One week before Vermont’s mandatory GMO (genetically modified organism) labeling law is scheduled to go into effect, Senate legislators have reached a bipartisan agreement on a national labeling standard spearheaded by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). While this deal still requires packaged foods containing GMOs to be labeled, […]
Category: National
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FMI’s Sarasin On FMI Connect: ‘We’re Committed To Boldness And Agility’
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin offered the following statement today on the trajectory of FMI Connect, which was held this week in Chicago: “The competitive landscape of food retail is undergoing an unprecedented time of change, which substantiates the need for a venue that allows the entire industry to do […]
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United Fresh Names McEntire VP, Food Safety And Technology
United Fresh Produce Association has named Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., as its new VP, food safety and technology. She succeeds Dr. David Gombas, who retired from the association June 1 after 11 years leading its food safety program. “I’m absolutely thrilled that Dr. McEntire is joining our team to begin a new era in food safety […]
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FMI Report: Fresh Produce Growth Driven By Mega Trends
Fresh produce is in demand. At $61 billion in annual sales, fresh produce is big, growing (+4 percent) and lucrative, with a grocery basket with fresh produce averaging nearly $30 more than one without. The consumer trends in Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) second annual Power of Produce report substantiate the growth opportunities for fresh produce […]
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FMI’s New Power Of Fresh Prepared/Deli Study To Be Released This Fall
As the number of meals prepared away from home grows and consumers seek new methods of convenience, the supermarket industry will continue to identify improved ways to track consumer dynamics, convenience and household trends that have had a profound impact on meal preparation and shopping behaviors regarding fresh prepared foods. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) […]
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FMI’s Sarasin: It’s Time To Expand Our Shopper Vocabulary
“It’s a brave new world of grocery shoppers with nearly everyone getting in on the act of shopping for food,” said Food Marketing Institute (FMI) President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin. Sarasin shared insights on the impact the shifting shopper paradigm is having on the purchasing behavior of more than half of U.S. shoppers on […]
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Five Ways To Maximize Banana Sales
With bananas at the top of most supermarkets’ register rings, it pays for distributors and produce managers to keep their banana inventories and displays in top-notch form. “The banana category is historically the largest retail produce category. Since bananas are available year-round, an effective prominent display draws customers into your produce department,” said Kevin Frye, […]
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CFSAF Calls On Senate To Find GMO Labeling Agreement
Four leaders from America’s agricultural and food industries stressed the urgent need for an agreement on a national GMO labeling standard as Democrat and Republican Senate leaders work to find a bipartisan compromise. “This is the most important issue currently facing America’s food producing community and one that could do significant harm to our nation’s […]
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Consumers Respond To Apple Pay Messaging With More Payments
USA Technologies Inc. (USAT), a payment technology provider of cashless and mobile transactions in self-serve retail, released results of a study testing whether targeted point-of-sale advertising of Apple Pay acceptance would increase usage of mobile payments by consumers. According to early results, USAT believes that smartphone users shown digital advertising at point-of-sale through its ePort […]
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Pillsbury Introduces Girl Scout Cookie Flavored Baking Mixes
Pillsbury is launching its new licensing relationship with Girl Scouts of the USA by bringing two of America’s favorite Girl Scout Cookie flavors to the kitchen with new Pillsbury Girl Scouts Thin Mints and Caramel & Coconut Flavored Baking Mixes. “We are very pleased about our licensing relationship with Girl Scouts of the USA, as […]
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Western Family’s Oregon HQ To Close With Topco Deal
On June 13, Western Family Foods Inc. and Topco Associates LLC reached an agreement that authorizes Topco to source three of Western Family’s brands that are sold through independent grocery retailers across the U.S. The brands are Western Family, Shurfine and Natural Directions. According to a statement from Western Family, “Under this arrangement, Topco will […]
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More Than Half Of U.S. Households Purchase Fresh Mushrooms
The Mushroom Council recently released a study analyzing the latest mushroom shopper purchase trends. The Fresh Mushroom Fast Facts study provides key insights into the shopping behaviors that are driving fresh mushroom category growth. According to the study, more than half of U.S. households purchased mushrooms in 2015. Nearly four out of five purchasing households […]
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NCA’s Whiteside: Sweets & Snacks Expo Booming
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) once again saw record attendance at its Sweets & Snacks Expo, held May 24-26 at McCormick Place in Chicago. According to the organization, the Expo drew in more than 17,000 industry professionals from more than 90 countries. The expo hosted more than 750 companies exhibiting their products across nearly four […]
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Second Mushroom Council, Beef Checkoff Veal Summer Grilling Promotion Under Way
The Beef Checkoff and the Mushroom Council have teamed up for a second Veal Mushroom Summer Grilling Promotion. A new Veal and Portobello Mushroom Blend Burger recipe has been introduced through labels placed on specially marked packages of veal. The promotion is supported with a consumer sweepstakes featuring a $500 grand prize and two $50 […]
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General Mills Launches First All-New Cereal Brand In 15 Years
For the first time in more than 15 years, General Mills is introducing an all-new cereal brand—Tiny Toast—that arrives on store shelves across America this week. Available in strawberry and blueberry flavors, whole grain is the first ingredient in Tiny Toast, which also has no artificial flavors or colors from artificial sources and no high […]
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Walmart Annual Meeting: McMillon Says Company Will ‘Reimagine Retail’
On Friday, June 3, at Walmart’s 46th annual shareholders meeting, President and CEO Doug McMillon urged the company’s 2.3 million associates to get behind the company’s vision, saying, “We have the opportunity to reimagine retail again.” As part of this “reimagining,” McMillon announced that Walmart is now working with Uber and other partners to test […]
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Former PepsiCo Chief Enrico Dies At 71
Roger Enrico, who spent 30 years with PepsiCo before retiring in 2003, died June 1. He was 71. According to the Dallas Morning News, Enrico was snorkeling near his home in the Cayman Islands when he died. A major part of Enrico’s legacy is his leadership at Pepsi during the “Cola Wars” of the 1980s, […]
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Wisconsin Grandmother Wins Chicken Of The Sea Contest
Chicken of the Sea has awarded a 75-year-old grandmother of five in Appleton, Wisconsin, for taking up Tae Kwon Do after receiving a black belt in mixed martial arts. Barb Estabrook was honored for “making a commitment to live a more adventurous, happier and healthier life” as part of the seafood company’s “Sea the Possibilities” […]
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Buck Promoted To EVP/COO At The Hershey Co.
Michele Buck, who formerly led Hershey’s U.S. and Canadian businesses as president-North America, has been promoted to EVP and COO, effective June 2. Buck, 54, will continue to report to John P. Bilbrey, chairman of the board, president and CEO of The Hershey Co. in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Buck has more than 25 years of consumer […]
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GMA Highlights Industry Progress In Reducing Food Waste
The food industry has made significant strides in cutting food waste and is taking steps to reduce consumer confusion around product date labeling, an expert from the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) told the House Agriculture Committee on May 25. GMA Senior Director of Sustainability Meghan Stasz testified at the hearing on behalf of the Food […]