Hostess celebrates $30M expansion at flagship bakery Hostess Brands celebrated the opening of the $30 million expansion at its flagship Emporia, Kan., bakery last week that includes a new distribution center and warehouse as well as a new Auto-Bake packaging line. The company plans to invest an additional $20 million in the facility over the next year. BakingBusiness.com (7/18) D.E Master Blenders, Mondelez reportedly mull sale of French brands Mondelez International and D.E Master Blenders, who announced a merger of their coffee businesses this year, are reportedly considering the sale of French coffee brands L'Or, owned by D.E Master Blenders, and Grand Mere, owned by Mondelez, sources said. The combined coffee company, which will be called Jacobs Douwe Egberts, has hired Lazard as an adviser on the potential sale of the French brands. Reuters (7/20) Kraft exec seeks growth for an established company For Kraft Foods Group to continue to grow, it must tailor product lines to meet the needs of different types of retailers, according to Chief Financial Officer Teri List-Stoll, who joined the company about a year after Kraft and Mondelez International split into two companies. Kraft also must continue looking at ways to improve processes throughout the entire system, List-Stoll added. Chicago Tribune (tiered subscription model) (7/21)
 | What percentage of consumers say they "avoid or are consuming less soda" vs. the percentage that actually buy? Find out the answer to these and other questions that reveal the difference between what consumers say vs. what they do in this fascinating online infographic. It's all part of the Sweetener360 research results you'll find on CornNaturally.com. | | Could chocolate become a U.S. breakfast staple? The Hershey Company became the first major manufacturer to offer a chocolate-only spread in the U.S., but it joins several other producers offering breakfast spreads containing chocolate such as Nutella, MELT Organic, Artisana and Whole Earth. Hashachar Ha'Oleh, a small company out of Israel, is also making entry in the American market, selling about 150 tons of chocolate spread in the U.S. each year. Tablet Magazine (7/18)  | Companies live and die by their employees
Businesses with fewer than 500 employees drive the economy, and represent about 55% of all jobs in the country. However, finding suitable employees can be tough. Small Business Owners with limited time and resources need to make every new hire count because the actions of each employee can go straight to the bottom line. Download your free white paper, Welcome Aboard: A Guide to Small Business Hiring and learn how to hire smarter. |
 | | On the Plate: An original look at trends in restaurants and foodservice from SmartBrief | Suppliers help restaurants cut sodium from menus Taste tests at four major restaurant chains of dishes made with reduced amounts of high-sodium ingredients revealed that customers liked the lower-salt dishes as much as or more than the original 82% of the time, said Healthy Dining's Anita Jones-Mueller. Restaurants are cutting sodium by using more fresh and low-sodium ingredients, and suppliers are "making strides in reducing sodium," Jones-Mueller said. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Food & Beverage (7/21)
| Stonyfield bucks Greek trend with Petite Creme treats Stonyfield Farm will launch a new Petite Creme yogurt-like product this summer that features a fresh cheese similar to French fromage blanc. Petite Creme will be available in seven flavors that include low-fat and fruity varieties. The company's marketing strategy for the product, which is high-protein with a creamy texture, includes Art Nouveau, chalkboard-style packaging and a "Cheat on Greek" campaign. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (7/15) | Grocers work to meet demand for sustainable seafood Shoppers at both specialty and traditional grocers are seeking out sustainable seafood, and retailers are increasing efforts to meet that demand. Safeway, Target, Harris Teeter, Ahold USA, Whole Foods and Trader Joe's ranked among the top 10 on Greenpeace's annual seafood sustainability scorecard this year, with Wal-Mart finishing 12th. "We don't want consumers who care deeply about the environment or organics to feel they have to go to another retailer to get those products," Safeway spokesman Gregory Ten Eyck said. The Baltimore Sun/Consuming Interests blog (7/18) | Be a leader in your company's sustainability initiatives  | | Winston (GMA) | At present, sustainability is a vanguard issue for the CPG industry. Join the conversation at the GMA and FMI's 2014 Global Sustainability Summit in Boston on Aug. 13-15. This event will showcase innovative industry trends, discuss practical strategies and provide implementable solutions from sought-after experts like Andrew Winston, author of "Green to Gold". Learn more and register today.
| Experts: Interested in sharing your insights on SmartBlog on Food & Beverage? We're always open to expert contributions of knowledgeable and insightful stories on news and trends in all areas of the food and beverage industry. Check out our step-by-step guest post guide and then e-mail editor Tricia Smith with your story idea or for more information. |  | I give myself sometimes admirable advice, but I am incapable of taking it." -- Mary Wortley Montagu, British writer | | | Please contact one of our specialists for advertising opportunities, editorial inquiries, job placements, or any other questions.
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