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Thursday, October 1, 2009
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So, what's in a name? Kraft Foods Australia/New Zealand recently learned a lesson about brand awareness and loyalty. It is dumping the name iSnack2.0, given to a new mix of Vegemite and Philadelphia Cream Cheese, a name change that caused an uproar from Australia south to New Zealand. Vegemite is iconic in that region, so futzing with the name and the ingredient blend is taken seriously. To Kraft's credit, it backed down almost immediately and scrapped the iSnack 2.0 name. What you call something matters. I remember a few years ago when then-CEO Bruce Rohde wanted to change the ConAgra Inc. corporate name to something more mainstream, more potentially appealing to consumers. A name that would give ConAgra better recognition by consumers as a source of well-known national and regional brands. I mean, what exactly did the name ConAgra Inc. mean to consumers? Very little. It was the well-known brands under ConAgra's big umbrella that resonated with consumers. But as a corporate name, ConAgra Inc. was very generic and didn't easily roll off the tongues of consumers. And what new name did it eventually adopt? ConAgra Foods. Which proves what? That it isn't easy to just ditch a name with decades of history behind it. By adding "Foods" to ConAgra, the company took the safest path possible, but it was enough to communicate a better explanation to consumers of who ConAgra was. It was a food company, not an Inc. Could it have come up with a better, sexier, more consumer-recognizable name? Like when Consolidated Foods Corporation changed its corporate name to Sara Lee back in 1985? I suppose. But like I said, it's not that easy for a company to futz with names, corporate or brand. ConAgra Foods was a 'safe' tweak that worked.

NUGGETS FOR NOGGINS' I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying. Michael Jordan

ON THE RECORD One arbitrageur said there was money to be made from the Kraft-Cadbury dance, but no major excitement as it plays out. "This is lining up as a typical M&A play: unsolicited bidder lobs a reasonable, but not yet full price. Target balks. Bidder will likely tweak the price or the mix of securities being paid enough to trigger a negotiation. Deal happens. Pretty cut and dry," the arbitrage investor said. Excerpt from 9/29/09 article at TheDeal.com.

Is Danone Mulling Mead Johnson takeover? Danone issues denial Financial Times (UK)— After Kraft’s move for Cadbury and Unilever’s purchase of Sara Lee’s personal care brands, could Danone be the next company to strike a deal in the consumer goods sector? Well informed sources have told FT Alphaville that the French food company has brought in investment bank Lazard to work on a possible bid for Mead Johnson of the US. Such a deal would create the world’s largest producer of baby milk formula. Read. Sidebar: The Danone denial

High fructose corn syrup sticks to its defense

Palm Beach Post— The million-dollar ad blitz is designed to put an end to "blatant inaccuracies" surrounding high fructose corn syrup, said Justin Wilson, senior research analyst for the Center for Consumer Freedom. "The bottom line is consumers will be the ones who ultimately get scammed. They will pay more and give themselves this illegitimate distraction from what causes obesity. Most Americans get the point that eating too much sweet food will make them fat," he said. Read.

Tufts U. Nutrition Dean criticized for Program’s ties to interest groups
Criticism of program has focused on its inclusion of a number of popular, sugary cereals, like Cocoa Krispies and Froot Loops
The Tufts Daily— A new program headed by Eileen Kennedy (pictured), the dean of Tufts’ nutrition school that grades the health value of food products has drawn severe criticism for its ties to members of the food industry and for endorsing what many experts call unhealthy eating choices ..... Other critics have railed against the food industry’s direct involvement in the program. The program has nine board members, including one industry representative each from Kellogg’s, General Mills, Kraft Foods and Unilever. Read.

In Tough Times, Consumers Reach for Salty Snacks
Salty snacks may be seeing a rise because they complement new consumer cost-saving behaviors, such as staying home to watch movies instead of going out
Progressive Grocer— When the chips are down, consumers seek out potato chips, so says the latest research from Mintel, which finds the potato chip market growing 22 percent in 2009 vs. 2007. This is a significant uptick for the market, which has seen only modest sales increases over the recent years, and may reflect consumers’ growing demand for small treats and “affordable indulgences” as recession relief. Read.

Consumers Seeking Functional Foods for Digestive Health
Digestive health will be one of key areas of focus for purchasers of functional foods through 2013, driven by association with overall wellness
Food Product Design— Digestive health is one of the hottest topics in the food and beverage arena, driven by innovations in product formulations and increasing awareness among consumers of the link between digestive health and immune function, according to market research firm Packaged Facts. In its new report, “Boosting Immunity Through Digestion,” the company reported the global retail market for probiotic/prebiotic foods and beverages topped $15 billion in 2008, a 13 percent increase over 2007. Read.

