All That and a Bag of Chips

Kraft, Samsung and who knows else team up to leverage some 'touch' technology for cooler, more interactive snacking.

Click and Consume

Any good at shooting food? Or, just like to look?

Food2's first Challenge is seeking the hottest, rising food photographers. Actually, if you like food and have a camera or phone, that will work too.

The Shoot Out is simple...

1) Take a picture tied to food or cocktails. You can submit more than once.

2) Be creative. Catch our eye. [Just be sure you took the photograph.]

3) When the submission phase ends, rock the vote. You and your friends will get a chance to vote on your favorite photos...

Click here to enter and/or vote

The Birth of An Addiction

The Birth of An Addiction

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Pumped-Up Marketing Boosts ConAgra

"Significantly improved" and increased marketing contributed to strong double-digit growth for Healthy Choice, Marie Callender's, Banquet and other consumer brands during ConAgra's fiscal 2009 fourth quarter, the company reported.

The Consumer Foods segment posted 13.8% sales growth (including 7% unit growth and 8% growth from pricing/mix), to reach $2.14 million during the quarter, which ended May 31. The division's operating profit increased 53%, to $271 million.

MediaPost

Diageo Targets the Home Bartender

Diageo hopes you will go cocktail crazy (Tom Cruise-style, please):

With its sales slowing (though holding up better than most rivals), the British company is tackling one of the toughest challenges in marketing: changing consumer behavior. Diageo says it will continue to plug its Smirnoff, Jose Cuervo, and other spirits, but plans to spend millions in an attempt to make the cocktail cool again. "It's a nice idea, but it's not that easy," says David Morris, who analyzes the food and beverage industry for Mintel, a research firm. "There is some expertise needed to create a good cocktail." Not only will Diageo have to turn Americans on to mixed drinks, but it will have to teach people how to make them, too.

Business Week

You've Seemed To Have Dropped Something On Your Shoes . . .

. . . Oh, that is your shoes.

For those of you who love sporting meat apparel comes Bacon Slip-Ons

Thanks Erin M.

From Rome...

A fun way to do 'Authentic':

More great images at Lovely Package

Burger King Apple Fries Headed For Supermarkets

Following its foray into chips, BK extends into grocery with (naturally) apples.

BK executives characterized the snack's launch as being more about brand visibility than revenue, and the chain says this is also true for the Apple Fries retail extension. "The program will result in revenue, but that is not the primary focus," according to a spokesperson.

MediaPost

Folgers Propels Smucker With Cheaper Jolt of Joe

J.M. Smucker Co.'s fiscal fourth-quarter earnings more than doubled, propelled by the purchase of Folgers, an acquisition that is dovetailing with consumers' desire for a less expensive cup of joe.

Wall Street Journal

Feelin' Manly?

In an unusual move for a traditional cereal brand, Post Grape-Nuts has introduced an integrated marketing campaign created by Ogilvy & Mather, New York, that specifically targets men, titled "That takes Grape-Nuts."

An original 50-episode Web series, "The Guy's Manual," is a key part of the ongoing initiative. Produced by OgilvyEntertainment, Reveille and MSN, the series airs exclusively on MSN (http://theguysmanual.msn.com) and is hosted by Kenny Mayne from ESPN's "Mayne Street."

Check out the Videos


From Brand Week

Thanks J-Mo

Kellogg Adds Honey to Target Hispanics

The new line extension targets loyal consumers of the original Kellogg's Corn Flakes cereal, particularly the 55-plus demographic. The Hispanic population has also proven to be a strong following. "Kellogg's Corn Flakes has been a part of the Latino breakfast experience for years," said Susanne Norwitz, director of brand PR at Kellogg. "This new flavor addition simply provides another great option for those who love the wholesome goodness of Corn Flakes."

BrandWeek

Fat Is Back?

From ODE Magazine:

Jenny Matthau stands in front of hundreds of students at the Natural Gourmet School and speaks heresy. The New York City culinary program specializes in "health-supportive, whole-foods cuisine" with a "plant-based curriculum." Beef and pork aren’t on the syllabus, to say nothing of veal—and the school’s alumni run kitchens at health spas and work in restaurants with names like Organic Planet. So when Matthau, who’s president of the school and teaches the core nutrition class, delivers her lecture in praise of fat, students are often surprised.

"A lot of students expect to hear just what the government is saying: You have your good fats and your bad fats, and you should try to eat a very low-fat diet," Matthau says. "And we don’t agree."

(thanks Sue)

Obama Foodarama

If politics isn't your thing, surely the politics of food should be. To follow all food-related White House issues, check out this cool blog, Obama Foodarama.

Lean Cuisine Expands to Breakfast Occasion

Spotted at the Fort Wright Wal-Mart!

