   | July 27, 2011 | News for the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry |  |  |
- MGD 64 Lemonade gets the ax
MillerCoors stopped producing MGD 64 Lemonade, which it launched a few months ago. The drink was expected to appeal to women and build on the company's success with low-calorie beer, but "not every innovation will succeed," a MillerCoors executive said. Chicago Tribune (7/26)       - 3 community-building tips from ConAgra
ConAgra Foods maintains a diverse brand portfolio, and has built online communities around each of its major brands. To cater to different customers' needs, it's vital to listen to what they're saying, find a community manager who's in tune with your fans and create incentives for word-of-mouth and social sharing, ConAgra's Genevieve Mazzeo says. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Social Media (7/26)  | The business phone system market is constantly changing. Vendors are battling for your business with expanded feature sets and competitive pricing. How do you know which system is right for your enterprise-class business? Focus Experts have just completed a comprehensive guide for 2011 to help you assess your needs and choose a phone system that fits. |
 | Trends |  |  | | - Smaller portions gain prominence
A report from NPD Group shows growing interest in portion control as part of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Of more than 5,000 adults surveyed, 43% said they ate smaller portions all of the time or most of the time in the past year, and 57% intend to eat smaller portions in the coming year. Convenience Store News (7/26)  | Maximize Your Business's Potential.
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  - 3 things eco-marketers can learn from farmers
Successful farm markets hold plenty of lessons for green marketers, writes Claudia Girrbach. The best farmers know how to prioritize and leverage the quality of their product to build buzz, how to make the most of small-scale operations, and how to challenge preconceptions about earth-friendly products and producers. "Take a fresh look at your green product and avoid the clichés of green color theme, planet earth images, or brand logo that has sprouted flowers or leaves," Girrbach advises. GreenBiz.com (7/25) - Mike Tyson adds muscle to SoBe message
SoBe has teamed with Mike Tyson on an iPhone game within the Tyson "Main Event" game. The PepsiCo brand is building on its "Try Everything" position with the "Try Everything Challenge," which will reward the high point winner with a trip to Las Vegas to train with Tyson. Adweek (7/26)  | Learn How to Increase ROI with CRM in the Cloud
Decrease costs and improve efficiencies. Learn how one CPG company raised ROI to 56% by deploying a cloud computing solution to replace their aging contact management system and custom spreadsheets, dramatically increasing management and sales productivity and providing greater visibility for strategic decision making. Read the case study now. |
 - Self-checkout lanes appear to be on the rise
Although Albertsons is removing self-checkout lanes from all stores, other retailers will continue using them. Technology researcher VDC Research Group predicted 84% growth during the next five years. Self-checkout reduces customers' wait time, cuts labor costs and helps retailers maximize space, said an official at VDC. MSNBC (7/22)  | Get the Information That Leads to Higher Sales
Learn how a 0.1 percent increase in employee engagement generated more than $100,000 in one store's income when you download the white paper HR and Payroll - Achieving Accountability, Transparency in Retail. A unified HR and payroll system gives you high-quality data you can use to serve customers better. |
| Health & Wellness | | | | - Calorie postings prompt one in 6 to cut back, study shows
A study found that one in six customers at fast food restaurants in New York City notice required calorie postings and order fewer calories as a result. "We're optimistic, as calorie labels go national, and consumers become accustomed to using the information that chains will have a strong incentive to offer lower-calorie options," said a study author. Reuters (7/26) - Seafood may reduce risk of type 2 diabetes in men
Fish and seafood intake reduces the risk of type 2 diabetes in men but not in women, a Japanese study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found. The higher proportion of body fat mass and increased accumulation of fat-soluble chemicals may have lessened the efficacy of fish in regulating glucose in women, experts said. Medscape (free registration) (7/25) | GMA News | | | | - Sustainability Summit 2011: Beyond going green
GMA and the Food Marketing Institute are bringing food, beverage and consumer product retailers and suppliers together to accelerate environmentally and socially responsible business practices at the Sustainability Summit 2011, Sept. 12 to 14 in Scottsdale, Ariz.
The summit features nationally recognized leaders from inside and outside of the industry who will address issues such as sourcing greener products, reducing waste, and product and packaging innovation. For more information on the summit, visit www.tpasustainabilitysummit.org.
| Government & Food Safety | | | | - Senators seek FDA's explanation on delay in gluten-free-labeling laws
Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., asked the FDA for updates on when it will implement gluten-free-labeling regulations and demanded an explanation for the delay in enforcing such rules. "The regulatory uncertainty surrounding FDA's inaction has led to a proliferation of 'gluten free' standards and labels provided by 3rd party groups. This creates confusion for consumers, and hesitancy amongst producers on what their requirements will be," they wrote in a letter to FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg. FoodNavigator (7/26)
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