Study: When Mom's at work, kids slide into unhealthy diet and no exercise
Research found that many of the children had unhealthy habits to begin with - 37% snacked on potato chips, 41% drank sugary drinks between meals
By Issie Lapowsky, New York Daily News— Working moms are faced with a new challenge: their children’s diet. A new study shows that children whose mothers work full- or part-time are more likely to adopt unhealthy habits when it comes to diet and exercise. The study, which appeared in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, studied the working patterns of mothers compared to their children's diets and activities. Read.

New Report: Consumers Continue Cutting Back
African-Americans and Hispanics have made greater adjustments in their spending and saving than adults overall
By Alex Palmer, Brandweek— Some Americans have permanently changed they way they spend, a new study from Citi shows. Sixty-three percent of Americans said the economic downturn has changed the way they save and spend for the long-term. Only 29 percent said they would go back to their pre-recession spending habits once the economy turns around ..... “This new survey points to a profound shift in the way people think about their saving and spending,” said Eric Eve, senior vice president of Global Community Relations at Citi, in a statement. Read.

MORNING CUP VIDEO PICK    
SmartBlog: What General Mills learned from early experiments in social media
My company, GasPedal, recently hosted BlogWell: How Big Brands Use Social Media in Minneapolis. The fantastic event featured eight case studies on corporate social media from some of the world’s biggest companies ..... Here are a few things we learned from Mark Addicks, General Mills’ chief marketing officer, on how General Mills is experimenting with social media across a bunch of their brands..

The Morning Cup constantly searches the cyberworld for insightful food and beverage industry-related feature articles and columns we think will be of interest to the majority of our readers. If you see an article posted on the internet you think would be of interest to Morning Cup readers, please email the link and a little note to editor Bob Messenger.

Advertising Strategies Capitalize on Hispanics' Family Ties
U.S. companies are fashioning online advertising strategies aimed at an American Hispanic population of 47 million people that is increasingly wired to the Internet and other technologies, several market analysts say. Gisela Girard, chairman of the Virginia-based Association of Hispanic Advertising Agencies (AHAA), said more than 50 percent of U.S. Hispanics are Internet users, and that share is projected to increase. Among race/ethnic groups, Hispanics rank second to the white population in Internet use ..... According to Tamara Barber, a data analyst for Forrester Research Inc., in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Hispanics will come online faster than any other demographic group over the next five years. The Hispanic online market will grow twice as fast as the overall U.S. online population, she said. Hispanics historically have been "trendsetters in defining media-consumption habits" in the United States, Girard said, and companies that advertise online "in a compelling and culturally relevant manner" will see results with Hispanic consumers.
By Eric Green, NewsBlaze.com. Read.

Organic foods: Big companies swoop in to tap lucrative market
For years, Michael Potter (pictured) has gotten regular offers to buy his organic foods company near Ann Arbor, Mich., although now, he said, he gets three or four every week. "Every food company you have ever heard of has tried to buy this company," said the founder, chairman and president of Eden Foods Inc. "Not most of them. Every one of them." Venture capitalists have tried to woo Potter as well, he said. But Potter has refused to sell, or even to take on investment capital that would allow him to expand, earning ridicule from peers who say he is missing what he calls the "big payoff" and bucking a trend of consolidation in an industry that last year rang up $24 billion in sales. "What I do is meaningful. It needs to be done," Potter said. "And it's fun."
By Steve Mills, Orlando Sentinel. Read.

Do not tax Coke, tax corn syrup instead
A few idealistic health researchers want to tax sugary soft drinks and they are getting a hearing in Washington. Here in Atlanta, of course, we’re outraged. Tax Coca-Cola? You may have built your city on rock and roll, but we built this city on Coke and a smile. Atlanta has no coast, no river port, no big store of natural resources. The reason this city exists is because The Coca-Cola Co. willed it into being. Who you think gave you Santa Claus, sonny? Haddon Sundblom probably drew that twinkle in his eye with Rhett Butler in mind. Fiddle dee-dee indeed. You can have my Coca-Cola when you pry it from my cold, dead hands. In fact I think this tax is misdirected ..... Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent is leading the fight against a soft drinks tax, and I think he’s right to do so. Because the problem isn’t Coca-Cola. The problem is corn syrup.
Commentary by Dana Blankenhorn, SmartPlanet.com. Read.

Mr. Tidbit has a long memory; tells tale of years of new products
Supermarket shelves looking crowded? New products are the foundation of marketing. From oat bran to açai, from fat-free to low-carb, here's a sampling of supermarket highlights -- and lowlights -- boiled down from the 23 years that the Tidbits column has appeared in the Taste section. (Tidbits began in 1981 in the Minneapolis Tribune's Food section -- the competitor to the Minneapolis Star's Taste section.
By Al Sucherman (Mr. Tidbit), Minneapolis Star Tribune. Read.

