The Food Institute Report articles from September 2008

The Food Institute Report archives from September 2008

Supermarkets: small is big.
September 15, 2008... Contrary to the trend of recent years, dramatically smaller grocery stores are surfacing rapidly. The scaled-down concept, realized by more traditional retailers, answers the growing consumer need for securing groceries quickly, and bolsters...

Online market info centers are a great member resource.(REPORT TO MEMBERS)
September 15, 2008... As readers of this weekly report, I want to remind you that the FOOD INSTITUTE website offers you a wealth of information that supplements this publication. Over the past few months, the Food Institute staff has been updating the information in...

High food and fuel prices boon to web grocers.(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... Web grocers are seeing significant growth as more and more customers are turning to the online retail services, according to BusinessWeek (Sept. 15). High gas and food prices prompted many consumers to purchase their groceries through the...

NYC's Korean produce stands allow for diversity.(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... For many, the Korean grocery stores that lined the streets of New York City were prime examples of immigrants being able to come to America and make a living, according to a new book profiled in The New York Times on the Web (Sept. 5). The...

It is as easy as ABC for Heinz.(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... Heinz's hottest brand is no longer ketchup, according to BusinessWeek (Sept. 8). Although the product continues to register growth, 8% in the most recent quarter, Heinz's Asian ABC label saw a 44% increase in the same period. ABC, a syrupy soy...

Aldi provides alternative to larger, more expensive supermarkets.(ALDI Foods)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... Though consumers may be initially confused by its unique, smaller selection, ALDI'S format ensures cheap prices, regular turnover and allows for tremendous buying power with is suppliers. Aldi sells its private label products for 40% less than...

U.S. food-based retailing topped $1 trillion in 2007.(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... Of the $4.33 trillion in retail trade in 2007, food-based retailers accounted for 22.4% of the total or just over $1.0 trillion. That share was just slightly higher than the 22.3% reported for 2006 and 22.2% for 2005, according to FOOD...

Nutrition and snack bars gain in popularity.
September 15, 2008... Total dollar sales for the snack and granola bar category was $2.3 billion, up almost 5% from the previous year, according to INFORMATION RESOURCES, INC., reported FoodBusinessNews (Aug.5). "Healthy snacking is very hot," stated Phil Walotsky,...

Harris Interactive.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --An estimated 12% of Americans spent their stimulus checks at restaurants, according to a HARRIS INTERACTIVE poll. Another 36% used the check to pay off bills or credit cards, and 29% put it toward their cash savings. One in five (21%) spent...

Pizza Fusion plans to open 500 U.S. franchises over the next half-decade.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --PIZZA FUSION plans to open 500 U.S. franchises over the next half-decade. The restaurant chain, which uses organic and gluten-free ingredients, currently has 75 franchises in development in 15 states and intends to grow following an equity...

Wendy's is offering a 99-cent Double Stack cheeseburger across the U.S.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --WENDY'S is offering a 99-cent Double Stack cheeseburger across the U.S. The sandwich will replace the Stack Attack on Wendy's Value Menu. In addition, the chain is introducing low-fat NESTLE Nesquik milk in its 5,900 U.S. restaurants, along...

Despite rising costs, Burger King is adding smaller, lower-cost items priced at $1.39.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --Despite rising costs, BURGER KING is adding smaller, lower-cost items priced at $1.39. The products, the Cheesy Bacon BK Wrapper and the Spicy Chicken BK Wrapper, are similar to those already on the menu at MCDONALD'S, Wendy's, KFC, and TACO...

McDonald's is launching a new McCafe brand of designer coffees, which will be offered out of a separate area in most restaurants and in drive-thrus.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --McDonald's is launching a new McCafe brand of designer coffees, which will be offered out of a separate area in most restaurants and in drive-thrus. About 89 out of 118 San Diego McDonald's are expected to have them by the end of September; a...

