The Food Institute Report articles from January 2008

The Food Institute Report archives from January 2008

Wegmans extinguishing tobacco sales.... and profits.(Wegmans Food Markets Inc.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... The 71-unit Wegmans chain will halt sales of cigarette and tobacco products in its store effective Feb. 10 and will not order new tobacco products between now and then, reported The Buffalo News (Jan. 4). The Rochester-based chain told its...

Gristedes will carry ShopRite brand.(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... WAKEFERN FOOD CORP. entered into a wholesale agreement with NY-based Gristedes, which operates 40 stores throughout New York City, Westchester and Long Island. Under the agreement, Wakefern is making available its ShopRite private label brand,...

China's Tunhe tomatoes are ripe for picking.(Cofco Xinjiang Tunhe)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Boasting 5,000 hectares of tomato fields and 21 tomato-product processing plants, the state-run COFCO XINJIANG TUNHE company provides China with half of its tomato products and 15% of the global tomato supply. China itself has emerged in recent...

Candy Expo sweetens up new year.(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... The average consumer eats at least four snacks a day, and the "demand for natural, organic, premium, sustainable, and environmentally friendly" were the key words this year at the 11th annual All Candy Expo in Chicago. The show attracted more...

Healthy frozen foods are hot for breakfast.
January 7, 2008... Foods that can be made, consumed and cleaned up in less than 15 minutes, such as bagels and waffles, are increasingly what's for breakfast in time-crunched American households, reported Frozen Food Age (November 2007). Frozen breakfast food...

Whole wheat production up, even though consumption lags.(Report)
January 7, 2008... Despite evidence suggesting that three daily servings of whole grains helps control body weight and reduces the likelihood of disease, the vast majority of consumers continue to consume refined grains, such as white bread, that have little to...

Savvy consumers demand more oil variety.(Survey)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Consumers have educated themselves about the many different types of oils in the recent wave of health-consciousness, and "No longer are trans free and hydro free enough," says Ed Wilson, sales director for AARHUSKARLSHAMN, INC. The 14th annual...

Advocacy vs. antagonists.(Report)
January 7, 2008... Loyal customers are a big portion of what makes a grocery store truly successful. An "advocate" will recommend the store to other people, will buy more from that store, and is willing to stay with it even if competition moves in. But...

Penn Traffic Co. shut down its Penny Curtiss commercial bakery.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... PENN TRAFFIC CO. shut down its PENNY CURTISS commercial bakery. The company, which operates 103 supermarkets in Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate New York, claims the bakery accounted for less than 4% of its annual revenue. In...

Martin's Super Markets'.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... MARTIN'S SUPER MARKETS' pharmacies rolled out a new program that will provide eight generic antibiotics free to those with a doctor's prescription. The drugs are some of the most commonly prescribed generic oral antibiotics, and pharmacy...

Corazonas Foods Inc.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... CORAZONAS FOODS INC., Los Angeles, launched Corazonas Heart-Healthy Potato Chips that are clinically proven to reduce low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by up to 15%. These all-natural chips, containing 40% less fat than regular potato...

Salad restaurant Mad Greens is one of a handful of restaurants nationwide testing Nestle's new Sjora, a fountain-dispensed beverage that touts itself as a healthier and all-natural alternative to soda.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Salad restaurant MAD GREENS is one of a handful of restaurants nationwide testing NESTLE'S new Sjora, a fountain-dispensed beverage that touts itself as a healthier and all-natural alternative to soda. Nestle crafted Sjora as a "light-tasting,...

Giant Food.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... GIANT FOOD will open its first gas station in Pasadena, MD early next year. Customers will be able to buy food, get their prescriptions and fill their tanks at a discount when the pumps open at the Lake Shore shopping center in February, noted...

Red Mango USA has aggressive U.S. expansion plans for its yogurt cafe, featuring a more tart and better-for-you version of frozen yogurt.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... RED MANGO USA has aggressive U.S. expansion plans for its yogurt cafe, featuring a more tart and better-for-you version of frozen yogurt. The 10-unit concept, where customers are encouraged to linger in comfortable stuffed chairs, similar to...

Red Mango's current locations include California, Nevada, New York, Utah and Washington.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Red Mango's current locations include California, Nevada, New York, Utah and Washington. Competition stems from West Coast upstarts, such as PINKBERRY, which has about 40 locations. The trend toward frozen yogurt, going back to its roots as an...

