Consumer Packaged Goods Broker News: Drink industry sweet on honey

Investor wants PepsiCo to buy Mondelez | Sara Lee's snack cakes look familiar | 2013 is posting more retail promotions

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July 18, 2013

News for the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry

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Drink industry sweet on honey
Launches of beverages sweetened with honey rose 49% between 2011 and 2012, according to Innova Market Insights. Honey was used most in concentrates and mixes, but also in energy and sports drinks, juices, iced tea, carbonated drinks and dairy products. "We anticipate the continued launch of new products with honey as a main flavor component across all segments. It's the perfect sweetener for the beverage industry, allowing manufacturers to capitalize on consumer trends with a natural ingredient," said Catherine Barry, director of marketing for the National Honey Board. BevIndustry.com (7/15)

2013 is posting more retail promotions
Retail promotions were 21.6% more prevalent in the first half of the year compared with the same period in 2012, according to Kantar Media unit Marx. "Manufacturers are reducing their financial risk by shortening the overall expiration lengths of coupons but are incentivizing consumers with higher face values and issuing more coupons within the marketplace," said David Hamric, general manager of Marx. Drug Store News (7/17)

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Supply Chain Management

How to achieve cost savings in the supply chain
Organizations can cut supply chain costs in several ways, including by examining production footprints and improving transportation routes, writes Toby Brzoznowski, executive vice president of LLamasoft. "Modeling technology can uncover millions of dollars in supply chain savings just by optimizing existing assets and processes," he notes. Logistics Viewpoints blog (7/16)

Advertising & Marketing

The importance of "cultural intelligence"
Glenn Llopis, founder of the Center for Hispanic Leadership, says marketers and retailers must show cultural sensitivity as they tap the growing purchasing power of Hispanics in America. "Cultural intelligence has to replace the misguided notion that simply translating English copy into someone's native language is all a food company or retailer needs to do," he said. CSP (7/17)

Chobani is close to naming a new agency
Chobani has named several top agencies as contenders for its business and expects to make a decision by the end of August. The Greek yogurt company started the category in 2007, which accounts for 43% of U.S. yogurt sales. Adweek (7/17)

Retail Spotlight

Whole Foods develops taste for Twin Cities
Whole Foods Market has opened a fifth store in the Twin Cities and plans to open a sixth in September, on the ground floor of a luxury apartment and retail complex. The company is opening about 30 locations a year, targeting places with high income and a highly educated population, Morningstar analyst Ken Perkins says. Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn.) (7/17)

GMA News

Sam's Club, Unilever, other sustainability champions talk about owning the conversation
On Aug. 14-16 in Seattle, join retail, manufacturing, government and NGO sustainability experts from around the world to address the most critical issues in the food, beverage and CPG industry at the GMA-FMI Global Sustainability Summit.

This year, the Summit will address a proactive communication strategy between consumers and corporations. Learn how to own your sustainability conversation by breaking away from short-term and reactive thinking and how to become a recognized industry leader in the areas where you can make a difference for your business, your stakeholders and society.

View the full program and register today!

Government & Food Safety

Public hearing set for N.Y. GMO label bill
The New York Assembly's Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection has scheduled a public hearing to discuss a bill that would require labeling of food with genetically modified ingredients. "This hearing seeks to solicit information regarding scientific research and data on the health and safety of GMOs in foods, federal and state policy related to foods containing GMOs, and the potential economic and legal implications of requiring labels on foods containing GMOs," said Jeffrey Dinowitz, committee chairman. Daily News (New York) (7/17)

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