The Food Institute Report back issues from April 2003:
Processed vegetable acreage intentions flat.
Apr 07, 2003 ... Processors expect to contract 1.28 million acres of the five major processed vegetable crops in 2003. Acreage increases are forecast for cucumbers for pickles, green peas, and tomatoes while snap beans and sweet corn show decreases. Freezing firms expect a 2% decrease from 2002 ....
Fleming's retail customers have contingency plans.
Apr 07, 2003 ... Calling it a bridge to a permanent $150 million financing package, Fleming Companies, Inc. received a $50 million commitment in connection with its recent Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing to allow it to develop a vendor support program that will provide important financial assurances to its ...
Americans eating out less, but takeout might see a boost.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Between the war in Iraq and a weak economy at home, Americans have been eating out less, however, according to research by The NPD Group Inc., takeout is one segment of the restaurant business that might benefit from all of today's uncertainty. Americans were glued to their ...
Consumers prefer to customize choices rather than order "off the menu".(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... National Restaurant Association research indicates that 70% of Americans customize their food choices--which means an overwhelming majority of people aren't just simply ordering off-the-menu anymore. They are tailoring their order, and ordering exactly what they desire. The ...
SEC requests information about U.S. foodservice from major food makers ...(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... At least six major food companies have been asked by Federal investigators for documents and other information about their dealings with U.S. Foodservice Inc. Officials at Kraft Foods Inc., H.J. Heinz Co., General Mills Inc., Sara Lee Corp., ConAgra Foods Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc. all ...
... While U.S. foodservice rebates due to military are under scrutiny.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Meanwhile, U.S. Foodservice may have failed to pass along millions of dollars in rebates to government customers, including the U.S. military, public schools, prisons and state agencies, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing current and former senior managers. U.S. Foodservice vice ...
Ahold sheds South American unit.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... In other Ahold news, the company plans to sell all its South American supermarket operations to cut its debt. Ahold is not in specific negotiations for operations in Brazil, Argentina, Peru or Paraguay, but is currently in the process of selling its Chilean operation, Santa Isabel, to ...
Wal-Mart tops fortune 500 list.
Apr 07, 2003 ... Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. topped the Fortune 500 list for the second consecutive year, showing enough worldwide growth to possibly secure the position permanently. In 2002, a year in which aggregate revenue slid for only the sixth time in the list's 49-year history, down 6% to $6.95 trillion, ...
Starbucks Coffee International and the Delek Group of Israel mutually agreed to end their joint venture in Israel.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Starbucks Coffee International and the Delek Group of Israel mutually agreed to end their joint venture in Israel ....
Logistics costs are rising, but supply chain more responsive, says GMA.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Supply chain managers have succeeded in shortening the order-to-delivery cycle by an average of 79 hours--more than three days--since 1999, according to the results of the 2003 logistics benchmark study released at the Grocery Manufacturers of America's 2003 IS/LD. While the ...
Sandwich-cafe chain Briazz, which reported escalating losses, deferred payments to some landlords and suppliers and, if they demand their money and Briazz cannot pay, the company said it might have to close stores or "cease operations altogether". (On The Foodservice Front).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Sandwich-cafe chain Briazz, which reported escalating losses, deferred payments to some landlords and suppliers and, if they demand their money and Briazz cannot pay, the company said it might have to close stores or "cease operations altogether." Briazz ...
Luby's Inc. (On The Foodservice Front).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Luby's Inc. will close down about 50 restaurants as part of a two-year business plan designed to return ...
Cosi Inc. (On The Foodservice Front).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Manhattan, NY-based gourmet sandwich chain Cosi Inc. will close 13 restaurants and canceled plans to open 25 more this year. Cosi has ...
Panera Bread Co. (On The Foodservice Front).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Panera Bread Co. plans to open 120 new bakery-cafes in 2003--up from 100 new outlets last year. Panera grew from 183 stores in 1999 to 478 stores in 32 states through 2002, with about 70% owned by ...
Kitchen 82. (On The Foodservice Front).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Kitchen 82, a concept created by the highly-regarded New York chef Charlie Palmer, is opening in April on West 82nd Street. Catering to individuals who like good food but without the pricey tab, it joins the popular Kitchen 22, which ...