I love this stuff

Who doesn't love some Siracha? Check out the NY Times article

Le Whif, C'est Chic

The device, naturally, is the brainchild of a Harvard professor, presumably inspired by looking at a candy bar and thinking how awesome it would be to smoke it. (He was right.) That might explain why, as with inhaling certain other pleasurable intoxicants, consuming Le Whif is all about the ritual—there are even detailed instructions and a site devoted to people looking good while using it.

Urban Daddy

Tropicana Promotes OJ As Daily Fruit Serving

Somewhere Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliot and Nelly Furtado sigh a deep sigh:

The "Get Your Fruit On!" campaign, launching this month to tie in with National Fruit and Vegetable Month, looks to get the word out that 7 in 10 adults, as well as most children, are not consuming the USDA-recommended four fruit servings -- and that an eight-ounce glass of OJ delivers two of those servings. "Surprisingly, we've learned a majority of orange juice drinkers are unaware that 100% orange juice contributes to their daily fruit intake," commented Tropicana CMO Andy Horrow in the PepsiCo brand's announcement of the campaign.

MediaPost

Eat, Drink, Think, Change

Coming to a theater near you (eventually), a hard look at the business, economics and process that drives food to plate:

“Food, Inc.” is part of a new generation of food films that drip with politics, not sauces. It’s eat-your-peas cinema that could make viewers not want to eat anything at all.

New York Times
PBS

Just had to post this

So, you've probably guessed by now that we love ridiculous foods and the mecca "this is why you're fat. com" Well, this morning I saw this picture and thought "Hey, this looks good" and then I thought about the torture they're putting that dog through - just a funny picture.

Mother’s Fight Against Junk Food Puts a School on Edge

"MeMe Roth, a publicist and an Upper West Side mother of two, is getting really, really mad — “and I do not mean angry,” she clarified. “I mean mad, like crazy.” Ms. Roth is being driven mad by Public School 9, where her children are in second and fourth grades, and it seems that P.S. 9, in turn, is being driven mad by Ms. Roth.

Ms. Roth, who runs a group called National Action Against Obesity, has no problem with the school lunches provided at the highly regarded elementary school on Columbus Avenue and 84th Street. What sets her off is the junk food served on special occasions: the cupcakes that come out for every birthday, the doughnuts her children were once given in gym, the sugary “Fun-Dip” packets that some parent provided the whole class on Valentine’s Day."

NY Times

Safeway Launches 'Buy Local' Initiative

"Nearly a third of Safeway's produce comes from local sources. In California, that number is even greater, roughly 45%," the company says in its release. "This new initiative will direct our customers to our extensive selection of premium-quality, locally grown produce at competitive prices," it adds, and "means that shoppers can find more local produce than at a typical farmer's market."

MediaPost

Kool-Aid Man v. Soda Man

Rocky-inspired awesomeness from KAM:

Feeling Like Some Greek (Olive Oil That Is)

Looking for something to do the weekend of 6/26- 6/28? Heady to Panegyri, the Greek Festival. While there make sure to check out the Mt. Kofinas Olive Oil they'll be stationed next to the pastry lines inside the large indoor room, and they'll be offering free samples of their delicious extra virgin olive oil along with some delicious bread for your dipping pleasure.

Good Gu

Lovely Package

NASA Develops Rehydration Beverage

NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., licensed the patented rehydration formula to Wellness Brands Inc., Boulder, Colo. Wellness Brands plans to launch its first electrolyte concentrate brand, 'The Right Stuff' in June 2009.

"We developed the hydration formula to perform optimally under the most extreme conditions. The health of our highly trained astronauts was paramount," explained John Greenleaf, now a former Ames research scientist and inventor of the formula. "With all that Americans and the government have invested in the space program and our astronauts, this is one clear way to protect and maximize that investment. And now the general public will benefit from this research as well."

NASA

Meet the Farmer who Grew your Vegetables

The newest spin on sourced ingredients...

"The Heinz Pure New Zealand range was created to launch a range of premium vegetables that embody the product's origin and authenticity. It was also important to create an offering of quality, unadulterated by genetic modification. The packaging is authentic, honest, transparent, environmentally sensitive with a sense of humour.

The back of pack also features a 'webcode' and directions to a website that allows the consumer to find out exactly where the products are grown, which farmer grew it and a photo & bio of the farmer. The website is www.purenzvegies.com and to check it out, use this code 89082B - We think its pretty cool! It is also the first transparent bio degradable packaging in the Australian frozen category."





The Dieline

New Meaning to FRESH VENISON

Looks like Bambi's cousin was excited about kicking off the weekend with some Whole Foods Goodies . . .

