| January 24, 2011 | News for the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry |  |  |
| Company Watch |  |  | | - Sara Lee board to consider options
The Sara Lee board will meet this week to consider the company's future, with possibilities including splitting its meats and coffee businesses into two companies, or selling to a private-equity group or Brazilian beef processor JBS. The private-equity group has submitted a bid of $18 to $20 a share, according to these sources, and JBS is expected to bid soon. The Wall Street Journal (1/24) , Reuters (1/24)       | Trends | | | | | Advertising & Marketing | | | | - Heineken to turn viral video into TV campaign
An online ad for Heineken was the second-most-watched Web ad in a recent tally, and the beer company is turning the concept into a global TV campaign, starting in March. The video, called "The Entrance," shows a man talking his way past an oil baron, assassin and others as he charms his way into a party and onto a stage where he performs with a rock band. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (1/21) | Retail Spotlight | | | | - Delhaize plans to spend $1.21 billion to expand in U.S.
Belgium's Delhaize Group, which gets two-thirds of its revenue from Food Lion, Hannaford Bros. and Sweetbay Supermarket stores in the U.S., said it will invest about $1.21 billion to open as many as 110 stores in the country this year and remodel existing ones. The retailer will remain focused on low prices, with private label accounting for about 50% of its products. The Wall Street Journal (1/21) | Hot Topics | | | | Top five news stories selected by GMA SmartBrief readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
| | | Most Popular Headlines from Last Week Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers. |
| Science & Technology | | | | - Louisiana ConAgra plant wins LEED certification
A ConAgra Foods factory in Delhi, La., has been certified as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum for meeting energy and environmental standards set by the U.S. Green Building Council. The plant, which opened in September, primarily processes sweet potatoes and has been designed to minimize energy and water use while offering improved indoor air quality. Food Business Review (1/21)  | |  | | The Buzz(CORPORATE ANNOUNCEMENTS)
NEW PRIVATE LABEL RESEARCH FROM ICOM
Cost-conscious consumers are choosing store brands in record numbers with switches in even sensitive categories like baby care and health products. Yet more than half are willing to switch back given the right incentive. What are national brands to do? Click here for this FREE report including the top 5 Tips to Win Back Consumers.
Interested in learning more about advertising in GMA SmartBrief? Contact Chris Warne at (212) 450-7970 or cwarne@smartbrief.com.  | |  | |  |
| Health & Wellness | | | | - Gluten-free diet should not be used for weight loss, ADA says
A gluten-free diet is the standard treatment for celiac disease, but the American Dietetics Association says it should not be used solely as a weight-loss tool. Experts say going gluten-free has become a nationwide trend, fueled by celebrity endorsements and books, but the diet is expensive and could lead to weight gain or problems getting enough fiber and nutrients. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (1/17) | GMA News | | | | - Register today for the GMA Consumer Complaints Management Conference
For more than 10 years, the GMA Consumer Complaints Management Conference has been providing consumer affairs and complaint management specialists with the roadmap for effective complaint management.
Conference attendees will gain:
- Model practices for complaint management.
- Crisis management insights.
- Enhanced knowledge of today's consumer and their expectations of customer service.
- A deeper understanding of the role complaints management plays in brand management.
- Strategies for establishing long-term consumer relationships.
- Motivation from peers who have dealt with similar consumer affairs challenges -- and overcome them.
Consumer affairs professionals working in food manufacturing, retail and foodservice cannot afford to miss this valuable training event. What are you waiting for?
Learn more and register for the Consumer Complaints Management Conference.
| Government & Food Safety | | | | - Food safety law includes supply transparency
The new U.S. food safety law includes a requirement that all levels of the food supply chain keep information about where their food came from and where it is going, in digital form. Already, some consumers can use their mobile devices to instantly learn the sources of their food, and technology companies are introducing products that help track, manage and access the data. The Washington Post (1/24)
| International | | | | - Olive-oil company helps Palestinian farmers
Canaan Fair Trade sells organic olive oil from Palestinians to retailers around the world, including Whole Foods stores in the U.S. Founder Nasser Abufarha explained that his company uses the fair-trade concept to guarantee prices to about 1,500 Palestinian farmers, giving them security to invest in more production. Bloomberg Businessweek (1/20) | SmartQuote | | | |  | If people did not compliment one another, there would be little society."
--Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues,
French writer  |
| | This SmartBrief was created for cpgbrokers.data@blogger.com
| | | Read more at SmartBrief.com | | A powerful website for SmartBrief readers including: | | | | | | | | | | Recent GMA SmartBrief Issues: - Friday, January 21, 2011
- Thursday, January 20, 2011
- Wednesday, January 19, 2011
- Tuesday, January 18, 2011
- Monday, January 17, 2011
| | | Lead Editor: Rebecca Pollack Scherr
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | | | | | | © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
Social media is powerful, but companies must avoid the "pitfall" of using it without a strategy for building sales or the brand, said Shiv Singh, head of digital for PepsiCo Beverages America. "We need to make sure that it drives to in-store sales or that it's building and enhancing our brand favorability metrics," he said. 
No comments:
Post a Comment
Please comment thoughtfully CPG Brokers, your best resource to optimize your in store self exposure and maximize sku distribution.