● Brown-Forman Corp. showed marked improvement in the Human Rights Campaign’s annual rating of companies’ policies and practices affecting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) employees. Louisville-based Brown-Forman earned 85 out of 100 possible points, up from 20 points on the 2008 survey, according to the HRC. Read.

● Cal-Maine Foods ..... The Humane Society of the United States will urge Cal-Maine shareholders to approve its resolution asking the company to properly account for and not misuse corporate funds to defend inhumane practices. The HSUS owns 476 shares of Cal-Maine Foods stock. Karla Koebernick, corporate marketing manager for The HSUS' factory farming campaign, states, "Rather than spending money to oppose popular, common-sense legislative measures to improve animal welfare, Cal-Maine should bring its production systems in line with the snowballing corporate and public opposition to cruel battery cages." Read.

● Coca-Cola should be more sociable ..... Coca-Cola has said this week that it intends to pursue a much more aggressive digital marketing presence. While that choice of words is probably best consigned to an industry magazine, the soft drinks giant is clearly reaping the benefits of brand engagement – claiming to have a mailing list of 13 million customers in the US thanks to its My Coke Rewards site. As many companies still struggle to integrate an online offering into their marketing campaigns, Coke seems to be thriving. Read.

● Coca-Cola plans to add calorie information more prominently to almost all products globally ..... Coca-Cola Co. says it will change packaging on almost all its products to more prominently display some nutritional information as it faces threats of taxes on soda and other attacks related to rising obesity. The company says it hopes the broken-out details will be more convenient for customers who want nutritional details. Bottles and cans will continue to have regular nutritional labels. Read.

● FUZE Beverage introduces two new flavors now hitting shelves: Goji Wild Berry Flavored Empower and the Agave Goji Berry Flavored White Tea. The new Empower flavor features the crisp taste of goji berries rounded by the sweet, distinct and slightly tart taste of black currants, elderberries, cherries and other wild berries. At only 10 calories per 8 fl. oz. serving, Goji Wild Berry Flavored Empower contains powerful antioxidants, vitamins C and E, and also contains Chromium and L-Carnitine. Read.

● Hershey Trust Emerges As Key Player In Candy Wars ..... An obscure charitable trust will be a central figure as the candy wars unfold and as Kraft Foods weighs its next step in the bid for Cadbury PLC ..... As the candy industry consolidates, the Hershey Trust - controlling shareholder of the publicly traded Hershey Co. and trustee of a school for children in need - must decide the Pennsylvania chocolate maker's future. Read.

● Kellogg Co recruits for first strategic digital positions ..... Kellogg’s is to appoint its first dedicated strategic digital staff as it creates “ambitious” digital plans within the company structure. The cereal brand is recruiting a digital operations manager to drive Kellogg’s online strategy in Europe and a digital planner to align media and digital marketing plans. It aims to quickly define a clear digital strategy for 2010. Read.

● Kraft Foods given November 9 deadline for Cadbury takeover ..... The UK Takeover Panel has issued a ruling stating that Kraft Foods must make an offer for Cadbury by 5pm on 9 November 2009 or walk away from the company. The Panel said that it had come to the decision after discussions with advisors to both companies. If Kraft fail to meet the deadline they will be unable to put in another bid for Cadbury for another six months. Read.

● Nestle has donated 650,000 cases of Gerber 2nd Foods vegetable baby food purees, which equates to 7.8 million jars. The donation, filling 92 truckloads and weighing approximately 1.9 million pounds, will provide baby food to children through the Feeding America network of food banks across the country. Read.

Product Review: Taco Bell's Half Pound Burritos
It's official, there is some truth in advertising. Taco Bell's half pound burritos will indeed fill you up. But it's not a pleasant "I won't have to eat for at least six hours" feeling of satisfaction. No, it's more of "I can't be further than 50 feet from a bathroom for at least 12 hours" type feeling. At least the advertisements are very honest, warning that even a former heavyweight boxing champion's stomach, which is used to being pummeled with uppercuts from the likes of Mike Tyson, couldn't possibly accommodate more than one half pound of what Taco Bell is offering ..... I made the terrible mistake of opening the burrito. Again, it's a burrito, so the inside isn't exactly supposed to look like a Rembrant painting. Instead, it looks like something Jean Michelle Basquiat threw together after an all night bender ..... After finishing the burrito, I definitely feel like I could eat more, but my stomach doesn't agree. Instead, it's in a kind of shut down/haz-mat mode, proving the advertisements right, just for the wrong reasons.
Blog by Brett Gillin, Blogs.browardpalmbeach.com. Read.

