Kraft Continues Portfolio Shuffle
September 15, 2009
Kraft Under Pressure as Bid Value Slips | www.flex-news-food.com
Kraft Foods bid for Cadbury makes a lot of strategic sense and will allow them to increase their growth in international markets.The key to the deal is utilizing Cadbury's extensive distribution and sales network to further drive growth of existing Kraft products.Faced with the likelihood of having to increase the all cash portion of the bid Kraft will be looking at additional brands to divest and help pay for the acquisition.
April 2, 2009
FOOD PACKAGER OF THE YEAR: Packaging a big part of General success | www.foodandbeveragepackaging.com
The use and design of packaging is one of the most critical elements in a supermarket products success.Packaging provides multiple benefits and serves many key objectives for food manufacturers. ---Merchandising:Product must merchandise well and provide consumers with a quick,clean understanding of the product. ---Brand Positioning : Packaging conveys a feel and tone about every product including whether its value orientated or premium. ---Quality :Packaging must obviously protect the quality of any food product and contribute to shelf life in many cases. ---Preparation: Many packages need to provide a quick,cost effective way to prepare the product. ---Informational : All key labeling and nutrition info must be accurately and effectively communicated to the consumer ---Sustainable :Cost efficiency and environmentally friendly are very important to retailers and consumers.
Consumers Drive for Value in Their Food Purchases
March 25, 2009
What Sells in a Recession | www.time.com
The article provides a good descriptive assessment of how consumers supermarket shopping habits have changed in the last 3 months.Nervous, money challenged consumers are more price discriminating than ever before in their food purchases.Private Label sales are growing faster than the category and taking market share.Consumers are increasing their use of stores perceived as discounters. Walmart, Costco, BJ's and dollar stores continue to lead in same sales store growth.
Will Purevia and Truvia have first move advantage in the sweetener marketplace?
December 19, 2008
Coke and Pepsi Stoked for Stevia after FDA Green Light | blogs.wsj.com
Purevia and Truvia may very well have first move advantage in the sweetener marketplace! The FDA issued its no-objection letter to the two petitions and each of these deal specifically with the purified versions of the Rebaudioside A sweetener. The other viable options are to: - Self-affirmation GRAS - Establish 'no different from Rebiana' OR - File an independent GRAS petition for notification by the FDA.route or establish that piggy back
Market realization imminent for stevia and Reb A
December 16, 2008
Coke Set to Unveil Natural New Drink | online.wsj.com
The announcement in the Wall Street Journal today that Coke is expected to launch beverages sweetened with stevia derivative rebaudioside A (Reb A), indicates that Coke and Cargill are confident that their self-affirmation GRAS for Reb A is solid and that the FDA will be soon be blessing their notification with a letter of no-objection. Self-affirmed GRAS may very well make long and drawn out additive petitions a thing of the past. PureVia and Truvia are well on their way to becoming established brands of Reb A, many more are soon to follow.
Extremely Volatile Commodity Markets Have Changed the Way even Fine Companies are Managed
September 23, 2008
General Mills quarterly profit declines 3.6% | www.marketwatch.com
The basic Agricultural Commodity Markets will remain Volatile as long as the U.S. uses Corn for Fuel and the world continues to experience an emerging middle class in developing countries. Hedging can be a two edged Sword. Companies should manage to margins not markets. It is the Brands that Matter.
Food Inflation Slows But Is Here To Stay
September 12, 2008
Food Inflation is likely to continue, experts say | www.venturacountystar.com
Commodity inflation appears to have peaked for the short term but long term commodities will continue to rise creating above average food inflation.How food and restaurant companies react will be the key to future price increases.
Altria Buys Maker Of Smokeless Tobacco
September 9, 2008
Altria Buys Maker of Smokeless Tobacco | www.nytimes.com
Altria should be ale to stop premium sales losses by resetting premium pricing. Merger creates strongest Other Tobacco Product co. in the domestic market. Deal should create other mergers in the Tobacco sector
Food Companies Results Vary Based on Brand Strength
September 9, 2008
Amid turmoil,Big G still making dough | www.startribune.com
As commodity and energy costs continue to rise it has put more pressure on the botton lines of all food companies.Food companies have had to raise prices to offset these increases.However not all food companies are losing share to private label as a result of the price increases.
There’s Gold in Them Thar Sweet (Stevia) Leaves
June 4, 2008
Gilbert firm set to announce stevia distribution deal | www.eastvalleytribune.com
Wisdom Natural Brands (Gilbert, AZ) began shipping SweetLeaf tabletop sweetener to stores around the nation on June 2. By being the first in the race for a good-tasting, natural and nationally available stevia-based tabletop, Wisdom Natural Brands (Gilbert, AZ) stands to establish itself as the defacto standard taste for stevia in the minds of consumers. The first taste – especially when pleasant and good-for-you – is a powerful habit former and has the potential to affect the other sweeteners to follow.
Toyota's California Plant Exit Makes Sense
September 17, 2009
It's Possible Berkshire Hathaway Could Help Kraft Acquire Cadbury
September 10, 2009
California's Impact on the Las Vegas Strip, City Center & the port of LA
September 8, 2009
Toyota Will Feel The Heat Of California Lawmakers In NUMMI Plant Closing
September 1, 2009
US Hotel Industry Recession Enters New Rate Erosion Phase
September 1, 2009