The Food Institute Report articles from February 2002

The Food Institute Report archives from February 2002

Winn-Dixie Posts Healthier Quarter, Unveils Warehouse Format.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Late last week, the Jacksonville, FL-based supermarket chain surprised analysts with quarterly earnings that were higher than expected and said earnings for the remainder of the fiscal year should be above previous forecasts. In addition,...

Bush Budget Includes $131 Million In New Spending For Food Safety/Security.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... In his budget proposal for fiscal year 2003, President Bush will include $131 million in new spending to protect the nation's food supply from animal and plant pests and diseases, strengthen food safety programs and support specific research...

USDA Tests New Uses For Produce In Schools.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Under pressure from Congress to bolster produce prices by buying surplus crops and giving them to schools, USDA has been developing some new uses for the produce and taste testing the products in schools. Twenty students at Washington's Van...

Brinker Adds On The Border To Takeout Program.(Brinker International)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Brinker International is extending its takeout program to On the Border, as it continues an aggressive rollout of the service at Chili's and Macaroni Grill. So far, 15 On the Border restaurants have been converted to include takeout stations,...

Retailer Tests Candy Store-Within-The-Store Concept.(Wal-Mart Stores Inc tests Kid Connection, Candy store within a store concept)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is testing a candy store-within-the-store concept, called Kid Connection, in three Supercenters located in Sapulpa, OK, Springville, UT and North Logan, UT The stores, which opened in December, are approximately 500- to...

Boston Market Is Nation's Top Quick Casual Chain.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... The "Quick Casual" segment of the foodservice industry rings up estimated sales of about $5.7 billion from some 6,200 individual units owned and operated by both chains and independents, according to Technomic, Inc. Future Food Trends. With 707...

Functional Food Product Sales Reach $1.3 Billion In 2001.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... In 2001, sales of functional food products totaled $1.3 billion and total retail sales in the category are expected to increase 39% from 2001 to 2006, according to Mintel International Group Ltd., Chicago, IL. Functional foods with...

Who Is Best Practicing Category Management?(food industry)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Manufacturers are working to streamline the category management process and improve collaboration with retailers on the development of category plans, which has led many marketers to broaden the focus from individual categories to entire...

Aurora Looks To Revive Lender's Stale Bagel Market.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Lender's Bagels and its parent company, Aurora Foods, are trying to revive its collapsing frozen-bagel market, while trying to break into the fresh-bagel market at the same time. Aurora believes there is still a strong opportunity in...

First-Ever Retail Promotion Hopes To Have BBQ's Talking Turkey.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Turkey growers and processors approved the industry's first-ever generic, retail-level promotion, voting for the slogan "Give Turkey A Turn." The approval comes eight years after processors refused to support a generic promotion that would have...

Miller Merger With Foreign Brewers Could Create The World's Largest Brewer.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Miller Brewing Co. is reportedly working on a proposal that would merge it with two foreign brewers to form a new global company, while maintaining Miller's Milwaukee, WI headquarters and its roughly 1,000 jobs, according to industry sources....

What Are Americans' Favorite Foods?(sweets beat meat and potatoes)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Sweets topped meats and potatoes as Americans' favorite foods at the end of 2001, according to The Consumer Network, reported Research Alert (Jan. 18). Branded items topped all categories (39% for branded items, collectively, versus 25% for...

Fast Food Operators Cater To Rising Number Of Vegetarians.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... The number of Americans who rarely or never eat meat is on the rise, according to the Vegetarian Resource Group, a Baltimore, MD-based research organization. The group conducted a poll with the Zogby organization that found approximately 2.5%...

BJ's Wholesale Club.(to possibly open 13 to 14 stores in 2002)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * BJ's Wholesale Club, Natick, MA, is likely to open 13 or 14 stores in 2002, twice as many as the prior year, according to David Becker, vice president and portfolio manager at Northern Oak Capital Management Inc...Milwaukee Journal Sentinel...

Covelli Enterprises.(to open 25 Panera Bread stores, including 10 in Florida)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... * Covelli Enterprises, owner of 52 Panera Bread stores, plans to open 25 more stores this year, including 10 in Florida. Eventually, it would like to have at least of minimum of 50 restaurants in Florida. Panera Bread Company has 330 stores in...