● Burger King ... Piper Jaffray Reiterates an 'Overweight' Rating on Burger King After Meeting with CEO ..... BKC remains on the offensive including new product introductions and provocative media campaigns, the beneficial nature of store remodels, and extended hours: We believe that U.S. traffic trends are improving. Read.

● Coca-Cola Co. could begin pilot production next year of its Freestyle beverage dispenser and expand availability of the machine to 40 or 50 markets. Coca-Cola, which is testing the machine in 25 outlets in metro Atlanta and 26 outlets in Southern California, is banking on the self-serve machine to help it and its restaurant partners sell more drinks by providing more variety ..... “This is brand new technology that we think has the potential to significantly change the consumer experience within our customers’ outlets,” said Chris Lowe, president of Coca-Cola North America’s Foodservice division. Read.

● Darden Restaurants Opens New, State-of-the Art Corporate Headquarters ..... "Today marks a new era in Darden's history," said Clarence Otis, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Darden. "Our new home is the embodiment of our goal to create a great company - a winning company financially and a special place to be; a place where our employees can pursue their personal and professional dreams." Read.

● Domino's Pizza is lining up with the stars - astrological stars that is. In honor of the launch of its four new sandwiches, and just for fun, Domino's consulted an astrologer to see if consumers' zodiac signs influence their food and sandwich preferences. Take it with a grain of salt if you must, but there may just be something surprisingly stellar in a Taurus love for beef, a Cancer craving for comfort foods, a Scorpio preference for spicy seasonings and the like. Read.

● McDonald’s launches Champion Kids contest for 2010 Olympic Winter Games ..... McDonald's USA is sponsoring a contest with a chance for young people from across the country to attend the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games in February as a McDonald's Champion Kid (MCK) and hometown correspondent. Read.

● Overhill Farms announced that it has entered into a sales and distribution agreement with J.R. Simplot Company which designates Simplot as the exclusive distributor of Overhill Farms products to some of the nation's largest foodservice accounts ... Sales to foodservice customers are now the second largest source of revenues for Overhill Farms, after sales to retail customers. Read.

● Yum! Brands announced that its Board of Directors approved an 11% increase in the Company’s quarterly dividend and authorized $300 million in share repurchases ... David C. Novak, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “I am pleased to inform our shareholders that we are increasing our dividend by 11% and will resume repurchasing our shares. Yum’s global growth potential, consistent performance and track record of generating strong free cash flow give us the confidence and ability to return significant cash to our shareholders even in these challenging economic times..." Read.

● Giant Eagle Takes Fresh Approach to Price Reductions With Lower Everyday Prices on Produce ..... Western Pennsylvania residents who are hungry for some positive news in today's struggling economy now have something on which to feast. Building on recent chicken, ground beef and prescription medication price reductions, supermarket retailer Giant Eagle Inc. and its new Savings Squad are announcing lower everyday prices on fruits and vegetables, giving families what they're most looking for -- greater value on their food purchases. Read.

Company News     
CAMPBELL SOUP: Wells Fargo divests stake in Campbell Soup
Wells Fargo & Co divested its entire 12.44 percent stake in Campbell Soup Co, according to a regulatory filing Tuesday. The stake in Campbell Soup represented about 44 million shares. 
Diamond Foods 4Q Earnings Rise 60% On Strength Of Snack Nuts
Fiscal fourth-quarter earnings jumped a bigger-than-expected 60% as strong growth in snack nuts which more than offset weakness in other segments.

Miscellaneous News  
GOV'T: Congress fashions $350 million dairy aid package
Amid a crisis of low milk prices and mounting losses in dairy country, lawmakers in Congress are fashioning a $350 million emergency aid package aimed at helping struggling milk farmers. 
OPINION: Time for a No Kid-Food Revolt
Why are we so fat? That's easy, you say. We're fat because we are lazy; because popping through the Taco Bell drive-thru for some Supreme action is so much easier than going home to cook a well-balanced meal.
RESEARCH: 2009 Holiday Season Sales Expected To Be Flat
With the nation seemingly emerging from recession, American consumers remain skittish about spending their money during this upcoming holiday season according to new research from The Nielsen Company.
TECHNOLOGY: Scanning Barcodes and Counting Calories - iPhone Has an App for That
Your iPhone can play so many roles in your life: tour guide, military commander, camerman, restaurant reviewer, bank teller, DJ, and now… nutritionist. The newly renamed DailyBurn (formerly Gyminee) has developed a calorie counting iPhone App.

States News  
Alabama dairy farmer promotes industry online
Gilmer's updates on Facebook and Twitter, which he joined last spring, are aimed at spreading a message that will boost the entire industry's bottom line: Eat more dairy.
NORTH CAROLINA: Charlotte's Frito-Lay workers recall plant's debut 30 years ago
This is a story for potato chip lovers. Frito-Lay's Charlotte plant churns out 130 million pounds of crunchy snacks each year, including Lay's potato chips. 
OKLAHOMA: State wants judge to punish poultry companies
The outcome is being monitored by other states thinking about challenging the way Big Poultry does business in other watersheds.

