- The nation's unemployment rate dropped to a 30-year low of 4.0% last month, according to a Labor Department report released on Friday (Feb. 4).
- Fleming Cos., Oklahoma City, announced that it will close its food-warehouse operations in Cheektowaga, NY, and eliminate 400 employees, as part of a strategic plan to consolidate operations...Wall Street Journal (Feb. 3)
- 7-Eleven Inc. plans to install 200 automated financial-services kiosks in convenience stores throughout the Dallas and Fort Worth, TX, area during 2000. The kiosks, which will be provided by American Express Co., will provide check-cashing services, money orders and wire transfers. Eventually, the kiosks may also be used to purchase tickets to events and for electronic commerce...Wall Street Journal (Jan. 31)
- Tropicana Products, Inc. has announced an agreement with PepsiAmericas to distribute Tropicana single-serve juices and juice drinks throughout Puerto Rico. Included in the agreement are the complete line of Season's Best 16-ounce sizes and Tropicana Twister 20-ounce PET. This is the first juice venture in product distribution between Pepsi and Tropicana since the world's largest chilled producer was purchased by Pepsi 18 months ago.
- In a separate development, Tropicana is testing a juice line for kids in upstate New York and Iowa. Drenchers, expected to appeal to kids with its sweet taste, is a 30% juice beverage in orange, strawberry and tropical flavors that is fortified with vitamins A, C. E and calcium. The non-refrigerated beverage comes in six-packs of 8-ounce plastic bottles and offers a higher juice content than Tropicana's young adult-targeted Tropicana Twisters...Advertising Age (Jan. 31)
- Chicken prices might rise slightly due to the heavy southern snowstorm that collapsed hundreds of poultry barns. The nation's chicken supply could be reduced by as many as 30 million birds through this spring, reported Richard Lobb, spokesman for the National Chicken Council, Washington, DC. Tyson Foods, the nation's largest poultry producer, said it lost about 275 of the 6,500 chicken houses used by its contract farmers in Arkansas. Pilgrims Pride lost about 200 chicken barns in Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas.
- Mars, Inc., the Hackettstown, NJ maker of chocolate treats such as M&M's, Snickers and 3 Musketeers, will soon be featuring a new logo on all of its chocolate items. The 'Cocoapro' logo, accompanied by a picture of a hand holding a cocoa bean, directs consumers to the Cocoapro.com Web site, where Mars discusses 'chocolate, nutrition and your health.' It is the first major chocolate maker to tout recent research indicating that plant compounds found in some chocolates may have disease-fighting properties...Wall Street Journal (Jan. 28)
- Roundy's, Inc., Pewaukee, WI, says that the Pick 'n Save supermarket chain expects to add gasoline stations to the parking lots of 24 stores this year with hopes of regaining sales that have been lost to convenience stores. Roundy's has successfully tested the idea at Pick 'n Save in Eau Claire...Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Jan. 26)
- Keebler Foods Company, Elmhurst, IL, said directors authorized the repurchase of as much as $50 million of the cookie and cracker producer's common stock outstanding...Wall Street Journal (Feb. 3)
- An international team of researchers, led by Ingo Potrykus of the Institute for Plant Sciences in Zurich, Switzerland, has genetically modified rice to produce beta carotene, which gives the grain a golden color and is converted into vitamin A in the body. Just two bowls of this modified rice a day, would supply a person with the recommended daily dose of vitamin A. Vitamin A deficiency is a serious public health problem in 26 countries. The scientists are presently working with 10 different institutes to give subsistence farmers access to the new strain...Business Week (Jan. 31)
- Lance, Inc., Charlotte, NC, plans to open a sales distribution center in the Tampa market. The company, which markets and distributes a variety of branded and private label snacks and bakery products throughout the U.S., said several other regional distribution centers are planned for this year.
- Corporate Name Changes: Allied Steaks Inc., Vineland, NJ, has become Allied Specialty Foods Inc., to better identify with its diversified product line...Pollio Dairy Products, Mineola, NY, has changed its name to The Pollio Cheese Company...Food Technology (January)
- The Sunblush Technologies Corp., Canada, has signed a collaborative development and implementation agreement for the packaging of fresh-cut apple slices with ENZAFOODS New Zealand Limited, a major global exporter of fresh apples and pears. This will result in a license agreement prior to start-up of commercial apple slice production in early 2000.
- China Premium Food Corp., formerly known as China Peregrine Food Corp., has singed a membership agreement with Quality Chekd Dairies for the use of the Quality Chekd program in China. This marks Quality Checkd's first link to China and will be of benefit to China Premium in establishing a recognized dairy brand. Quality Chekd is an international cooperative association with members operating more than 100 fluid milk, ice cream and cultured product plants, which make up $2.8 billion in annual sales, making it the largest organization of its type. The organization's symbol on dairy products is widely recognized as a national dairy quality seal in the U.S.
- Separately, China Premium Food Corp. announced an agreement in principle to acquire a controlling interest in Mandarin Fine Foods Co. of Beijing. Mandarin distributes food and beverage products to 30 of the largest geographical markets in China.
- PinkDot, a Los Angeles-based online and telephone grocery delivery service, is hoping to transform itself from a local icon into a national presence, aided by an additional $20 million in growth capital it recently received. It delivers groceries, fresh bakery goods, hot and cold beverages, made-to-order sandwiches, salads, drugstore items and more in 30 minutes or less. Orders are transported to the customer in a white car sporting a hugh pink dot. There is no minimum order required...Grocery Headquarters (January)
