The Food Institute Report articles from May 2009

The Food Institute Report archives from May 2009

Mothers' priorities dominate children's product launches.(Survey)
May 4, 2009... Successfully creating better-for-you products that address the youth wellness market requires paying attention to major issues that drive mothers' decisions relative to their children's nutrition, according to JUST KID INC., a...

Campbell takes a stand against struggling economy.(Campbell Soup Co.)(Survey)
May 4, 2009... With consumer food spending declining for three consecutive quarters (see page 1), Campbell Soup Co. is concerned about the economic downturn and is keeping a close eye on consumer shopping behavior. Last summer, consumers were apprehensive...

Today in Food's most read stories, Apr. 20 to Apr. 24.(briefs)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... 1) Dutch food group ROYAL WESSANEN NV will start an investigation into exiting all of its North American businesses, consisting of the distribution business TREE OF LIFE NORTH AMERICA, and the branded businesses PANOS BRANDS and LIBERTY...

Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc., Lavel, Quebec, Canada, agreed to acquire Exxonmobil's approximately 450-unit On The Run convenience store franchise system in the U.S. and 43 of its company owned and operated sites in the Phoenix, AZ-market area.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Exxon Mobil Corp.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD INC., Lavel, Quebec, Canada, agreed to acquire EXXONMOBIL's approximately 450-unit ON THE RUN convenience store franchise system in the U.S. and 43 of its company owned and operated sites in the Phoenix, AZ-market area....

Bunge Limited's Bunge North America, St. Louis, MO, purchased the assets of Mid-Atlantic Vegetable Shortening, Inc., a Kearny, NJ-based edible oil packaging business that services bakery, food processor and foodservice customers in the Northeastern U.S.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Bunge North America Inc.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... BUNGE LIMITED'S BUNGE NORTH AMERICA, St. Louis, MO, purchased the assets of MID-ATLANTIC VEGETABLE SHORTENING, INC., a Kearny, NJ-based edible oil packaging business that services bakery, food processor and foodservice customers in the...

Foster Farms' purchase agreement for Pilgrim's Pride Corporation's Farmerville, LA complex is nearing completion.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Pilgrim's Pride Corp.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... FOSTER FARMS' purchase agreement for PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION's Farmerville, LA complex is nearing completion. On May 8, Pilgrim's Pride will idle the Farmerville Complex, and its operations will be transferred to other Pilgrim's Pride...

IAC acquired Seattle-based Urbanspoon, an online local restaurant guide that aggregates restaurant reviews from across the web.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... IAC acquired Seattle-based URBANSPOON, an online local restaurant guide that aggregates restaurant reviews from across the web. Urbanspoon will remain an independent brand and a wholly-owned business of IAC. New York-based IAC operates more...

Asahi Breweries, Ltd. completed the acquisition of 19.9% of Tsingtao Brewery Co., Ltd. from Anheuser-Busch Inbev for $667 million.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)(Tsingtao Brewery Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
May 4, 2009... ASAHI BREWERIES, LTD. completed the acquisition of 19.9% of TSINGTAO BREWERY CO., LTD. from ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV for $667 million. For prior mention, see FOOD INSTITUTE REPORT Feb. 2, page 8.

FDA addresses nutrition symbols and implementation progress.(WASHINGTON)(Law overview)
May 4, 2009... FDA released a memorandum reviewing the comments it received and explaining its next steps with regard to nutrition symbols, and the following summary and analysis is provided by FOOD INSTITUTE counsel OLSSON FRANK WEEDA TERMAN MODE BATZ PC....

Kosher food: what does it mean for food to be certified as kosher, and what can it mean to you?: a webinar.(WASHINGTON)(Brief article)(Conference notes)
May 4, 2009... Wednesday, June 3, 2009 at 12PM EST What is the significance of Kosher certified food, and what are the implications for food producers, distributors and marketers? Find out when representatives of the ORTHODOX UNION (OU), the world's...

Safeway's private label brands aggressively expanding globally to other chains.
May 11, 2009... Two of Safeway's private label brands, O Organics and Eating Right, are boosting their presence internationally as well as domestically. O Organics, featuring over 300 products in 30-plus categories, and Eating Right, with over 225 products in...

2009 Organic market examined; consumers being more selective.
May 11, 2009... U.S. sales of organic products, both food and non-food, reached $24.6 billion by the end of 2008, growing 17.1% over 2007 sales, according to the ORGANIC TRADE ASSOCIATION's 2009 Organic Industry Survey. The survey, conducted by LIEBERMAN...

Private-equity firm Arcapita Inc. reportedly hired Bank of America Merrill Lynch to explore a sale of Cajun Operating Co.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... Private-equity firm ARCAPITA INC. reportedly hired BANK OF AMERICA MERRILL LYNCH to explore a sale of CAJUN OPERATING CO., the franchisor of the 1,650-unit CHURCH'S CHICKEN chain... Nation's Restaurant News (Apr. 29)

Positive growth projected for stores selling groceries in 2009.(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... There are 12,309 grocery stores in the U.S., according to COSTAR GROUP. In 2009, 371 stores are expected to open, while 20 are projected to close. In 2008, 437 stores opened and 242 closed and in 2007 339 opened and 288 closed. Among some...

Consumers want snacks to have vivid flavor, quality ingredients and high nutrition, according to the Snack Foods Culinary Trend Mapping Report from the Center for culinary development and packaged facts.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... Consumers want snacks to have vivid flavor, quality ingredients and high nutrition, according to the Snack Foods Culinary Trend Mapping Report from the CENTER FOR CULINARY DEVELOPMENT and PACKAGED FACTS. In turn, manufacturers are introducing...

Meijer introduced the NUVAL Nutritional Scoring System.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... MEIJER introduced the NUVAL Nutritional Scoring System on nearly 8,000 products.

Some 46 TravelCenters of America LLC restaurants launched an All-You-Can-Eat menu format available at certain Country Pride, Fork-in-the-road and Buckhorn Family restaurants.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
May 11, 2009... Some 46 TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC restaurants launched an All-You-Can-Eat menu format available at certain COUNTRY PRIDE, FORK-IN-THE-ROAD and BUCKHORN FAMILY RESTAURANTS.

Ethanol use responsible for 10%-15% of food price hikes: report.(WASHINGTON)
May 11, 2009... The increased use of ethanol in the U.S. accounted for about 10% to 15% of the rise in food prices between April 2007 and April 2008, the CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE (CBO) estimates. The use of ethanol as a motor fuel in the U.S. grew at an...

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. and Cold Stone Creamery will expand the companies' co-branding option to several hundred stores nationwide.(ON THE FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc.)(Cold Stone Creamery)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... ROCKY MOUNTAIN CHOCOLATE FACTORY, INC. and COLD STONE CREAMERY will expand the companies' co-branding option to several hundred stores nationwide. Double-digit sales gains were posted by the stores testing the concept.

National Restaurant Association.(ON THE FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Report)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... With about $35 billion in sales anticipated this year, restaurants in Texas could lead the industry in economic growth, according to the NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION. The $35 billion figure represents a 4% increase in sales yearoveryear but...

Uno Chicago Grill.(ON THE FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... UNO CHICAGO GRILL introduced a gluten-free veggie pizza.

The Fresh Market.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... THE FRESH MARKET opened its first store in the Philadelphia region in Glen Mills, PA, with a second store slated to open in Horsham later this year.

Pro's Ranch Markets.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
May 18, 2009... PRO'S RANCH MARKETS opened its first store in Mesa, AZ.