The Food Institute Report back issues from November 2003:
USDA revises cost of country-of-origin labeling.
Nov 03, 2003 ... Amid heavy lobbying, USDA rolled out some compromise proposals last week for country-of-origin labels for meat, fish, produce and peanuts. Under the proposed rule, a covered commodity can only bear a "United States country of origin" declaration if certain criteria are met. ...
Two gourmet firms on the block.
Nov 03, 2003 ... Although a deal has not yet been made, Washington, DC food entrepreneur Mark Ordan said he expects to close a sale of local gourmet grocery chain Sutton Place "within a week or two." Sutton Place Gourmet Inc. chief executive Clifford Smith confirmed that the sale is near, but said there is ...
Two supermarkets add premium private-label products to their offerings.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... Alberstons stores introduced Essensia, a new premium line of entrees, side dishes and desserts, such as Sun-dried Tomato Striped Ravioli with Basil Pesto, Two Meat Lasagna, Beef Short Ribs in a Polynesian Style Sauce, Vegetable Spring Rolls, Meatballs in Marinara Sauce, New York Style ...
Cheesemaker looks to be national leader in specialty cheese category.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... Already established regionally, specialty cheese maker F. Cappiello Dairy Products Inc. is entering the national market, landing a contract to supply Wal-Mart Supercenters and Safeway supermarkets. The company will supply Safeway for the holiday season, but the deal could become permanent ...
Acquisitions are sweet for candy maker.
Nov 03, 2003 ... Following a series of acquisitions, Round Lake, MN-based Farley's & Sathers Candy Co.'s sales increased to a quarter of a billion dollars in the past year and a half. The company was once a division of Kraft Foods, but was spun off and is now owned by private equity firm Catterton ...
New devices in the works to enhance supermarket shopping.
Nov 03, 2003 ... An array of high-tech devices for use in the supermarket industry are being developed with a goal of making a trip to the supermarket more efficient and profitable--and to generate customer loyalty. Among the high-tech machines being developed or tested by researchers at IBM's Industry ...
Study suggests private label programs are not fully optimized.
Nov 03, 2003 ... Private label consumer packaged goods' (CPG) dollar share across supermarkets, drugstores and mass merchandisers (excluding Wal-Mart) has reached 15% and dollar growth rates have exceeded that of manufacturer brands in nine of the last 10 years. However, just 20% of categories drive 80% of ...
Bellevue, WA-based grocer Quality Food Centers Inc. [QFC] is developing a new high-end store format that it hopes will become the prototype for other urban projects.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Bellevue, WA-based grocer QFC is developing a new high-end store format that it hopes will become the prototype for other urban projects. QFC's new Fresh Fare grocery will feature several in-store chefs grilling customers' meats to order, ...
Amazon.com Inc.(News In A Minute)(began selling gourmet food on its web store)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Amazon.com Inc. began selling gourmet food on its web store last week. A spokeswoman for the Seattle, WA-based web retailer said the ...
FreshDirect.com.(News In A Minute)(is entering the kosher market)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * New York-based FreshDirect.com, which has been slowly expanding within New York City, is entering the kosher market, offering ...
Dutch food group Wessanen and Wild Oats Markets agreed to terminate a distribution deal.(News In A Minute)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Dutch food group Wessanen and Wild Oats Markets agreed to terminate a distribution deal, denting the Boulder, CO-based organic food chain's third-quarter earnings. Wessanen said its ...
Chessie WP Express, a Wolfgang Puck franchise group.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Chessie WP Express, a Wolfgang Puck franchise group, plans a minimum of 15 Wolfgang Puck Express units for the Washington/Baltimore market in five years, but its executives think the ...
McDonald.(News In A Minute)(is testing waffle-fry vending machines that use pre-cooked, frozen fries)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * McDonald's is testing waffle-fry vending machines that use pre-cooked, frozen fries, cooked in hot air rather than oil in 45 seconds for $1.50. McDonald's spokesman Bill Whitman said the ...
Panera Bread Co.(News In A Minute)(is introducing reloadable debit cards that can be used for food purchases)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Panera Bread Co. is rolling out reloadable debit cards that can be used for food purchases at all its 531 bakery-cafes. The cards, available in denominations ...
Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc.(News In A Minute)(will open its first Denver store)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Peet's Coffee & Tea, Inc., Berkeley, CA, will open its first Denver store on Nov. 3 ....
Coca-Cola Company.(News In A Minute)(plans to cut 2,800 jobs worldwide)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Coca-Cola Company plans to cut 2,800 jobs worldwide, exceeding initial figures issued earlier this year by 50%. Of the 900 additional jobs to be cut, most ...
