The Food Institute Report articles from June 2005

The Food Institute Report archives from June 2005

Growing (your) Hispanic food market.
June 13, 2005... The unexpected, rapid growth of Hispanics caused major revisions in the Census Bureau's latest population figures; this one group accounted for 50% of the nation's growth of 2.9 million in a one-year period. Perhaps more important, the greatest...

Confirming an earlier report in The Food Report, A&P is shutting its Edison, NJ warehouse and is expected to turn to C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc. to supply its stores in the Northeast.(Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company Inc., New Jersey)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Confirming an earlier report in The Food Report, A&P is shutting its Edison, NJ warehouse and is expected to turn to C&S WHOLESALE GROCERS INC. to supply its stores in the Northeast, according to a report in The Record (June 8), which obtained...

Costco Wholesale Corp.(to build distribution center)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP. will build a $30 million, nearly 500,000-sq. ft. distribution center in Salt Lake City, UT. The center will serve roughly 30 Costco membership warehouses in a four-state region that includes Utah, Colorado, Idaho and...

Natural and specialty foods distributor Tree of Life, Inc. signed a distribution agreement with Coppell, TX-based Minyard Food Stores, a 69-store group in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.(Texas)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Natural and specialty foods distributor TREE OF LIFE, INC. signed a distribution agreement with Coppell, TX-based MINYARD FOOD STORES, a 69-store group in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Tree of Life will serve as the distributor of natural and...

Pathmark-Yucaipa.(RETAILER ROUND-UP)
June 13, 2005... PATHMARK-YUCAIPA deal approved by shareholders--see page 4.

Food wholesalers dwindling.(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... The number of food wholesalers is likely to shrink by more than two-thirds in the next five to seven years, Ron Marshall, the chairman of food distributor NASH FINCH CO., said at a PIPER JAFFRAY conference on consumer products companies. The...

PMA develops common language for produce industry.(Produce Marketing Association)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... With the creation of ASAP: Produce (A Standardized Attributes Product), a groundbreaking new data standardization product from the PRODUCE MARKETING ASSOCIATION (PMA), the fresh produce industry can now speak the same language. "ASAP: Produce...

Kids eating most fruits and veggies as snacks, finds PMA.(Produce Marketing Association)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... The majority (46% of the respondents) of children across four demographic groups eat most of their fresh fruits and vegetables as snacks, rather than at breakfast, school lunch, or dinner, revealed a new PRODUCE MARKETING ASSOCIATION study,...

Multicultural populations present opportunities for foodservice.
June 13, 2005... The growth in multicultural populations--and their buying power--presents an opportunity for foodservice operators, as more than 90% of consumers in all minority groups reported they had dined out in the previous month, including 98% of...

Mars reinventing M&M's to target adults.(product introduction)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... While most manufacturers are scaling down product size and portions, M&M's will be gaining weight this summer. In July, Mars Inc. will debut larger M&M's in a new palette of sophisticated colors in an effort to grow its long-time brand. Mega...

Mergers & acquisitions.
June 13, 2005... CALAVO GROWERS, INC. and LIMONEIRA COMPANY, both located in Santa Paula, CA, have announced equity cross-investments in each other's operations. Under the agreement, Calavo acquires approximately 15% ownership interest in Limoneira, and becomes...

Taste test: over half of participants preferred store brand.(Private label products are the preferred one's)
June 13, 2005... In a 10-city taste test of private label versus national brands, 51% of participants preferred the store brands, according to MEYERS RESEARCH CENTER, which conducted the taste test for the PRIVATE LABEL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION. Among the 12...

7-Eleven Inc.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Reorganization and restructuring)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... 7-ELEVEN INC., Dallas, will convert 200 company-operated convenience stores in Colorado into franchised locations. The shift affects metro Denver 7-Elevens, as well as stores in Louisville, Greeley, Lafayette, Longmont, Brighton, Fort Collins...