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. (On The Foodservice Front).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc., a rapidly-expanding Greenwood Village, CO-based chain, featuring more than 22 gourmet burgers as well as soups, salads, appetizers, sandwiches, chicken, seafood and pasta, plans to open 18 company units in 2003. Its franchisees plan to open ...
White Castle. (On The Foodservice Front).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * On Apr. 3, White Castle opened its latest restaurant in Fairfield, OH that features new drive-thru technology allowing customers ...
New product intros healthy.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... New product launches for the first two months of this year, at 3,966 entries, are outpacing the comparable period in 2002 by 531 entries, according to tracking by New Product News (March). A striking change was cited in the food segment during the month of February, with new launches ...
Millennium Custom Foods. (New Product Roundup).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Millennium Custom Foods, Arlington Heights, IL, has launched Kegger Mini Bratz Battered Prebrowned Cooked ...
Mille Lacs. (New Product Roundup).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Mille Lacs, Madison, WI, is out with Mille Lacs Beer Cheese ...
King's Command Foods. (New Product Roundup).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... King's Command Foods, Kent, WA, is marketing Just-A-Minute Appetizers: ...
ConAgra Frozen Foods. (New Product Roundup).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... ConAgra Frozen Foods, a division of ConAgra, Omaha, NE, has expanded its offerings with Kid Cuisine Themed Meals For Kids ....
Robert Rothschild Berry Farm. (New Product Roundup).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Robert Rothschild Berry Farm, Urbana, OH, has launched Robert Rothschild ...
Sorrento Cheese. (New Product Roundup).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Sorrento Cheese, Buffalo, NY, is marketing President Gourmet Cream Cheese in six ...
Bass Lake Cheese Factory. (New Product Roundup).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Bass Lake Cheese Factory, Somerset, WI, has introduced Bass Lake Cheese Factory Juustoleipa Cheese, "slightly squeaky cheese" with a buttery flavor. It is said to be based on a traditional Finnish-style ...
Other meal options in competition with pasta sauces.
Apr 07, 2003 ... The U.S. pasta sauce market had sales of $1.5 billion in 2002, an increase of 6% since 1997, according to a new Mintel report. The majority of the pasta sauce market is shelf stable, either in glass jars or in cans. This segment experienced a 5.5% boost between 2000 and 2002, incorporating ...
Dairy Farmers of America.(Inntroduces National Chocolate Milk)(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Dairy Farmers of America, Springfield, MO, is marketing National Chocolate Milk, the first ...
Winter Gardens Quality Foods.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * On Apr. 25, Winter Gardens Quality Foods will close its plant in Salisbury Township, PA, which produces a variety of foods, including entrees and stuffed baked potatoes, much of which is sold to supermarkets and other ...
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., Lakeville, MA, cut 58 corporate positions in ...
High calorie and comfort food sales.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * High calorie and comfort food sales are said to be on the rise with the war underway in Iraq. One e-mail survey found that 70% of ...
Seattle, WA-based Jones Soda signed a three-year agreement with Barnes & Noble Booksellers.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Seattle, WA-based Jones Soda signed a three-year agreement with Barnes & Noble Booksellers to sell its ...
Albertsons Inc.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Albertsons Inc. is meeting or beating the prices against its traditional competitors in 16 of the company's 17 major markets and the company will continue cutting into profit margins for pricing and promotion efforts, the ...
Fresh Grocer.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Patrick J. Burns, who has five Fresh Grocer stores in the Philadelphia, PA area, has more stores in the works for the market ....
Harvard University.(Research on health benefits of diets rich in fish)(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Women with diabetes appear to receive the heart-healthy benefits of a diet rich in fish, according to researchers at Harvard University in Boston. The biggest ...
Monterey Pasta Company.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Monterey Pasta Company, Salinas, CA, launched its new line of 7-oz. Baked Stuffed Sandwiches. The spiced cornbread-style dough sandwiches contain either Texas Style BBQ Beef, Chicken Chile ...
Bunge Limited, White Plains, NY, and DuPont formed The Solae Company to develop and market branded, plant-based specialty food ingredients.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Bunge Limited, White Plains, NY, and DuPont formed The Solae Company to develop and market branded, plant-based specialty ...