WORLD News  
AUSTRALIA: Kraft to dump iSnack2.0 Vegemite name
The funky name given to a new Vegemite product is toast. Kraft Foods Australia-New Zealand spokesman Simon Talbot said the new name was too far removed from the traditional Vegemite product.
CANADA: Mac Naughton Named Merchandising Chief at Wal-Mart Canada
Duncan Mac Naughton, who resigned this week from his role as an executive vice president at Supervalu, begins a new job as chief merchandising officer at Wal-Mart Canada next month.
CANADA: Food giants hop ‘buy local' bandwagon
Some foodies dismiss the campaigns as green-washing, while others are asking what role these companies can have in a local food system.
CHINA: Can 7-Eleven Win Over Hong Kong Foodies?
Welcome to Hong Kong's first 7 Café, part of the U.S. convenience-store chain's global foray into fast food. Part convenience store, part fast-food restaurant, the café opened its doors last month with a rotating menu featuring dishes you're more likely to see in a college cafeteria than a corner store.
RUSSIA: Nestle Will Make Nesquiko Breakfast Packs in Perm
The Nestle company has completed a large investment project in the Perm krai. In 2008 and 2009, about 1 billion rubles have been invested into the renovation of Perm "Cereal Partners" factory.
UNITED KINGDOM: Sports and energy drinks set to continue with strong growth
The category grew by 51% between 2004 and 2008, and, with major companies such as Coca-Cola and GlaxoSmithKline investing heavily, the trend looks set to continue. 

CONSUMER BEHAVIOR/RESEARCH/trends     
09/21/09 — Latest IRI Study Finds Deal-Seeking Consumers Still Turning to Private Label (Business Wire)
09/16/09 — Wegmans Survey: Shoppers Want Easy, Healthy and Affordable Meals (Wegmans)
09/15/09 — Gen Y forces retailers to keep up with technology, new stuff (USA Today)
09/14/09 — Report: Consumers crave premium burgers (Boston Globe)
09/10/09 — Study: Online Shoppers Trust Customer Reviews More than Friends (Progressive Grocer)
09/10/09 — Mintel Beauty Innovation finds `beauty foods` growing in popularity (Reuters.com)
09/10/09 — Appetite grows for fun food innovations, experts say at Prepared Foods Magazine Conference (Palm Beach Post)
09/10/09 — Like Seat Belts ... Should Family Meals Be Mandated? (Pysche Central)
09/07/09 — In the Future, Your Kids Won’t Shop the Way You Do (Progressive Grocer)
09/04/09 — Top Consumer Trends: Trust, Control ... Playfulness? (Marketing Daily)
09/03/09 — Whole Foods Survey: Shoppers Eating More Meals at Home (PR Newswire)
08/31/09 — Consumer Reports: Store Brand Food Can Be Superior To Big Name Brands (Fox Business)
08/31/09 — NPD Research Reveals Snacking is on the Rise (Progressive Grocer)
08/27/09 — New Research: Convenience Makes a Comeback (Brandweek)
08/26/09 — Forget Saving the Planet: Green Consumers Out to Save Money (Progressive Grocer)
08/24/09 — Listening to Consumers Can Yield More Than Asking (Progressive Grocer)
08/20/09 — Consumers Skeptical of Organic, All-Natural Claims But Still Buy (Progressive Grocer)
08/19/09 — No comfort in comfort foods during tough economic times, says study (EurekAlert)
08/17/09 — Latest IRI Study Finds Shoppers Regaining Rationality; However, Price Still Rules (Business Wire)
08/13/09 — Comfort foods vary by age group, says study (Food Navigator)
08/05/09 — 70 Percent of Consumers Will Pay More for Positive Experience (Progressive Grocer)
07/31/09 — New Study: Just Expecting A Tasty Food Activates Brain Reward Systems (Science Daily)
07/22/09 — Survey: Recession Affecting Workers’ Eating Habits (Progressive Grocer)
07/21/09 — New Study Says Shopping Behaviors May Transcend Demographics (Business Wire)
08/27/09 — Recession Has Affected Shopper Mix in Stores: Report (Progressive Grocer)
08/20/09 — Nielsen Study: Consumers Stick with Basic Purchases (Brandweek)
07/17/09 — Study: Consumers Want More Innovative Packaged Goods (Progressive Grocer)
07/15/09 — PLMA Study: The Public Loves Private Label (Progressive Grocer)
07/14/09 — American shoppers misled by greenwash, Congress told (Ethiopian Review)
07/10/09 — Consumers Hesitant to Choose Store Brands for Kids and Pets (Brandweek)
07/08/09 — Boomerang kids? Get ready for boomerang parents (Capital City Weekly - Alaska)
07/07/09 — Study: Food Sales Increasingly Driven by Convenience and Health (Progressive Grocer)
07/07/09 — Recession Affects family dynamics, relationships to brands and spending patterns (Progressive Grocer)
07/01/09 — Role Reversal - Mr. Mom Goes Shopping (Nielsen)
07/01/09 — Millennials Are Evolving; Are You Keeping Up? (Adage.com)
06/30/09 — Peapod Survey says Office Workers Demanding Healthier Foods (Supermarket News)
06/30/09 — PLMA Poll: Consumers Will Keep Buying Private Label (Supermarket News)
06/28/09 — Report: Growing Number of Moms Using Social Media (Progressive Grocer)
06/25/09 — Kraft/Datamonitor Study: Probiotics Still Misunderstood (Brandweek)
06/23/09 — Recession generation? Young adults brace for simpler lifestyle (USA Today)

