos. will distribute Harbin Lager in Los Angeles, CA and Honolulu, HI, and will be brought to other cities later this year. The brewer is looking to distribute more imports as a way to gain profits in the fast-growing high-end market, reported STLToday.com. Full Story

The newly announced FDA uniform guidelines for whole-grain claims on food labels is a plus for the food industry in that they will lower confusion and increase consumption of true whole grain foods. Agree Disagree	Weekly Poll Sponsored By:
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In response to a recent Stagnito Daily Brief survey, 65% of respondents agreed with the statement, "'Make it and take it' away-from-home meal-preparation is the next big thing merging retail and foodservice," while 35% disagreed.

International News

France detected cases of bird flu on a turkey farm, but it was not immediately clear whether it was the deadly strain, reported CNN.com. Full Story

Both Pepsi and Coke are pouring resources into China, where soft drink sales are booming. Coke is adding two plants this year and is expanding capacity at existing plants. PepsiCo, which sells both snacks and beverages, is increasing its total capital spending this year to $2.2 billion, up 27% from last year, and many of those resources will be spent in China. The company plans a number of new beverage plants and one new snack plant in the country, according to The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Danone Canada introduced Danino, the only yogurt for children enriched with DHA, an Omega-3 fatty acid, available in strawberry, raspberry, peach, and banana. Full Story

Mexico's largest retailers want the country's Congress to strengthen antitrust laws to stop Wal-Mart's expansion from hurting smaller businesses. The head of the retail association said fierce competition from the retailer is one factor squeezing sales for other retailers. Full Story

"Chinese eating habits make China the world's most dynamic market for food, and perhaps the most important driver in world agricultural trade," according to a presentation called Trends in Chinese Food Demand and Trade Patterns by Fred Gale, Senior Economist at USDA's Economic Research Service at USDA Outlook Conference. Full Story

Health News

Nearly 60% of Americans are concerned about bird flu, but fewer than one-third think it will show up in the U.S. this year, according to a new poll by The Harvard School of Public Health, reported USA Today. Full Story

Women with the highest potato consumption had a modestly elevated risk of developing type 2 diabetes, according to a study of 85,000 women by Harvard University. Though potatoes have healthful attributes, they also have a high glycemic index, meaning they cause a rapid, strong rise in blood sugar. Full Story

Washington News

USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) unveiled a comprehensive initiative to reduce the presence of Salmonella in raw meat and poultry products. Full Story

The National Environmental Trust filed a formal complaint with FTC concerning an advertisement that markets farm-raised salmon to pregnant women. The filing is the latest action in an ongoing dispute between the two groups, reported ABCNews.com. Full Story

A federal appeals court in Philadelphia reinstated a shareholder lawsuit against officials of cheese company Suprema Specialties, of Paterson, NJ. It accuses them of creating a massive fraud that duped investors out of millions of dollars, reported The Record. Full Story

Market News

Bakeries and confectioners are beginning to raise prices and some sugar farmers have asked Washington to allow more sugar imports to ease shortages, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

California kiwifruit growers produced a crop at least 50% larger than last year, resulting in greater availability this spring. The California Kiwifruit Commission is offering retailers extra promotional funding for such ideas as green kiwifruit for St. Patrick's Day or including kiwifruit in Cinco de Mayo promotions, reported California Farm Bureau Federation.

A decline in the number of salmon expected to return this year to the Klamath River may force a shutdown of the commercial salmon season for about 700 miles of the Oregon and Northern California coasts, according to fisheries experts, reported OregonLive.com. Full Story