How Mamma Chia managed rapid growth Mamma Chia saw first-quarter sales this year that were three times more than in the same period last year for its chia seed beverages, which contain fruit juices, agave and natural colors and flavors. Sales were driven in part by products such as Chia Squeeze ambient vitality snacks in a pouch, which has become a popular lunchbox snack for teens and children. Mamma Chia products, introduced at Whole Foods Market in 2010, are now available in supermarkets including Kroger and Safeway and will be in 800 Target stores this summer. FoodNavigator (4/15) Flour merger between Cargill, ConAgra to be finalized The merger of Cargill's flour mill operations with ConAgra Foods is expected to be finalized within the next two months. The merger was announced last year but ran into anti-trust issues since the new entity, which will be called Ardent Mills, will control one-third of the U.S. flour capacity. Reuters (4/15)  | White Paper: Turn a good change strategy into great performance A number of trends are forcing consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies to reinvent themselves to survive—and thrive. As the pace of change continues to accelerate, connections become more important. Ensure the success and desired results from your business transformation with change management solutions and resources from HP. Download the full white paper now. | | Spreads set for growth with addition of decadent flavors, peanut alternatives The fruit and nut spread segment is expected to see sales of $6.5 billion by 2018, without factoring in sales from dips or dairy spreads, according to Mintel. Between 2009 and 2013, spread product introductions increased 97.7%. Sales of nut spreads increased 57% between 2008 and 2013. The demand goes beyond traditional peanut butter, with 22% of consumers purchasing almond, cashew or sunflower seed butter in the past six months. Consumers are looking for health benefits from spreads, and protein content seems to be the main driver for increased sales. FoodBusinessNews.net (free registration) (4/15) Americans continue to eat less fish The average American is consuming only 14.4 pounds of fish per year, down from the record high of 16.6 pounds in 2004, Ben DiPietro writes. Experts report the fading numbers are due to high prices, lack of major marketing efforts by the seafood industry and consumers' unfamiliarity with preparing fish. "This millennial generation really loves food, loves to experiment and wants more exciting foods. Seafood has to make it hip again to eat fish," said Warren Solochek, vice president of client development at market research firm NPD. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (4/15) | Companies need to buy into food safety programs For successful food safety programs, the company must buy into them beginning at the executive level and they must be well-funded as well as integrated into all systems and departments, according to experts who spoke at the 2014 Food Safety Summit. Food safety directors need to get the attention of executives and use language they understand by translating the science into business, such as how food safety practices can lead to products with longer shelf lives. SmartBrief/SmartBlog on Food & Beverage (4/16) | Companies respond to rising demand for premium fish sticks Children have become more discriminating in their fish-stick choices and want more restaurant-quality options at home and school. In response, producers are moving away from minced fish traditionally used for fish sticks and are using fillets that can be cut into sticks. "We want to introduce seafood to kids early and have them love it so they eat it their whole lives," said Randy Eronimous, Trident Seafoods' vice president of marketing. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (4/15) Kimberly-Clark ties digital coupons to individual buyers Kimberly-Clark has integrated its digital deals with a customer relationship management platform to track how individuals use the coupons they receive. Kimberly-Clark monitors how often deals are used, where they are redeemed and which social channels they get shared on to identify influencers and success rates. "The length of time for the feedback loop is obviously much shorter than with traditional promotion activities," said Senior Consumer-Promotion Manager Dan Kersten. Advertising Age (free access for SmartBrief readers) (4/15) | How Trader Joe's builds its fan base on private labels Trader Joe's sales per square foot are an estimated $1,723, more than three times the industry average of $521, according to report by Packaged Facts. The chain's inventory is about 80% private-label items that shoppers can't buy anywhere else, and the selection of lower-priced gourmet, organic and ethnic products and Trader Joe's whimsical sense of fun keep shoppers coming back, the report says. FoodNavigator (4/15) | Customer service through listening Telephone professionalism can set a lasting impression on customers. The 2014 Consumer Complaints Management Conference will explore powerful techniques and easy models to teach front-line staff how to listen so their responses ring true to the various customers that call. Find out more information on how to attend. 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