Americans are more amenable to buying meals at convenience stores, but won’t budge when it comes to quality, price or convenience factors like portability and packaging. By Howard Riell, Contributing Editor. Takeout food was invented for on-the-go consumers. But a takeout program has to do more than travel at high speeds. Today’s consumers want quality…
Pickle-In-A-Pouch
The Waterloo, Wis.- based pickle manufacturer, Van Holten’s, is growing to keep up with consumer demand, having completed the addition of a $1.6 million state-of-the-art pickle storage tankyard this summer, just in time for this year’s crop of cucumbers. It added 165 pickle storage tanks, increasing its total number of 1,000 bushel tanks to 292.…
Food Environment Not To Blame For Obesity
New study shows state policies on food to have little to no impact on Americans’ weight. According to a new study posted by the National Bureau of Economic Research, environmental factors such as food prices or restaurant location play a minuscule role in America’s increasing rates of obesity. The new study conducted by Drs. Charles Baum…
Rice Mixes for Foodservice Operators
McCormick For Chefs, the Food Away From Home Division of McCormick & Co., launched a portfolio of rice mixes from Zatarain’s. This new Zatarain’s product line is designed to meet foodservice operator needs and patrons’ desire for great-tasting and “better-for-you” dishes. According to an industry survey of more than 500 foodservice chefs and operators, 89%…
Quick Chek Donates In Memory of Sept. 11
FealGood Foundation raises awareness about the health effects the first responders of Sept. 11 face today. In remembrance of those lost on Sept. 11, Quick Chek is donatating 11 cents from each cup of coffee sold on Sunday, Sept. 11 to the FealGood Foundation. The FealGood Foundation is a non-profit organization, dedicated to raising awareness…
Real Honest Popcorn
Convenience store owners looking to boost snack sales with innovative products take notice. Rocky Mountain Popcorn Co. introduces Naked Popcorn. The gluten-free, all-natural hot air-popped popcorn is naturally and lightly salted, and a whole grain snack. The product is both nut-free and contains no trans fats and offers a nine-month shelf life. One bite and your…
Smaller Meal Options
Trends are changing when it comes to meal size. Many customers now prefer smaller sized meals in order to eat healthier. Customers are growing more aware of the importance of managing portion size, market research company NPD Group, revealed in its latest report titled, “Healthy Eating Strategies by Generation,” according to Vending MarketWatch. NPD listed…
Sunflower Farmers Market To Open In California
Sunflower Farmers Market, a rapidly growing value-priced organic and natural foods grocer in six Southwestern states, is set to open its first store in California in April 2011. While the concept is new to California, Mike Gilliland, the man behind the brand, is well known there. He established the popular Wild Oats supermarket in the…
Shoppers Struggle to Buy Healthy
A new consumer attitude research study conducted by Catalina Marketing, which provides shopper-driven marketing solutions, shows despite the industry’s healthy-eating consumer initiatives, shoppers have not changed their old buying habits, behavior and perceptions. “We will use this study to make it easier for both manufacturers and retailers to help shoppers make healthy, nutritious choices in…
Specialty Tortillas
Seventy-seven percent of customers would like to see healthier items on c-store menus, according to Mintel. The Mexican Original brand from Tyson Food Service offers a full line of specialty tortillas that help meet the needs of health-conscious consumers without sacrificing flavor. Mexican Original tortillas are available in a variety of different sizes to help…