Hillshire strikes $6.6B deal to buy Pinnacle Hillshire Brands intends to purchase Pinnacle Foods in a deal worth $6.6 billion. The combined company will generate about $6.6 billion in annual sales of grocery products, with a leading position in many categories. Under the cash-and-stock transaction, which includes Pinnacle's net debt, a Pinnacle common share will be exchanged for $18 in cash and a half-share of Hillshire common stock. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model) (5/12) Mondelez announces $3.5B restructuring plan Mondelez International announced last week a new $3.5 billion restructuring plan that will be implemented between 2014 and 2018 and focus on staffing and administrative costs. It is meant to "create a leaner, simpler and more focused organization by reducing operating costs to best-in-class levels through zero-based budgeting and by accelerating its supply chain reinvention initiative," said Irene Rosenfeld, chairman and CEO. FoodBusinessNews.net (free registration) (5/9)  | Breakfast Matters After going all night without eating, your body needs to refuel—and that's why breakfast matters. The dynamic duo of cereal and milk provides a tasty combination of protein to help you rebuild and grains to help you refuel.
Click here to learn more. | | Report: Major banana exporters claim smaller market share Market share and influence have decreased for the world's three largest banana exporters -- Chiquita Brands International, Fresh Del Monte Produce and Dole Fresh Fruit -- whose global exports were down to a 37% share last year from more than 65% in the 1980s, according to a report by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization. Grocery chains in the U.S. and Europe have played a role this change, as they increasingly source bananas from growers or smaller wholesale suppliers, the report said. The Packer (Lenexa, Kan.) (5/9) Shoppers to see lower prices as organic moves into mainstream Sales of organic products grew at double the rate of conventional food products in 2012, according to the Organic Trade Association, and the product category's move into mainstream is driving retail prices down. Wal-Mart Stores and Target recently announced expansions to their organic product offerings, and Wal-Mart will introduce an organic, private-label Wild Oats line later this year that will feature prices close to conventional food prices. "[Organic] will grow exponentially in the coming years. Organic is now becoming part of retailers' commitment to wellness," Tom Johnson of PricewaterhouseCoopers said. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (5/11)  | Is Your Small Business Using Social Media?
Three in five business owners expect to spend the same or more time on social advertising in the coming year. Social media continues to be a valuable resource for small businesses looking to drive sales, increase brand awareness and reach new customers. Download your free white paper, Going Global: Social Media Marketing for Small Businesses, and learn why it is important to be strategic in choosing your social media platforms. |
 | | Fresh Take: SmartBrief's original coverage of the fresh foods category | What do consumers want from their natural foods and beverages? Unlike "certified organic," the term "natural" doesn't have a specific definition, and consumers are increasingly developing their own rules for what constitutes natural food, writes Laurie Demeritt, CEO of The Hartman Group. Food makers and sellers looking to appeal to consumers' growing demand for natural foods can take several steps, including keeping ingredient lists short, removing artificial colors and other ingredients not deemed natural, offering items that are as fresh as possible and carrying brands such as Kashi and Chobani that have already developed a natural foods reputation. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Food & Beverage (5/12) | Why Pepsi is stepping on the gas with Wild Cherry campaign Wild Cherry Pepsi debuted in 1988 and represents about 1% of the soft-drink category, but PepsiCo has launched an aggressive marketing campaign for the flavor, including TV, digital, mobile and radio. The move comes as Wild Cherry Pepsi grew by 2.9% in 2013, amid a 3% fall for the overall soft-drink category. "When you see that kind of sunshine, you have to step on the gas. It was an opportunity to coordinate a full media-to-shelf marketing plan," said Lou Arbetter, the company's senior director of marketing. Advertising Age (free access for SmartBrief readers) (5/9) Red Bull experiments with one-click Twitter ads Red Bull is one of the first brands to test Twitter's new ad format that begins playing a video after a tweet is clicked on. Red Bull distributed two tweets in the format last week promoting its new Red Bull Focus app. The 15-second video shows the brand's collection of extreme sports photos with a link below the video to download the app. "Red Bull's partnership with Twitter's new one-click video format is a smart push for richer multimedia experiences," said Zak Dabbas, CEO/co-founder of Punchkick Interactive. Mobile Marketer (5/12) | Stop & Shop still a major player in grocery after 100 years Stop & Shop will celebrate its 100th anniversary by introducing vintage product packaging and in-store specials. The 394-store grocery chain claimed 12.35% of the market share and reached sales of about $13.3 billion last year. "The competitive landscape is a bit tenacious ... but ... we think we have the right format and right strategy to grow our organization," said Joe Kelley, president of the company's New England division. Boston Herald (5/8) | Take your company's sustainability strategy to the next level Today's consumers are more informed about global responsibility and tend to move towards brands that represent their values. Be sure to gain the latest resources, valuable strategies and proactive solutions to improve your company's commitment to sustainability. Register to attend the joint FMI/GMA hosted 2014 Global Sustainability Summit, Aug.13-15 in Boston. |  | Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." -- John Wayne, American actor | | | Please contact one of our specialists for advertising opportunities, editorial inquiries, job placements, or any other questions.
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