Panera Bread Company.(contracts with Mark and Monica von Waaden)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * Panera Bread Company signed an agreement with Mark and Monica von Waaden of Austin TX, to open 20 Panera Bread bakery-cafes in portions of Hams, Brazoria and Fort Bend Counties in the Houston area.

7-Eleven Inc.(to close 120 stores)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * 7-Eleven Inc., Dallas, TX, plans to close up to 120 convenience stores during the first quarter.

Nationally known chefs will launch a new mail-order business that sells frozen.(FiveLeaf offers high quality frozen meals)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * Nationally known chefs will launch a new mail-order business that sells frozen, restaurant-quality meals to heat and serve at home. The new company, FiveLeaf, has partnered with Omaha Steaks International to market and distribute the new...

A new color M&M will join the mix this summer.(Masterfoods USA)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * A new color M&M will join the mix this summer. Consumers will have the chance to vote on whether it will be purple, aqua or pink, noted Bob Gamgort, vice president and general manager of chocolate for Hackettstown-based Masterfoods USA. The...

A new association--the US Prawn and Shrimp Growers Association.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * A new association--the US Prawn and Shrimp Growers Association--has been formed for the purpose of facilitating the rapidly growing prawn and shrimp farming industry in the U.S...Just-foodcom (Jan. 30)

KFC will no longer be including toys in its Kids Meals.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * KFC will no longer be including toys in its Kids Meals. Starting May 20, the unit of Tricon Global Restaurants Inc. will be introducing wee patrons to its new Laptop Pack, a paper-board box resembling a laptop computer, which will hold meals...

Buying insurance while at the coffee shop will soon become reality in Germany with France's AXA Group's.(Tchibo Frisch-Rost-Kaffee GmbH)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * Buying insurance while at the coffee shop will soon become reality in Germany with France's AXA Group's plan to market its insurance products through the Tchibo coffee chain. AXA's move comes in response to three rivals in Germany who've...

McCormick and Company Inc.(restructuring plan)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * McCormick and Company Inc., Sparks, MD, plans to implement a selective 5% price increase later this year for its U.S. consumer business. The world's largest spice manufacturer is in the middle of cutting costs due to decline in packaging...

Archer Daniels Midland Company.(exporter for Perdue Farms Inc.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * Archer Daniels Midland Company, Decatur, IL, has agreed to serve as the exclusive exporter of grain-related products for Perdue Farms, Inc., Salisbury, MD.

In a separate announcement, Archer Daniels Midland said it will close its Savannah GA.(cocoa processing plant)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * In a separate announcement, Archer Daniels Midland said it will close its Savannah GA, cocoa processing plant indefinitely, effective Apr. 1. The facility will continue to be used as a warehouse. ADM has also reduced capacity at its Ivory...

Procter & Gamble Company.(Wuxi Green Power Bio-Products)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * Procter & Gamble Company, Cincinnati, announced that Wuxi Green Power Bio-Products (Green Power) will be the exclusive Chinese licensee for P&G's solvent-free green tea processing technology, which produces less bitter extracts with lighter...

A 50,000-sq. ft. Krispy Kreme wholesale bakery has opened in Astoria, NY.(Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * A 50,000-sq. ft. Krispy Kreme wholesale bakery has opened in Astoria, NY. The new bakery, which is rolling out 900 doughnuts an hour, is supplying grocery stores and a wide range of food service outlets. KKNY, a franchisee and a joint venture...

P.F. Chang's China Bistro.(expansion planned)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * P.F. Chang's China Bistro, a Scottsdale, AZ-based chain of upscale Chinese restaurants which is expanding nationwide, expects to open 13 to 15 more bistros and eight to 10 more diners this year. At the end of the third quarter, it operated 62...

Kraft Foods.(Boca Rising Crust Pizza)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * Kraft Foods' Boca Burger line of meatless soy-based products will expand to include pizza in February. Boca Rising Crust Pizza is a low-fat, low cholesterol cheese/tomato pizza in two varieties: Meatless Pepperoni and Supreme, a meatless...

