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Category: Food
Note: See also Gourmet

Demi Lovato Joins Body by Milk Campaign

Demi Lovato


Actress and singer Demi Lovato is the latest milk-drinking celebrity to join the "Body By Milk" campaign. The campaign from the Milk Processor Education Program encourages teens to "drink three glasses of lowfat or fat free milk every day, eat right and get active to stay lean and healthy."

Posted on November 20, 2009
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Pinnacle Foods Buying Birds Eye

Pinnacle Foods is buying Birds Eye Foods, Inc., the U.S.' biggest frozen vegetable company. The purchase price is $1.3 billion. Pinnacle also owns Duncan Hines and Swanson.
The transaction should close by the first quarter of next year, Pinnacle said today in a statement. The deal will be funded with new debt financing at the company and an equity contribution from New York-based Blackstone, the world's biggest private-equity company.

The Birds Eye purchase is the seventh-largest U.S. private equity deal of 2009 and Blackstone's second-biggest of the year, after its planned acquisition of Anheuser-Busch InBev NV's theme-park business for as much as $2.7 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Rochester, New York-based Birds Eye has annual sales of more than $930 million and says it holds a 27 percent share of the U.S. market for frozen vegetables.

*****

Buyouts are coming back from a two-year drought. Through yesterday, the Standard & Poor's 500 Index rallied 64 percent from its March 9 low, and loan prices as measured by the S&P/LSTA U.S. Leveraged Loan 100 Index gained a record 46 percent this year.

*****

Debt financing for the purchase will consist of senior secured credit facilities and senior unsecured bonds, according to today's statement. Barclays Capital, Credit Suisse Group AG, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, HSBC Holdings Plc and Macquarie Capital will arrange the financing.
Pinnacle has been on a buying spree, under the direction of venture capitalist Blackstone Group. Now it has top brand names for cake mixes, frozen foods and frozen vegetables. Many venture capitalists see this as the perfect time to go around buying up top name brands at a good price.

Posted on November 19, 2009
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Libby's: Heavy Rains Mean Major Canned Pumpkin Shortage This Holiday Season

Nestle has warned consumers that it might run out of Libby's canned pumpkin pie filling before Thanksgiving. So what happened to all the pumpkin pie filling? Well, heavy rains caused the pumpkin fields in Morton, Illinois to become so muddy that the tractors couldn't drive through the fields during pumpkin harvest time. Libby had to stop picking pumpkins that were sitting in the mud, because the quality was not up to Libby's standards.
"Early in the harvest, it looked like we would have plenty of pumpkin, but Mother Nature had other plans for us," the Swiss food company said on the Web site. Nestle said it will increase planting next year.

Libby's has an 80 percent to 90 percent share of the canned pumpkin market, according to Roz O'Hearn, a Nestle spokeswoman in the U.S. Libby's has a series of recipes for alternatives to pumpkin pie such as Nestle Toll House chocolate chip pie on the Web site. Thanksgiving takes place Nov. 26 in the U.S.

The product is still on shelves in supermarkets in the U.S., though Nestle's inventory is running out. After it does, Nestle will not can any more pumpkins until the next harvest in August 2010, O'Hearn said. "If it's important to you, you'd best go buy it now," she said. All the pumpkins used by Libby's are planted in about 5,000 to 6,000 acres of farmland near Morton, which got double its normal amount of rain recently, she added.
Nestle's website has all the horrifying details, including a very sad video of the farmers surveying the ruined pumpkin fields.

First it was the Kellogg frozen waffle shortage, and now this. The Eggo shortage we could live with. But no canned pumpkin when it's time to make pumpkin pies? That is an entirely different matter.

Photo: Libby's

Posted on November 19, 2009
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Supermarket Operator Penn Traffic Files For Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Penn Traffic


Reuters reports that Penn Traffic Co. has filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy. The company, headquartered in Syracuse, N.Y., operates supermarkets in Upstate New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and New Hampshire. Penn Traffic's retail food business includes stores with the P&C, Quality and BiLo trade names. The company plans to sell its stores and other assets while under Chapter 11 protection. CEO Gregory Young said in a statement (PDF file) that the supermarkets will remain open while it seeks a buyer.