Target Corp., Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... TARGET CORP., WAL-MART STORES INC. and other big-box retailers are scaling back new-store plans in and around Chicago. Target is shelving plans for new stores in Morris as well as Antioch, Arlington Heights and on Ashland Ave. in Chicago....

Appple & Eve.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... APPPLE & EVE, Port Washington, NY, expanded its Sesame Street line of juice boxes with the launch of Sesame Street Organics 100% Juice Boxes. The organic line will be available in three flavors: Big Bird's Apple, Elmo's Punch and Ernie's Berry....

The beer industry regained some of its losses in 2007 due to surging interest in craft beers, a slowing economy and the desire of more drinkers to consume beer at home.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... The beer industry regained some of its losses in 2007 due to surging interest in craft beers, a slowing economy and the desire of more drinkers to consume beer at home. Final year-end data has not yet been released, but growth in the number of...

Tropical Foods.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
January 7, 2008... TROPICAL FOODS, Charlotte, NC, is rolling out Buffalo Nuts, "peanuts with a bold, spicy flavor borrowed straight from Buffalo Wings. Buffalo Nuts are available in six-ounce snack cups, three-ounce snack bags and 14-ounce recloseable tubs.

Hormel Foods Corp.'s.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
January 7, 2008... HORMEL FOODS CORP.'S CHI-CHI's brand is making salsa portable with the launch Snackers, single-serve salsa cups in three flavors: mild, medium and nacho cheese. Four cups are packed in a package... Food Business News (Dec. 11)

California's minimum wage increased 50 cents to $8 an hour.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
January 7, 2008... California's minimum wage increased 50 cents to $8 an hour. California restaurants, which are expected to bring in $56 billion in sales this year, will have to raise menu prices and trim staff to maintain or grow profit in the face of the wage...

Health claims about the benefits of chocolate may be misleading, according to an article in the Lancet.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
January 7, 2008... Health claims about the benefits of chocolate may be misleading, according to an article in the Lancet. Chocolate is naturally rich in flavanols, but many manufacturers remove them because of their bitter taste... BBC News

Riviana Foods Inc.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
January 7, 2008... RIVIANA FOODS INC., Houston, will construct a new 400,000-sq. ft. state-of-the-art rice processing and packaging plant and on-site warehousing/ distribution center on a 31-acre site in Memphis, TN. Completion is expected in mid-2010.

Anheuser-Busch is planning a 25% spending increase this year in total Spanish-language advertising, covering venues from billboards to local radio.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
January 7, 2008... ANHEUSER-BUSCH is planning a 25% spending increase this year in total Spanish-language advertising, covering venues from billboards to local radio. Spending on national outlets such as UNIVISION and TELEMUNDO will also rise 45% in an attempt to...

Latest financial reports (in $000).(Statistical table)(Financial report)
January 7, 2008... LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (in $000) Current % Change Year Year Ago ALICO INC. (LA BELLE, FL) Year To Aug. 31: Sales $134,837 74.1% Net Income ...

Alcoa agreed to sell its packaging and consumer businesses to New Zealand-based Rank Group Limited for $2.7 billion in cash.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... ALCOA agreed to sell its packaging and consumer businesses to New Zealand-based RANK GROUP LIMITED for $2.7 billion in cash. Businesses included in the sale are: CLOSURE SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, a manufacturer of plastic and aluminum packaging...

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. entered into a sale and leaseback transaction, through its subsidiaries Circle K Stores Inc. and Mac's Convenience Stores LLC, with Cole Capital relating to 83 properties sold for total gross selling price of US$131.4 million.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD INC. entered into a sale and leaseback transaction, through its subsidiaries CIRCLE K STORES INC. and MAC'S CONVENIENCE STORES LLC, with COLE CAPITAL relating to 83 properties sold for total gross selling price of...

Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., Minneapolis, reached an agreement to acquire leases and other assets of up to eight Don Pablo's Mexican Restaurant locations from Avado Brands, Inc., Madison, GA, for approximately $1.2 million in cash.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... BUFFALO WILD WINGS, INC., Minneapolis, reached an agreement to acquire leases and other assets of up to eight DON PABLO'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT locations from AVADO BRANDS, INC., Madison, GA, for approximately $1.2 million in cash. The eight...

