Stagnito's Daily Brief

PepsiCo Inc. may try to increase sales by acquiring smaller snack and beverage companies that cater to consumers adopting healthier diets. The company's CEO is considering as many as 20 deals worth between $5 million and $2 billion, reported Oakland Tribune. Full Story

Starbucks Corp. is raising prices for its coffee and other freshly made drinks in most of its U.S. stores by 9 cents, citing rising costs, including dairy products, energy and fuel, reported The Associated Press. The price increase will likely take effect July 31, according to a statement by the company. Full Story

ConAgra Foods, Inc. acquired Alexia Foods Inc., a privately held natural food company. NY-based Alexia Foods markets all natural and organic appetizers and artisan breads. Full Story

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Marsh Supermarkets launched a $2 million store remodeling program in Bloomington, IN, the first major Indiana market to receive significant store improvements and capital investment. Some stores will be known as the Marsh Hometown Market, reported TheIndyChannel.com. Full Story

The functional foods and drinks market is projected to reach $109 billion by 2010. Increasing health and wellness concerns have moved functional foods and drinks from a niche segment to a mainstream product. This segment is one of the fastest growing sectors in the overall beverage industry and is spurred mainly by the introduction of innovative products, according to a report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Full Story

The convenience store industry accounts for $148 billion in retail sales and 18% of combined food, drug, mass and convenience outlets. Information Resources, Inc. introduced its AllScan Convenience Store Tracking service, that will provide comprehensive scanner based point-of-sale data across the convenience channel. Full Story

Investment firm Barington Companies Equity Partners LP requested copies of certain company records from Lancaster Colony Corp. to investigate possible mismanagement, according to an SEC filing, reported The Associated Press. Full Story, SEC Filing

Retail companies are seeing more customers using plastic to pay for purchases, leaving cash and checks at home, reported The Cincinnati Enquirer. Full Story

Diamond Foods, Inc. introduced Emerald Marcona Almonds. This new limited release snack product is being shipped this month to select retailers nationwide. Full Story

The Bison industry's recent comeback is based on a more balanced product line and a better-established distribution network, according to the executive director of the National Bison Association. The industry increased 21% during the first half of 2007, with 23,796 buffalo slaughtered during the six-month period, according to USDA, reported The New York Times On the Web. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

7-Eleven stores sold more than 3.4 million units of Simpsons merchandise and the number of customers to visit these stores has roughly doubled, as have sales, according to the company. The company sold 1.1 million Simpsons' Squishee-Slurpee cups and more than 960,000 cans of Buzz Cola, reported ABCnews.com. Full Story

Kemin Food Ingredients, Inc. developed Fortium brand RPT40 liquid antioxidant that protects fish oil and other Omega-3 applications from oxidative degradation. The company also developed products that may be used in organic applications to increase shelf life. Full Story

The Bonduelle Group finalized its acquisition of 100% of the capital of its subsidiary, Aliments Carrière, a Canadian processor of canned and frozen vegetables. This takeover has taken place gradually since the Bonduelle Group acquired a 23% stake in the company in June 2006. Full Story

Canada unveiled its new organic logo, part of the new Organic Products Regulations announced in December 2006. The logo will be permitted for use only on those food products certified as meeting Canadian standards for organic production such as using natural fertilizers and raising animals in conditions that mimic nature as much as possible. Certified products must also contain at least 95% organic ingredients. Full Story

Arla Foods sold its breakfast food company Crispy Food to bakery group Koff, the holding company for Kohberg Bread, reported Food Business Review. Full Story

Barry Callebaut AG will increase its cocoa processing capacity by more than 50% in the Ivory Coast over the next two years in response to growing demand for cocoa liquor. The company will double the amount of cocoa beans it buys directly from farmers in the area in order to secure its supply of raw materials, reported Interactive Investor. Full Story

Starbucks Corp. is delaying a plan that would open coffee shops in India later this year, but the company did not give a reason for the postponement, reported CNNMoney.com. Full Story

Coca-Cola Co. is investing $80 million to build a headquarters and research and development center in Shanghai, China, according to a company official, reported CNNMoney.com. Full Story

Chocolate and desserts designed for China's space travel will be available in the country's supermarkets by year end. The Scientific Research and Training Center for Chinese Astronauts has developed more than 60 space dishes, including staple foods, meat and vegetable dishes, fruit and desserts and it began cooperation with food companies on mass production in 2006, according to China Daily. Full Story

Safeway Inc.'s Southern California Vons and Pavilions employees represented by several UFCW Locals ratified a new 48-month contract. Full Story

The Federal Reserve Board's decision to modify Regulation E will benefit quick-service restaurants, convenience stores and event concessionaires, among others, according to the director of the Smart Card Alliance. Regulation E eliminates the requirement to provide a receipt for debit purchases under $15, reported QSR Magazine. Full Story

Annapolis, MD is the latest city considering a bill that would ban plastic bags from all retail stores, reported The New York Times On The Web. San Francisco enacted a ban in April, but it applies just to larger groceries and drugstores. Similar measures are being considered in Boston, Baltimore, Portland, OR, Steamboat Springs, CO as well as in Santa Monica and Oakland, CA. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

The California health department warned consumers not to eat a brand of Mexican candy that contains high levels of lead, which could cause health problems. Tests conducted on Mexico import De La Rosa Pulparindo candy revealed the product contained between .12 and .18 parts per million (ppm) of lead, above the FDA maximum guidance of 0.1 ppm, reported foxreno.com. Full Story

USDA amended livestock exportation regulations to eliminate the requirement for pre-export tuberculosis and brucellosis testing of certain cattle. Full Notice

USDA amended the brucellosis regulations concerning the interstate movement of cattle by changing the classification of Idaho from Class A to Class Free. Full Notice

USDA amended the Oriental fruit fly regulations by removing the Santa Ana area of Orange County, CA from the list of quarantined areas. Full Notice

Stanislaus and Fresno counties in California developed an innovative system to respond to agriculture emergencies. The "All-Hazards Food and Agricultural Emergency Response Template" was approved by the California Agricultural Commissioners and Sealers Association and other states are interested in using it, according to the deputy director of the western region of the National Plant Diagnostic Network, reported The Modesto Bee. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Farm-raised catfish processed during June 2007 totaled 37.3 million-lbs. round weight, down 10% from June 2006. This total is the lowest reported June round weight processed since June 1996 when 36.8 million lbs. were processed, according to USDA's Catfish Processing report. View Report

Rubicon Resources LLC purchased and upgraded roughly 150 Thai shrimp farms. The company is pushing to meet a year-end deadline that all phases of shrimp production adhere to environmental and social standards backed by Wal-Mart, Red Lobster's operator Darden Restaurants Inc. and others, reported The Wall Street Journal. Full Story (WSJ Subscription Required)

NMFS prohibited directed fishing for Pacific ocean perch in the Western Aleutian District of the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands management area. Full Notice

NMFS prohibited retention of Pacific ocean perch in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska. Full Notice

NMFS implemented Amendment 14 to the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan developed by the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council. Full Notice

NMFS prohibited directed fishing for pelagic shelf rockfish in the West Yakutat District of the Gulf of Alaska. Full Notice

NMFS adjusted the 2007 Winter II commercial scup quota and possession limit. Full Notice