Posted on November 19, 2009
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Chipotle to Expand Into Europe With London Store Opening in 2010

Chipotle LogoReuters reports the U.S. burrito and taco chain Chipotle will open a restaurant in London in April, 2010. This will be the chain's first location in Europe.
The U.S. chain of burrito restaurants said the majority of its growth in 2010 will be in the United States, but it continues to look for additional sites in London and also has begun to look for locations in Paris and Munich, but has no timelines for those markets.
The London Chipotle restaurant is expected to be located on Charing Cross Road.

Posted on November 18, 2009
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Costco Won't Sell Coke Any Longer

Coke Bottle


Costco is refusing to stock Coca-Cola in any of its 560 worldwide warehouse stores. Costco and Coke are at odds over the wholesale price Coke is charging the discount retailer.
Costco says it is no longer carrying Coca-Cola products in its stores nationwide due to a pricing dispute with the beverage maker. The Issaquah, Wash.-based wholesale club operator would not discuss the matter further. But a Costco executive confirmed Monday that the company is no longer carrying products from the world's largest soft drink maker.

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. says it won't comment on on-going negotiations but said Costco is an important customer that it is committed to working with "in a spirit of fairness."
Coke is hoping to resolve the issue, but it seems clear that Costco isn't going to pay what Coke originally wanted for the wholesale price. Costco is not a distribution point that Coke wants to lose, so we'll see if it decides to come down on its pricing.

Photo: Coca-Cola

Posted on November 18, 2009
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Target Eyes Smaller, Urban Stores

Target has spent the past few years building giant SuperTargets which sell everything from clothing to electronics to groceries. But the second largest discount retailer is trying another kind of experiment: smaller Target stores opening in urban environments. The stores are smaller because space is at such a premium in urban areas.
The company is researching the option, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Gregg Steinhafel said yesterday in an interview at Target's Minneapolis headquarters, adding that the retailer has no definitive plans or sites for such stores. "We know that consumers in dense urban areas love Target," Steinhafel said. "We have to work harder at trying to get a smaller Target in those areas."

Target plans to open more U.S. stores in metropolitan areas as well as remodel existing locations to add groceries and encourage more frequent visits. On its earnings call yesterday, the company said it's planning for a "modest" decrease in fourth-quarter sales at stores open at least a year as shoppers continue to pare discretionary spending.

Tests at Target's Atlantic Terminal store in Brooklyn and two or three other urban sites may help the retailer prepare for smaller formats, Steinhafel said. At those locations, Target pruned the number of items available by as much as 25 percent by cutting certain sizes and colors of products to ensure the stores are well-stocked, he said. Target’s general merchandise stores average 128,000 square feet.
The recession has really thrown retailers for a loop, even the the big discount chains such as Wal-Mart and Target. They are both experimenting with different formats and store types to see what works in this daunting retail environment.

Posted on November 18, 2009
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Video: Meredith Vieira and Martha Stewart Have an Apple Bie Bake Off

Martha Stewart and Meredith Vieira had an apple bie baking contest on The Today Show. Meredith used her mother's handwritten recipe and Martha used her recipe which has a homemade crust (Meredith uses store bought pie crust). Matt Lauer is the judge and he gets more and more nervous as he realizes that no matter who he picks, he is going to be in big trouble. You can see Jon Bon Jovi in the background laughing, because it's a very funny clip (who knew Meredith was so competitive about cooking?). So who won? Take a look:



You can find both recipes here.

Posted on November 18, 2009
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Levi's Tops Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey

The new American Customer Satisfaction Report has some surprises for the fashion industry. The annual survey measures consumer satisfaction with various American brands, from cars to food to fashion. The recession appears to have changed brand loyalties of many consumers.

Topping the list is Levi's, which usually scores quite low on the list. Last year it was last, this year it is first in customer satisfaction, an honor it shared with Jones Apparel in a tie. Cadillac and Lexus tied for first in cars. In the food categories, Heinz, Quaker Oats, Hershey's and Mars took top honors. Consumers are very happy with American candy companies right now. WWD reports:
The response to Levi Strauss put it at 83 on the customer satisfaction meter, up 6.4 percent from 78 a year ago. That's just below Levi's all-time high of 84 in 1994 — and the first time the brand has held that much appeal for the 100,000 people polled annually about their buying habits in the 15 years since then. The satisfaction index is pegged to a baseline of 100.

The classic denim brand has been lifted, in part, by its optimistic, youthful, pioneering "Go Forth" marketing message, said spokeswoman Erica Archambault. "It is a reminder that Levi's are jeans of people who work hard, are self-reliant and independent." Also clicking with shoppers, Archambault said, are "innovative" finishes, such as Levi's "rips and repairs, destructed look."