CONSUMERS/AFRICAN-AMERICANS  
09/19/09 — Pepsi Program Targets African-American Moms (Brandweek)
07/16/09 — CDC: African-Americans top obesity list (Food Navigator)
07/01/09 — How Coke Is Targeting Black Consumers (Adage.com)
06/01/09 — Smart marketers will recognize the changing African American demographics in America today (QSR Magazine)
05/11/09 — Black buying power to grow despite economic woes (St. Louis American)

CONSUMERS/HISPANIC AMERICANS
09/18/09 — A Deeper Drill-Down Into the US Hispanic Market (Mediapost.com)
09/08/09 — Hispanic Consumers: Upscale and Growing! (Progressive Grocer)
08/17/09 — Innovation Key to Meeting Needs of Latino Shoppers (Progressive Grocers)
08/12/09 — Are Hispanic Consumers a Cure for Recession Blues? (Progressive Grocer)
08/10/09 — Wal-Mart Debuts Club Store for Hispanics (Supermarket News)
07/21/09 — Report: Fewer Mexicans Entering U.S. (USA Today)
07/15/09 — Mintel: Hispanic Consumers Avoided Finance-Related Lifestyle Changes (Supermarket News)
07/02/09 — U.S. Latinos Flock to the Web (Brandweek)
06/03/09 — Study: Hispanics are Good Ad Targets in Downturn (Brandweek)
06/01/09 — Hispanic children in US at greater risk for obesity than other ethnic/racial groups (7th Space)

CONSUMERS/KIDS & TEENS     
08/25/09 — American Teens Weigh in on What ‘Healthy’ Means (Progressive Grocer)
08/05/09 — Kids Are Well Aware Which Foods Are Healthy, Finds Technomic (PR-inside)
08/04/09 — Study Says Parents Worried About Kids’ After-School Snacks (Progressive Grocer)
07/27/09 — More Dairy, Calcium in Childhood Could Mean Longer Life (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
07/23/09 — FCC is ready to stomp on commercialization geared towards children (Tomsguide.com)
07/23/09 — South Carolina case looks on child obesity as child abuse. But is it? (USA Today)
07/22/09 — Study: Overweight kids are more responsive to branded foods (Food Navigator)
08/21/09 — Study: Kids’ Menus Lack Variety, Healthful Options (Pizza Quarterly)
07/10/09 — Drexel U. Study: Many teens wired, caffeinated well past bedtime (Reuters Health)
06/25/09 — Study Refutes Notion that Teens' Media Habits Differ from Adults (Brandweek)
06/03/09 — The Keys to Meeting Youth Wellness Needs? Just Kid Inc. CEO Reveals Answers (Media Post)

CONSUMERS/SENIORS
09/16/09 — Study finds marketing opportunities with older consumers (The Packer)
07/27/09 — Today's Active Seniors are Experiencing Second Middle Age (Brandweek)
07/20/09 — Latest IRI Baby Boomer Report Reveals $50 Billion Growth Opportunity (Business Wire)

