News of the week

Foodservice sales in 2010 will drop 3.8% on a nominal basis, which includes the assumption of 2.5% in menu-price inflation, according to Technomic's 2009-2010 U.S. Forecast and Outlook. The outlook for 2010 includes the continuation of numerous challenges for restaurant operators, including a still depressed consumer and a more costly regulatory environment, and sales are expected to fall again, although at a lower rate than in 2009, reported Nation's Restaurant News. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

The trust that holds voting control of Hershey Co. hired former Goldman Sachs & Co. banker Byron Trott as well as banking firm Watch Hill Partners to advise on a possible bid for Cadbury, according to Reuters. Full Story

Coca-Cola remained the No. 1 brand for the ninth year in a row in BusinessWeek and Interbrand's annual ranking of the Best Global Brands. McDonald's (No. 6), Pepsi (No. 23) and Nescafe (No. 25) rounded out the top 25. Full Story

Some 280 Albertsons stores in California and Nevada will carry Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s Kefir beverage. Full Story

NXT Nutritionals Holdings, Inc. is shipping SUSTA Natural Sweetener to Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc. Full Story

Parry Sound, Ontario-based organic jam producer Crofter's Organic made a complete conversion to organic cane sugar. Full Story

No longer solely a mainstay of Indian restaurants and ethnic grocery stores, naan, the clay oven bread, is now sold at Whole Foods, Trader Joe's and other grocery chains, reported Chicago Tribune. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Urban and rural schools throughout the country are planting gardens and serving what is grown in the cafeteria. One example is Great Barrington, MA-based Monument Mountain Regional High School's Project Sprout. In two years, the school's student-run garden grew from 3,500 to 11,000-sq. ft.; there are 24 fruit trees and 75 raspberry plants and all crops are served on the school's menu, reported The Boston Globe. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

The San Francisco Chronicle's Taster's Choice panel rated and reviewed various brands of almond butter. The winners include Living Tree Community Foods and Riverview Orchard, both available at Rainbow. Justin's Natural, 365 Organic and Non-Organic and MaraNatha Organic, also named to the list, are available at Whole Foods. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Cargill Cocoa and Chocolate is now sourcing its cocoa from two UTZ certified sustainable cocoa cooperatives located in the Ivory Coast. Full Story

Croatia imports a significant portion of the food it consumes. Slow but continued economic reforms as a result of the EU accession process and growing tourism make Croatia a significant, long-term importer of certain U.S. food products, including seafood, snack foods, pork, pet food, wine, tree nuts, rice and beef. Croatian consumers are strongly anti-biotech, noted FAS. FAS Report

Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Life Savor Series and Bon Appetit will present a second at-sea experience focusing on cooking and dining. Full Story

Restaurant Roundup: Marble Slab Creamery introduced shakes under the Club Marble moniker. Flavors include Irish Cream, Espresso and Island Coffee. Full Story ...

Golden Corral is testing four pork barbecue items at its restaurants in North Carolina and South Carolina. Products include North Carolina pulled pork, San Francisco Tangy BBQ Riblets, Vermont Sweet Split Ribs, and Kansas City Full-Rack BBQ Ribs, reported Pork Magazine. Full Story

Eating more whole-grain foods may help reduce body fat in older adults, according to a study published in Journal of Nutrition. People who consumed the highest amounts of whole grains had about 2.4% less total body fat and 3.6% less abdominal fat than those who ate the least, reported HealthDay. Full Story