The Food Institute Report back issues from August 2008:
Whole Foods-Wild Oats merger and the FTC: it ain't over till it's over.
Aug 04, 2008 ... Yogi Berra could not have said it better following last week's decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit that reversed a District Court's decision in the matter of Whole Foods vs. the Federal Trade Commission, saying the lower court should have fully ...
Current economic conditions take toll on casual dining.(bankrupcy cases of Metromedia Restaurant Group Inc. )(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... METROMEDIA RESTAURANT GROUP filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, resulting in the closing of nearly 200 BENNIGAN'S and STEAK AND ALE locations, as well as eliminating over 9,000 full and part time positions, according to The Wall Street Journal (July 30). Several TAVERN restaurants, an ...
Restaurant sales growth kept pace with inflation in second quarter due to may sales peak.(Financial report)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... It looks like the economic stimulus checks issued by the U.S. government in May helped eating and drinking places keep pace with inflation better than food stores during the second quarter of 2008. During the second quarter of 2008, food-at-home prices were up a sharp 5.9% from a year ...
Consumers think restaurants lack green initiatives.(rank restaurant industry according to ecologically friendly practices)(Report)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Despite the industry's best efforts, consumers still rank restaurants at the bottom of their eco-friendly lists. "Greening" measures in the restaurant industry have become mainstream since being introduced decades ago, yet consumers do not see the progress and that could end up costing ...
Kosher Vending expanding to meet consumer demand.(Report)
Aug 04, 2008 ... KOSHER VENDING INDUSTRIES (KVI), founded by Doron Fetman and Alan Cohnen, installed machines in over 100 locations the past two years and is looking to expand to meet increased demand by putting in more locations including high-volume amusement parks, schools, and large office complexes ....
Organic food goes private label.(Incrising sales of organic private label offerings)(Report)
Aug 04, 2008 ... With sales increasing for private label items because money is tight for consumers, it is only logical that more retailers are increasing their organic private label offerings. Yet, while KROGER is rolling out more natural and organic products under its Kroger's Dairy Group label, "there ...
Pablo's Tacos.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... PABLO'S TACOS opened its second location ...
Italia Gardens Restaurant.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... ITALIA GARDENS RESTAURANT opened its third ...
Wegmans.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... WEGMANS is opening a new 100,000-sq. ft. store in ...
Biggby Coffee.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... BIGGBY COFFEE opened its ...
Pilot.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... PILOT opened a 10,860-sq. ft. convenience store, complete with a ...
Tesco's Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... TESCO'S FRESH & EASY NEIGHBORHOOD ...
Daphne's Greek Cafe.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... DAPHNE'S GREEK CAFE will open two locations in ...
Potbelly Sandwich Works.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS opened ...
Nubi Yogurt.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... NUBI YOGURT opened its fourth outlet and ...
Qdoba Mexican Grill.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... QDOBA MEXICAN GRILL opened its ...
Travelcenters of America LLC opened a remodeled Southington, CT location.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... TRAVELCENTERS OF AMERICA LLC opened a remodeled Southington, CT location. The new food ...
Beyond Juice opened an 1,800-sq. ft. store in downtown Ann Arbor, MI and Olga's Kitchen is opening a 3,500-sq. ft. restaurant.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... BEYOND JUICE opened an 1,800-sq. ft. store in downtown Ann Arbor, MI and OLGA'S ...
ZPizza.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... ZPIZZA is opening a 1,088-sq. ft. location ...
Chuck E. Cheese.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... CHUCK E. CHEESE is opening a location in ...
Papa Bello opened its first outlet outside of a Wal-Mart in Castle Rock, CO.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... PAPA BELLO opened its first outlet outside of a WAL-MART in Castle Rock, CO. The company also expanded its franchise business into South ...
Supertarget.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... A SUPERTARGET opened in south Fort ...
A Chester's restaurant opened in a Super Stop convenience store.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... A CHESTER'S restaurant opened in a SUPER STOP ...
Meanwhile, a Chester's restaurant also opened inside a Sam's Mart convenience store.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Meanwhile, a CHESTER'S restaurant also opened inside a SAM'S ...
Kroger will open a 113,000-sq. ft. MarketPlace store.(NEW STORE NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... KROGER will open a 113,000-sq. ft. MARKETPLACE ...