Parmalat USA.(organic milk)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... * Parmalat USA is launching shelf-stable organic milk in quarts. Horizon Organic recently announced that organic single-serve flavored milk is available at Starbucks and would debut in grocery and specialty stores in a matter of weeks see FOOD...

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS.(multiple company mergers and acquistions)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The sale of Blimpie International, Inc., Atlanta, GA, to a private investor group, led by Jeffrey Endervelt, a subfranchisor of the company, has been completed (see FOOD INSTITUTE REPORT, Jan. 7, page 7). A private investment group led by...

LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (000 omitted).(food and restaurant companies)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (000 omitted) Current % Chge. Year Year Ago ARK RESTAURANTS CORP. (New York, NY) 13 Wks. To Dec. 29: Sales ...

NRA Pushes Immigration Reform.(National Restaurant Association looks for immigration reform)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... The National Restaurant Association underscored its commitment to immigration reform by calling on Congress and the Bush Administration to make the issue a priority this year. The Washington, DC-based group said if the worker shortage issue is...

USDA Releases Pesticide Data.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service has released its Pesticide Data Program Annual Summary, Calendar Year 2000 via the internet at http://www.ams.usda.gov/science/pdp/download.htm. In 2000, the PDP analyzed a total of 10,907 samples....

Food Safety Policy Heads In Many Directions.(Department of Agriculture's food safety measures)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Dr. Elsa Murano, Under Secretary for Food Safety at the USDA recently addressed the National Turkey Federation about new directions in Food Safety Policy. Since her appointment in the fall of 2001, Dr. Murano has been assessing the current...

Patent Ruling Could Save Scanning Retailers Millions.(patent royalties regulation)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Overturning a lower court decision, a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals could spell the end of a longstanding threat against the use of scanning technology in the food and other industries, according to John Gray, executive vice president...

Control Measures For Microbial Hazards On Fresh Produce Evaluated.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... FDA's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) has released a report prepared by the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) entitled "Analysis and Evaluation of Preventive Control Measures for the Control and Reduction/Elimination of...

.... Wild Oats Market founders, Mike Gilliland and Libby Cook have sued the Boulder.(lawsuit for unpaid loan)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... ... . Wild Oats Market founders, Mike Gilliland and Libby Cook have sued the Boulder, CO-based company for $2 million, which they claim is owed to them for a loan they made to the natural foods grocer. Wild Oats operates 103 stores nationwide...

.... Canada is aggressively touting a plan to allow 7,000 trucks from companies with regular shipments, to cross into the U.S. uninspected.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... ... . Canada is aggressively touting a plan to allow 7,000 trucks from companies with regular shipments, to cross into the U.S. uninspected. The Office of Homeland Security has supported the plan contending that it will allow officials to...

.... A ruling by the New Jersey State Appeals court orders Pepsi Bottling Group to pay back wages and interest to hundreds of delivery drivers.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... ... . A ruling by the New Jersey State Appeals court orders Pepsi Bottling Group to pay back wages and interest to hundreds of delivery drivers in New Jersey for overtime work from 1993 to the present, according to The Wall Street Journal.

.... With pressure mounting to open up trade between the U.S. and Cuba.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... ... . With pressure mounting to open up trade between the U.S. and Cuba, a study commissioned by the Washington-based Cuba Policy Foundation reported that U.S. farmers lose an estimated $1.24 billion annually because of sanctions against the...

.... While Spain and the U.S. continue to work on resolving phytosanitary issues related to the Nov. 30 U.S. ban on Spanish clementine imports.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... ... . While Spain and the U.S. continue to work on resolving phytosanitary issues related to the Nov. 30 U.S. ban on Spanish clementine imports, the U.S.-based legal counsel for Spanish citrus growers said a looming lawsuit should help resolve...

.... A Manhattan jury awarded a Long Island woman $3.5 million for burns she suffered when steam and coffee exploded from a Starbucks espresso machine onto her right hand.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... ... . A Manhattan jury awarded a Long Island woman $3.5 million for burns she suffered when steam and coffee exploded from a Starbucks espresso machine onto her right hand. Starbucks is expected to file motions to reduce the award or set it...