*****

Like Levi Strauss, Liz Claiborne received its best customer reviews since 1994, advancing 3.8 percent to score an 82 (versus 84 in the first-ever index). Affordable offerings in Liz Claiborne's Kate Spade and Juicy Couture collections, as well as the addition of Isaac Mizrahi to design Liz Claiborne New York, led consumers to "see more value" in the company's apparel, Fornell said.
After Jones Apparel, Levi's and Liz Claiborne, the favored apparel list included Hanesbrands, VF Corp. (the owner of John Varvatos, Lee, Wrangler, Nautica and Majestic, and "All Others"). The survey shows that consumers are looking to established, trusted brands during the economic downturn. It also seems to indicate that Liz Claiborne's innovative moves such as hiring Isaac Mizrahi and Tim Gunn have greatly improved the brand's profile and image.

You can see the full report with all the companies' scores here.

Posted on November 17, 2009
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Save-A-Lot Discount Grocer Plans Expansion

Save a Lot11 Alive news is reporting that Supervalu Inc. plans double its Save-A-Lot discount grocery store count in five years. They currently have 1,200 stores and want 2,400 by the end of 2014.
St. Louis-based Save-A-Lot, a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu Inc. (NYSE: SVU), plans to double its 1,200 U.S. store count in five years, and metro Atlanta is one of the markets it will target, said Rick Meyer, vice president of market development.

"A key part of our growth strategy is the Southeast, and that includes greater Atlanta," he said. "We see an opportunity in Atlanta. We have refocused on Atlanta and we feel excited about that."
The Wall Street Journal says Supervalu's plans to increase its Save-A-Lot store count has to do with catering to a "long-term turn toward thriftiness by many customers."

Photo: Save-A-Lot

Posted on November 16, 2009
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Icy Brazilian Restaurant Keeps Temperatures Below Freezing

Antarctica Sub Zero Restaurant


Brazilian beer company Antarctica's has opened an amazing temporary restaurant in Brazil called Estacao Antarctica Sub Zero. The restaurant is kept at a cool 28.4 degrees Fahrenheit. The bar portion of the restaurant contains some icy furniture including a bar and sofa made with ice. The entire restaurant is kept inside giant inflatable igloo. Someone should make this cool concept permanent and open up a chain of ice restaurants and night clubs. They concept could be very popular in many cities during the summer. There are a couple more photos of the inside of the Sub Zero restaurant here. A making of video can be found here.

Antarctica Sub Zero Restaurant


(via Cool Hunting, Chic Report)

Posted on November 15, 2009
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Butterball Joins Twitter; Prepares for Annual Onslaught of Turkey Questions

Once again, the folks at Butterball will be available this Thanksgiving to answer all your turkey-related questions. Should you brine the turkey? How do you do it? What's the safest way to thaw a turkey? How long do you roast it? The Butterball people have heard it all, so call them at 1-800 BUTTERBALL with all your turkey angst. They've been waiting for your call since November 2nd.

To help out all the first-timers, Butterball has released its tips for planning and executing Thanksiving dinner without breaking the bank:

--Click and Clip to Save: Coupon usage is on the rise(1) and starting in November, families can visit Butterball.com for $2.00 off a fresh or frozen Butterball turkey while supplies last. Butterball will also offer promotions online and in-store with several essential holiday brands, including Stove Top stuffing, Heinz Home Style Gravy, Woodbridge wine and Bruce's Yams. By doing simple research online or browsing the newspaper before shopping, holiday cooks can realize great savings.

--Turn One Meal into Many: One of the best things about Thanksgiving is leftovers, so make the most of your turkey this year. A 12 pound turkey can generously feed a family of eight with plenty of leftovers. Visit Butterball.com to find recipe suggestions for leftovers, including Four Cheese Turkey Mac & Cheese.

--Cook from the Pantry: With 68 percent of Americans cutting spending on nonessential grocery items(2), selecting recipes based on the ingredients already in your pantry, spice rack or refrigerator is a smart way to save. Clingman suggests looking for recipes that have fewer than seven ingredients and that don't call for fancy spices or specialty items as a way to curb costs. Her new favorite for 2009 is Roast Turkey with Maple Mustard Glaze available at Butterball.com.

