Specailty Food News Weekend Recap

Ron Burkle's Yucaipa Cos. disclosed a 7% stake in Whole Foods Market Inc. "There are substantial opportunities for the company to improve operations and its pricing image while maintaining its high-quality product offering," Yucaipa noted in a regulatory filing. Mr. Burkle held an 18% stake in Wild Oats Market Inc. before it was acquired by Whole Foods in 2007, according to Bloomberg.com. Full Story

Farley's & Sathers Candy Co. will open a national distribution center in Grand Prairie, TX. The company will occupy the one million-sq. ft. speculative warehouse by March, according to Scott Goetsch, VP of transportation. Farley's & Sathers will consolidate two warehouses in Grand Prairie and Arlington that total about 500,000-sq. ft. into the new building, stated Mr. Goetsch, reported The Dallas Morning News. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

	For Immediate Release: News from the Specialty Food Trade
	Emmi, a leading producer of Swiss cheese, has acquired U.S. producer Roth Kase USA Ltd., Monroe, Wis. Full Release

Bread sales are expected to withstand the economic downturn as consumers view it as a good food value, according to Gordon Polson, director of the Federation of Bakers, reported BakeryandSnacks.com. Full Story

WP Beverages purchased Huron, SD-based Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., reported The Wisconsin State Journal. Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. has other locations in Mitchell, Chamberlain and Pierre, SD. Full Story

Latis Imports added Palm beer to its import offerings. Bottles are available in select off-premise accounts in San Diego, Connecticut, New York City and Brooklyn, Orange County, CA and Northern New Jersey. Full Story

	For Immediate Release: News from the Specialty Food Trade
	Taste Unlimited, Virginia Beach, Va., introduces new Breakup Basket wine gift baskets, available in him and her versions, to ease the pain of the breakups that tend to crop up during January. Full Release • Product Image

The Food Network will debut its second show focused on Latino foods, "Viva Daisy!," starring actress and cookbook author Daisy Martinez, reported The Associated Press. Full Story

Bar 888 is profiled by The San Francisco Chronicle. The eatery carries 80-plus bottles of grappa, a brandy derived of wine grapes' skins and pulp. It is also highlighted for its appetizers, including Berkshire pork belly sandwiches and Kampachi crudo with seaweed salad. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Adding resistant starch to milk puddings produces formulations acceptable in taste to consumers interested in healthy options, according to researchers from La Universidad de la Republica in Uruguay. The addition of resistant starch ingredients, which improves digestive health, at a level of 1.4% was the maximum that was acceptable to consumers before the sensory qualities of the pudding were reduced, reported Food Navigator Europe. Full Story • Study Abstract

	For Immediate Release: News from the Specialty Food Trade
	The Wild Hibiscus Flower Company introduces a celebratory cocktail, the Inaugural Cheer, which features its all-natural, Australian-produced cocktail/culinary garnish. www.wildhibiscus.com Full Release

Stop & Shop completed the rollout of its Scan It! scan-and-bag system to 50 additional stores in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions. The system is now available in 145 Stop & Shop and Giant Food stores, reported Supermarket News. Full Story

Mexico's "Michoacan" ice cream is using a unique business model to continue to expand internationally. The Michoacan brand is not registered in Mexico, and anyone with an ice-cream maker and a storefront is free to use it. With no chains and no franchisees, Tocumbo, the original town where it was created, makes its money by selling equipment, ingredients and knowledge to small entrepreneurs, reported AZCentral.com. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

New Product News: Beer Chips LLC introduced Beer Chips, potato chips flavored with beer; Chip Shots, flavored with margarita and salt; and Hot Potatoes, flavored with spicy Bloody Mary, reported Convenience Store News. Full Story ...

Protica, Inc., makers of the capsulized protein beverage Profect, introduced Proasis, an all-natural version of Profect made with rebiana. Full Story ...

Explorer's Bounty introduced Gallop-A-Loozas, a line of crunchy puffed fruits. Full Story

New Store News: The Fresh Market plans to open its first Central Illinois location late this year, according to Pantagraph.com. Full Story ...

Mimi's Cafe opened a location in Montgomery, AL. Full Story ...

Wichita, KS's third Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches is scheduled to open May 1, reported The Witchita Eagle. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Restaurant Roundup: White Castle will introduce food packaging made with 100% recycled material in all 412 of its locations over the next few weeks. Full Story ...

Wingstop opened a record 71 stores in 2008, bringing the total number of outlets to 397. The company sells over a million wings per day and recently surpassed the 1.5 billion wings sold mark, according to Wingstop president and CEO James A. Flynn. Full Story ...

Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, Inc. expects 36 to 38 new store openings for the year ending Feb. 28. Full Story ...

Togo's Eateries Inc. is offering a daily special at the reduced price of $3.99, compared with the regular recommended price of $4.59 to $5.59, reported Nation's Restaurant News. Full Story (Free Registration Required) ...

Papa John's estimates it will sell more than three million pizzas during the remaining pro football playoff games, including more than 750,000 pizzas during The Big Game on Feb. 1. Full Story