California Raisin Marketing Board.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Raisins contain compounds that suppress bacteria responsible for cavities and gum disease, according to a study funded by the CALIFORNIA RAISIN MARKETING BOARD... MSNBC.com (June 8)

Supervalu.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(SUPERVALU has recently begun conducting electronic data interchange (EDI) transactions)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... SUPERVALU has recently begun conducting electronic data interchange (EDI) transactions with suppliers of fresh produce and meat, according to Greg Zwanziger, senior business strategy consultant, Supervalu. "We do EDI with virtually 100% of our...

Many mothers are constantly multi-tasking to handle home and job duties, and are most likely to respond to e-mails that save them time and money, according to a study by Emaillabs and Lucid Marketing.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Many mothers are constantly multi-tasking to handle home and job duties, and are most likely to respond to e-mails that save them time and money, according to a study by EMAILLABS and LUCID MARKETING. The study found that 62.6% of mothers...

Perdue Farms Inc.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(expansion of the meat industry.)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... PERDUE FARMS INC., Salisbury, MD, announced a $17 million expansion at its Monterey, TN further-processing plant. The expansion will increase the company's capacity to produce sliced, deli-style meats primarily for foodservice operators. The...

Dollar General Corp. is planning to introduce its food-heavy Dollar General Market concept to the Orlando market.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
June 13, 2005... DOLLAR GENERAL CORP. is planning to introduce its food-heavy DOLLAR GENERAL MARKET concept to the Orlando market. The Dollar General Market format is much like Dollar General's traditional stores, however, it carries more perishable items than...

The use of plastic, whether in the form of debit cards or prepaid cards, is growing exponentially, with 668 million credit cards outstanding (Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover), and an additional 235 million debit cards, according to cardweb.com.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... The use of plastic, whether in the form of debit cards or prepaid cards, is growing exponentially, with 668 million credit cards outstanding (VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS and DISCOVER), and an additional 235 million debit cards, according...

Wal-Mart Stores Inc.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... WAL-MART STORES INC. is seeking to appeal to a broader audience. While the discount retailer emphasizes that it will "never turn its back on its obligation" to low-income customers who can't afford to shop elsewhere, its "game plan" this year...

After three years of research, 7-Eleven Inc., Dallas, and the makers of Blue Bunny ice cream have discovered a way to keep a soft-serve treat from hardening in the freezer case.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
June 13, 2005... After three years of research, 7-ELEVEN INC., Dallas, and the makers of Blue Bunny ice cream have discovered a way to keep a soft-serve treat from hardening in the freezer case. The convenience store chain partnered with WELLS' DAIRY INC. of Le...

Kraft Foods Inc. is transforming its entire Lunchables line to contain fewer calories and less fat and sodium An earlier effort to market a healthier variety dubbed Fun Fuel was unsuccessful.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... KRAFT FOODS INC. is transforming its entire Lunchables line to contain fewer calories and less fat and sodium An earlier effort to market a healthier variety dubbed Fun Fuel was unsuccessful. Sales of KRAFT'S Lunchables have plateaued at $500...

Houlihan's Restaurants Inc.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... HOULIHAN'S RESTAURANTS INC. is launching its new store design in the Chicago suburbs, with two prototype stores set to open before 2006. The new design will replace the chain's pub-like atmosphere with more contemporary furnishings. The...

Valero Energy Corp.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... VALERO ENERGY CORP. launched a line of proprietary chips under the Fresh Choices brand in its 1,100 company-operated retail stores. Valero expects to sell more than 1.5 million bags in the first year; there are four flavors: corn chips,...

Burger King.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... BURGER KING is tentatively planning the launch this summer of a spicy, four-inch-long, fried white-meat chicken snack that looks like a cross between a chicken strip and french fry. BK Chicken Fries, as they are being called in test marketing,...

Wendy's International.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(product introduction)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... WENDY'S INTERNATIONAL has hinted that it will move up the launch of its new line of deli-style Frescata sandwiches to 2005... CNN Money (June 3)

Latest financial reports.(Illustration)
June 13, 2005... LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (in $000) Current % Change Year Year Ago ALBERTSON'S, INC. (BOISE, ID) 13 Wks. To May 5: Sales $9,993,000 16.0% Net Income...

