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12/21/2008
The American Lamb Board (ALB), a producer-funded trade organization, has made top line lamb retail sales data available, enabling retailers to utilize FreshLook Marketing data to benchmark their performance. The move marks the first time the Denver, Colo.-based ALB has made lamb sales data available to the retail community; meat case directors can now view dollar and pound shares by protein and within lamb, by cut on a monthly basis. "Fresh American Lamb is still a niche in many retail meat cases," said Megan Wortman, ALB's executive director. Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
More than 30 growers, suppliers, buyers, technical experts, and environmental and public interest organizations have banded together to form the Stewardship Index for Specialty Crops, which will develop and share a comprehensive system for measuring sustainable performance across the supply chain at farms, processors, distributors, food service providers, and retailers. The project will address the unique needs of the stakeholders of specialty crops - which are defined to include fruits, vegetables, nuts and horticulture -- while demonstrably improving environmental and social impacts. "We're finding that very diverse stakeholders want a workable system for measuring sustainable performance in this industry," said Jonathan Kaplan of the Natural Resources Defense Council, a founding participant. Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
A&P's upscale banner The Food Emporium has debuted a new collection of specialty sweets created by five family-owned companies from France and Italy, and available only at the grocer. Representing the handcrafted products of venerable companies Venchi, Bovetti, Durke, La Perla, and Scaldaferro, the collection includes Venchi's signature "Chocaviar," chocolate caviar made with a blend of Central and South American cocoa and packaged in "caviar"-style jars and tins; 3.5-ounce Bovetti chocolate bars in dark, milk, and white chocolate varieties and featuring such unusual flavors as fennel seeds, banana chips, apricot, ginger, sesame seeds, jasmine, cinnamon, rose, Szechuan pepper, blue mint, violet, and caramel with Fleur de Sel, for $5.99 each.... Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
Central Ohio supermarket shoppers will once again be able to purchase HoneyBaked brand ham in this year in select Kroger locations, while Cincinnati-area customers can do the same by visiting all of Supervalu's Bigg's grocery stores. Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
For the third consecutive year, Kroger and its customers have helped battle ovarian cancer. Kroger's latest donation to ovarian cancer awareness -- collected in metro Detroit Kroger stores during September as part of National Ovarian Cancer Month -- helped the chain net $115,000 for the fund. Customers contributed to in-store coin boxes at all Kroger stores, which raised $14,612. In addition, customers could purchase a teal ribbon for $1 symbolizing ovarian cancer awareness, which raised another $19,000. Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
The Penn Traffic Company said this week that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its wholesale business segment to C&S Wholesale Grocers, Inc. for approximately $43 million, a move that Penn Traffic president and c.e.o. Gregory J. Young said in a conference call yesterday represented "a significant step forward" in the grocer's goal of focusing on its retail stores and customers, and strengthening its capital structure. Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
Unified Grocers, Inc. said yesterday that it has exercised a provision in its current revolving credit agreement that raises the total committed funds available to the company from $225 million to $250 million. The provision enables Unified to expand the capacity of its existing credit agreement to as much as $300 million without altering the favorable terms and conditions of its existing revolving credit agreement that expires in 2012. Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
To add fuel to the fire of an already poor economy, retailers are losing sales of at least one item to as many as 20 percent of consumers visiting their stores, according to a recently released research study from IHL Group. "Retailers remain in denial when it comes to consumers' perceptions of out-of-stocks," observed IHL president Greg Buzek. "Consumers don't care why the product is not available. They come in with money to spend at the stores and have to leave either because the shelves are empty, there is no one to help get a locked item, or the staff simply cannot find the merchandise even though the computer system says they have it. Nine percent of all consumers in our study have simply stopped shopping at one or more retailers in the last 12 months, due to the problem." Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
The Wonderfarm biscuits are sold in 800g red metal tins. The four varieties being recalled are:
Wonderfarm "Successful" Assorted Biscuits (UPC:8935001262091); Wonderfarm "Royal Flavour" Assorted Biscuits (UPC:8935001263098); Wonderfarm "Lovely Melody" Assorted Biscuits (UPC: 8935001263296); Wonderfarm "Daily Life" Assorted Biscuits (UPC: 8935001264200); The manufacturer identified on the product is Interfood Shareholding Company in Vietnam.