Flowers Foods.(News In A Minute)(is launching a 13-product snack cake line)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Flowers Foods, Thomasville, GA is launching a 13-product snack cake line under the Tesoritos (Little ...
Imperial Sugar Company.(News In A Minute)(introduced a new marketing campaign targeting the Hispanic market for its Dixie Crystals and Imperial Sugar product lines)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Imperial Sugar Company rolled out a new marketing campaign targeting the growing Hispanic market for its Dixie Crystals and Imperial Sugar product lines. The campaign involves new package designs ...
Belovo Inc.(News In A Minute)(is introducing its new "Christopher Eggs" in over 500 Wal-Mart Supercenters)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Belovo Inc. is debuting its new "Christopher Eggs" in over 500 Wal-Mart Supercenters in 13 South Central and Midwestern states. Christopher Eggs ...
Hidden Villa Ranch.(News In A Minute)(is launching a new fortified egg)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Hidden Villa Ranch is launching a new fortified egg, Gold Circle Farms DHA Omega-3. The Gold Circle Farms eggs are being touted as having the highest level of DHA, approximately 150 ...
NeXpansion.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Retailers using NeXpansion's "Endless Aisle" e-commerce service spent Oct. 28 trying to determine if there were any options for the web-based company, which shuttered its popular service amid a financial crunch. Big Y posted a ...
Cadbury Schweppes.(News In A Minute)(plans to shed 10% of its workforce)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * UK-based Cadbury Schweppes plans to shed 10% of its workforce and close some 20% of ...
ComScore Media Metrix.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Nearly 23 million people--roughly 16% of the net-surfing public--visit food ...
Coca-Cola Co.(News In A Minute)(introduced Minute Maid Premium Heart Wise, a cholesterol-reducing orange juice)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Coca-Cola Co. rolled out Minute Maid Premium Heart Wise, a cholesterol-reducing orange juice, noted ...
Kola Real, a low-priced budget cola.(News In A Minute)(Peruvian soda threatens market share of Coke and Pepsi in Latin America)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Kola Real, a low-priced budget cola, "is emerging as an unlikely threat to soft drink giants Coke and Pepsi in Latin America, as the Peruvian soda uses a no-frills approach to woo ...
Dole Food.(News In A Minute)(is planning a $2.2 million upgrade of its Central Oahu pineapple packing plant)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Dole Food is planning a $2.2 million upgrade of its Central Oahu pineapple packing plant. Brian Orlopp, Dole's Hawaii ...
A partnership between Sunkist Growers Inc. and Coastal Berry Co.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * A partnership between Sunkist Growers Inc. and Coastal Berry Co. will result in Sunkist-branded strawberries year-round. The deal will mean significant ...
Tortilla Industry Association.(News In A Minute)(flat bread's share has grown to 32% of the combined retail and food service market for bread)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * "Tortillas have had steady growth 10 to 15% a year seemingly forever," said Irwin Steinberg, the founding president of the 14-year-old Tortilla Industry Association, in an article in The Star Telegram (Oct. 27). The popularity of wraps has helped ...
Mintel.(News In A Minute)(found that 9 out of 10 Americans like some type of chocolate)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Nine out of 10 Americans like some type of chocolate; two-thirds prefer traditional milk chocolate, 37% like dark chocolate, found Mintel. Males prefer dark chocolates more ...
The creation of a new food company to manufacture and distribute a line of snack foods has been announced by Bill Elliott.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * The creation of a new food company to manufacture and distribute a line of snack foods has been announced by Bill Elliott, the 1988 NASCAR Winston Cup Champion. Elliott Championship Products LLC, a partnership between Bill Elliott and Championship Group, Inc. of Atlanta, ...
ConAgra.(News In A Minute)(is entering India's branded snack food market with corn chips and potato puffs)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * ConAgra is entering India's rapidly expanding branded snack food market with corn chips and potato puffs under its Act II brand. Frito-Lay continues to ...
Biocorp North America, Inc.(News In A Minute)(is now producing 100% compostable cutlery)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... * Biocorp North America, Inc., a leading provider of biodegradable packaging, is now producing 100% compostable cutlery made from corn-based Nature Works PLS, developed by Cargill Dow LLC. The new Nat-ur brand utensils, which look and feel like traditional plastic, are claimed to offer the ...
Mergers & acquisitions.(food industry)
Nov 03, 2003 ... Apollo Management, L.P. reached an agreement to acquire United Agri Products, the U.S. and Canadian crop inputs business of ConAgra Foods, Inc., Omaha, NE, for about $600 million. This divestiture by ConAgra Foods is its sixth since September 2002 of primarily commodity businesses. ...