Fyffes, an Irish fruit importer and distributor, bought a 60% stake in Sol Group Marketing Company, a Pompano Beach, FL-based melon company.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)
January 7, 2008... FYFFES, an Irish fruit importer and distributor, bought a 60% stake in SOL GROUP MARKETING COMPANY, a Pompano Beach, FL-based melon company. The company also made investments in a number of independent companies including farming operations in...

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc., Winston-Salem, NC, agreed to sell a manufacturing and distribution site in Effingham, IL to Harlan Bakeries Inc.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)
January 7, 2008... KRISPY KREME DOUGHNUTS INC., Winston-Salem, NC, agreed to sell a manufacturing and distribution site in Effingham, IL to HARLAN BAKERIES INC., Avon, IN, for $11.8 million... CNN Money (Dec. 28)

Premio Foods, Hawthorne, NJ, is seeking to purchase Topps Meat, owned by Buffalo-based Strategic Investments & Holdings, via a federal bankruptcy proceeding in a deal that could close in January.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... PREMIO FOODS, Hawthorne, NJ, is seeking to purchase TOPPS MEAT, owned by Buffalo-based STRATEGIC INVESTMENTS & HOLDINGS, via a federal bankruptcy proceeding in a deal that could close in January. Unable to absorb the costs of the Topps ground...

Buca Inc., the Minneapolis-based parent of the Buca Di Beppo restaurant chain, is considering selling itself as part of a move to enhance shareholder value.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... BUCA INC., the Minneapolis-based parent of the BUCA DI BEPPO restaurant chain, is considering selling itself as part of a move to enhance shareholder value. The company is exploring strategic alternatives for its business, including a possible...

Chilean retailer Cencosud acquired the Peruvian supermarket chain Wong for $500 million dollars.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)
January 7, 2008... Chilean retailer CENCOSUD acquired the Peruvian supermarket chain WONG for $500 million dollars. Wong Corporation has 48 stores in Peru and is planning to acquire a supermarket chain in Chiclayo (SUPERMARKET EL CENTRO) and in Arequipa in the...

The corporate acquisition between Cloetta Fazer and Finland-based Fennobon Oy became effective Jan. 2.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)
January 7, 2008... The corporate acquisition between CLOETTA FAZER and Finland-based FENNOBON OY became effective Jan. 2. As a result, Fennobon Oy, which has specializes in sugar-free chewing gum, became part of Cloetta Fazer.

Coca-Cola Co. is close to making an investment in Honest Tea, according to Beverage Digest.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)
January 7, 2008... COCA-COLA CO. is close to making an investment in HONEST TEA, according to Beverage Digest. Maryland-based Honest Tea, with annual sales of $13.5 million, produces organic tea drinks, as well as juices and a line of beverages for children......

Frutarom Industries Ltd., Haifa, Israel, acquired through its Frutarom Ltd. subsidiary Rad Natural Technologies Ltd.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)
January 7, 2008... FRUTAROM INDUSTRIES LTD., Haifa, Israel, acquired through its FRUTAROM LTD. subsidiary RAD NATURAL TECHNOLOGIES LTD., an Israel-based firm which researches, develops produces and sells unique natural plant extracts with antioxidant properties...

Portuguese supermarket chain Jeronimo Martins will buy Plus Discount supermarkets in Portugal and Poland from Tengelmann for about $460 million dollars.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)
January 7, 2008... Portuguese supermarket chain JERONIMO MARTINS will buy PLUS DISCOUNT supermarkets in Portugal and Poland from TENGELMANN for about $460 million dollars. The agreement includes 75 Plus branches in Portugal and 210 stores in Poland......

G. Willi-Food International Ltd., Israel, signed a binding agreement with the owners of Shamir Salads pursuant to which the company is expected to acquire a 51% interest in Shamir Salads.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)(G. Willi-Food International Ltd. has acquired Shamir Salads)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... G. WILLI-FOOD INTERNATIONAL LTD., Israel, signed a binding agreement with the owners of SHAMIR SALADS pursuant to which the company is expected to acquire a 51% interest in Shamir Salads. The agreement was approved by Willi Food's Board of...