.... Rhode Island's OSHA office is about to launch a series of surprise inspections of the state's seafood processors.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... ... . Rhode Island's OSHA office is about to launch a series of surprise inspections of the state's seafood processors. There are about 70 processing companies in the state ranging from large ventures with hundreds of employees to small...

UNSHU ORANGES FROM JAPAN.(Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service amends regulations)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... UNSHU ORANGES FROM JAPAN: USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is amending its regulations to allow, under certain conditions, Unshu oranges grown on Kyushu Island, Japan, to be imported into non-citrus-producing areas of the U.S....

FMD AND ESTONIA.(USDA to place Estonia on list of countries free of foot-and-mouth disease)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... FMD AND ESTONIA: USDA is proposing to add Estonia to the list of regions considered to be free of rinderpest and foot-and-mouth disease at this time. USDA is also proposing to add Estonia to the list of regions that are subject to certain...

BSE IN SLOVAKIA AND SLOVENIA.(USDA seeks comments on adding countries to list)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... BSE IN SLOVAKIA AND SLOVENIA: USDA is seeking comments on an interim rule that adds Slovakia and Slovenia to the list of regions where bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) exists. USDA enacted this rule because BSE has been found in...

RED RASPBERRIES FROM CHILE.(International Trade Commission holding hearing regarding antidumping)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... RED RASPBERRIES FROM CHILE: The International Trade Commission will hold a hearing in connection with the final phase of the final phase of countervailing duty and antidumping investigation of individually quick frozen red raspberries from...

FRESH TOMATOES FROM MEXICO.(continued dumping likely if antidumping duty investigation terminated)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... FRESH TOMATOES FROM MEXICO: Termination of the suspended antidumping duty investigation on fresh tomatoes from Mexico would be likely to lead to continuation or recurrence of dumping, according to the International Trade Administration's...

FRESH MUSSELS FROM CANADA.(Great Eastern Mussel Farms, Inc. withdraws petition regarding antidumping)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... FRESH MUSSELS FROM CANADA: The International Trade Administration terminated the antidumping investigation of live processed blue mussels from Canada for the period April 1, 2000 through March 31,2001 after receiving a timely withdrawal of the...

COMMITTEE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY.(USDA seeking nominations)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... COMMITTEE ON BIOTECHNOLOGY: USDA's Agricultural Research Service is requesting nominations for qualified persons to serve as members of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Biotechnology and 21st Century Agriculture. Members of the committee...

FSIS WITHDRAWS PROPOSED RULE.(Prominently Disclosed Product Name Qualifiers rule withdrawn by Food Safety and Inspection Service)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... FSIS WITHDRAWS PROPOSED RULE: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is withdrawing the proposed rule, "Prominently Disclosed Product Name Qualifiers," which was published in the Federal Register on November 4, 1992. In the 1992...

CODEX MEETING.
February 4, 2002... CODEX MEETING: There will be a public meeting on Feb. 4, to provide information and receive public comments on agenda items that will be discussed at the meeting of the Codex Committee on Food Additives and Contaminants, which will be held in...

MUSHROOMS FROM CHILE.(International Trade Administration reviewing antidumping duty)(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... MUSHROOMS FROM CHILE: The International Trade Administration is initiating an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on certain preserved mushrooms from Chile. The period of review is Dec. 1, 2000 to Nov. 30, 2001. For more...

Food Product Recalls Reported.(Brief Article)
February 4, 2002... Jimmy Dean Foods Inc., Newbern, TN, is voluntarily recalling approximately 3,600 pounds of frozen pork sausage products because they contain undeclared monosodium glutamate (MSG). The products being recalled are 12 lb. bulk cases of "Jimmy Dean...

PRODUCE.(US imports of fresh fruits; Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Co. and Swift Transportation Co. alliance)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... Shipping fruits and vegetables is getting easier for Northern San Joaquin Valley growers, due to a railroad-trucking alliance to transport high-value, high-risk crops, according to the Modesto Bee. "Timeliness is everything when delivering...

