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Subject: |
FOOD TRENDS
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Period: |
February 1, 2016 to February 15, 2016
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Geographies: |
Worldwide
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Categories: |
Comment & Opinion or Companies, Organizations or Consumers or Controversies & Disputes or Deals, M&A, JVs, Licensing or Earnings Release or Finance, Economics, Tax or Innovation & New Ideas or Legal, Legislation, Regulation, Policy or Market News or Marketing & Advertising or Other or People & Personalities or Press Release or Products & Brands or Research, Studies, Advice or Supply Chain or Trends
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Contents
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Cold weather in the cauliflower-growing regions of California and Arizona has led to a shortage and a rise in prices that has dieters around the U.S. in a frenzy. Cauliflower has become a favorite of low-carb devotees because a medium-size head has fewer carbs than a single potato, is rich in vitamin C and low in calories. Creative cooks have found many ways to prepare it, even to disguise it to substitute for other foods in recipes (e.g., the “mac” in mac and cheese, faux mashed potatoes, and even ersatz rice). But the scarcity of the vegetable has driven prices to prohibitive levels: up 30 percent from a year ago, according to the USDA, with some stores charging as much as $8.00 a head.
"Why Carb Counters Are Running for the Cauliflower", The Wall Street Journal, February 01, 2016
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Americans are becoming increasingly concerned about the amount of food they waste, either in the home or at grocery stores, because they are also aware of the environmental impact of food production. Data from 2010 released by the USDA and EPA indicate that 31 percent (60 million tons) of the food in grocery stores was never eaten. About two-thirds occurred in the home, the rest in stores. A UN agency says that ratio reflects the global situation as well. Last September, the USDA and EPA jointly announced the first food waste reduction goal: 50 percent by 2030. At the grassroots level, restaurants and consumers are already taking action: “freeganism” (eating discarded grocery store foods); the “ugly food movement” (accepting less-than-aesthetic produce); and the “root-to-stem” movement (consuming all parts of a vegetable).
"United States Faces Food Loss", Euromonitor International, February 02, 2016
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Supermarkets are achieving operational efficiencies in their stores by investing in the prepared foods that meet consumer demand for convenience and freshness, according to the Food Marketing Institute. Retail food stores are competing with restaurants and convenience stores in the fresh prepared foods arena, and are boosting their investment there as center store sales decline. A survey of 8,000 stores conducted for FMI by Technomic found that the $15 billion growth in prepared fresh foods over the last eight years was no accident. Sixty-two percent of surveyed supermarkets offer customers made-to-order stations along the store perimeter. Some stores offer limited service or full-service restaurants. A key finding: “supermarkets are catering to the changing preferences of shoppers and their demands for customization.”
"Study Reviews Accelerating Sophistication of Supermarket Fresh Prepared Foods", News release, Food Marketing Institute, February 03, 2016
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A USDA food safety program has awarded 21 grants totaling $15.1 million to fund food safety research in U.S. colleges and universities. The goal of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s and its Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) is to protect consumers from microbial and chemical contaminants occurring in the food chain. The grants, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, are clustered around four sub-programs: enhancing food safety through improved processing technologies; effective mitigation strategies for antimicrobial resistance ($3.4 million); improving food safety; and improving food quality. Five schools received grants of about $1 million each.
"USDA Awards 35 Food Safety Grants, Including $3.4 Million for Antimicrobial Resistance, to Protect Consumers", News release, USDA, February 03, 2016
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Euromonitor analysts picked ten German food and drink launches from 2015 as the “most innovative.” At the top of the list is Knorr (Unilever) Dry Seasoning for Lasagna, which touts its “naturalness” and “fewer, simpler” ingredients. The product shows that the “natural” food claim is important in Germany. Second is a no-carb pasta substitute from The Netherlands (Konjac root noodles), an example of another trend: low-carb claims doubled from 2014 to 2015. Other innovations from Germany: a gluten-free snack drink made with quinoa and matcha tea; a cheese wheel (Leerdammer Schnittkäse) that claims “deli fresh” and “cut from the loaf;” and a low-calorie soft drink (Helga) based on freshwater microalgae chlorella.
"Ten Innovative Food And Drink Launches In Germany", Blog, Mintel, February 04, 2016
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American and international food authorities continue to reassure consumers that GMO foods are safe, but the message may not be sinking in, a market researcher says. Retail sales of non-GMO foods and beverages were about $200 billion in 2014, and will rise 65 percent to $330 billion by 2019. This contrasts with an expected 13 percent growth rate for all foods and beverages. However, there is some confusion in the market. Consumers often assume that non-GMO foods are organic. But, though all organic foods are non-GMO, not all non-GMO foods are organic. Non-GMO foods are certified after testing by private organizations like the Non-GMO Project. Organic certification is overseen by the federal government, which makes sure synthetic fertilizers and pesticides – and GMO ingredients – are not used in production. Bottom line: retail sales of less heavily regulated non-GMO products are outpacing sales of foods labeled organic.
"Non-GMO Growth, Organic Label Debate", Prepared Foods, February 08, 2016
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Discount grocery retailers Aldi and Lidl saw growth accelerate in the U.K. – Lidl to 18.7 percent and Aldi to 13.7 percent. Lidl’s market share rose to 4.2 percent and Aldi’s to 5.6 percent. Among the big chains, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose’s sales were up, while Tesco’s and Morrisons’ were down, according to Kantar Worldpanel’s most recent data. The Co-operative – the U.K.'s fifth biggest food retailer and most frequently visited – was the fastest growing non-discounter, increasing sales by 1.4 percent. Consumers are making more healthful food choices. Although grocery sales growth in the U.K. has been sluggish overall – take-home sales increased only 0.2 percent in the period – the healthy trend led to a five percent increase in fresh food sales in both traditional and discount retailers. Fresh foods include fruits, vegetables, nuts, fresh poultry and fish.
"New Year health drives mean growth for the British grocery", Report, Kantar Worldpanel, February 09, 2016
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