Schreiber Foods International, Inc.(FI MEMBER PROFILE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... For over 25 years, Schreiber Foods International has been importing canned and preserved fruits, vegetables, tuna and specialty foods for the Foodservice, Industrial, and Salad Bar-Deli/App. trades. Schreiber Foods services its accounts through...

Socete Generale de Financement du Quebec (SGF).(FI MEMBER PROFILE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... SGF provides development capital in support of commercially viable businesses. The expertise of its team, its superior financial capacity, its access to government networks, and its long term vision are all advantages that make it a major...

Steinhauser, Inc.(FI MEMBER PROFILE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Steinhauser is a major supplier and processor of both organic and non-organic concentrates worldwide. Steinhauser has its own plants in Italy, Poland, and Argentina, as well as offices in China. Headquartered in Germany, Steinhauser brings a...

Harvey Alpert & Company.(FI MEMBER PROFILE)(www.harveyalpertco.com.)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Founded in 1977, Harvey Alpert & Company has over 29 years experience in bringing airlines and leading brands together. Harvey Alpert & Co. is the exclusive national sales and marketing representative for a portfolio of national recognized food...

Henningsen Cold Storage Co.(FI MEMBER PROFILE)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Henningsen is an 83-year-old, diversified company with full service temperature controlled logistic services and real estate holdings in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and Pennsylvania. The company offers over 37 million...

Congress questions FDA authority over qualified health claims.(WASHINGTON)
January 7, 2008... In a statement accompanying the recently enacted omnibus appropriations act for fiscal year 2008, Congress questioned the authority of the FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION (FDA) to authorize qualified health claims, according to FI Counsel, OLSSON,...

FDA develops new tools to improve security of food and cosmetics.(WASHINGTON)(United States. Food and Drug Administration)
January 7, 2008... As part of the FDA's comprehensive Food Protection Plan initiative, the agency today released self-assessment tools for industry to minimize the risk of intentional contamination of food and cosmetics. The tools are companion pieces designed to...

Q and A regarding the labeling of dietary supplements.(WASHINGTON)(questions )(answers)
January 7, 2008... FDA issued a draft guidance for industry entitled Questions and Answers Regarding the Labeling of Dietary Supplements as Required by the Dietary Supplement and Nonprescription Drug Consumer Protection Act ("Q&A") (available at:...

U.S. businesses face international threats.(WASHINGTON)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... In 2007, U.S. businesses faced a variety of threats including cyber attacks in Europe, theft of intellectual property in Asia, natural disasters in Latin America, and terrorism, according U.S. State Department's OVERSEAS SECURITY ADVISORY...

FTC stops deceptive "health conferences" and sales of supposed Herbal tea cure-all.(WASHINGTON)(Federal Trade Commission)
January 7, 2008... The Federal Trade Commission stopped a father, his two sons, and their network of companies from deceptively selling a healthcare business opportunity with false promises of earning up to a million dollars in profits. In addition, the FTC has...

U.S. canned fruit industries lose competitiveness, says ITC.(WASHINGTON)
January 7, 2008... The competitiveness of the U.S. canned deciduous fruit industry has declined in recent years as its share of the domestic market has fallen, reports the U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION (ITC) in its publication Canned Peaches, Pears, and...

Food product recalls reported.(WASHINGTON)
January 7, 2008... GFS Fancy Blue Lake Cut Green Beans are being recalled by NEW ERA CANNING COMPANY, New Era, MI. The product was distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia,...

Price trends of canned vegetables: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF CANNED VEGETABLES: 2006-2007 Dollars Per 2006 Case: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June Whole Kernel Corn-MW 24/303 8.50- 8.50- 8.50- 8.50- 8.50- 8.50-...

Price trends of frozen vegetables: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF FROZEN VEGETABLES: 2006-2007 2006 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Broccoli: Spears, 24/10-oz. 9.55- 9.55- 9.55- 9.55-...

Price trends of canned tomatoes & tomato products: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF CANNED TOMATOES & TOMATO PRODUCTS: 2006-2007 Dollars per 2006 Case: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June Tomato Sauce 24/300 8.00- 8.00- 8.00- 8.00- 8.25-...