CANNED VEGETABLES.(various production and trade statistics)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... PEAS - Total production of Green Peas for canning was 155,800 tons, down over 30% from 2000 and is at its lowest level since 1993. GREEN PEA PRODUCTION - 2001 (Source: USDA) Tons: 2001 2000 % Chge. ...

TOMATO PRODUCTS.(contract acreage intentions; production statistics; imports)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... California contract acreage intentions for processing in 2002 are 289,000 acres, up 14% from last season's total harvested acreage, according to the California Agricultural Statistics Service. The acreage is expected to yield 10.5 million tons...

FROZEN VEGETABLES.(various production and trade statistics)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... CORN - Total Sweet Corn production in 2000 totaled 3.1 million tons of which 1.6 million tons were used for freezing, an increase of approximately 12% from 2000, according to USDA - see CANNED VEGETABLES for state by state charts. Between...

CANNED FRUIT.(various production statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... TART CHERRIES - In 2001, canned Tart Cherry utilization in the U.S. declined 4% from 2000 to 91.9 million pounds. Michigan, whose utilization was unchanged at 80.0 million pounds, accounted for 87% of the total. CANNED CHERRY UTILIZATION,...

PROCESSED FISH.(various import statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... It has long been known that canned Tuna is full of protein and omega-3 fatty acids that many scientists report may help in the fight against heart disease, play a beneficial role in lowering blood pressure and cholesterol and can ease the pain...

DRIED VEGETABLES.(list of prices and import statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... DRIED BEANS - Trading on Dry Edible Beans is mostly slow to moderate, with the exception of Pintos and Blacks, which are moderate to fairly active. Demand remains light on most varieties and is moderate to good on Pintos and Blacks. Most...

DRIED FRUITS.(various import and production statistics)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... U.S. IMPORTS OF DRIED FRUITS JAN. 1 - DEC. 1, 2001 (Source: Bureau of Census) In Pounds 2001 2000 % Chge. Apricots 31,587,726 33,239,745 -5.0% Raisins Seedless 25,941,997 27,605,727...

NUTS AND NUTMEATS.(various production and consumption statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... FARMER STOCK PEANUTS ON HAND JAN. 1, 2002 (Source: USDA) 1,000 Pounds 2001/02 2000/01 % Chge. Virginias 433,673 338,853 28.0% Runners 2,694,147 1,889,820 42.6% Spanish 85,476...

FROZEN FRUIT.(various statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... RED TART CHERRIES - As of Dec. 1, 2001, the U.S. imported 1.2 million pounds, down 57% from this point in 2000. Canada, the main shipper to the U.S., decreased shipments by the same percentage. In 2001, 177.0 million pounds were produced...

JUICES & CONCENTRATES.(various production and trade statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... ORANGE JUICE PRODUCTION IN SELECTED COUNTRIES 2001/02 VS 2000/01 (Source: USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service) Country 2001/02 2000/01 % Chge. -Metric Tons, 65 Brix-[*] UNITED STATES...

BUTTER.(prices for week ending 2/1/02)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... BUTTER MARKET WK. ENDING FEB. 1 (Source: USDA) Cents Per Pound: 2/1/02 1/25/02 Chge. Grade AA 130.00 131.75 -1.75

CHEESE.(prices for week ending 2/1/02)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... CHEDDAR CHEESE MARKET FEB. 1 Cents Per Pound: 2/1/02 Chge. Fr. Last Wk. Barrels 120.00 -15 Blocks 123.50 -15

EGGS.(egg prices to retailers for week ending 1/31/02)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... EGG PRICES TO RETAILERS WEEK ENDING JAN. 31 (Source: USDA) This Last Chng. From Cents per dozen: Week Week Last Week Extra Large-NY 63-67 75-76 ...

CHICKEN.(broiler prices)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... PRELIMINARY BROILER PRICES FOR DELIVERY THE WEEK OF FEB. 4 Cents Per Pound: This Week Last Week Chicago 45.00-48.00 47.00-50.00 Cleveland Too Few Too Few Detroit Too Few Too...