Coffee market growing.(Report)
Aug 04, 2008 ... In 2007, total foodservice and retail sales of coffee was up 11% to $43.9 billion from 2006 in the U.S. The total market is forecasted to reach $59.4 billion by 2012, representing a 35% increase over 2007, according to PACKAGED FACTS' Coffee in the U.S.: Retail, Foodservice and Consumer ...
Sales slow at chicken chains.(Report)(Company rankings)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Competition, management shuffling, and a tight economy caused a 4% drop in dinner traffic for quick service chicken, claims a study from the NPD GROUP, as reported in Nation's Restaurant News "Top 100 chains." The pressure is building on franchisees, as, according to EL POLLO LOCO CEO ...
Sunflower Farmers Market.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
Aug 04, 2008 ... SUNFLOWER FARMERS MARKET is in the process of expanding from its current 14 stores to some 21 locations by the end of 2008. With 50 stores planned for five years ...
Ogilvyaction.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Only 39.4% of U.S. shoppers wait until they are in the store to decide what brand to buy; about 10% change their minds about brands in the store; 29% buy from categories they did not intend to buy from; and almost 20% leave a product they had planned to buy ...
The 75-unit Tasti D-Lite chain is forging deals to expand nationally and internationally with new store formats, additional flavors, and new products such as energy drinks and baked goods.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... The 75-unit TASTI D-LITE chain is forging deals to expand nationally and internationally with new store formats, additional flavors, and new products such as energy drinks and baked goods. The chain recently opened two stores in Seoul, with expansion plans for Israel and Mexico in ...
World Gourmet Marketing, LLC'S healthy snack line, Sensible Portions, will be carried in ShopRite Supermarkets.(NEWS IN A MINUTE)
Aug 04, 2008 ... WORLD GOURMET MARKETING, LLC'S healthy snack line, Sensible Portions, will be carried in ...
FMC Corporation of Philadelphia, a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial and consumer markets globally, entered into an agreement to acquire Coliving Food Ingredients, Guangzhou, China.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... FMC CORPORATION of Philadelphia, a diversified chemical company serving agricultural, industrial and consumer markets globally, entered into an agreement to acquire COLIVING FOOD INGREDIENTS, Guangzhou, China. The acquisition will enhance FMC's leadership position in supplying specialty ...
Gate Gourmet entered into agreements to acquire Inflight Logistic Services (ILS), an Australian airline services firm.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... GATE GOURMET entered into agreements to acquire INFLIGHT LOGISTIC SERVICES (ILS), an Australian airline services firm. The transaction is expected to be completed within the next six weeks. ILS provides onboard catering and other retail solutions, cash management processes, menu ...
Houchens Industries Inc., Bowling Green, KY, completed its acquisition of Tampico Beverages Inc.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... HOUCHENS INDUSTRIES INC., Bowling Green, KY, completed its acquisition of TAMPICO BEVERAGES INC., a Chicago-based producer of refrigerated juice ...
McCormick & Company, Incorporated reported that the FTC granted conditional approval of McCormick's previously announced acquisition of the assets of Lawry's from Conopco, Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Unilever N.V., for $604 million in cash.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... MCCORMICK & COMPANY, INCORPORATED reported that the FTC granted conditional approval of McCormick's previously announced acquisition of the assets of LAWRY'S from CONOPCO, INC., an indirect subsidiary of UNILEVER N.V., for $604 million in cash. The terms of the approval require the sale of ...
Sodexo signed an agreement to acquire 100% of Score Groupe, an independent provider of foodservices in France, from Abenex Capital, an independent private equity firm.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... SODEXO signed an agreement to acquire 100% of SCORE GROUPE, an independent provider of foodservices in France, from ABENEX CAPITAL, an independent private equity firm. Sodexo, a world leader in ...
Unilever signed a definitive agreement to sell its North American laundry business in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico to Vestar Capital Partners, a New York-based private equity firm.(MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... UNILEVER signed a definitive agreement to sell its North American laundry business in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico to VESTAR CAPITAL PARTNERS, a New York-based private equity firm. Vestar plans to merge the business with its existing operation, HUISH DETERGENTS INC., to form a new ...
Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company is in talks to buy Socib Spa.(MERGER RELATED NEWS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... COCA-COLA HELLENIC BOTTLING COMPANY is in talks to buy SOCIB SPA, an Italian bottler of Coca-Cola, Fanta, ...