Food Safety  
09/22/09 — Salmonella Outbreak Fears Fade, Peanut butter consumers are back! (Omaha World-Herald)
09/21/09 — Study: U.S. food facilities flunk record-keeping test (DC Velocity)
09/21/09 — Food Marketing Institute Revamps Recall Portal (Supermarket News)
09/09/09 — Most Likely U.S. Voters Want Stronger Food Safety Rules: Poll (Progressive Grocer)
09/08/09 — FDA Launches Food Safety Initiative (Med Page Today)
09/04/09 — Nearly a third of Americans ‘very or extremely’ worried about food safety (Food Navigator)
08/25/09 — Editorial: "An appetite for change in food safety" (Grand Rapids Press, MI)
08/13/09 — With IBM's Help, America's Food Safety Back on Front Burner (Miller-McCune.com)
07/27/09 — Contaminated Food: A More Watchful Eye Needed (NPR.org)
07/23/09 — Which is Worse? Germs in our Food or the Antibiotics that Kill Them? (Foodconsumer.org)
07/22/09 — Food Recall? Consumers May Not Get A Clear Picture Of The Process (Science Daily)
07/15/09 — The Next Foodborne Threat? MRSA infections from contaminated meat (Food Poison Journal)
07/12/09 — AMI Poll: Consumers Need More Knowledge on Meat, Poultry Safety (Progressive Grocer)
07/07/09 — Obama administration takes action on food safety (Reuters.com)
06/24/09 — Survey: Less Than 20% of Consumers Trust Food They Buy Is Safe and Healthy (PR Newswire)
06/09/09 — Editorial: Congress needs to empower FDA to protect our food (Belleville News Democrat, IL)
05/15/09 — Food Companies Placing Onus for Safety on Consumers (CNBC.com)

Health & WELLNESS  
09/21/09 — Healthy Eating Study Finds Ongoing Opportunity for Produce (Progressive Grocer)
09/21/09 — Are health claims curbing freedom of speech? (Food Navigator)
09/18/09 — ‘Gut friendly’ pizza – coming to a neighborhood near you (Food Navigator)
09/18/09 — Unhealthy U.S. Diets Prompt More Calls For Reform (Reuters.com)
09/16/09 — Meat additives not linked to brain tumors: Study (Food Navigator)
09/15/09 — Research Update: Junk food makes you eat more (Telegraph of London, UK)
09/15/09 — Organic’s crunch: Once high-flying firms face three big threats to growth (Christian Science Monitor)
09/14/09 — Putting the Function in Beverages (Natural Insider)
09/14/09 — Organic foods are now ‘mainstream’, says USDA (Food Navigator)
09/14/09 — Datamonitor: How to keep the omega-3 health halo (Nutra Ingredients)
09/11/09 — French study says organic food is healthier (Food Navigator)
09/08/09 — Eating cereal can reduce childhood obesity, study claims (Food Navigator)
09/08/09 — Big Food’s “Smart Choices” Label Raises Eyebrows at FDA (Grist.org)
09/08/09 — Acrylamide: The consumer health scare that isn’t (Food Navigator)
09/04/09 — Americans Don’t Know They’re unhealthy, says Mintel (Food Navigator)
09/04/09 — Study: Late-night snacks could pack on the pounds (Reuters.com)
09/04/09 — U. of Illinois Researcher Petitions to Ban Trans Fats in the Diet (Health Jockey)
09/03/09 — Research shows US consumers ‘unaware of acrylamide’ (Food Navigator)
09/02/09 — Expert panel says Sucralose safety Evidence is ‘scientifically sound’ (Food Navigator)
09/02/09 — Sixty percent of adults can't digest milk (USA Today)
09/02/09 — Too Much Government Makes Us Sick (Action Institute)
08/31/09 — Mintel: Energy Drinks Not Likely to Be Healthy Anytime Soon (QSR Magazine)
08/27/09 — Probiotics: Better Off Dead? (US News & World Report)
08/27/09 — Organic food: Behind the hype (ABC 6, Boise, Idaho)
08/25/09 — Stop eating so much sugar, American Heart Assn. says (Los Angeles Times)
08/25/09 — Kelly Brownell: America may be souring on love affair with over-processed...fatty food (New Haven Independent, CT)
08/25/09 — Feeling the Pinch, Fewer Consumers Can Afford Healthy Food Options (Business Wire)
08/23/09 — Wellness Demand, Health Science Driving Functional Foods Market Growth (Progressive Grocer)
08/20/09 — Marketers Answer Call to Eliminate High-Fructose Corn Syrup (Adage.com)
08/20/09 — Report: Consumers devour nutrient-spiked food, drinks (MSNBC)
08/21/09 — ‘Unknown’ cholesterol in processed food poses big heart health risk (Food Navigator)
08/19/09 — High-Fiber Foods May Be Easier to Stomach This Time Around (Wall Street Journal)
08/19/09 — Behavioral nutrition is one weapon in obesity fight (bnd.com)
08/18/09 — Folic Acid: Mandatory Fortification May Be Unnecessary (Science Daily)
08/18/09 — New Research Shows Antioxidants Abound in Cereals, Popcorn, Whole-Grain Snacks (Health.com)
08/13/09 — Chocolate cuts death rate in heart attack survivors (Asia One News)
08/13/09 — How consumers approach functional foods: Survey (Food Navigator)
08/12/09 — Do high-fat diets make us stupid and lazy (EurekAlert.org)
08/12/09 — Artificial Sweeteners Not Linked to Cancer (Food Navigator)
08/11/09 — Two glasses of fruit juice or carbonated drink each day may cause long-term liver damage (Daily Mail, UK)
08/11/09 — Optimists live longer, healthier lives, women's study shows (Foodconsumer.org)
08/10/09 — Food manufacturers introduce new front-of-pack logo to convey healthy choices (AFN)
08/05/09 — Friendship Influences Eating Behavior, Particularly When Friends Are Overweight (Science Daily)
08/05/09 — Does zero mean zero? Not always with trans fats (ABC Action News)
07/27/09 — Tough love for fat people: Tax their food to pay for healthcare (LA Times)