--Pick Vegetables Wisely: Frozen and canned vegetables can often be more affordable than the fresh varieties, and still offer the same nutritional value. If you do need to purchase fresh produce, select vegetables that are in season, which are often less expensive. Clingman recommends seeking out recipes that call for vegetables such as squash and sweet potatoes, since they are in-season and are usually reasonably priced.

--Go Potluck This Year: Celebrate with a big group and encourage guests to bring their favorite side dishes, drinks or desserts to cut down on costs. You won't be alone, as 1 in 3 entertainers said they often have a potluck meal(3).

You can track down the turkey experts at Butterball four ways this year: go to the Facebook page at Facebook.com/Butterball, visit Butterball.com, follow them on Twitter at Twitter.com/Butterball or -- if all else fails -- text the word TURKEY to 36888 from your mobile phone and see what happens.

Posted on November 15, 2009
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Video: Fabio Viviani Cooks Thanksgiving Side Dishes

Chef Fabio Viviani, author of Cafe Firenze Cookbook and former Top Chef contestant, visits Kathie Lee and Hoda to demonstrate some Thanksgiving dishes. Fabio shows how to give an Italian flair to your stuffing for your turkey. For some reason Kathie Lee decided to give Fabio a really hard time, repeating over and over how much she hates green bell peppers. She was in a mood. Fabio was clearly puzzled, but he carried on like a pro. Take a look:



You can find Fabio's recipes for Italian Stuffing and Italian Macaroni and Cheese here.

Posted on November 14, 2009
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Scientists Discover Bacon Sandwiches Cure Hangovers

BLT


In groundbreaking research that will have serious ramifications for college students everywhere, scientists have discovered that eating a hearty bacon sandwich -- say, a tasty BLT -- really will cure a hangover.
Researchers claim food also speeds up the metabolism helping the body get rid of the booze more quickly. Elin Roberts, of Newcastle University's Centre for Life said: "Food doesn't soak up the alcohol but it does increase your metabolism helping you deal with the after-effects of over indulgence. So food will often help you feel better. "Bread is high in carbohydrates and bacon is full of protein, which breaks down into amino acids. Your body needs these amino acids, so eating them will make you feel good."

Ms Roberts told The Mirror: "Bingeing on alcohol depletes neurotransmitters too, but bacon contains a high level of aminos which tops these up, giving you a clearer head." Researchers also found a complex chemical interaction in the cooking of bacon produces the winning combination of taste and smell which is almost irresistible.

The reaction between amino acids in the bacon and reducing sugars in the fat is what provides the sandwich with its appeal. Ms Roberts said: "The smell of sizzling bacon in a pan is enough to tempt even the staunchest of vegetarians. There's something deeper going on inside. It's not just the idea of a tasty snack. There is some complex chemistry going on.
This is clearly Nobel Prize-worthy research. Kudos to the researchers for this excellent piece of scientific detective work.

Photo: BLT by Dane Brian

Posted on November 14, 2009
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Cost to Make Thanksgiving Dinner Falls in 2009

Thanksgiving Dinner 2006Bloomberg reports that it costs less make a Thanksgiving dinner this year than it did in 2008. A report from the American Farm Bureau Federation says a Thanksgiving dinner feed 10 people will cost $42.91. This is a drop of 3.8% from last year. A drop in the price of milk and the turkey helped lower the price this year.
This year's survey, released yesterday, put the cost of feeding 10 people at $42.91. The grocery bill fell 3.8 percent, the steepest reduction since its 4.3 percent drop at the start of this decade. The slump was also the first since 2004.

"Consumers are benefiting at the grocery store from significantly lower energy prices" and the effects of a U.S. recession, Jim Sartwelle, an economist at the bureau, said in a statement. Crude oil, for example, has cost 44 percent less this year on average than it did in the same period of last year in New York trading.

Milk dropped the most out of a dozen items surveyed, according to the bureau. The cost of a gallon of whole milk fell 92 cents to $2.86. Turkey slid 44 cents to $18.65, based on the cost of a 16-pound bird. These two items accounted for most of the overall decline, amounting to $1.70.
If you compared the cost to make a Thanksgiving dinner today to what it cost just four years ago it is much higher this year as food prices have really soared over the past few years. 2009 has been an exception from the trend. The price to make a Thanksgiving dinner in 2005 was $36.78. That is nearly 17% less than what is costs today. You can see a chart showing price changes for the 25 years here on fb.org.

Photo: Thanksgiving dinner by xybermatthew

Posted on November 14, 2009
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