Capico News of The Week

Friday, October 2, 2009

Nearly half (46.1%) of workers report eating home cooked meals more often, suggesting that saving money through eating habits remains a priority, according to a review of BIGresearch's CIA-Trends from 2007 to 2009 by WorkPlace Media. Data shows that increased consumer confidence does not mean a quick return to a greater focus on wants or to previous rates of discretionary spending on things such as dining out. Full Story

Food and beverage weight management claims will shift from the omission of certain "bad" ingredients to the addition of other "good" ones, claims Euromonitor. Other trends highlighted include the search for cheaper products, an expansion of probiotics into other health categories and applications and a focus on beauty from within, reported Food Navigator USA. Full Story

Huntington, WV-based Chili Willi's Mexican Cantina is now marketing its salsas through grocery stores and retail outlets. The initial outlet for the salsa is Forth Foods, owners of the FoodFair Grocery Stores, with 14 locations selling the salsas throughout the tri-state area of WV, OH and KY. Additional sales outlets are currently under negotiation, reported The Ironton Tribune. Full Story

Pepperoni rolls are representative of Italian-American identity in West Virginia, according to The New York Times on the Web. They are sold in various outlets, including alongside Hot Pockets in BFS convenience stores, at Clarksburg, WV-based diner Ritzy Lunch and at area country clubs. Clarksburg, WV-based Home Industry Bakery bakes pepperoni rolls with pepper cheese. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Ingredient-packed rice bowls offer customers a convenient meal with deep flavor profiles and value, according to Restaurants & Institutions. Various chains offer the meal, including Au Bon Pain and Tokyo Joe's. Full Story

Texas-based Florine Bowman Pastries, which claims to make American pastries the French way, built its following through farmers markets, according to The Dallas Morning News. Owner Florine Bowman makes sweet rolls, scones, an almond Bundt cake with a spice-nut swirl, quick breads and cookies. Her best-seller is pumpkin bread with chocolate and walnuts, and the Bundt cake is a close second. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Phoenix Bakery's signature strawberry cake, a popular cake in Los Angeles, is featured in The Los Angeles Times. The strawberry cake was created over 60 years ago by Chinese American baker Lun Chan. It is produced in Chinatown in a bakery now run by the second and third generations of the Chan family and is available in 16 cake sizes, from a 4-in. round to a full sheet. The cake can also be made with banana, pineapple, custard, lemon curd or chocolate mousse filling. Full Story (Free Registration Required)

Pick-your-own orchards are expected to have a strong fall season, thanks to consumers staying closer to home for leisure activities and an increased interest in local food and lower prices, according to The Chicago Sun-Times. Full Story

NSF International acquired Surefish, Inc., a seafood quality specialist and provider of independent seafood inspections and consultations. NSF International is a not-for-profit, public health and safety organization that provides inspection and certification services. Full Story

The Bar at the St. Regis in Washington, DC, the King Cole Bar in New York and the Commander's Palace in New Orleans are some of the top 10 places named to have the best Bloody Mary nationwide, according to Dale DeGroff, author of The Essential Cocktail. The drink is celebrating its 75th anniversary this month, reported USA Today. Full Story

Foccacia fusion grilled sandwiches are replacing wraps and panini sandwiches at Saladworks, which recently unveiled a new prototype for its 100th store that features environmentally-friendly materials. New concept stores also will offer more ingredients, including grilled asparagus, edamame, red beets, pine nuts and egg whites. Darren Tristano, Technomic EVP, expects the new format will be especially attractive to women ages 18-35, who are partial to both salads and environmentally-friendly products, reported Courier Post Online. Full Story

Kum & Go entered into an agreement with energy drink company ZUN to sell its 12-oz. Brain Boosting Energy drink in its Rocky Mountain and Midwest stores. Full Story

Swiss Farms will open its first franchise in Somerdale, NJ in 2010, with two more expected in the coming years. Swiss Farms operates 12 corporate stores in Delaware and Chester County, PA. The company, which calls itself "America's Drive-Thru Grocer," allows consumers to drive up to a lane, order groceries and have them delivered to their car without exiting their vehicle. Full Story

Worldwide confectionery sales this year are forecast at $160 billion, up 4% from $156.2 billion last year, according to Euromonitor International. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), confectionery sales are expected to hit $104.9 million this year, up 9.7% from $95.6 million last year. By 2014, confectionery sales are forecast to reach $125.6 million in the UAE. Confectionery was the fastest growing category for packaged food in the UAE last year, reported The National. Full Story

Phytoestrogens like soy and red clover isoflavones pose no safety issues with regards to heart health and breast cancer risk, according to a study published in the American Journal of Medicine, reported Food Navigator. Full Story