Focus Brands is attempting to energize Moe's Southwest Grill with new menu items, store concepts, and TV commercials, according to president Paul Damico.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --FOCUS BRANDS is attempting to energize MOE'S SOUTHWEST GRILL with new menu items, store concepts, and TV commercials, according to president Paul Damico. The chain, which put pulled pork on the menu permanently, will introduce new salsas and...

Cosi.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --COSI introduced its "Lighten Up! Menu" at all of its restaurants. The menu features the Signature Salad Light, Bombay Chicken Light Salad, and T.B.M. Light Sandwich, all less than 500 calories each,... QSR Magazine (Sept. 8)

Organic to go.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --ORGANIC TO GO launched a seasonal fall and winter catering menu. Created for groups of five to 1,000, the full-service catering menu offers 30 new options, including Beef Stew, Chicken Pot Pie, and Turkey Roulade. Catering accounts for 40% of...

Cefiore Italian Frozen Yogurt.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --CEFIORE ITALIAN FROZEN YOGURT is seeking franchisees to open stores in numerous U.S. cities, including New York, Dallas, Kansas City, and San Francisco. The company currently has more than 30 locations across seven states and three countries....

Sales in the German foodservice market examined.
September 15, 2008... German consumers spent approximately U.S. $258 billion in 2007 on food and beverages or 14.4% of total national expenditures. Some 5.5% of total national expenditures or approximately $97.6 billion was spent on hotel and gastronomy services....

Latest financial reports (000 omitted).(Financial report)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (000 OMITTED) Current % Change Year Year Ago CALAVO GROWERS, INC. (SANTA ANA, CA) Qtr. To July 31: Sales $96,903 ...

Starbucks introduced more nutrition-friendly breakfast food with fewer calories, more protein, fiber, and fruit at most of its 11,570 locations in the U.S. and Canada.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --STARBUCKS introduced more nutrition-friendly breakfast food with fewer calories, more protein, fiber, and fruit at most of its 11,570 locations in the U.S. and Canada. Six new items include hot oatmeal, an energy bar, and a whole-grain apple...

Dunkin' Donuts.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --DUNKIN' DONUTS plans to open at least four drive-through locations in Chicago where Starbucks previously planned to operate. While Starbucks pared back expansion plans and in July stated it would close 18 outlets in the Chicago area, Dunkin'...

Argo Tea.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --In the coming months, ARGO TEA plans to expand to the East Coast with the opening of five new corporate stores. Within the past five years, the tea cafe evolved into a chain of 10 company-owned stores, all in the Chicago area... QSRMagazine...

Doherty Enterprises Inc. signed a deal with El Pollo Loco.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(contracts)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --DOHERTY ENTERPRISES INC. signed a deal with EL POLLO LOCO to open 30 restaurants in Northern and Central New Jersey and Long Island, NY... The Record (Sept. 3)

Crepemaker.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --CREPEMAKER is rolling out three new franchised restaurants in Florida in Coconut Creek, West Palm Beach, and Port St. Lucie. The company, started in 1997, currently has six CrepeMaker restaurants in Miami-Dade County. In addition, the company...

Roxberry Juice, a new smoothie and juice bar concept, was launched by Brad Davis, a former Zuka Juice and Jamba Juice executive.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --ROXBERRY JUICE, a new smoothie and juice bar concept, was launched by Brad Davis, a former ZUKA JUICE and JAMBA JUICE executive. The company opened its first store in March in American Fork, UT and will open four more stores in the state by...

Meanwhile, Jamba Inc. will close an additional 20 stores in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --Meanwhile, Jamba Inc. will close an additional 20 stores in order to reduce costs and increase efficiency. The company's business model will also shift its focus from corporate store growth to franchising and in some cases re-franchising.

ACG Pizza Partners, LP opened three Stevi B's franchised locations in Cleveland, TN, Gadsden, AL, and Chesterfield Township, MI.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --ACG PIZZA PARTNERS, LP opened three STEVI B'S franchised locations in Cleveland, TN, Gadsden, AL, and Chesterfield Township, MI. In addition, the company recently signed franchise agreements for eight additional locations, including a...