California Fig Advisory Board.(FI MEMBER PROFILE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... The California Fig Advisory Board is part of a State agency and is responsible for industry grade standards as well as the promotion of dried figs and fig products. The reputation of the California fig industry is built upon the health, safety...

Children's Hunger Fund.(FI MEMBER PROFILE)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... As a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, Children's Hunger Fund (CHF) is focused on providing real solutions to the expanding problems of hunger and poverty in the U.S. and around the world. CHF receives products from premiere national food,...

Harvey Alpert & Company.(FI MEMBER PROFILE)
June 13, 2005... Founded in 1977, Harvey Alpert & Company has over 25 years experience in bringing airlines and leading brands together. Harvey Albert & Co. is the exclusive national sales and marketing representative for a portfolio of national recognized food...

USDA: Canadian border closure is driving consumers away from beef.(WASHINGTON)(United States. Department of Agriculture)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Although an injunction issued in March that stopped USDA from reopening the Canadian border to live cattle remains in place, the Secretary of Agriculture pleased his case last week at a BSE Roundtable at The University of Minnesota for...

Meat COOL faces delay via House spending bill.(WASHINGTON)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Legislation that would have upheld mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for meat was defeated by the House of Representatives last week by a margin of 187-240. Sans the amendment, a House Agriculture appropriation bill lacks the funds to...

Group calls on FDA to crack down on three dairy product makers.(WASHINGTON)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Requesting FDA put an end to what it calls false and misleading claims by dairy product manufacturers that contend milk consumption promotes weight and fat loss, the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) filed a petition with the...

USITC reviewing order on Iranian pistachios.(WASHINGTON)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... A full five-year ("sunset") review concerning the antidumping duty order on raw in-shell pistachios from Iran since July 17,1986 is being slated as a result of an affirmative vote to do so by the entire International Trade Commission. The...

WTO agrees with U.S. in Mexican rice case.(WASHINGTON)
June 13, 2005... A World Trade Organization panel has sided with the U.S. in an agricultural dispute involving Mexican antidumping duties on U.S. long grain white rice. In a report, the WTO panel agreed with the U.S. that Mexico's antidumping duties on rice and...

You should know.(Richard Codey imposes ban on school junk food)(Coca-Cola Co. workers return after two-week strike)(Food and Drug Administration initates investigation on Coccidiosis)
June 13, 2005... ... . Calling it "the most comprehensive food program in the nation," a school junk food ban was introduced by New Jersey Governor Richard Codey that forbids the usual soda, candy and chips, but also contains other nutritional requirements. It...

U.S. fisheries.(NOTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... U.S. FISHERIES: The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) issued a final rule on Gulf of Mexico vermilion snapper that increased size to 11 inches (28 cm) and that closes the fishery from Apr. 22 through May 31 each year. It is effective...

Community Food and Nutrition Program.(NOTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... COMMUNITY FOOD AND NUTRITION PROGRAM: Funding information was released by the Department of Health and Human Services. Contact Catherine Beck, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services' Operations Center,...

Bottled water standards.(NOTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... BOTTLED WATER STANDARDS: A final FDA rule revised the level for arsenic. Bottled water manufacturers must monitor both finished bottles and water sources at least once a year for arsenic. It is effective Jan. 26, 2006. Contact Jennifer Burnham,...

Fruit and vegetable irradiation.(NOTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... FRUIT AND VEGETABLE IRRADIATION: USDA proposes changes on approved doses for irradiation treatment of imported fruits and vegetables to control pests. Comments due Aug. 9; contact Dr. Inder Gadh, Treatment Specialist, Phytosanitary Issues...

Meat and poultry standards.(NOTED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... MEAT AND POULTRY STANDARDS: Federal meat and poultry products inspection regulations will be amended as of Jan. 1, 2008. USDA will establish a general definition and standard of identity for standardized meat and poultry products that have been...

