News
Campbell Buying Plum Organics Baby Food Maker
May 24, 2013 11:13 am | by CANDICE CHOI, AP Food Industry Writer | CommentsSoup said it's buying Plum Organics, which makes food for babies and kids, for an undisclosed amount as it looks to move into faster-growing categories. The company had been struggling to grow sales of its canned soups as people increasingly look for foods with a fresher feel.
Daily Sound Bite: Sunland Stages Comeback
May 24, 2013 11:11 am | CommentsThe New Mexico peanut butter processing plant at the center of a massive salmonella outbreak and recall earlier this year has begun operations again after being shuttered by regulators eight months ago. The FDA gave the company approval to restart operations last week.
Turkey Debates Alcohol Sales and Ad Restrictions
May 24, 2013 9:51 am | by SUZAN FRASER, Associated Press | CommentsTurkish lawmakers on Thursday began debating a bill that bans all alcohol advertising and tightens restrictions on sales of such beverages — a controversial proposal the government insists is aimed at protecting the young from the ills of spirits.
Photo of the Day: Distribution Center Powered by Food Waste
May 24, 2013 8:00 am | CommentsThe Kroger Co. has unveiled a clean energy production system that will convert food that can't be sold or donated into clean energy to help power its Ralphs/Food 4 Less Compton distribution center. The anaerobic conversion system will process more than 55,000 tons of organic food waste into renewable energy annually and provide power for the over 650,000 square foot distribution center.
Daily Sound Bite: Food Stamp Administration to Remain Federal
May 23, 2013 12:47 pm | CommentsThe senate has rejected an attempt by Republican lawmakers to move the administration of food stamp benefits under the SNAP program to the states. Opponents of the measure cited fears that individual states would impose restrictions on benefits including eliminating those with criminal records from the program.
Bitters: Move Beyond Cocktails to Baking Industry
May 23, 2013 12:41 pm | by Megan Cole, The Canadian Press | CommentsAt Victoria Spirits, where they make a line of three bitters — orange, black pepper and rosemary grapefruit — they use the redistilled tails of their gin distillation combined with botanicals to give each of the three varieties their distinct flavor.
New Zealand Resumes Meat Exports to China
May 23, 2013 12:38 pm | CommentsNew Zealand's Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy said Thursday exports of frozen lamb, beef and mutton to China should resume next week after a paperwork problem resulted in hundreds of tons of meat getting stranded at Chinese docks.
Hormel Foods 2Q Profit Falls, Misses Expectations
May 23, 2013 12:36 pm | CommentsHormel Foods' fiscal second-quarter net income fell 2 percent as it dealt with one-time costs related to its acquisition of the Skippy peanut butter brand, higher grain costs and weaker turkey prices. Its quarterly performance missed Wall Street's expectations.
Senate Rejects GMO Labeling Amendment to Farm Bill
May 23, 2013 12:35 pm | by MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press | CommentsThe Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly rejected an amendment that would allow states to require labeling of genetically modified foods.Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt, said his amendment was an attempt to clarify that states can require the labels.
Dutch Meat Processor Arrested in Horse Meat Probe
May 23, 2013 12:33 pm | by MIKE CORDER, Associated Press | CommentsInvestigators from the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority on Thursday arrested the director of a meat-processing and wholesale company whose business is at the center of an investigation into undeclared mixing of horse meat with beef.
Consumer Trends: How Gen Y Shops
May 23, 2013 12:00 pm | CommentsDespite being far more tech-savvy than previous generations, Generation Y, the 80-million strong cohort of Americans between the ages of 18 and 35, has not forsaken shopping in stores for online purchasing — as long as retailers keep their offerings "fresh" and interesting, says a new report from the Urban Land Institute (ULI).
Wine Aged in Charleston Harbor Recovered
May 23, 2013 9:49 am | by BRUCE SMITH, Associated Press | CommentsA California winery on Tuesday recovered four cases of Cabernet Sauvignon that were submerged in Charleston Harbor three months ago in the first phase of an experiment to determine the effect of ocean aging on wine. Divers recovered four yellow steel cages containing the wine that was put in 60 feet of water back in February by the Mira Winery of St. Helena, Calif.
Flowers Foods Approves Stock Split, Hikes Dividend
May 23, 2013 9:47 am | CommentsFlowers Foods on Wednesday approved a three-for-two stock split and hiked its dividend. After the split, shareholders of the maker of Tastykake will own three shares for every two shares they held. The dividend will be 11.25 cents per share on a quarterly basis or 45 cents per share on an annualized basis.
German Company Opening NY Yogurt Plant
May 23, 2013 9:45 am | CommentsA second yogurt plant is about to open in a Genesee County business park. Sen. Charles Schumer says the Muller Quaker Dairy plant will have a grand opening on June 3. The $206 million dollar plant is a joint venture of PepsiCo and Germany's Theo Muller company.
Magic Hat Sues Brewer Over Logo
May 23, 2013 9:41 am | CommentsMagic Hat Brewing is suing a Kentucky brewery over the company's corporate logo, which it says is a trademark infringement. West Sixth Brewing's logo has a numeral 6 and a star-like symbol. Magic Hat says it's too much like its No. 9 beer label.
Senate Rejects Bid to Let States Run Food Stamps
May 23, 2013 9:38 am | by MARY CLARE JALONICK, Associated Press | CommentsA proposal by Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., to a wide-ranging farm bill would have converted the food stamp program into grants to states, which could decide how to use the money, with certain restrictions. The Senate rejected the amendment 60-36.
Photo of the Day: Packaging Company's Growth Skyrockets
May 23, 2013 8:00 am | CommentsGSC Packaging was named the fastest growing private company in metro Atlanta, with 3,265 percent growth. GSC Packaging, a nationwide provider of turnkey contract packaging solutions, earned the number one spot in the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2013 Pacesetter Awards, which recognize Atlanta’s 100 fastest-growing private companies.
Consumer Trends: The Facts About Honey
May 22, 2013 12:00 pm | CommentsIn a 2013 Attitude and Usage (A&U) study, the NHB learned that when purchasing honey, consumers prefer for honey to be brilliantly clear and golden. Consumers also responded that they are increasingly likely to prefer honey that has pollen grains filtered out. The fact is, whether there is pollen in honey or not, it's still honey.
Texas Schools Soda Ban Advances
May 22, 2013 11:44 am | by MICHAEL BRICK, Associated Press | CommentsSeeking to help the state's youngest students develop nutritious habits, Texas lawmakers on Tuesday approved banning the sale of sugary drinks in public elementary and junior high schools. The bill would limit beverage choices to water, low-fat milk and pure juice.
Meatpacker Bids on Nebraska Land
May 22, 2013 10:24 am | CommentsScottsbluff leaders are considering a proposal in which they would sell 43 acres of city land to Future Food Energy LLC for $10,000 per acre. The company intends to begin construction of a meatpacking plant in the western Nebraska community.