Pizza Hut.(FOODSERVICE FRONT)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... --PIZZA HUT introduced a new Tuscani Pastas recipe, Premium Bacon Mac 'n Cheese.

Altria Group, Richmond, VA, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of UST, the Stamford, CT-based maker of the Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco brands, in a transaction valued at approximately $11.7 billion, which includes the assumption of about $1.3 billion of debt.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... ALTRIA GROUP, Richmond, VA, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of UST, the Stamford, CT-based maker of the Skoal and Copenhagen smokeless tobacco brands, in a transaction valued at approximately $11.7 billion,...

Atlas Oil Company, Taylor, MI, completed the acquisition of 23 BP branded retail outlets in the Northwest Indiana market.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... ATLAS OIL COMPANY, Taylor, MI, completed the acquisition of 23 BP branded retail outlets in the Northwest Indiana market. Eight of the 23 retail sites were officially transitioned to Atlas on Sept. 8, while the remaining sites will be...

Bond Laboratories, Inc., a Solana Beach, CA-based marketer of healthy food and beverage products.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... BOND LABORATORIES, INC., a Solana Beach, CA-based marketer of healthy food and beverage products, entered into a Letter of Intent to acquire NDS NUTRITIONAL PRODUCTS, INC.

AAK, Sweden-based manufacturer of specialty vegetable fats, acquired all shares in Rapsona AB, Jarfalla, Sweden.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... AAK, Sweden-based manufacturer of specialty vegetable fats, acquired all shares in RAPSONA AB, Jarfalla, Sweden. The newly acquired company, which supplies restaurants, food service, bakeries, small convenience food producers and other...

Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association and BRI, both based in the UK.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... CAMPDEN & CHORLEYWOOD FOOD RESEARCH ASSOCIATION and BRI, both based in the UK, merged to become CAMPDEN BRI.

Coca-Cola Company's bid to buy China Huiyuan Juice Group Ltd. is stirring nationalist opposition.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... COCA-COLA COMPANY'S bid to buy CHINA HUIYUAN JUICE GROUP LTD. is stirring nationalist opposition. The internet portal Sina.com claims 80% of some 229,000 people who responded to an online poll were opposed to letting Coca-Cola acquire Huiyuan....

Hat Trick Beverages Inc.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... HAT TRICK BEVERAGES INC. received an initial proposal to merge with an unnamed privately held Italian manufacturer of specialty beverage vending equipment. The proposal is to acquire a majority position in Hat Trick for a combination of cash...

Rex Holdings Inc. is considering selling its AMPM Japan Co. convenience store chain, according to the Jiji Press.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... REX HOLDINGS INC. is considering selling its AMPM JAPAN CO. convenience store chain, according to the Jiji Press. Prospective bidders include LAWSON INC., the second-largest convenience store operator in Japan, and FAMILYMART CO., the...

USDA 2009 exportation forecasts lower than 2008.(Report)
September 15, 2008... The Electronic Outlook Report from the ECONOMIC RESEARCH SERVICE and FOREIGN AGRICULTURAL SERVICE forecast agricultural exports at $113 billion in fiscal 2009, a decrease of $1 billion from its revised 2008 estimate. While grain exports were...

Agriprocessors charged with 9,000-plus child labor misdemeanors.(WASHINGTON)
September 15, 2008... The ORTHODOX UNION (OU) threatened to withdraw its certification from the products of Iowa-based kosher meat company Agriprocessors, Inc. if management is not changed, stated Rabbi Menachem Genack, who heads up kosher certification, reported...

Whole Foods / Wild Oats merger hearings set for February 2009.(WASHINGTON)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... The FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION (FTC) rejected Whole Foods' request that none of the FTC commissioners serve as the administrative law judge who presides over the Whole Foods/Wild Oats case on the legality of the $565 million merger. Three reasons...