Latest financial reports (000 omitted).(food companies and others)(Illustration)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre> LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (000 omitted)Current % Chge. Year Year Ago BALL CORP. (Broomfield, CO) Qtr. To Sept. 30: Sales $1,359,000 31.0% Net Income $68,800 38.0% ...
Strategy allows broadliner access to thousands of products.(Robert's Foods works with Dot Foods to offer next-day delivery.)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... Through an arrangement with Mt. Sterling, IL-based redistributor Dot Foods, broadline distributor Robert's Foods is able to offer its customers next day delivery of almost 25,000 SKUs, even though only 5,500 SKUs are stocked at its warehouse--a strategy named "Virtual Warehouse," reported ...
Meat from cloned livestock and their offspring safe to eat, FDA says.
Nov 03, 2003 ... FDA issued an executive summary Oct. 31 saying that it appears safe to eat cloned livestock and their offspring. The release of the summary is the first step the agency must take before it can lift the moratorium it put in place in 2001 on consuming the meat and milk of cloned animals and ...
You should know ...(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... ... Inconsistent labeling practices continue to put consumers with food allergies at risk, according to the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Alliance (FAAA). FAAA began a united effort requesting government and food industry leaders to adopt ingredient labeling practices that more clearly ...
... Picket lines were withdrawn by noon, Oct. 31 at Ralphs stores in Southern California.(Labor News ...)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... ... Picket lines were withdrawn by noon, Oct. 31 at Ralphs stores in Southern California. Supermarket workers will continue to be locked out of their stores by Ralphs management in a nearly month-long regional labor dispute ....
... About 4,000 unionized grocery store workers from Long Island and parts of New York City continued to work without contracts.(Labor News ...)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... ... About 4,000 unionized grocery store workers from Long Island and parts of New York City continued to work without contracts Oct. 30, as negotiators tried to resolve differences over health care benefits. A spokesman for Local 342 of the United Food and Commercial Workers union ...
... In New York City, about 800 waiters, cooks and other workers at some of the city's fanciest restaurants are threatening to strike.(.)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... ... In New York City, about 800 waiters, cooks and other workers at some of the city's fanciest restaurants are threatening to strike if they do not reach a contract by midnight, Oct. 31, when the current five-year pact ends. The members of the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union ...
... Talks continue between Kroger and grocery workers of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 in West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky.(Labor News ...)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... ... Talks continue between Kroger and grocery workers of United Food & Commercial Workers Local 400 in West Virginia, ...
... Negotiators for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 and the St. Louis, MO-areas three largest supermarket chains reached a tentative agreement.(Labor News ...)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... ... Negotiators for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 655 and the St. Louis, MO-areas three largest supermarket ...
In the courts ...(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... ... Eateries Inc. announced the receipt of its $8,584,932 judgment from the J.R. Simplot Co. The payment was in addition to the previous payment of $516,563 for legal fees and costs, bringing the total judgment and fees paid to Edmond, OK-based Eateries at $9,101,405. The payments finalize ...
Food recalls reported.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... Royal Baltic LTD., Brooklyn, NY, is recalling approximately 4,500-lbs. of Imperial-European Style Salmon, 1,620 jars of 16-oz. Herring in Oil in glass jars and 454 packages of Salmon, Sea Bass 8-oz., variety pack. The products were distributed to retail stores in NY, NJ, PA, MA, CT, IL, ...
Referendum on regulating & handling of milk.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... REFERENDUM ON REGULATING & HANDLING OF MILK: USDA issued a notice ordering that a referendum be conducted to determine whether producers favor issuance of the order regulating the handling of milk in the Western marketing area, as amended in the tentative final decision issued by the ...
Hearing on milk orders.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... HEARING ON MILK ORDERS: USDA announced the reconvening of the hearing which began on Sept. 23, 2003, in Tempe, AZ, to consider proposals to amend the producer-handler provisions of the Arizona-Las Vegas and Pacific Northwest orders and to consider elimination of the ability to ...
Honey from China.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... HONEY FROM CHINA: On June 2, 2003, the Department of Commerce published the preliminary results of the new shipper review of the antidumping duty order on honey from the People's Republic of China. The review covers one producer/exporter, Wuhan Bee Healthy Co., Ltd., and exports of the ...
Processed fruit & vegetable inspection fees.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... PROCESSED FRUIT & VEGETABLE INSPECTION FEES: USDA issued a final rule, effective Oct. 31, 2003, that revises the regulations governing inspection and certification for processed fruits, vegetables, and processed products made from them by a fee increase ranging from 8% to 11% charged for ...
Comment period on yogurt & cultured milk extended.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... COMMENT PERIOD ON YOGURT & CULTURED MILK EXTENDED: FDA is reopening for 90 days the comment period for an advance notice of proposed rulemaking that announced the filing of a petition asking the agency to revoke the standards of identity for lowfat yogurt and nonfat yogurt; amend the ...