Hibernia Foods plc.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Hibernia Foods plc will close its ready-meals and cake manufacturing facility in ...
Dollar Tree Stores Inc.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Dollar Tree Stores Inc., Chesapeake, VA, opened its first of 40 stores planned in 2003 that might be considered super-sized for Dollar Tree. The new genus of ...
Starbucks Corp.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Starbucks Corp. is experiencing some sales declines in parts of Asia due to the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. The world's largest specialty coffee retailer closed one ...
Corporate name change: Dan Carter, Inc. of Mayville, WI, a leading supplier in the cheese industry, is now DCI Cheese Company.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Corporate Name Change: Dan Carter, Inc. of Mayville, WI, a leading supplier in the cheese industry, is now DCI Cheese Company. The ...
SureBeam Corporation announced that consumers can now buy SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in stores operated by The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * SureBeam Corporation announced that consumers can now buy SureBeam processed fresh ground beef in stores ...
Kmart Corp.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Kmart Corp. will eliminate 660 jobs as part of its efforts to cut costs and reduce the size of its operations. Some 400 jobs will be ...
YoCream International is testing a new line of soy-based soft frozen desserts.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * YoCream International is testing a new line of soy-based soft frozen desserts. The products have been developed ...
Georgia-based IN ZONE Brands, Inc., creator of the interactive beverage category and maker of Tummy Tickler 100% real fruit juices, and Sesame Workshop, have teamed up to launch a novel line of Tummy Tickler juices topped with Elmo, Big Bird, and Cookie Monster-shaped bottle tops.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... * Georgia-based IN ZONE Brands, Inc., creator of the interactive beverage category and maker of Tummy Tickler 100% real fruit juices, and Sesame Workshop, have teamed up to launch a novel line of Tummy ...
Mergers & acquisitions.
Apr 07, 2003 ... Applebee's International, Inc., Overland Park, KS, completed its acquisition of 11 franchise restaurants in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Missouri (see FOOD INSTITUTE REPORT, Jan. 27, page 7). Cadbury Schweppes plc completed its purchase of the Adams confectionary business of ...
King's Super Markets still without buyer.(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Three-and-a-half years after it was first put up on the block and four months after a deal unraveled, Parsippany, NJ-based Kings Super Markets Inc. is still for sale, noted NorthJersey.com (Apr. 3). "There are more potential buyers in the mix than there were several months ago," ...
Latest financial reports (000 omitted).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... <Pre> LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (000 omitted) Current% Chge. Year Year Ago CAL-MAINE FOODS, INC. (Jackson, MS) 13 Wks. To Mar. 1: Sales $106,800 23.0% Net Income $7,610 ..... 39 ...
Identifying Global Mega Brands.
Apr 07, 2003 ... ACNielsen examined more than 200 brands from over 50 manufacturers across 50 countries in the consumer goods industry and found that 62 brands met the criteria for being Global Mega Brand Franchises. Global Mega Brand Franchises are brands that are available in at least 15 of the 50 ...
Farm-trade barriers restricting U.S. exports, report says. (Washington).
Apr 07, 2003 ... Farm-trade barriers are limiting U.S. exports and hurting American companies, according to the "2003 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers," a report released by the U.S. Trade Representative's Office. The annual report, which named non-tariff barriers in 56 countries, ...
Courts rule on promotional board cases. (Washington).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... The payments that apple growers are forced to make to support the Washington Apple Commission and its promotion of the state's apple crop are unconstitutional, a federal judge ruled Mar. 31, reported Newsday (Mar. 31). The ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Shea calls into question the ...
Comments requested on maintaining good health. (Washington).
Apr 07, 2003 ... FDA's Task Force on Consumer Health Information for Better Nutrition established a docket--Docket No. 03N-0069--to receive public comments on how to facilitate the flow of truthful, non-misleading, scientifically based information to consumers about the role of sound dietary practices in ...
School lunch matter still before congress. (Washington).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... The House of Representatives passed a motion (by a vote of 299-22) on Apr. 1 to provide instructions to House conferees on the Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2004 (H.Con. Res. 95). The motion, offered by Rep. John Spratt (D-SC), instructs the House conferees to eliminate reconciliation ...
