By Dow Jones Newswires
It looks like PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division is giving its SunChips bags another make over — only to make sure they are less noisy.
Frito-Lay hopes to quiet complaints about the chips bags by switching out the biodegradable bags for older packaging on most flavors, AP reports.
The change comes after consumers had grumbled about the loud crackling sound the biodegradable bags made.
The company is switching back to original packaging, which is made of a type of plastic, for five of the six varieties of the chips, AP says.
Sep. 28, 2010 at 12:15 p.m.
Filed under:
Consumer news,
Food,
Packaged foods
By Emily Bryson York
Last year, a series of heavy rains dented the pumpkin harvest, and just about any pumpkin-pie plans for after Thanksgiving. Nestle, which sells the vast majority of the canned pumpkin category, said that won’t be a problem this year. Get the full story »
Sep. 16, 2010 at 4:26 p.m.
Filed under:
Corporate governance,
Earnings,
Food,
Packaged foods
By Associated Press
Brenda Barnes, the former chairman and CEO of Sara Lee Corp., received compensation valued at $11.5 million in the company’s most recent fiscal year, up 8 percent from the prior year, according to an Associated Press analysis of documents filed with regulators this week.
By Reuters
Sara Lee Corp. on Tuesday reaffirmed its 2011 financial outlook and said it is weighing external and internal candidates for its top job. Get the full story »
Sep. 14, 2010 at 6:05 a.m.
Filed under:
Food,
Packaged foods
By Associated Press
The makers of high fructose corn syrup want to sweeten up its image with a new name: corn sugar. The bid to rename the sweetener by the Corn Refiners Association comes as Americans’ concerns about health and obesity have sent consumption of high fructose corn syrup to a 20-year low.
The group plans to apply Tuesday to the Food and Drug Administration to get “corn sugar” approved as an alternative name for food labels. Get the full story »
By Associated Press
The Hershey Co. is asking a federal judge to decide whether its iPhone application to make virtual chocolate milk violates another company’s copyright. The Pennsylvania chocolate maker has filed a federal complaint asking for a judgment in its legal dispute with Las Vegas-based software developer Hottrix LLC. Get the full story »
Sep. 13, 2010 at 9:54 a.m.
Filed under:
Environment,
Food,
Green,
Packaged foods
By Associated Press
Whole Foods Market Inc. is trying to clear some murky waters for seafood shoppers.
The grocery chain on Monday launched a new color-coded rating program — with the help of Monterey Bay Aquarium and Blue Ocean Institute — that measures the environmental impact of its wild-caught seafood. Get the full story »
Sep. 13, 2010 at 6:29 a.m.
Filed under:
China,
Food,
International,
Packaged foods
By Reuters
Oreo products packaged for distribution in China. (Lane Christiansen /Tribune)
Kraft Foods, North America’s largest food company, is looking to double the number of Chinese cities in which it distributes Cadbury products within the next two years, its China head said on Monday.
The number of cities in China in which Cadbury confectionary is sold would rise to about 40 by tapping Kraft’s distribution network, Lorna Davis, president and chairman of Kraft’s China operations told Reuters in an interview on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in China. Get the full story »
By Emily Bryson York
Northfield-based Kraft Foods Inc. confirmed Tuesday that Mary Beth West, its chief marketing officer, has also taken on the role of chief category officer.
West has served as marketing chief for three years, and will now head the gum, candy, chocolate and business global category teams, along with Kraft’s multi-billion-dollar marketing division. She will continue reporting to chief executive officer Irene Rosenfeld.
Kraft confirmed West’s promotion, but did not provide further comment. Get the full story »
Aug. 30, 2010 at 10:10 a.m.
Filed under:
Food,
Packaged foods
By Wailin Wong
Sara Lee Corp. said Monday that it is launching a cash tender offer to buy back $1.11 billion in debt.
The offer covers the outstanding amount of a series of bonds due in September 2011. The Downers Grove-based company said the offer expires on Sept. 7. Bondholders who tender their notes will receive any unpaid interest that has accrued between the last interest payment date and the offer’s to-be-determined settlement date. Get the full story »
Aug. 30, 2010 at 8:03 a.m.
Filed under:
Beverages,
Food,
Packaged foods
By Emily Bryson York
Starbucks is adding four flavors to its Via instant coffee portfolio — vanilla, mocha, caramel and cinnamon spice — beginning this fall.
Via launched about a year ago with two black-coffee flavors: Italian roast and Colombia. The company has since added decaffeinated and iced coffee versions. Starbucks is new to flavored coffee, having launched Natural Fusions, its first flavored coffees earlier this summer. Get the full story »
Aug. 24, 2010 at 11:26 a.m.
Filed under:
Agriculture/Farming,
Food,
Packaged foods,
Recalls
By Associated Press
A federal agency says 380,000 pounds of possibly tainted deli meat products sold in sandwiches at Wal-Mart stores have been recalled by a food company in Buffalo.
The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said Tuesday that roast beef and ham distributed to delis at the nation’s largest retailer might be contaminated with Listeria bacteria.
Agency spokesman Gary Mickelson says that no illnesses have been linked to the meats made by Zemco Industries and that most have already been consumed. The sandwiches were removed from store shelves. Get the full story »
Aug. 24, 2010 at 6:52 a.m.
Filed under:
Advertising/Marketing,
Food,
Packaged foods
By Associated Press
PepsiCo Inc. is hoping to revive its Quaker division, headquartered in Chicago, with new types of cereal, a reformulation of its instant oatmeal and a new marketing campaign.
The brand’s trademark hot and cold cereals have been hurting in the down economy as people shift away from name brands to save money. They’re also not eating as much breakfast, said Quaker President Jaya Kumar. So the company is adding whole grains, removing sugar and focusing on the healthy aspects of breakfast to link its brands to the first meal of the day. Get the full story »
Aug. 20, 2010 at 1:34 p.m.
Filed under:
Beverages,
Earnings,
Food,
Packaged foods
By Associated Press
J.M. Smucker Co.’s net income rose 5 percent in its fiscal first quarter on lower costs, though the company was squeezed by higher coffee bean prices and price competition on store shelves.
The maker of Jif peanut butter, Folgers coffee and other foods said Friday that it earned $102.9 million, or 86 cents per share, for the quarter. That’s up from $98.1 million, or 83 cents per share, a year earlier. Get the full story »
Aug. 19, 2010 at 8:41 a.m.
Filed under:
Earnings,
Food,
Packaged foods
By Ameet Sachdev
Elgin-based John B. Sanfillipo & Son Inc. said fourth-quarter net income fell 30 percent because of a change in income taxes. Get the full story »