Price trends of canned fish and shellfish: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF CANNED FISH AND SHELLFISH: 2006-2007 Dollars Per 2006 Case Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. SALMON Salmon, Pink Talls 32.00- 32.00- 32.00- 32.00- 24/14-3/4-oz. 34.00...

Price trends of canned fruits: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF CANNED FRUITS: 2006-2007 2006 Dollars Per Case: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Cling Peaches 24/303 Choice HS 14.50 14.50 14.50 14.50 15.50...

Price trends of dried beans, peas & lentils and California beans: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF DRIED BEANS, PEAS & LENTILS AND CALIFORNIA BEANS: 2006-2007 Dollars Per 2006 Cwt. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. DRIED BEANS (f.o.b.) PINTO Colorado ...

Price trends of dried fruits: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF DRIED FRUITS: 2006-2007 Dollars Per 2006 Pound Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June APRICOTS Imported ex-whse New York Turkish Number 4's N/A N/A 1.20 N/A 1.20...

Price trends of nuts and nutmeats: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF NUTS AND NUTMEATS: 2006-2007 2006 Dollars Per Pound: Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. ALMONDS Nonpareil Supreme 3.45- 2.55- 2.70- 2.70- ...

Price trends of frozen fruits: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF FROZEN FRUITS: 2006-2007 Dollars Per Pound: 2006 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. Strawberries: 6/6.5-lb. Sl., f.o.b. California N/A N/A 0.78 0.78...

Price trends of frozen & bulk concentrates: 2006-2007.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
January 7, 2008... PRICE TRENDS OF FROZEN & BULK CONCENTRATES: 2006-2007 2006 Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. BULK CONCENTRATES Apple /70 brix gal. Chinese, ex-dock NY. 5.50-...

Butter.(MARKETS)
January 7, 2008... BUTTER BUTTER MARKET, JANUARY 4 Cents Per Pound: 1/4/2008 12/28/2007 Chge. Grade AA 1.2392 1.2717 -.0325 (Source: USDA)

Cheese.(MARKETS)
January 7, 2008... CHEESE CHEDDAR CHEESE MARKET JANUARY 4 Cents Per Pound: 1/4/2008 Chge. Fr. Last Wk. Barrels 1/2/00 0.0750 Blocks (40-lbs.) 2.1008 0.0958

Eggs.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... EGGS EGG PRICES TO RETAILERS JANUARY 4 Wk. Ending Wk. Ending Cents per dozen: 4-Jan 28-Dec Chge. Extra Large-NY 163-167 N/A N/A Large-NY 161-165 N/A...

Chicken.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... CHICKEN PRELIMINARY BROILER PRICES FOR DELIVERY THE WEEK OF JANUARY 7 Cents Per Pound: This Week Last Week Chicago 70-73 N/A Cleveland Too Few Too Few Detroit Too Few Too...

Futures prices.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... FUTURES PRICES Cash January March As of January 4, 2008: Price Futures Futures Corn, bu. $4.37 4.66 (Mar) 4.86 (Dec) Soybeans, bu. $12.08 ...

Commodity prices.(MARKETS)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... COMMODITY PRICES Week Week % Chge. Ended Ended Last 4-Jan 28-Dec Year Steers, Tex.-Okl. avg. cwt....

Healthy eating--a gradual change for consumers.
January 14, 2008... Consumer product goods manufacturers and retailers have an opportunity to accelerate the pace of change through targeted initiatives that address consumers' challenges to healthier eating, according to INFORMATION RESOURCES INC.'S (IRI) Times &...

Flurry of new products touting health claims.
January 14, 2008... Awareness of consumers' heightened focus on health and wellness has spurred many food manufacturers to roll out products boasting specific health claims. GENERAL MILLS, INC. is among those companies tapping into this trend with its line of...

Tazo on the rise at Starbucks.(Company overview)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Starbucks bought Tazo in 1999, but before that Tazo was just a small specialty company. It now supplies all of Starbucks' stores plus other restaurant clients, and sells packaged teas in coffee shops and grocery stores from its warehouse in...

Organic/green movement strongest on West Coast.(Statistical table)
January 14, 2008... The California Bay-area leads in terms of organic proponents, with 35% of consumers polled in San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose purchasing organic food products during the past month, revealed a study by SCARBOROUGH RESEARCH. Seattle/Tacoma came...