Supplement marketers settle FTC charges.(WASHINGTON)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Gero Vita International and six related defendants have settled Federal Trade Commission charges that they violated federal law by claiming that their products could cure or treat numerous illnesses and conditions, including asthma, diabetes,...

FDA issues warning letters.(WASHINGTON)(discipline)(Brief Article)
June 13, 2005... Eastern Treats Inc., Orlando, Fl was found to have serious deviations from the seafood Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) Regulations. Accordingly FDA found the firm's seafood products, including crab cakes, small shrimp spring...

Food product recalls reported.(WASHINGTON)
June 13, 2005... Alamance Foods, Inc. of Burlington, NC recalled non dairy (Parve) topping bearing the label "Flavor Right (Parve) Whipped Topping", in 7 oz cans, code 72205. Distributed nationwide. Reason: Contains a dairy component. Publix Super Markets...

Produce.(MARKETS)(apple industry)
June 13, 2005... APPLES--With this year shaping up to be a record harvest, Washington apple growers are dealing with selling 103.2 million boxes of apples, a more than 30% increase from the previous crop year, according to the Washington Growers Clearing House...

Canned vegetables.(MARKETS)
June 13, 2005... CORN--In the East, processed sweet corn had been progressing slowly, but improved over the past week with the warm weather, approximately 80%-85% of the crop has been planted. Conditions are the same in the Midwest, cool temperatures had been...

Tomato products.(MARKETS)
June 13, 2005... Processing tomatoes continue to be planted in the Sacramento and San Joaquin Valley's of California. Overall, the California crop is progressing with canning scheduled to begin next month. ITALY UPDATE--Italian production of tomatoes for...

Frozen vegetables.(MARKETS)
June 13, 2005... New Organic Line Of Frozen Vegetables VIP Foods introduced an organic line of premium frozen vegetables in SteamWorks[R] packaging. The new line combines the numerous health benefits of organic grown vegetables with a perfect method for...

Canned fruits.(MARKETS)
June 13, 2005... USDA HAS PURCHASED CANNED FRUITS *Shipments between July 1, 2005-June 30, 2006* Cases Total Cost Apricots (24/300) 106,920 - 152,280 $1,566,313 Peaches (24/300) 280,260...

Processed fish.(MARKETS)
June 13, 2005... More Offshore U.S. Fish Farms? The Bush administration is sending a bill to Congress to establish regulations for fish farming that would allow fish farming up to 200 miles off the nation's coasts, reported MSNBC.com. Seafood demand is...

Dried vegetables.(MARKETS)
June 13, 2005... Onion Plant Closing Onion farmers in Eastern Oregon say the planned closure of ConAgra's onion dehydrating plant in Umatilla is the latest problem for an already faltering industry. "We had a tough year last year--the bottom of the market...

Dried fruit & nuts.(MARKETS)
June 13, 2005... RAISINS--U.S. exports of raisins totaled 64.3 million pounds through Apr.1, down 1% from last year. However the dollar value of shipments was up 21% due to an increase in the F.A.S. from 68 cents per pound in 2004 to 84 cents per pound in 2005...

Frozen fruit.(MARKETS)
June 13, 2005... SELECTED U.S. FROZEN FRUIT EXPORTS JAN. 1-APR. 1, 2005 (Source: Bureau of Census) Pounds % Chge. Dollars % Chge. (1,000) Last Yr. ($1,000) Last Yr. Strawberries ...

Juices and concentrates.(MARKETS)
June 13, 2005... APPLE CONCENTRATE--Total processing apple holdings as of June 1 were 11.4 million bushels, 51% higher than on June 1,2004 and 28% above the five-year average for that date. In Michigan, trading is active for limited supplies of juice...

