Industry News

Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. will close nine stores in New Jersey and sell the stores' assets to the Wakefern Food Corp. for an undisclosed sum. Full Story

Campbell Soup Co. is making a push into Russia and China with broths and "starter soups," in a move to drive sales growth, which now relies heavily on the U.S., reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Coffee Pacifica, Inc. notified Deidrich Coffee, Inc. of its decision not to proceed with a tender offer to acquire three million shares of the capital stock of Deidrich Coffee, Inc. Full Story

All 23 Skippers Seafood 'n Chowder House restaurants slated for closure as a part of the chain's bankruptcy settlement were shuttered by June 30 and sales had been completed on many of the others, according to an attorney for Skippers, Inc. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2006, reported The Idaho Statesman. Full Story

Independent grocers acquired a third of the 45 Farmer Jack stores from the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co. Meanwhile, 21 additional stores will close, reported Detroit Free Press. Full Story

Food for Health International will label its products "China-Free" to ease concerns about contamination. Plans call for a "China-Free" sticker on products, such as Food for Health's "9 a Day-Plus" capsules, "Active Adults" whole food shakes and "Healthy Dog" supplements. The company also will use "China-Free" in advertisements and promotions, reported CNNMoney.com. Full Story

Consumers increasingly want fresh and healthy food options and foodservice operators have responded with the launch of fresh sub sandwiches. However, Dunkin' Donuts and McDonald's roll out of such a program is proving to be difficult, reported CSP Daily News. Full Story

Approximately 240 fruit-infused products from ice cream to chips were introduced in the first half of 2007, compared with 124 in all of 2000. Kraft will introduce nine fruit-touting products in 27 varieties this year, reported USA Today. Full Story

A growing number of workers are utilizing coffee shops as offices. Panera, Java Hutt and Caribou Coffee have responded to this trend by offering wireless internet as a feature for workers on the go, reported Detroit Free Press. Full Story

Everyone thinks Whole Foods caters to the rich, but it's really not true, according to Whole Foods CEO John Mackey in a question and answer session with Fortune Magazine. Whole Foods caters to the well-educated. The reason is that for people to change their dietary habits requires that they be well informed, said Mackey. Full Story

Pay-at-the-table companies are eyeing U.S. restaurants due to an increase push by managers to speed the flow of diners during peak hours as well as the increase in "skimming" scams in which consumers credit card numbers are being stolen, reported ABC News. Full Story

Breyers introduced Breyers Double Churn FREE ice cream, available in four flavors including; Creamy Vanilla, French Chocolate, Caramel Swirl, and Cappuccino Chocolate Chunk. Full Story

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Hershey Co. will sell its Oakdale, CA plant for $18.5 million. The chocolate factory will close in January, reported The Sacramento Bee. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Reed's, Inc. entered into an exclusive distribution agreement with Heidelberg Distributing for distribution of Reed's soft drinks throughout Ohio. Full Story

Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill will complete its conversion to using zero trans fat canola oil for cooking all menu products by mid-August in its more than 160 locations. Full Story

Cross Atlantic Commodities, Inc.'s Durigon Italian ice cream "gelato" is now on the shelves of more than 800 U.S. stores. Full Story

International News

China risks damaging its global credibility and provoking social instability if it does not tackle its food and drug quality problems, according an official in a rare admission amid a series of scares over tainted products, reported Reuters. Full Story

Auchan SA plans to double the number of its stores in China over the next two years, according to a company spokesman. The French supermarket group currently operates 17 stores in China and will open as many as eight outlets this year and 10 next year, mostly in Beijing and Shanghai, reported Reuters. Full Story

Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd. grew to 32 breweries in 11 Asia-Pacific countries and the beer is distributed in more than 60 countries worldwide, including the U.S. and Europe. The Wall Street Journal interviews Koh Poh Tiong, CEO of the company. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

Anheuser-Busch introduced an Indian-brewed Budweiser as part of the company's plan to tap into the country's booming economy, according to a top company official. India's beer industry posted 20% annual growth for the past two years, up from 10% per year over the past decade, reported BusinessWeek.com. Full Story

Health News

Health authorities in Canada and Massachusetts are warning consumers of the risk from China-made counterfeit toothpaste after more tainted products were found. Preliminary tests conducted in Canada on counterfeit Colgate toothpaste indicate the fake products may contain even more harmful bacteria than authorities first suspected, reported Reuters. Full Story

Red wine and white wine may fight bacteria that cause cavities even with the alcohol removed, according to a study by Italy-based University of Pavia, reported FOXNEWS.com. Full Story

Washington News

USDA will donate about $50 million worth of government-owned bulk commodities to U.S. food processors in exchange for further processed agricultural products that will be distributed through USDA domestic and international food assistance programs. Full Story

Rep. Doris Matsui of California proposed legislation to reduce the flood threat from the Sacramento River by expanding farmland conservation programs throughout the river's Northern California watershed, reported the The Sacramento Bee. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Agriprocessors, Inc. recalled 35,860-lbs. of frozen beef and chicken products because they may contain egg albumen. Full Notice

Artisan Confections Company recalled its Scharffen Berger Kumasi Sambirano 68% Cacao Pure Dark Chocolate bars because they may contain undeclared milk. Full Notice

Market News

The California leafy greens industry set July 23 as the date when mandatory food safety audits of its members will begin, reported California Department of Food and Agriculture. Full Story

Warmer temperatures accelerated the growth of brussels sprouts along California's Central Coast, which is about a week earlier than average, but a month earlier than the harvest began a year ago. Growers say the crop looks good and consumers should see California-grown brussels sprouts in retail stores around July 15, reported California Farm Bureau Federation.

Two Maryland professors are trying to build a better berry tailored for gourmet markets that also can be grown and harvested more cheaply and efficiently than current methods, reported CBSNEWS.com. Full Story

A late-spring freeze followed by a dry summer damaged Ohio's strawberry, peach and pear crop and threatens this fall's apple harvest, reported Coshocton Tribune. Full Story

The International Trade Commission extended the time limit for New Shipper Reviews for Fresh Garlic from the People's Republic of China to Sept. 20. Full Notice