Public meetings to discuss two sections of bioterrorism act.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... PUBLIC MEETINGS TO DISCUSS TWO SECTIONS OF BIOTERRORISM ACT: FDA announced a series of domestic meetings to discuss the interim final regulations, issued on Oct. 10, 2003, to implement two sections of the Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 ...
Lamb reporting definitions.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... LAMB REPORTING DEFINITIONS: USDA proposed a rule that would amend the Livestock Mandatory Reporting regulations to modify the requirements for the submission of information on domestic and imported boxed lamb cuts sales. This rule would amend the definition of "carlot-based" by inserting ...
Meeting of national advisory committee on meat & poultry inspection.(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... MEETING OF NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON MEAT & POULTRY INSPECTION: The National Advisory Committee on Meat and Poultry Inspection will hold a public meeting in Washington, DC on Nov. 5-6, 2003 to review and discuss the following issues: "Procedures for Conducting Inspection in Talmadge ...
Meeting on risk analysis.(Noted In The Federal Register)(Food Safety and Inspection Service to hold a public meeting)(Brief Article)
Nov 03, 2003 ... MEETING ON RISK ANALYSIS: The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will hold a public meeting on risk analysis on Nov. 13, 2003 in Washington, DC. The meeting will provide a forum for experts from government, academia, industry and consumer organizations to discuss current government ...
Produce.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre>SELECTED U.S. EXPORTS OF FRESH FRUITS JAN. 1-SEPT. 1, 2003(Source: Bureau of Census) % Chge. Pounds 20032002Prev. Yr. ...
Canned vegetables.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre>USDA OFFERS TO BUYCANNED DRIED BEANS * Deliveries between Jan. 1, 2004-May 31, 2004 * Case SizeCases Baby Lima Beans 6/107,776 Black Turtle Beans6/104,320 Blackeye Beans6/10...
Tomato products.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre> USDA OFFERS TO BUYTOMATO PRODUCTS * Deliveries between Jan. 1, 2004-Mar. 31, 2004 * Case Size Cases Spaghetti Sauce, Meatless 24/300 117,780 Tomatoes ...
Frozen vegetables.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre> SELECTED FROZEN VEGETABLE EXPORTS JAN. 1-SEPT. 1(Source: Bureau of Census) 1,000 Pounds: 2003 2002% Chge. Peas18,52017,848 3.8% Canada ...
Canned fruits.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre> SELECTED U.S. EXPORTS OF CANNED FRUIT JAN. 1-SEPT. 1, 2003(Source: Bureau of Census)Pounds Volume2003 2002 % Chge. Olives 2,695,125 ...
Processed fish.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... USDA HAS PURCHASED--USDA has purchased 147,600 (12-oz.) cases of canned chunk light tuna at a delivered cost of approximately $3.6 million for distribution to Federal food and nutrition programs. The entire bid was awarded to Tri-Union Seafoods LLC. Deliveries will be made from Jan. 1, ...
Dried vegetables.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre> USDA OFFERS TO BUY DRY BEANS Container Product Size Cases Blackeye Beans }1 12/2 lb. bag36,960 Baby Lima Beans }1 12/2 lb. bag26,880 Great Northern Beans }!12/2 lb. bag...
Dried fruits.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre> U.S. EXPORTS OF DRIED FRUITS JAN. 1 - SEPT.1, 2003 (Source: Bureau of Census) In Pounds2003 2002 % Chge. Dates3,013,060 2,557,764 17.8% ...
Nuts & nutmeats.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre> U.S. IMPORTS OF NUTS AND NUTMEATS, JAN. 1 - SEPT. 1, 2003 (Source: Bureau of Census) Pounds:20032002% Chge. Brazil Nuts, Shelled 8,760,352 11,712,029 ...
Frozen fruits.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre>SELECTED U.S. FROZEN FRUIT EXPORTS JAN. 1 - SEPT. 1, 2003(Source: Bureau of Census)% Chge. Pounds 2003 2002Prev. Yr. ...
Juices & concentrates.(Markets.)
Nov 03, 2003 ... FCOJ--As of Sept. 1, the U.S. imported 27.1 million gallons of FCOJ, 65 Brix, close to double the amount imported in the same time in 2002. The majority of the imports came from Brazil. Florida Citrus Mutual asked the Florida Citrus Commission to cut the tax on juice oranges to ...
Butter.(Markets)(cents per pound, Grade AA)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
Nov 03, 2003 ... <Pre> BUTTER MARKET, OCT. 31(Source: USDA) Cents ...