Organic fast food options sprouting.(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Concepts such as LEAN & GREEN, ORGANIC TO GO, LETTUS ORGANIC CAFE and O'NATURALS are making it easier for organic fans to eat on the run, and do so affordably. For instance, consumers can conveniently pick up an organic salad, a vegan chocolate...

Could text ordering be the next big thing?(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Pizza giants PIZZA HUT, DOMINO'S, and PAPA JOHN'S are paving the way for the newly utilized technology of text ordering. Also known as mobile ordering, it requires a cell phone with Web access, and also to be registered on the company's...

Healthy frozen foods are hot for breakfast.
January 14, 2008... Foods that can be made, consumed and cleaned up in less than 15 minutes, such as bagels and waffles, are increasingly what's for breakfast in time-crunched American households, reported Frozen Food Age (November 2007). Frozen breakfast food...

Value menu focus increases.(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... As MCDONALD'S, WENDY'S and BURGER KING continue to highlight the $0.99 price point as a key tactic in their value menus, many franchisees are beginning to express concerns that the ploy may hurt their profits. Many owner-operators are conscious...

United Natural Foods, Inc.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
January 14, 2008... UNITED NATURAL FOODS, INC. will lease a new, state-of-the-art distribution center in Moreno Valley, CA. The 613,200-sq. ft. facility, to begin operating this summer, will service customers in Southern California, Arizona, Southern Nevada,...

A&P is planning a cost-effective "refresh" program at its Pathmark Stores designed to modernize their look, enhance perishable sections and reinforce a "price impact" message.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Inc.)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... A&P is planning a cost-effective "refresh" program at its PATHMARK STORES designed to modernize their look, enhance perishable sections and reinforce a "price impact" message. The retailer should be able to complete renovations at all Pathmark...

Breyers YoCrunch Yogurt is expanding with YoCrunch Light, featuring one-third fewer calories.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
January 14, 2008... Breyers YoCrunch Yogurt is expanding with YoCrunch Light, featuring one-third fewer calories. YoCrunch Light, available nationwide in May/June, comes in Cookies n' Cream, featuring nonfat vanilla yogurt with Oreo cookie piece toppings, and...

Camille's Sidewalk Cafe inked an agreement with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. to place its franchises in supercenter stores around the nation.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... CAMILLE'S SIDEWALK CAFE inked an agreement with WAL-MART STORES INC. to place its franchises in supercenter stores around the nation. The first Supercenter Camille's is expected to open within the year in Austin, TX, according to David...

University of Washington.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... The cost of lower-calorie foods is increasing faster than the cost of higher-calorie foods, found a UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON study. According to researchers, the study reveals evidence that obesity may be linked to economics and is not simply a...

Supervalu's.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... SUPERVALU'S capital spending through the fiscal quarter ended Dec. 1, 2007 totaled $836 million. The company completed 85 major remodels, 20 minor remodels and 18 new stores. In 2008, total capital spending is projected to be approximately $1.3...

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co.'s new 5 gum, with flavors such as Cobalt and Rain, is catching on with teens and young adults, but it has not slowed the advance of Cadbury Schweppes PLC in North America or reversed Wrigley's market share losses in the U.S.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... WM. WRIGLEY JR. CO.'S new 5 gum, with flavors such as Cobalt and Rain, is catching on with teens and young adults, but it has not slowed the advance of CADBURY SCHWEPPES PLC in North America or reversed Wrigley's market share losses in the U.S....

Safeway has started selling its O Organics line of food products to stores in Asia operated by Carrefour.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
January 14, 2008... SAFEWAY has started selling its O Organics line of food products to stores in Asia operated by CARREFOUR. For prior details of Safeway's global expansion of its O Organics line, see FOOD INSTITUTE REPORT Dec. 17, page 4.

Rite Aid Corporation is exiting the Las Vegas market, terminating its operation of 28 stores.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... RITE AID CORPORATION is exiting the Las Vegas market, terminating its operation of 28 stores. The company is working with interested parties to sell or assign the leases of the 28 buildings. Rite Aid plans to close the stores over the next...

Starbucks Corp.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... STARBUCKS CORP. is returning its chairman, Howard Schultz, to the chief executive's job to lead a major restructuring initiative. The leadership shuffle is part of a series of other initiatives, which include closing U.S. stores that are not...