Latest financial reports (000 omitted).(Statistical table)(Financial report)
Aug 04, 2008 ... <Pre> LATEST FINANCIAL REPORTS (000 OMITTED)Current% ChangeYear Year Ago ALBERTO-CULVER CO. (MELROSE PARK, IL) Qtr. To Mar. 31: Sales $412,783 7.6% Net Income * ...
Government agencies can increase support in case of pandemic.(WASHINGTON)
Aug 04, 2008 ... In an attempt to assess the strength of U.S. pandemic planning, the GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE (GAO) was recently asked to 1) describe how selected states and localities are planning for an influenza pandemic and who they involved, 2) describe the extent to which selected states and ...
FTC: Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents reviewed.(WASHINGTON)(Federal Trade Commission)(Report)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... In 2006, some 44 major food and beverage marketers spent $1.6 billion to promote their products to children under 12 and adolescents ages 12 to 17 in the U.S., according FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION'S Marketing Food to Children and Adolescents: A Review of Industry Expenditures, Activities, ...
FDA issues small entity compliance guide regarding nutrient terms.(WASHINGTON)(United States. Food and Drug Administration)
Aug 04, 2008 ... FDA recently announced the availability of a Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG) explaining appropriate use of the terms "high potency" and "antioxidant" in nutrient content claims for dietary supplements and conventional foods, according to THE FOOD INSTITUTE's counsel OLSSON FRANK WEEDA ...
House Committee holds meeting on hunger in America.(WASHINGTON)
Aug 04, 2008 ... On July 23, the House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing to review the short- and long-term costs of hunger in America, according to THE FOOD INSTITUTE'S counsel OLSSON FRANK WEEDA TERMAN BODE MATZ PC. Chairman ...
FDA issues warning letters.(WASHINGTON)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Muleshoe, TX-based J & S DAIRY FARM INC. was issued a warning letter on June 20, 2008 by FDA after an investigation of the company's dairy operation on Mar. 18 and 19, 2008. The investigation confirmed that the company offered a dairy cow for slaughter as food that was adulterated under ...
Food product recalls reported.(WASHINGTON)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Approximately 1,560-lbs. of beef cheek products are being recalled by BEEF PACKERS, INC., Fresno, CA. The products were distributed in California. The firm initiated recall began July 23, 2008, and is ongoing. Reason For Recall: "The products may be contaminated with E. coli." ...
Orthodox Union Kosher alert.(WASHINGTON)
Aug 04, 2008 ... Jumbo Glazed Donuts, manufactured by ANNETTE'S DONUTS, is mislabeled. The product contains dairy ingredients as listed on the ingredient panel but the dairy designation was inadvertently omitted. Jewel Cut Spinach, manufactured by ALBERTSONS INC., is mislabeled. The product is ...
Produce.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Aug 04, 2008; ... <Pre> USDA OFFERS TO BUY FRESH PRODUCE * Shipments between Sept. 1 - Dec. 31, 2008 * Case SizeCases Fresh ApplesTray Pack16,632 Fresh Oranges 34-39-lb.23,598 Fresh Bartlett Pears 45-lb. 1,800 ...
Canned vegetables.(MARKETS)
Aug 04, 2008; ... ASPARAGUS--Foodservice prices of 6/10 canned asparagus are between $39.50-$39.70, f.o.b. Midwest. Private label prices of 24/300 cases are between $21.40-$21.60, f.o.b. Midwest. BEETS--Foodservice 6/10 cases are between $16.00-$16.25, f.o.b. Midwest. Prices of beets in 24/300 ...
Tomato products.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Aug 04, 2008; ... <Pre> TOMATO PRODUCT IMPORTS MARKETING YEAR 2007/08 JUNE 1-JUNE 1 Pounds% Chg.(1,000) Last Yr. Sauce, Containers 1.4 kg or more Canda 7,588-27.6% Mexico 2,660271.6% ...
Frozen vegetables.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Aug 04, 2008; ... <Pre> SELECTED FROZEN VEGETABLE IMPORTS JAN. 1 - JUNE 1, 2008Pounds % Chg.Dollars % Chg. (1,000) Last Yr. ($1,000)Last Yr. Peas 26,436 23.5% $14,586 35.2% Canada...
Canned fruits.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Aug 04, 2008; ... <Pre> USDA OFFERS TO BUY CANNED FRUIT * Deliveries between Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, 2008 * Case SizeNo. Cases Canned Apple Slices 6/10178,078 Canned Applesauce 6/10 ...