Group of almond growers sues USDA.(WASHINGTON)
September 15, 2008... A group of 15 American almond growers and wholesale nut handlers filed a federal lawsuit seeking to repeal a controversial USDA-mandated treatment program for California-grown raw almonds. The almond farmers and handlers contend that their...

Food safety & imports: ERS analysis of FDA import refusal reports.(WASHINGTON)
September 15, 2008... Interest in the safety of imported foods is increasing over time, reported USDA's Economic Research Service (ERS). This occurred not only because the volume of food imports is increasing in the U.S., but because the imported share of the total...

Economic impacts of government responses to Bovine Spongiform.(WASHINGTON)
September 15, 2008... Animal and poultry disease outbreaks often lead to new or amended policies and regulations. The economic effects induced by these policies can be much greater and longer lasting than the immediate effect of the disease outbreak alone. Using...

ITC "sunset" review set for Saccarin imported from China.(WASHINGTON)(International Trade Commission)(Brief article)
September 15, 2008... The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) voted to conduct a full five-year ("sunset") review concerning the antidumping duty order on saccharin from China. As a result, the Commission will conduct a full review to determine whether...

FDA issues warning letters.(WASHINGTON)(Center Oriented Food)(Tarantino And Sons, Inc.)(Roselife, LLC.)(United States. Food and Drug Administration)
September 15, 2008... Seattle, WA-based CENTER ORIENTAL FOOD was issued a warning letter on Aug. 6, 2008 by FDA after an investigation of the company's food and seafood processing facility on May 13 and 15, 2008. The investigation found serious violations of the...

Food product recalls reported.(Starway Inc.)(ACH Food Cos.)(T. Marzetti Co.)
September 15, 2008... EGO brand Preserved Peaches is being recalled by STARWAY INCORPORATED, Brooklyn, NY. The products were distributed nationwide. The firm initiated recall began on Sept. 3, 2008, and is ongoing. Reason For Recall: "The products contain undeclared...

Produce.(MARKETS)
September 15, 2008... USDA OFFERS TO BUY FRESH PRODUCE * Shipments between Jan. 1 - June 30, 2009 * Case Size Pounds Fresh Potatoes Bulk 2,080,000 For Processing For more...

Canned vegetables.(MARKETS)(Statistical data)
September 15, 2008... Contracted production of snap beans is forecast at 769,760 tons, up 2% from last year. Contracted harvested area is down 6%, but yield is up 0.33 tons/acre. In Oregon, harvest was delayed due to cool and wet conditions. Cool temperatures in...

Tomato products.(MARKETS)(Statistical data)
September 15, 2008... Contracted tomato production is forecast at 12.1 million tons, down 3% from last year. A decline of 6% in contracted harvested area is accompanied by a yield increase of 0.99 tons/acre. In California, the processed tomato crop was slightly...

Frozen vegetables.(MARKETS)(Statistical data)
September 15, 2008... ASPARAGUS--Foodservice 6/2.5-lb. cuts are priced between $1.90-$2.00, and 6/2.5-lb. spears are around $2.75, f.o.b. Northwest. Retail spears in 12/12-oz. poly bags are between $18.65-$18.75, f.o.b. Northwest. BROCCOLI--Foodservice packs of...

Canned fruits.(MARKETS)(Statistical data)
September 15, 2008... SELECTED U.S. EXPORTS OF CANNED FRUIT JAN. 1 - JULY 1, 2008 (Source: Bureau of Census) Pounds % Chge. Dollars % Chge. (1,000) Last Yr. ($1,000) Last Yr. Citrus,...

Processed fish.(MARKETS)(Statistical data)
September 15, 2008... RED SALMON--Approximately 37.9 million fish were harvested to date, around 10 million fish short of 47 million predicted at the beginning of the season. The sockeye run began over 2 weeks late and as a result canneries were overwelmed with the...