MARKETING
09/09/09 — How Visual Merchandising Can Help Boost Supermarket Spending (Progressive Grocer)
09/03/09 — Study: Social Net Branding Fails to Sway Women (Brandweek)
08/27/09 — Brand Players Should Be Wary Of Store Brand Growth (TheStreet.com)
08/25/09 — Word-of-Mouth Gains Volume (Brandweek)
08/12/09 — Peel n' Taste, the New Scratch n' Sniff (The Pitch)
08/11/09 — What's in a brand name?, well everything (Televisionpoint.com)
08/03/09 — As a Term, ‘Green’ a Best-Seller, But at What Cost? (Environmental Leader)
07/20/09 — Taste sensation: Ads work better if all senses are involved (Eurekalert.org)
07/14/09 — The Pros and Cons of Co-Branding (CIO Today)
07/13/09 — Study: Interactive Marketing to Hit $55 Billion by 2014 (Marketing Vox)
07/13/09 — Subliminal messages fail to control behavior (Canada.com)
06/25/09 — More marketers connect with consumers through mobile apps (USA Today)

NANOTECHNOLOGY
08/19/09 — Safe approach to nanotechnology: Boiling up zinc oxide nanorods without toxic solvents (Physorg.com)
07/07/09 — Defining Nanotech: Size Does Matter (Food Navigator)
06/21/09 — Study Says Most U.S. families Buy Organic (Progressive Grocer)
06/08/09 — At IFT: Nanoscience to boost food safety, quality and shelf life (Food Navigator)
05/17/09 — Consumer groups sound the alarm over nanotechnology (Palm Beach Post)

PACKAGING
09/14/09 — Revealed: The secrets of successful food packaging (Confectionery News)
09/08/09 — The Rise of Sustainable Packaging (Food Product Design)
08/31/09 — Food "Tattoos" an Alternative to Labels for Identifying Fruit (Fresh Plaza)
08/10/09 — Marketers That Shrank Products - Though Not Prices - Start to Upsize (Ad Age)
07/21/09 — Food Industry Continues Move to Sustainable Packaging (Environmental Leader)
07/16/09 — Demand grows for 'intelligent' packaging (Packaging Magazine)
07/08/09 — Study: Americans Less Worried about Wasteful Packaging (Progressive Grocer)

R&D/FOOD SCIENCE
09/22/09 — Green Profits: Room Temperature Ice Cream CNBC.com)
09/08/09 — Is any publicity good publicity for food science? (Food Navigator)
09/03/09 — Mom Site Targets Kraft; Artificial colors not for some but for U.S. (Examiner.com)
08/28/09 — Research studies: "Inconclusive" Doesn't Mean "Unscientific" (Nutrition Data)

RESTAURANTS & INSTITUTIONS
09/17/09 — Technomic gives downbeat outlook for restaurants (Nation's Restaurant News)

SALT/SODIUM  
09/15/09 — Canadian Study Says Voluntary action on sodium by Industry is not enough (Food Navigator)
09/12/09 — Lowering sodium consumption could save 18 billion annually in health costs (Science Centric)
08/24/09 — Taste question mark hangs over low-salt products (AusFoodNews.com)
08/24/09 — Is lowering sodium a Campbell's gamble? (Kentucky Post)
08/13/09 — Mintel: Sodium is the Next Trans Fat (Supermarket News)
08/12/09 — Why MSG allergy is fake science (The Guardian, UK)
07/28/09 — CSPI's Jacobson: Salt is "single deadliest ingredient in the food supply" (Examiner.com)
07/23/09 — Unsafe Sodium Levels at Denny’s Prompt Class Action Lawsuit (CSPI Newsroom)
07/02/09 — MSG hangs on after decades of demonization (MSNBC.msn.com)
06/24/09 — Are Cheerios too high in salt to be a healthy baby snack? (Vancouver Sun)
06/15/09 — Push to cut salt would shake up food industry (San Francisco Chronicle)
06/01/09 — New findings on salty taste may inspire ways to trick the tongue (Chemical & Engineering News)
05/29/09 — Vinegar could be used for salt reduction (Food Navigator)

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