The recall was initiated after the firm was advised that samples collected by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture of the Wonderfarm "Successful" Assorted biscuits, tested positive for melamine. Interfood Shareholding Company was identified as the manufacturer of the product. After being advised that "Royal Flavour", "Lovely Melody", and "Daily Life" also tested positive for melamine, the firm agreed to expand their recall to include those products as well. No illnesses associated with this product have been reported to date, the manufacturer said. Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
Stater Bros. Holdings said yesterday its sales for the fiscal year ended September 28, 2008 were $3.74 billion, an increase of 1.8 percent compared to sales of $3.67 billion for the previous year. The grocer said that the prior fiscal year included an extra week of sales, and excluding that extra week, sales for fiscal 2008 bettered 2007 by 3.8 percent. Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/21/2008
Fitch Ratings said yesterday that it's debt ratings outlook for the Kroger Co. is "stable," reflecting the chain's "successful operating strategy, which has allowed the company to achieve industry-leading identical store sales trends, its ability to generate cost efficiencies and strong cash flow, and its conservative financial management." Dec 19, 2008
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Progressive Grocer
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12/05/2008
Growing crops in salt water is becoming necessary to overcome shortages of fresh water, claim researchers in the journal Science. The domestication of wild plants that grow in salty conditions could help reduce global food shortages as only 1% of the Earth's water is freshwater. Around the world, many agricultural areas are becoming less productive as salt levels in water supplies increase, reported BBC News.
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
Delimax is the first veal producer and the first Canadian company to be certified by the American Humane Certified program. The certification applies to Delimax grain-fed veal, which is processed, sold and marketed by its partner, Montpak International.
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
Oregon crabbers are bringing in sizable catches despite earlier concerns the year would be problematic due to a slowdown in Central California. While Central California crabbers were bringing in about four to 10 lbs. of crab per pot, some Oregon fisherman are catching between 20 and 80 lbs., reported OregonLive.com.
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
Chile's canned peach production in 2008/09 is forecast to reach about 77,500 metric tons, with about 65,00 metric tons available for export. Increased production over last season can be attributed to low temperatures during most of the winter months. FAS Report
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
The U.S. remains the global leader in the production of genetically modified (GM) crops but claims of enhanced yields and nutrition are not yet realized, according to a report from the Worldwatch Institute . The total global area of GM crops increased 12% in 2007 compared to the previous year, bringing total GM land area up to 114.3 million hectares, accounting for 9% of global primary crop production.
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
New technologies resulting from research and development are critical to developing a sustainable biofuel industry that meets national targets, according to USDA. USDA Release
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
Foreign Agricultural Service wants to amend the regulations used to administer the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops program by increasing the amount of funding per proposal to $500,000 in a given year, extending the allowable length of an activity to five years and by allowing up to five approved projects for any one TASC participant at any given time.
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
USDA is using a "Stocks for Food" bartering initiative to turn government stocks of commodities such as cotton, grains, peanuts, and non-fat dry milk into products such as canned vegetables, meats and peanut butter to help stock food banks and feeding programs.
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
EPA is proposing to charge fees for air-polluting animals. It would require farms or ranches with more than 25 dairy cows, 50 beef cattle or 200 hogs to pay an annual fee of about $175 for each dairy cow, $87.50 per head of beef cattle and $20 for each hog, reported The Associated Press.
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
Heineken N.V. will close its Beamish & Crawford brewery in Cork, Ireland in March 2009. A recent review concluded that a significant investment would be needed for the Beamish & Crawford brewery to meet international standards.
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
Croatia imports a significant portion of the food it consumes, according to a FAS report. The prospect of EU accession, the country's steady growth in tourism and continued economic reform could make Croatia a significant long-term importer of certain U.S. food products including seafood, snack foods, pork, pet food, wine, tree nuts, rice and beef. Croatian consumers are also strongly anti-biotech. FAS Report
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
Campbell Soup Company expanded its Chinese broth business with the launch of its "Swanson" broth products in Shanghai, which has 18 million residents and an affluent middle class. Campbell's research indicates that 72% of the population eats a bowl of soup every day.
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
The hotel, restaurant and institutional food service (HRI) sector market in Mexico represents good export opportunities for U.S. suppliers of food and beverages, according to a FAS report. Upscale hotels and restaurants that cater to international tourism are the most important sectors to target. No import duties apply to U.S. food and beverages entering the Mexican market and they are regarded as consistent high quality products by the HRI industry. FAS Report
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IFDA Daily Update
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12/05/2008
Nestle launched a new research program on the nutritional needs of athletes to develop personalized sports nutrition products.
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IFDA Daily Update
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