Volume 19 – Issue 14
CFEA & Partner News
Member Highlight
Convera Canada ULC is the largest non-bank B2B cross-border payments company in the world. They make moving money so easy that any company in the world can grow with confidence. Convera is committed to ensuring that their customers capture more value with every transaction.
Events
CFEA:
May 2022 – August 2022 US ECRM Virtual B2B Programs
September/October 2022 EU ECRM Virtual B2B Programs
September 5-8, 2022 Fine Food Australia, Melbourne, Australia (2 spots available)
December 6-8, 2022 Fi/Hi Europe, Paris, France (6sqm spot available)
Partners:
June 17, 2022 The Art of Leadership for Women, Toronto (The Art Of) use promo code: CFEA40 to receive a discount of $100.
October 15-19, 2022 SIAL Show, Paris, France
Fact Sheets
To view all available postings, please visit Market Reports and Regulations landing pages.
News Posts
Statement by Minister Ng and Minister Bibeau on China’s removal of restrictions on Canadian canola exports / Déclaration de la ministre Ng et de la ministre Bibeau sur la levée par la Chine des restrictions imposées aux exportations canadiennes de canola
To view all available postings, please visit the News landing page.
Retail News
US: US Foods to open 4th warehouse grocery in South Carolina
US Foods plans to open South Carolina’s fourth CHEF’STORE location this fall. The 33,000-square-foot warehouse-style grocery in Spartanburg, S.C., will serve chefs, restaurateurs and home cooks and will not require a membership. Full Story at Herald-Journal (May 13).
India: Reliance to acquire dozens of brands in $6.5 billion consumer goods play
India’s biggest retailer Reliance will acquire dozens of small grocery and non-food brands as it targets building its own $6.5 billion consumer goods business to challenge foreign giants like Unilever, two sources familiar with the plan told Reuters. Learn more at Reuters (May 15).
US: Five trends to watch in online grocery shopping
While the proportion of Americans who say they have purchased groceries online over the past 12 months has declined, slightly more consumers say they now do ‘most’ or ‘all or almost all’ of their grocery shopping online, according to Coresight Research’s fifth annual US online shopping survey. Learn more at FoodNavigator (May 16).
US: Wegmans, Trader Joe’s earn top spots on best retailers list
Wegmans Food Markets scored the top spot for the supermarket category in Newsweek’s 2022 America’s Best Retailers list, while Publix, Harps, Sprouts Farmers Market and Whole Foods Market rounded out the top five. Among discount grocers, Trader Joe’s ranked highest, followed by 99 Cents Only Stores and ALDI, while Costco, Target, Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale and Meijer were the top five grocers in the superstores and warehouse club stores category. Full Story at Supermarket News (free registration) (May 17).
US: Walmart plans to push back on rising food prices: ‘We need to do more to help customers’
Walmart’s already low appetite for price increases across food and beverage may be further dampening as more consumers switch to private label and smaller packs to keep expenses down – a signal to the retailer that it is not doing enough to deliver on its promise of everyday low prices for everyday items, according to company executives. Learn more at FoodNavigator (May 17).
US: Amazon Fresh announces first metro New York stores
Amazon Fresh has announced its entrance into the metro New York market with two stores — one in a former Fairway Market site in Paramus, NJ, and another in a former Waldbaum’s supermarket location in Oceanside, NY. The Oceanside location will also be the retailer’s first of three stores slated for the Long Island suburban market, with stores planned for Plainview and East Setauket. Full Story at Supermarket News (free registration) (May 18).
US: Target success bolstered by grocery sales
Grocery spending drove up Target’s first-quarter results as the retailer continues to invest in same-day delivery and pickup. Shoppers will soon be able to return products curbside and use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments for online, drive-up and pickup orders. Full story at Progressive Grocer (May 18).
Foodservice News
US: Duolingo Is opening a taqueria that helps diners practice their Spanish
Duo’s Taqueria, a take-out restaurant is scheduled to open right beside Duolingo’s headquarters in Pittsburgh’s East Liberty neighborhood. According to Pittsburgh magazine, the restaurant will be helmed by chef Marcella Ogrodnik and the options for its Mexico City-style street tacos will include adobo-marinated pork, brisket, chorizo, and tripe, in addition to a vegan-friendly taco. Full story at Food & Wine (May 11).
US: Burger chains have beefed up sales during the pandemic
Sales at limited-service burger chains have grown 13% compared to pre-pandemic levels, according to Technomic data, with the two biggest chains — McDonald’s and Wendy’s — increasing US sales by $5.5 billion and $1.3 billion over the past two years, respectively. Wahlburgers’ sales surged 103.85% over the past two years, making it the fastest-growing chain, with Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Culver’s, Farmer Boys and Five Guys rounding out the top five. Full story at Restaurant Business (May 13).
US/Russia: McDonald’s outlines plans to exit Russia
McDonald’s has begun the process of selling its nearly 850 restaurants in Russia to an unnamed local buyer, and the chain will remove its name and logos from the locations after the sale. The company, which opened its first Russian unit in 1990 in Moscow’s Pushkin Square, announced its plans to close the restaurants in March following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Full story at Reuters (May 16).
