Phil's Fresh Foods plans to expand into warehouse stores and additional supermarkets. The company already sells its burritos in some 1,500 natural foods stores, including about 140 Whole Foods locations. Whole Foods provided the company with a $96,000 loan from the company's Local Producer Loan Program, which Phil's used to install more manufacturing and quality control equipment and expand into a 5,000-sq. ft. facility, reported the Rocky Mountain News. Full Story
The market for mood-enhancing foods will continue to experience increasing growth rates, according to Kline's Mood-Enhancing Foods and Beverages: The "Fun" in Functional Foods report. While the functional foods industry thus far is focusing mainly on physical benefits and health claims, mood, emotional, and cognitive health claims are emerging to form an important new market segment. Full Story
Convenience Store News released its list of the Top 10 Consumer Trends to watch in 2009. Trends include mobilization, internationalization, personalization and localization. Full Story • Full Report
Zagat Survey released a guide to Sacramento, CA restaurants. One of the top-rated spots was La Bonne Soupe, a lunch-only business, reported The Sacramento Bee. Full Story (Free Registration Required)
Minneapolis, MN-based Black Sheep Pizza is profiled by The Minneapolis Star-Tribune. The recently-opened eatery offers selections that include mushroom-mozzarella-rosemary pizza and craft beer. Full Story
Oakland, CA-based Oliveto Restaurant and Cafe is profiled by The San Francisco Chronicle. The high-end restaurant also has a cafe downstairs, which offers dishes that are similar to the restaurant but have less expensive prices. Oliveto Cafe serves items including salty fried ceci appetizers and its signature Aviation 110 cocktail. Full Story (Free Registration Required)
An affiliate of private-equity group CIC Partners, CIC Advantage Holdings LLC, purchased a 5.6% stake in Jamba Inc. CIC Partners claims it looks for undervalued companies where its operating experience can be leveraged, reported Nation's Restaurant News. Full Story (Free Registration Required)
Edmonds Capital, LLC is teaming up with the management teams of Shane's Rib Shack and Planet Smoothie to purchase each of the businesses from Raving Brands Inc. Both companies will retain their management teams and operate under the holding company of Petrus Brands, Inc. Full Story
Due to changing consumer spending patterns, "cash will be king," especially at convenience stores, according to the Nielsen Co. As credit-card companies continue to raise fees on retailers, there is more motivation to offer discounts for shoppers paying with cash, reported CSP Daily News. Full Story
The Nigerian market provides many market opportunities for U.S. exporters of fruit juice concentrate, according to FAS. Nigeria's fruit juice market increased 60% over the last five years due to increasing incomes of Nigerian consumers, an expanding middle class and greater health-consciousness of consumers. FAS Report
Shareholders are increasingly looking for evidence that a food company includes green projects in their management strategy, according to Nizo Food Research. Many investors only buy shares when sustainability initiates are undertaken, and that sustainability is integral for long-term profitability, according to new business development manager David Hollestelle, reported Food Navigator Europe. Full Story
Mars Snackfood US will introduce Fling, a chocolate finger with a truffle. The product, available in three flavors, milk chocolate, dark chocolate and hazelnut, will be introduced in California. Full Story
Essential Cane introduced flavored cane sugars including tangerine, lemon, lime, wild blueberry, raspberry and vanilla bean, reported QSR Magazine. Full Story
Restaurant Roundup: Almost 30 Atlanta Bread locations were redesigned to include private seating areas and sofas and by mid-2009, 50 to 60% of Atlanta Bread's 107 locations will have the updated look. In certain markets, some revamped locations registered a 30% increase in same-store sales. The rebranded locations are seeing more customers throughout the day, not just during meal times, reported FastCasual.com. Full Story ...
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. will slow expansion plans. The company plans to open 15 or 16 company-owned restaurants in fiscal 2009, compared to its previous estimate of up to 20 locations.
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