FUTURES PRICES.(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... FUTURES PRICES (Source: Wall Street Journal) Cash Mar. May As of Jan. 31, 2002: Price Futures Futures Corn, bu. $1.92 $2.06 $2.13 Soybeans, bu....

COMMODITY PRICES.(for weeks ending 1/31/02 and 1/24/02)(Brief Article)(Illustration)(Statistical Data Included)
February 4, 2002... COMMODITY PRICES (Source: Wall Street Journal) Week Week % Chge. Ended Ended Last ...

Web-Based Surplus Goods Exchange Created.(WorldWide Retail Exchange)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... The WorldWide Retail Exchange (WWRE) in conjunction with the Visagent Corporation announced the launch of the Surplus Goods Exchange (SGE), the retail industry's first web-based platform for the secure trading of surplus, excess and closeout...

Meat/Poultry Players Poised For Growth.(Seaboard Farms Div., Cargill Inc., Smithfield Packing Co., American Strategies Ltd., Brawley Beef Co.)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... A high-tech, state-of-the art food processing facility is being planned by Seaboard Farms, a major U.S. producer and processor of fresh pork. Moore County, TX, has been selected as the site of the future $150 million pork processing facility....

Tasty Fries And SilverLeaf Aiming To Redefine Vending Category.(SilverLeaf L.L.C.)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... Tasty Fries, Inc. and SilverLeaf LLC announced an agreement appointing SilverLeaf as Tasty Fries' exclusive worldwide U.S. sales and marketing agent. Tasty Fries has developed a multi-patented vending machine that prepares, cooks and dispenses...

Expansion And Marketing Help Buffalo Wild Wings Soar.(Buffalo Wild Wings Inc.)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 11, 2002... With 159 restaurants, including seven in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, Buffalo Wild Wings is a rapidly expanding restaurant chain that is moving into the view of the restaurant industry's consumers and observers, reported The Star Tribune...

Factors For A Good Relationship Between Manufacturers And Outside Sales Forces.(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... A productive relationship with an outside sales force can have a substantial payoff. Properly handled, outside sales representatives will not just work hard to sell your products, but can provide you with important information about the market...

Panera Bread Co. And Others Vie For Slice Of Premium Sandwich Category.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
February 11, 2002... The premium priced sandwich category is racking up impressive sales gains, rising 15% annually compared to only 3% for hamburgers and steaks, according to Technomic, Inc., a Chicago, IL-based food consulting firm, reviewed The WallStreet...

Kmart Store Closings Begin To Unfold.(Kmart Corp.)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... Kmart plans to close 291 U.S. stores, including 14 Big K locations in Georgia, as part of the retailer's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, reported The Atlanta Journal Constitution (Feb. 6). Kmart began circulating a store closure list to...

2002 Food Trends At Restaurants.(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... A downturn in the nation's economy, the after-effects of 9/11 and an increasingly unsure political situation will likely cause Americans to rely on their dining experiences for excitement, enjoyment and entertainment in 2002, according to the...

Blimpie International Inc.(Pepsi Cola North America becomes new beverage supplier)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... Blimpie International Inc., Atlanta, has named Pepsi-Cola North America as the new beverage supplier for its U.S. restaurants under a multiyear agreement. It covers more than 1,900 Blimpie restaurants. Coca-Cola had been official beverage for...

Timothy's Coffees of the World Inc.(closes U.S. operations)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... Timothy's Coffees of the World Inc., Toronto, has closed its U.S. operations, affecting 21 outlets. Eighteen stores were closed in New York, two in Washington, and one in Boston. The company, known for its upscale coffees and pleasant ambience,...

In contrast, another Canadian coffee chain, Second Cup.(Second Cup Ltd. may open shops outside North America)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... In contrast, another Canadian coffee chain, Second Cup, is exploring opening shops outside North America. Although no specific countries have been named as of yet, chief executive Alton McEwen noted that there was interest from Asia, Europe,...

Starbucks.(Starbucks Coffee International to open shop in Athens, Greece)(Brief Article)
February 11, 2002... Starbucks will make its debut in Athens this fall, marking its sixth European market. Starbucks Coffee International president Peter Maslen said the company intends to open 10 to 12 outlets during the first five years in Greece, through a...