Various: Wingstop signs agreement to open 60 restaurants in South Korea over a 10-year period
The fast-casual wing restaurant chain said the plan sees the potential for 200 to 250 total restaurants in South Korea with the first expected to open in 2023. Wingstop is expecting to open the first of 100 planned restaurants in Canada next month and has executed an expanded development agreement in Indonesia that will take the market to 120 restaurants from 50. The overall target is for 7,000-plus restaurants globally, more than 3,000 of which are expected to be outside the US. Full story at MarketWatch (May 16).
US: Dom’s Kitchen & Market grows team ahead of expansion
Chicago-based Dom’s Kitchen & Market has tapped restaurateur Brendan Sodikoff to head its hospitality and culinary operations. Dom’s opened in Chicago last year and is preparing to open a second location in the city’s Old Town neighborhood later this year with plans to roll out an additional 15 stores by 2025. Full story atProgressive Grocer (May 16).
US: Eleven Madison Park enters the meal kit space with an upscale plant-based offering
Eleven Madison Park, a fine dining restaurant with three Michelin stars that was named the World’s Best Restaurant in 2017, is bringing a luxurious twist to the meal kit space with Eleven Madison Home. Learn more at Forbes (May 17).
Trend Watch
Global: Wine production: Northern hemisphere countries suffer while southern hemisphere winemakers thrive
Bad weather conditions in the EU hampered wine production in 2021 but the southern hemisphere recorded record highs in production: balancing out wine production figures at a global level. Learn more at BeverageDaily (May 12).
US: Consumers cut down on meat, organics, brand names
April’s consumer price index for food increased 9.4% compared with April 2021 and 0.9% compared with March, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A survey from First Insight shows 41% of consumers plan to reduce brand-name purchases to save money, 37% of consumers expect to buy less meat and 26% of consumers plan to purchase fewer organic items. Full story at Supermarket News (free registration) (May 13).
US: Seven grocery trends to watch as inflation bites, from private label growth to a return to promotions
With food-at-home prices in April 2022 up a staggering 10.8% vs April 2021, consumers are beginning to change their behavior. FoodNavigator-USA caught up with K. K. Davey, president of client engagement at IRI, to find out what he’s seeing in the data. Learn more at FoodNavigator (May 13).
Global: Wine consumption recovers from pandemic-hit
Global wine consumption edged up in 2021 with the reopening of the on-trade: although consumption trends vary greatly between regions. Learn more at BeverageDaily (May 16).
Europe: ‘Private label is on the war path, so everything matters’: Double down on sensory appeal to reward consumers, brands told
Multi-sensorial food and beverage experiences can attract mainstream appeal despite the backdrop of the cost of living crisis, according to MMR Research. Learn more at FoodNavigator (May 17).
Global: What’s driving chocolate market growth?
Increasing consumer awareness of chocolate’s health halo, the growing popularity of chocolate in developing nations and the confectionery gifting boom boosted the global chocolate market to a more than $89.2 billion valuation last year, according to a ResearchAndMarkets.com report. Dark chocolate is the fastest-growing subcategory, and the Asia-Pacific region is the world’s largest chocolate market, according to the report. Full Story at ConfectioneryProduction (May 17).
Global: Frozen snack food market to grow by $12.83 billion in 4 years
The global market for frozen snack food has a growth potential of $12.83 billion for the next 4 years, according to the latest market report from Technavio. The market will also witness an accelerating growth momentum at a CAGR of 6.1% during the forecast period. The rise in launch of products has been instrumental in driving the growth of the market. However, frequent product recalls might hamper market growth. Learn more at euromeatnews.com (May 17).
US: What’s driving growth in specialty food
The specialty food stores market has $11.1 billion in revenue as of 2022, having grown 1.8% per year on average since 2017, according to IBISWorld. As specialty-food products have become more available in mainstream formats, consumers’ tastes have also evolved. Learn more at The Food Institute (May 19).
Health Watch
US: Health benefits of ‘true tea’ support including drink in dietary guidelines, researchers argue
Daily tea consumption should be recommended in the upcoming 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, argue scientists and industry stakeholders who point to its safety and a growing body of research supporting health benefits from the Camellia sinensis plant, including immunity-boosting and reduced risk of cardiometabolic disease, cancer and cognitive decline. Full story at BeverageDaily (May 13).
China: Fresh research links dairy products to increased risk of cancer
A major research study investigating dairy consumption and cancer risk suggests a greater intake of dairy is associated with higher risks of liver cancer and breast cancer. Learn more at FoodNavigator (May 16).
US: High-fat diet linked to nitric oxide levels, cancer development
Researchers at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology proved that a direct link exists between the amount of fat included in one’s diet and bodily levels of nitric oxide, a naturally occurring signaling molecule that is related to inflammation and cancer development. Learn more at MedicalXpress (May 17).
