While a slight increase in spending at fine dining restaurants is expected, fast casual restaurants will remain steady from the previous year. Consumers plan to cut back on dining but emphasize that healthier options wll play a key role in their decision making. Surprisingly, fast food restaurants are expected to see a slight decline.
Read more on the statistics here
Operators focus on value and convenience while consumers scale back on spending
February 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Edible Packaging Technology
February 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment
WikiCells, a new technology that allows consumers to eat and transport food without plastic, is being developed by Professor David A. Edwards of Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The inspiration behind the new invention came from a grape.
The idea behind the inspiration was to create a bottle the way nature creates bottles. Professor Edwards also created inhalable chocolate and caffeine
New budget proposal from President Obama cuts the Department of Agriculture’s Microbiological Data Program that tests fresh produce for bacteria like listeria and E.coli
February 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
The budget proposal was sent to Congress to review on Monday, February 13th. The USDA believes that the Microbiological Data Program does not work well with the Agricultural Marketing Service division and will have limited impact on the future of controlling bacteria found in produce. Members of The United Fresh Produce and other well-known associations are supporting the move due to exuberant costs from produce recalls.
Read more on this new budget proposal. Do you think there should be more private sector testing?
Organic Trade Agreement between the U.S. and Europe goes into effect as of June 1, 2012
February 16, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Certified organic products in both countries can be sold in either region making the playing field for American and European farmers much bigger than before while easing the process of exporting goods internationally.
The agreement was signed yesterday, February 15th and will ensure that traded goods meet the guidelines for the new partnership
The Sensitivity Report: A new way to classify gluten-free products
February 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment
A new classification system is being proposed by a group of experts that showcases gluten-free products and the need to identify the sensitivity level of diseases associated with products that contain it.
Alessio Fasano, Director of the University of Maryland’s Center for Celiac Research, conducted a study last year to compare blood samples of people who are gluten-sensitive to those with celiac disease and found differences which should be further investigated
Blue Bottle’s steady growth has the company looking to sell bottled coffee in grocery stores very soon
February 2, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Blue Bottle Coffee’s revenue has increased annually by 50% since starting operations in 2002 and is looking for more ways to further the positive production.
The Wall Street Journal reports
On the heels of the Starbucks blonde, more coffee retailers will begin to feature their own edition to the lighter roast
February 1, 2012 by Leave a Comment
It’s not just Starbucks that is marketing to this new demographic of light roast lovers, coffee roasters such as Intelligensia, Blue Bottle and Handsome Coffee are noted for their light-roast only mantra.
Starbucks also conducted a study of coffee roasted to various degrees of darkness and documented that 42% of taste testes preferred the lighter roast
Low cattle stock drives up beef prices 2 years in a row
January 31, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Although American consumption has decreased, foreign exports for U.S. beef has increased by 22% last year and is a contributing factor to the estimated 4 – 5% price jump we will expect to
see this year.
Droughts have also been an issue that has resulted in very little feedstock for the cattle
Green Mountain Coffee’s Keurigs has a new competitor in town. Wal-Mart plans to roll out a new single-serve coffee brew this Spring
January 30, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Wal-Mart’s new single-serve brew machine is being developed with ESIO beverage– a drink-system making company for hot and cold beverages.
Green Mountain stock shares have witnessed a slight declined from projected competitors but will be releasing a new filtered brewing platform this year which might keep them on top
Starbucks adds beer and wine to drive in more evening sales
January 25, 2012 by Leave a Comment
Testing for the new menu offerings are being analyzed in 5 Seattle locations. The Olive Way, Seattle location was the first to have the new menu additions implemented and has reported double-digit same-store-sales after 4pm.
Beer and wine will be tested next in Southern California, Atlanta and Chicago
paigepapers.com 