GLG News by Grocery Store Experts: Food and Beverage Consultants

Ralcorp's potential pucrhase of Post cereals for $2.8 billion dollars will shake up the cereal category and provide another stronger competitor to General Mills and Kellogg's.The winner will be Ralcorp if they can successfully integrate Post and leverage their brands to strengthen their private label...

Wheat prices are up 100% in 12 month's. Dairy prices continue to climb, increasing the costs of most food manufacturers.Is this a temporary phenomenon or is food inflation here to stay ?  Both Kellogg's and Kraft have provided disappointing guidance in the last few weeks blaming wheat and dairy...

Commodity cost increases (wheat,corn,oil,sugar) are causing havoc with food and CPG companies bottom lines.The significant upward pressures of wheat (+100% latest 12 months) specifically impact all cereal,baking, pasta and many other food companies profits. The key questions surrounding these increases...

Interstate Bakeries and its unions are locked in a negotiating stalemate  over employee jobs and compensation.Specifically, IBC's management is looking for job cuts and lower costs from the unions to make the company more cost competitive.The unions obviously are seeking to minimize impact on its...

Kraft Foods has reported some progress in their recent quarterly earnings but the jury is still out on whether they can show sustainable sales and growth.Kraft has underperformed its food company peers over the last few years primarily because they have gotten away from what made them successful: new products...

Pressure to grow in new beverage categories is intense, yet the major soft drink companies are finding the costs and risks of innovation away from carbonated soft drinks to be difficult.   A competitive buying frenzy is about to begin, but can the bottlers, programmed to sell cola, effectively...

1.  Wild Oats has lacked the forward thinking of its main competitor Whole Foods in developing its retail business focused on offering natural and organic foods.2.  While it is encouraging that Mr. Odak has been let go there are a number of key strategic issues that must be addressed for them...

1.  McDonald's is performing at a high level driven by core growth platforms at home in the U.S. as well as abroad.2.  The fast food industry itself is starting to show signs of life after experiencing softness over the past year or so.  While maybe not as profoundly as McDonald's,...

The restaurant model developed by Baja Fresh is the bigger issue regarding the ultimate loss Wendy's sustained on the sale to David Kim for roughly $31 million.Wendy's and other fast food operators have shown an inability to profitably grow chains with differing models, most notably those operating...

1.  The demand for Chipotle shares from McDonald's stock holders signals the strength in the quick casual foodservice market, legitimizing Chipotle as a growth stock for the future.2.  McDonald's on the other hand is signaling a focus on their bread and butter, the quick-serve restaurant...