New Zealand: Snacking impacted by smells and tastes
What we smell and taste can trigger substantial changes to food choices later in the day, a University of Otago study has found. Scientists have always known sensory exposure can change people’s food choices and behavior, but this is the first study to show these effects can last throughout the day. Learn more at MedicalXpress (May 18).
US: More Americans are dieting, but fewer consider the healthfulness of what they consume
Despite a significant uptick in the percentage of Americans following a particular diet or eating pattern – from ‘clean eating’ to ‘mindful eating’ – to improve their wellbeing, fewer weigh the healthfulness of the ingredients or products they consume today than in the past, and many are unsure what nutrition information to believe, according to new research from the International Food Information Council. Full story at FoodNavigator (May 18).
UK: How cranberries could improve memory and ward off dementia
Adding cranberries to your diet could help improve memory and brain function, and lower ‘bad’ cholesterol—according to new research from the University of East Anglia (UK). Learn more at MedicalXpress (May 18).
US: Could calorie restriction and eating at a specific time lead to a longer life?
New research has revealed that when mice only eat during their most active time of day, and follow a reduced-calorie diet, lifespan is extended ‘substantially’. Learn more at FoodNavigator (May 19).
US: Blueberries can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women with high blood pressure
Consuming blueberries can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women with high blood pressure, according to new research by Colorado State University faculty member Sarah Ardanuy Johnson. Learn more at MedicalXpress (May 19).
Food Safety Watch
China: Authorities record salmonella outbreak from contaminated water
A waterborne typhoid fever outbreak sickened more than 20 people in China earlier this year. The outbreak involved 23 patients in an apartment in Changping District in Beijing and was caused by extensively drug-resistant (XDR) Salmonella Typhi through a polluted water supply. It was the first report of a waterborne outbreak caused by XDR Salmonella Typhi in the country, according to a study published in China CDC Weekly. Full story at Food Safety News (May 15).
Canada: Raspberries recalled over norovirus concerns
Mantab Inc. is recalling Below Zero brand whole, frozen raspberries because of possible norovirus contamination. Learn more at Food Safety News (May 17).
UK: Concerns raised over peanut traces in food additive from India
Batches of a food additive from India have been found to contain undeclared peanut protein prompting authorities to warn of a serious risk to allergic consumers. Learn more at Food Safety News (May 18).
Labelling News
Japan: Net alcohol labelling: Voluntary scheme to be eased in to avoid eco and cost impacts
Japanese firms will gradually introduce a new voluntary net alcohol labelling scheme to avoid cost and environmental impacts, according to one beer giant. Learn more at BeverageDaily (May 17).
Trade and Regulatory News
US: Rising food costs outpace those for all goods, suggesting more inflation to come
Food prices likely will remain stubbornly high as the cost of key ingredients, packaging materials, transportation and warehousing paid by producers continues to rise, albeit at a slightly slower pace – sparking optimism among some that high inflation may soon peak. Full story at FoodNavigator (May 13).
Canada/Ukraine: Joly says Canada ready to help ship Ukrainian grain as G7 warn of global crisis
Canada’s foreign minister, Melanie Joly, said Canada, another major agricultural exporter, stands ready to send ships to European ports so Ukrainian grain can be brought to those in need. Learn more at Global News (May 14).
Mexico: Import duties to be suspended on food staples to tackle inflation
Mexico will waive import duties for one year on a range of household staples, most of them foodstuffs, in a bid to curb inflation, the government said in its official gazette on Monday. The products on the government list included pork, corn oil, rice, tuna, chicken, beef, onions, jalapeño peppers, beans, corn flour, wheat flour, eggs, tomatoes, milk, lemons, white corn, apples, oranges, wheat and carrots. Bread, potatoes, pasta for soup, sardines, sorghum and hand soap were also listed in the decree. Full story at Farm Journal’s Pork (May 16).
US: Meat, wheat products, cooking oil, eggs see price hike
Prices are on the rise for eggs, chicken, cooking oil, produce, beef, pork and bread and wheat products, as well as the related goods for which those products are used, because of factors like supply chain issues, war in Ukraine, labor shortages, high animal feed costs, avian flu and inflation, industry experts say. “When the cost of raw materials — like corn, wheat, soybeans, and vegetable oils — goes up, the price of the products they are used to make, like bread and pizza dough, also increases,” explained FMI CEO Leslie Sarasin, adding that, “[h]igher corn and soybean prices also increase the price of feed for livestock, which in turn pushes up the cost of meat products.” Full story at U.S. News & World Report (May 16).
UK: Brits’ wallets to get a breather as government delays HSFF restrictions until 2023
The HFSS restrictions on multibuy deals and promotions of foods high in fat, salt or sugar (HFSS) have been delayed for a year in light of the soaring cost of living. Learn more at BakeryandSnacks (May 16).
Global: The cost of war: Food terrorism, soaring prices, global hunger and Jamie Oliver’s ‘Eton Mess’
Russia has been accused of weaponizing food by disrupting supplies of wheat and other commodities, which is exploding the price of food and putting millions at risk of starvation. Learn more at BakeryandSnacks (May 20).