Food recalls reported. (Washington).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... Ben & Jerry's has recalled certain Karamel Sutra Ice Cream pints. The ice cream was distributed to retail stores nationwide. Reason for recall: The products contain undeclared peanuts. Sara Lee Bakery Group, St. Louis, MO, has recalled specifically coded 11.5-oz. frozen Sara Lee ...
You should know ...
Apr 07, 2003 ... ...The Senate voted down a move by some Democrats that would add $1 billion to strengthen port security as part of a nearly $80 billion measure to finance the war in Iraq. Key Republicans said they favor providing more funds for port security, but not in this bill ... The Washington Post ...
Importation of cooked meat & meat products. (Noted In The Federal Register).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... IMPORTATION OF COOKED MEAT & MEAT PRODUCTS: USDA is amending the regulations governing the importation of certain animals, meat and other animal products to allow meat cooked in plastic in processing establishments located in regions where rinderpest or foot-and-mouth disease exists to be ...
Produce. (Markets).
Apr 07, 2003 ... <Pre> SELECTED U.S. EXPORTS OF FRESH FRUITS JAN. 1-FEB. 1, 2003 (Source: Bureau of Census) Volume% Chge. % Chge.(1,000 Prev. Value Prev. Lbs.) Yr. ($1,000) Yr. ...
Canned vegetables. (Markets).
Apr 07, 2003 ... <Pre> ***USDA HAS PURCHASED*** CANNED WHOLE KERNEL CORN *Deliveries between Apr. 1, 2003 - June 30, 2003*24/300 Delivered Cases Cost Whole Kernel Corn 35,190$268,546 Barrios Foods, Inc. 1,530 ...
Tomato products. (Markets).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... The California Tomato Growers Association has received an offer of $49.50 per net ton from one major tomato processor, based on last year's evaluation. The processor based their offer on Cost of Production studies conducted by the company that showed that $49.50 would cover direct and ...
Frozen vegetables. (Markets).
Apr 07, 2003 ... <Pre> SELECTED FROZEN VEGETABLE EXPORTS JAN 1 - FEB. 1 (Source: Bureau of Census) 1,000 Pounds: 20032002% Chge. Peas 2,089 1,747 19.6% Mexico 1,155 256351.2% Canada...
Canned fruits. (Markets).
Apr 07, 2003 ... <Pre> SELECTED U.S. EXPORTS OF CANNED FRUIT JAN. 1-FEB. 1, 2003 (Source: Bureau of Census) Volume Value (1,000 Lbs.) % Chge. ($1,000) % Chge. Citrus Fruits7,558-11.7% $2,497 23.6% ...
Processed fish. (Markets).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... U.S. Tuna Foundation Responds To Advocacy Groups' Statements Research and government recommendations continue to support that eating fish is far more beneficial for consumers than avoiding it. However, organizations such as the Mercury Policy Project and the California Medical ...
Dried vegetables. (Markets).
Apr 07, 2003 ... CALIFORNIA BEANS--Trading activity is very slow and demand is light to very light. <Pre> CALIFORNIA DRIED BEAN PRICESCurrent WeekYear Ago Per cwt. (f.o.b.) Baby Lima $31.00 - $32.00 $36.00 - $38.00 Large Lima $42.00 ...
Dried fruits. (Markets).
Apr 07, 2003 ... RAISINS--USDA issued an interim final rule that establishes final volume regulation percentages for 2002-03 crop Natural (sun-dried) Seedless (NS) and Zante Currant (ZC) raisins covered under the Federal marketing order for California raisins, due to a significantly higher supply of ...
Nuts & nutmeats. (Markets).(Brief Article)
Apr 07, 2003 ... <Pre> U.S. EXPORTS OF NUTS AND NUTMEATS, JAN. 1- FEB. 1, 2002 (Source: Bureau of Census) Pounds:2003 2002% Chge. Hazelnuts, Inshell 874,4023,937,287-77.8% Hong Kong 677,0422,919,562-76.8% Walnuts, Inshell...
Frozen fruits. (Markets).
Apr 07, 2003 ... <Pre> SELECTED U.S. FROZEN FRUIT EXPORTS JAN. 1 - FEB. 1, 2003 % Chge. Volume % Chge. Value Prev. (1,000 Lbs.) Prev. Yr. ($1,000) Yr. ...