Butter.(MARKETS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 13, 2005... BUTTER MARKET, JUNE 10 (Source: USDA) Cents Per Pound: 06/10/2005 06/03/2005 Chge. Grade AA 1.4375 1.435 -0.0025

Cheese.(MARKETS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 13, 2005... CHEDDAR CHEESE MARKET JUNE 10 Cents Per Pound: 06/10/2005 Chge. Fr. Last Wk. Barrels 1.42 -0.03 Blocks (40-lbs.) 1.47 -0.02

Eggs.(MARKETS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 13, 2005... EGG PRICES TO RETAILERS JUNE 10 (Source: USDA) Wk. Ending Wk. Ending Chng. Cents per dozen: 10-Jun 03-Jun Extra Large-NY 52-56 52-56 N/C Large-NY 50-54 ...

Chicken.(MARKETS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 13, 2005... PRELIMINARY BROILER PRICES FOR DELIVERY THE WEEK OF JUNE 13 Cents Per Pound: This Week Last Week Chicago 66-69 67-70 Cleveland Too Few Too Few Detroit Too Few Too Few Los...

Futures prices.(MARKETS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 13, 2005... FUTURES PRICES (Source: Wall Street Journal) Cash July Sept. As of June 10, 2005: Price Futures Futures Corn, bu. $1.95 $2.16 $2.25...

Commodity prices.(MARKETS)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 13, 2005... COMMODITY PRICES (Source: Wall Street Journal) Week Week % Chge. Ended Ended Last June 10 June 3 ...

2004 natural food sales: natural product retailers outsold mass market channel.
June 20, 2005... Natural product retailers sold $12.3 billion worth of food in 2004, up 7.7% from 2003. Food sales accounted for 55.9% of that channels overall natural product sales of $22.0 billion. Meanwhile, natural food product sales through the mass market...

Nash finch touts IGA retailer initiative ...(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... An extensive IGA retailer market development program was unveiled by Nash Finch Company last week. The program-It's a New Day with IGA-cited numerous benefits for member IGA retailers, but focused on eight key benefits: * Increase in IGA...

... Converts Cincinnati division to dedicated IGA facility.(Nash Finch Co.)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Nash Finch announced the conversion of its Cincinnati distribution center to a dedicated IGA Center of Excellence that will consolidate service to its member retailers. The facility will not only carry a much broader assortment of products, but...

Wendy's investor seeks restructuring.
June 20, 2005... PERSHING SQUARE CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LP, a major investor in Wendy' s International Inc., Dublin, OH, has hired private equity firm BLACKSTONE GROUP LP to come up with ways to restructure the fast food chain in the face of sluggish sales,...

Fitness products cited among 2005 Candy trends.
June 20, 2005... Fitness Fanatic, Limited Edition, Gourmet Everyday, Blasts from the Past, Fun Flavors, and Entertainment are the confectionery industry's trendsetters in 2005. The findings were revealed by new product launches at the NATIONAL CONFECTIONERS...

Untapped confection creations.(Knechtel Laboratories)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... KNECHTEL LABORATORIES, the preeminent candy lab in the U.S. where companies present their ideas or turn to when seeking to create something new, is responsible for developing many top sellers on the market. However, it also houses up to $6...

RFID industry headed for consolidation?(radio frequency identification)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... The radio frequency identification (RFID) industry may be on the verge of a shakeout, even as uses for RFID technology are growing. Although consolidations, bankruptcies and mergers may sound daunting, they would actually indicate the industry...

Trucking industry facing driver shortage issues.
June 20, 2005... The U.S. truck transportation industry is experiencing a national shortage of drivers that has become a limiting factor in the operations of many companies. The current shortage of long-haul heavy-duty truck drivers is equal to perhaps 1.5% of...

Latest financial report.(Brief Article)(Illustration)
June 20, 2005... LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (in $000) Current % Change Year Year Ago AHOLD NV (ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS) * 16 Wks. To Apr. 24: Sales 12,966,000 ...

Food Lion has completed redesigns of approximately 60 stores in the Triad region of North Carolina.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... FOOD LION has completed redesigns of approximately 60 stores in the Triad region of North Carolina. Redesigned stores are designed to give customers more options, with an expanded produce department that features more room for tropical fruits...

Cott Corporation.(operations of new plant to start)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... COTT CORPORATION'S U.S. subsidiary has begun shipping from its new manufacturing facility in Fort Worth, TX. The 508,000sq. ft. plant is operating two high-speed PET lines, producing retailer brand carbonated soft drinks and purified drinking...