Dried vegetables.(MARKETS)(Statistical data)
September 15, 2008... *** KANSAS CITY COMMODITY BUY *** All commodities in 50-kg. packs. ** Shipments Between Oct. 1-22, 2008 For Inland ** ** Shipments Between Oct. 23 - Nov. 13, 2008 For Port ** Metric Tons ...

Dried fruits & nuts.(MARKETS)(Statistical data)
September 15, 2008... U.S. EXPORTS OF NUTS AND NUTMEATS, JAN. 1- JULY 1, 2008 (Source : Bureau of Census) Pounds % Chge. Dollars % Chge. (1,000) Last Yr. ($1,000) Last Yr. Cashews,...

Frozen fruits.(MARKETS)(Statistical data)
September 15, 2008... USDA HAS PURCHASED FROZEN FRUIT *Deliveries between Sept. 16 through Dec. 31, 2008 * Cases Total Cost Frozen Strawberries (30-lb.) cup 60,720 $1,926,223 Del Mar Food...

Juices & concentrates.(MARKETS)(Statistical data)
September 15, 2008... GRAPEFRUIT--Prices of 58 Brix pink grapefruit juice concentrate prices remain firm and are around 85 - 90 cents per pound solid, f.o.b. Florida. APPLE--Domestic juice apples are priced around $11.50-$12.00 per cwt., f.o.b. MI. China's...

Butter.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
September 15, 2008... BUTTER MARKET, SEPTEMBER 10 Cents Per Pound: 9/10/08 9/3/08 Chge. Grade AA 1.66 1.69 -0.03

Cheese.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
September 15, 2008... CHEDDAR CHEESE MARKET SEPTEMBER 10 Cents Per Pound: 9/10/08 Chge. Fr. Last Wk. Barrels 1.8350 0.1550 Blocks (40-lbs.) 1.8750 0.1450

Eggs.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
September 15, 2008... EGG PRICES TO RETAILERS SEPTEMBER 10 (Source: USDA) Wk. Ending Wk. Ending Cents per dozen: 10-Sep 4-Sep Chge. Extra Large-NY 125-129 131-135 6.00...

Chicken.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
September 15, 2008... PRELIMINARY BROILER PRICES FOR DELIVERY THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 3 Cents Per Pound: This Week Last Week Chicago 68-72 68-72 Cleveland Too Few Too Few Detroit Too Few...

Futures prices.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
September 15, 2008... FUTURE PRICES (Source: Wall Street Journal) Cash December As of September 11, 2008: Price Futures Futures Corn, bu. $4.90 ...

Commodity prices.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
September 15, 2008... COMMODITY PRICES (Source: Wall Street Journal) Week Week % Chge. Ended Ended Last 11-Sep ...

Advances in wholesale food prices outpacing retail.(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... For the second consecutive month the government's Producer Price Index for finished consumer foods at wholesale exceeded the increase in the Consumer Price Index for food-at-home. During August, wholesale food prices were up 9.1% from the same...

In difficult times, you should know the consumer.
September 22, 2008... Consumer buying habits are constantly evolving and are certain to change dramatically in coming years. But do you know what consumers are spending each year, and what they are buying? THE FOOD INSTITUTE'S newest publication, Demographics of...

Food-at-home inflation hits 6% mark through August.(Statistical table)
September 22, 2008... While the overall Consumer Price Index declined in August from July, food prices headed in the opposite direction. The Index for food-at-home increased another seven tenths of a percent. That follows a 1.2% increase a month earlier and brings...

Wholesale food prices up 9.1% in August vs. 2007.(Statistical table)
September 22, 2008... Wholesale food prices increased 0.3% in August over July, as reflected by the Producer Price Index for finished consumer foods--9.1% more than the same month of 2007. Higher prices for center-of-the-plate meats, canned vegetables and...

Grocery store sales growth outpacing inflation.(Statistical table)(Financial report)
September 22, 2008... Sales at the nation's grocery stores in August were down four-tenths of a percent from July but were up 6.4% from the same month last year, according to the latest data from the CENSUS BUREAU. That brought sales for the first eight months of...

