Improving food volumes bolster General Mills Donald L. Mulligan, executive vice president and chief financial officer of General Mills, said the improving economy and a halt to sales volume slides are good news for the company. Mulligan said five product categories will be key for sustained growth. Ready-to-eat cereal, super premium ice cream, convenience meals, snack bars and yogurt "are on trend with consumer demand for great tasting foods that are nutritious, affordable and easy to prepare," he said. FoodBusinessNews.net (free registration) (5/31)  | Alibaba: Will it be the new Facebook?
As the Chinese Internet sensation readies for its IPO, its success or failure comes down to the State |
 | Frozen yogurt gains, but ice cream won't melt away As frozen yogurt gains popularity, ice cream makers are fighting for market share by introducing new concepts and flavors. "I think consumers are always looking for something new and different," said Mary Chapman, director of product innovation at Technomic. "The ice cream stores and the ice cream specialists that have maintained their sales have been the ones that continue to innovate, to promote and offer new treats. I think they'll continue to stay competitive." QSR Magazine (6/2013)  | Become a member of OPEN Forum and get connected
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 | Chief marketing officer named for Pepsi PepsiCo has tapped Kristin Patrick for the new role of senior vice president and global chief marketing officer for the Pepsi brand. "We're marketing to global consumers that are hyper-connected to each other, no matter where they are in the world," said Brad Jakeman, president of the global beverages group. "It makes sense to manage brands on a global scale." Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (5/31) Frito-Lay's "Ruff McThickridge" helps retarget Ruffles Frito-Lay executives Christina Menendez, Pam Forbus and Christine Kalvenes conducted extensive research on men in order to retarget the marketing for Ruffles potato chips, which had previously been aimed toward families. One result of the research is a new "Ruff McThickridge" character, a 1970s-era parody, who says "Things are about to get Ruff" in the first spot featuring the character. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (6/2)  | Best Buy® gift cards motivate people.
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 | Wegmans prepares to unveil updated Super Kids Market Wegmans Food Markets plans to open a renovated Super Kids Market on June 29 at the National Museum of Play in hometown Rochester, N.Y. The store will have a larger toddler area and an expanded Market Cafe, along with more opportunities for role playing related to growing and buying food. Progressive Grocer (5/31)  | The Social Media ROI Cookbook: Six Ingredients Top Brands Use
In this free report, industry expert Altimeter explores the most effective "ingredients" for measuring the revenue impact of social media, providing insights and case studies from an array of top companies. Offerpop is happy to make this penetrating study available to SmartBrief readers. Download it for free! |
 | Children eat more veggies when flavored dips are offered A small study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics showed that 64% of preschoolers said they liked a vegetable when it was served with a low-fat dip, while only 31% of participants said they liked the vegetable by itself. Researchers also found that pairing celery or squash with a flavored dip resulted in greater intake among children, compared with the vegetables eaten alone. Reuters (5/31)  | Contract Management Software — Buyers Advice
Contract Management Software can be challenging due to some key characteristics of the contract management process. In this guide, read about the entire evaluation and purchase cycle, including key considerations and pitfalls. Download the free guide now and learn how to manage the process to your best benefit. |
 | Address emerging issues at the GMA Growth & Public Policy Summit On July 17 in Washington, D.C., food, beverage and consumer product industry executives will gather with policymakers, academicians, journalists and non-governmental organization leaders at the GMA Growth & Public Policy Summit to examine the current and future public policy landscape in the United States and globally. They will come together to explore and advocate public policy solutions that address the major issues confronting our industry, consumers and the world. The educational content and speaker line-up at the GMA Growth & Public Policy Summit is being carefully crafted to highlight emerging issues in our industry and the global economy. View the current agenda. This Summit is the one event you can’t afford to miss, as GMA brings the CPG industry together, as one voice, to address the important issues that no one company can address alone. Register today! | Nutrition labeling is permitted for alcohol The Treasury Department, which regulates alcohol, says companies have the option of adding a label with nutrition information, including calories, serving size, protein, fat and carbohydrates. The decision is a temporary measure while the Alcohol and Tobacco Trade and Tax Bureau considers permanent rules on alcohol labeling. USA Today/The Associated Press (6/1) FDA mulls caffeine rules as more consumers crave kicked-up snacks The Food and Drug Administration is considering how to regulate the growing number of new foods with added caffeine. Abraham Palmer, a University of Chicago researcher who studies how caffeine affects people, said, "It's hard for me to understand why these newer formulations are causing such alarm. . . . I fear that maybe this is much ado about nothing." The Washington Post (6/1) |  | Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor." -- Truman Capote, American writer | | Please contact one of our specialists for advertising opportunities, editorial inquiries, job placements, or any other questions. | | Publisher, Food & Beverage: Chris Warne P: 646.462.4647 | | | | |
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