Starbucks will close its Torrefazione Italia cafes and focus on developing the upscale coffee brand through grocery and foodservice deals.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... STARBUCKS will close its TORREFAZIONE ITALIA cafes and focus on developing the upscale coffee brand through grocery and foodservice deals. Torrefazione was acquired by the upscale coffee chain in July 2003. There are 17 Torrefazione outlets in...

Balducci's.(new store plans)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... BALDUCCI'S, the specialty food supermarket retailer based in Bethesda, MD, plans to open three new stores in the greater Washington, DC area, including a groundbreaking 21,000-sq. ft. store in the revitalized Penn Quarter/MCI neighborhood

Gorton's.(Gorton's Seafood to launch Beer Batter Tenders)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... GORTON'S, the Gloucester, MA-based frozen seafood brand, will be rolling out Beer Batter Tenders during June. Beer Batter Tenders features a crispy pub-style beer batter coating made with real beer. There are zero grams of trans fat and no MSG...

Masterfoodsusa.(new Dove products launched)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... MASTERFOODSUSA, Hackettstown, NJ, announced three new Dove products-ice cream, cookies, and chocolate. Dove super premium pint ice cream is topped with a rich layer of Dove Chocolate ganache and has Dove Chocolate chunks and swirls in the ice...

Interest in eating food in its pure form, uncooked and unprocessed, is growing.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Interest in eating food in its pure form, uncooked and unprocessed, is growing. San Diego natives David Wolfe and Thor Bazler created NATURE'S FIRST LAW, a multimillion-dollar business and source of raw gospel nationwide. Their El Cajon, CA...

The WM. Wrigley Jr. Company.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(product introduction)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... THE WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY, Chicago, will launch seven new items under the Orbit, Juicy Fruit, Eclipse and Hubba Bubba brands this summer.

Constellation Brands Inc. will not pursue a bid for Allied Domecq Plc.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... CONSTELLATION BRANDS INC. will not pursue a bid for ALLIED DOMECQ PLC, leaving the way open for France's PERNOD RICARD SA to continue with its nearly $13.5 billion offer for the company.OregonLive.com (June 17)

ACNielsen.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(surveys by ACNielsen of consumers)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Some 28% of U.S. respondents said once they have covered their essential living expenses they "have no spare cash," according to an ACNIELSEN survey of consumers in 38 markets throughout the world.

Portion control has hit baked goods as sales of mini-muffins, small pastries and petite danish soar.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Portion control has hit baked goods as sales of mini-muffins, small pastries and petite danish soar. At WEGMANS, the mini muffins baked at the chain's Rochester, NY bakery have become so popular that the company recently stopped shipping packs...

University of Kentucky.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... For individuals trying to shed pounds, soy-based liquid meal replacement shakes may be just as effective as intensive behavioral therapy and more effective than weight loss medications, according to new research from Dr. James W. Anderson, of...

Restaurant and entertainment concept incubator Schussler Creative has partnered with Levy Restaurants to spearhead food and beverage development and operate its first "edutainment" concept: T-Rex.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Restaurant and entertainment concept incubator SCHUSSLER CREATIVE has partnered with LEVY RESTAURANTS to spearhead food and beverage development and operate its first "edutainment" concept: T-REX. Levy Restaurants will manage all food, beverage...

Arby's, LLC.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(contracts)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... ARBY'S, LLC signed 14 development agreements to create 28 new Arby's restaurants. These agreements, which include the addition of two new franchisees, provide for the development of new Arby's restaurants in FL, VA, IA, WI, CA, OH, CT, AZ, TX,...

Five former Food Basics and Farmer Jack stores in Michigan are up and running under different names and another plans to open in July.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Five former FOOD BASICS and FARMER JACK stores in Michigan are up and running under different names and another plans to open in July. SPARTAN STORES INC. has supplier agreements with all six new stores to supply fresh meat, produce and general...