Foodservice sales up in August.(Statistical table)(Financial report)
September 22, 2008... Eating and drinking places saw sales rise 5.8% in August versus a year earlier, better than the revised 4.0% increase reported for July. This brought cumulative 2008 sales to $308.9 billion, or just 4.7% more than the same period of 2007, and...

Value-focused consumers flock to club stores in July.(Statistical table)(Financial report)
September 22, 2008... Tallying sales of $29.4 billion in July, warehouse clubs and supercenters attracted budget-conscious consumers. This was a 10.5% increase from the same month last year and brought year to Aug. 1 sales at these outlets to just under $197...

Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Inc. opens its store in Orange County, CA)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... FRESH & EASY NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET opened its 73rd store and eighth in Orange County, CA. The company will open three more locations in the county...

Chipotle Mexican Grill.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... CHIPOTLE MEXICAN GRILL is opening a new location in Ann Arbor, MI and is in the process of building a second location in the area... MLive.com (Aug. 21)...

Little Caesars.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Little Caesar Enterprises Inc.)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... LITTLE CAESARS opened in Yeadon, PA...

Whole Foods Market.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Whole Foods Market Inc. opens store in Venice, CA)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... WHOLE FOODS MARKET opened a 48,000-sq. ft. store in Venice, CA... Market Watch (Sept. 3)... The company also opened its first store in Hawaii... The Honolulu Advertiser (Sept. 11)...

HMSHOST Corp.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Delaware. Department of Transportation)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... HMSHOST CORP. was awarded a 35-year contract with the DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION to redevelop and operate the DELAWARE SERVICE PLAZA on Interstate 95...

K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc.(NEW STORE NEWS)(K-Va-T Food Stores Inc.)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... CSP Daily News (Sept. 4)... K-VA-T FOOD STORES, INC. will open its 100th FOOD CITY store in Rogersville, TN later this fall. The store will be more than 46,000-sq. ft... Progressive Grocer (Sept. 9)...

Chick-Fil-A.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Chick-fil-A Inc.)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... CHICK-FIL-A opened a 4,227-sq. ft. restaurant in Maryland that seats more than 134... QSR Magazine (Sept. 9)...

Wegmans Food Markets.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... WEGMANS FOOD MARKETS began construction of a new store in Leesburg, VA. The 140,000-sq. ft. store is expected to open in November 2009, according to developers CYPRESS EQUITIES...

An A&P Superfresh store in Philadelphia reopened under the PATHMARK banner and format.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... An A&P SUPERFRESH store in Philadelphia reopened under the PATHMARK banner and format. The store is the first of several planned conversions of area SuperFresh stores... Supermarket News (Sept. 10)...

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS, INC. will open its eighth Maryland restaurant in Bel Air on Sept. 22...

McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants, Inc.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... MCCORMICK & SCHMICK'S SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS, INC. opened its sixth Chicago-area restaurant in Rosemont, IL. The company now has 83 U.S. locations...

Noodles & Company.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... NOODLES & COMPANY opened its 23rd Illinois restaurant in Park Ridge...

Yogurtland Franchising, Inc.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... YOGURTLAND FRANCHISING, INC. opened a store in Los Angeles and another in Carrollton, TX. The company now has 23 locations across the U.S...

The Market.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... THE MARKET is opening a 14,000-sq. ft. grocery store in Plymouth, MA... Supermarket News (Sept. 11)...

Spec.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... SPEC'S is opening a new store in Galveston, TX that will carry specialty products from around the world... The Galveston Daily News (Sept. 11)...

Safeway.(NEW STORE NEWS)(Brief article)
September 22, 2008... SAFEWAY opened a 58,000-sq. ft. store in downtown Washington, DC, the only full-service supermarket in the neighborhood and the first store that the company built in the District in 11 years... The Washington Post (Sept. 12)...