Specialty Food News

Demand for organic food will decrease as consumers become less willing to pay a premium for the foods, according to market analysts. Consumer demand for organic meat declined while organic dairy produce and vegetables are faring better, reported Food Navigator Europe. Full Story

Economic weakness together with rising costs facing consumers and businesses will be difficult for the restaurant industry, according to Moody's Investors Service's report, U.S. Restaurant Industry Outlook 2008. An increasingly competitive environment will add pressure to the restaurant business as will food safety concerns. Against this backdrop, restaurant companies will face liquidity and refinancing risks, reported Meat & Poultry. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Food inflation should retreat in 2009, according to USDA economist Ephraim Leibtag. Mr. Leibtag estimates that next year the consumer price index's food inflation rate will fall to about 4%, reported The Chicago Tribune. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Alternative soft drink company Cricket is in final negotiations to be acquired by Meridian Beverage Co. for an undisclosed amount of Meridian stock, according to The Washington Post, which profiles the history of Cricket. Founded in 2002, Cricket started selling two products, a cola and a diet cola made with the equivalent of two cups of antioxidant-rich green tea. The line expanded to include more flavors and its annual sales are projected to top $1 million this year. Full Story (Free Registration Required)



Specialty's bakery cafe chain plans to add between 10 and 14 locations in the 2009-2010 fiscal year, extending into Southern California and an Oakland location, reported the San Francisco Business Times. Full Story (Free Registration Required)


Greece's largest dairy company, Fage, committed $85 million to build a plant in Johnstown, NY as it expects its Greek-style yogurt to become popular in the U.S. Fage's distribution network has grown over the past decade from specialty stores in the New York City area to supermarket chains nationwide, including Costco, Kroger and Publix, reported RNN. Full Story


UK Organic farmers asked the government for temporary exemption from organic standards in an attempt to survive the recession. The request by organizations including the Soil Association follows a 10% dip in sales of organic produce from Sept. to Nov., according to TNS. While farmers would give up the right to label their food "organic," the plan would still oblige farmers to follow other organic tenets, reported The Times UK. Full Story


The Sebastiani and Cuneo families entered into a transaction to sell Sebastiani Vineyards, Inc. to the Foley Wine Group. Full Story


Walt Disney World replaced a medium-high-priced, full-service steakhouse in its Contemporary Resort Hotel with a new counter-service restaurant called the Contempo Cafe, featuring touch-screen menus for placing orders. The cafe allows visitors to peruse the menu on electronic boards with color photos, then place orders at touch screens in English or Spanish before proceeding to a cashier, according to Orlando Sentinel. Full Story (Free Registration Required)


The San Francisco Chronicle unveiled its list of the year's 10 best cheeses. Two examples include Brunet, a young goat cheese from Northern Italy's Piedmont region, and Oregon's Crater Lake Blue from the Rogue Creamery. Full Story (Free Registration Required)


The Philadelphia Inquirer profiled the region's top food trends of 2008. "This was the year of the mega-restaurant, the return of the French bistro and the go-go days of the gastropub. The bacon was house-cured. The craft-beer lists became big. And women chefs, more than ever, made their mark on the city's kitchens." Full Story (Free Registration Required)


Napa, CA-based COPIA wine and food institute closed its doors after a bankruptcy filing on Dec. 1 and subsequent revelations that the nonprofit corporation could no longer meet operating expenses or service its debt, reported The New York Times on the Web. Full Story (Free Registration Required)


New York-based bread and sweet-goods supplier Tom Cat Bakery, Inc. was acquired by Ancor Capital Partners and Merit Capital Partners. Full Story


Duluth, MN-based European Bakery will close after 95 years in business due to rising prices for ingredients such as flour and eggs and high fuel and healthcare costs, reported TwinCities.com. Full Story (Free Registration Required)


New Product News: Function Drinks' "New Year's Detox Kit" will be offered exclusively in Whole Foods Markets nationwide starting Dec. 30. The seasonal four-pack includes two flavors of its drink Function: Urban Detox. Full Story ... Ocean Spray launched Sugar-Free Drink Mixes in six flavors: Cranberry Grape, White Cranberry Peach, Cranberry Lemonade, Cranberry Pomegranate, Cranberry and Ruby Red. Full Story