Processed fish.(MARKETS)
Aug 04, 2008; ... CATFISH--Commercial catfish operations in the four major producing States (Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi) had 279 million foodsize fish on hand on July 1, 2008, up 7% from the July 1, 2007 total of 260 million foodsize fish. The breakouts of foodsize fish inventory numbers ...
Dried vegetables.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Aug 04, 2008; ... <Pre> USDA OFFERS TO BUY DRIED VEGETABLES * Shipments between Oct. 1 - Dec. 31, 2008*Case Size Cases Dehydrated Potatoes12/1-lb.117,500 Dry Blackeye Beans 12/2-lb. 18,480 Dry Baby Lima Beans...
Dried fruits & nuts.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Aug 04, 2008; ... <Pre> U.S. IMPORTS OF NUTS AND NUTMEATS, JAN. 1-JUNE 1, 2008Pounds % Chge. (1,000) Last Yr. Coconuts, Desiccated 24,084 -31.0% Philippines22,403 -25.7% Brazil Nuts, Shelled6,005 ...
Frozen fruits.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Aug 04, 2008; ... <Pre> U.S. IMPORTS OF SELECTED FROZEN FRUITS, JAN. 1 - JUNE 1, 2008%Pounds % Chge.Dollars Chge. (1,000)Last Yr. ($1,000)Last Yr. ...
Juices & concentrates.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Aug 04, 2008; ... ORANGE JUICE--Imports of FCOJ as of June 1 totaled 27.6 million concentrate gallons, an increase of 5% over last year. Value of FCOJ imports were down from last year to total $171.6 million, a 3% decrease for the same time last year. <Pre> FCOJ IMPORTS, JAN. 1 - JUNE 1, 2008...
Butter.(MARKETS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... <Pre> BUTTER MARKET, JULY 30 Cents Per Pound: 7/30/08 7/24/08 ...
Cheese.(MARKETS)
Aug 04, 2008 ... <Pre> CHEDDAR CHEESE MARKET JULY 30 Cents Per Pound: 7/30/08Chge. Fr. Last Wk. ...
Eggs.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... <Pre> EGG PRICES TO RETAILERS July 31 Wk. Ending Wk. Ending Cents per dozen: 31-Jul 24-Jul Chge. Extra Large-NY105-109 95-99 10 Large-NY 103-107 93-97 10 Medium-NY 73-7773-87 ...
Chicken.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... <Pre> PRELIMINARY BROILER PRICES FOR DELIVERY THE WEEK OF JULY 25 Cents Per Pound:This WeekLast Week Chicago 74-77 79-82 ClevelandToo Few Too Few Detroit Too Few Too Few Los Angeles97 97 New ...
Futures prices.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
Aug 04, 2008 ... <Pre> FUTURES PRICES CashAugust December As of July 30, 2008: Price Futures Futures Corn, bu. $5.52 6.02 (Sept) $6.21 Soybeans, bu.$13.8013.94 ...
Commodity prices.(MARKETS)(Statistical table)
Aug 04, 2008 ... <Pre> COMMODITY PRICES Week Week EndedEnded30-Jul 23-Jul Steers, Tex.-Okl. avg. cwt. N/A N/A Feeder Steers, Okl ....
Economic downturn hurts Whole Foods.(Whole Foods Market Inc.)(Financial report)
Aug 11, 2008 ... Proving that even high-end food retailers are far from immune to the struggling U.S. economy, the 272-unit Whole Foods Market supermarket chain saw its comparable store sales rise just 2.6% in the 12 weeks ended July 6, and identical store sales increase just 1.9%. During the three months ...
Processors challenge packagers to get eco-friendly.
Aug 11, 2008 ... Packaging manufacturers are bending over backwards to satisfy processors' demands for environmentally friendly, sustainable containers and cartons, and are deploying new materials, improved designs and greater scientific innovation in doing so. For their part, processors are under pressure ...
Companies maintain media spending despite higher food costs: report.(Statistical table)
Aug 11, 2008 ... Food companies, such as KRAFT, GENERAL MILLS, and KELLOGG, are not decreasing their advertising budgets to reduce the impact of higher food and energy prices, according to BRANDWEEK'S 2008 Superbrands report. In fact, companies realize that in order to keep consumers impacted by higher ...