Deer runs into Whole Foods store

Free Coffee from Seattle's Best via Border

Grab a free 12 oz Seattle's Best Coffee at Borders

Anheuser-Busch to launch Bud Light Golden Wheat this year

This just in: Anheuser-Busch will launch Bud Light Golden Wheat in early October in an effort to attract older drinkers who are looking for a little more flavor from their light beer. if all goes as planned, the Bud Light “megabrand” will soon have three formidable prongs. You heard it hear first, on Lager Heads.

A-B is “trying to stay ahead of where consumers are going,” Keith Levy, vice president of marketing, told Lager Heads. “Our expectations are fairly big for this, given that it’s got Bud Light’s name on it.”

stltoday.com

Frosted Focus

Frosted Mini Wheats allow you to understand arcane coffee speak ...

Unleash your inner chip artist ...

Kettle Chips Challenge
AV Challenge

Want to Organize Your Recipes

Check out the Demy.

Essentially "The Demy is gadget/device (sort of looks like an old school Sonos player) that holds all of your recipes in it. Instead of on paper, you can store everything in the Demy. A kindle for recipes." - from Gotham Gal

Q: How Much Meat Could a Volker Eat if a Volker Could Eat Meat?

A: About 3.6 pounds.

12 Rowdy Individuals + A Scale + All You Can Eat Brazilian Steakhouse = A Little Wager.

The Guesses Are In . . .

The Weigh -In . . .

Ready . . . Set . . .






The Weigh - Out

From Good Food

Smart Balance Keeps Tight Focus on Creativity

Smart Balance helps people stay lean with "heart healthy" merchandise, including low-cholesterol spreads, peanut butter, popcorn, cooking oil and milk. The company itself is lean as well, with just 67 employees and scant fixed assets. Its "virtual" business model outsources almost everything else, including manufacturing, product distribution and sales. The unusual approach is attracting attention, especially as recession-battered businesses slow new-product introductions.

Wall Street Journal

Why yes, I would like a bluberry cake, vanilla chai filled, maple iced, grahm cracker, heath crunch donut.

Thank you Dunkin' Donuts for allowing me to design the most delicious and ridiculous donut of all time. In honor of National Donut Day (true) Dunkin' Donuts has created an online contest allowing all donut fans to customize their own donut creation. I think mine might win, but you can check out the "Gallery" of creations on the site, along with some awesome naming ideas...

McDonald's Same Store Growth Increases

McDonald's Corp. said Monday its same-store sales climbed 5.1 percent in May, boosted by strong international sales but seeing slower sales growth in the U.S.

The Oak Brook, Ill.-based company said U.S. same-store sales climbed 2.8 percent, helped by classic menu items and its new McCafe espresso-based coffees. The espresso drinks are now being rolled out to all the company's U.S. restaurants.

Yahoo

Green tea Coca-Cola to debut in Japan

Green tea-flavored Coca-Cola will hit Japanese stores June 8, Coca Cola (Japan) Co. spokesman Katsuya Sato said Thursday. It contains tea antioxidants called catechins, leaves a slight green tea aftertaste and is mainly targeted at health-conscious women in their 20s and 30s, Sato said.

“We wanted to cater to people who are looking for something that tastes good but is also good for health and beauty,” he said.

MSNBC

Coke, Illy to take it slow in marketing coffee drinks

The slow-building plan to become the globe's leading premium RTD coffee:

Coke and Illy have three versions of Illy Issimo: caffe, cappuccino and latte macchiato. The drinks come in silver single-serving cans typically priced between $2.49 to $2.69.

The Illy Issimo drinks are now offered in 15 countries. Early this year, the beverages were introduced in New York and Los Angeles, the first U.S. markets. San Francisco was recently added.

By the end of 2010, Coke and Illy expect to have Issimo in 6 to 8 major U.S. markets, Kapoor said. The joint venture also is targeting key national accounts, such as Whole Foods Market, that could broaden distribution, he said.

AJC

Homer is Gonna Be Happy . . . mmmmmmmmmmm

Tomorrow is National Donut Day, which should actually be a national holiday. So, "Let Them Eat Donuts"

Free DD donuts
Free Krispy Kreme Donuts

via PopCandy

Kellogg adds fiber, hoping to bowl cereal consumers over

"Some 80% of Kellogg cereals will have at least 3 grams of fiber per serving by the end of 2010. That may sound small, but foods with 3 grams are rated a good source of fiber by the government. The fiber boost begins in August with kid-targeted cereals Froot Loops and Apple Jacks.

"The move is expected to rock the packaged foods industry, which is under pressure from consumers and lawmakers to boost food quality. The industry has recently begun embracing fiber-fortified products at warp speed."

USA Today

What does Paula Deen Think She's Doing Ripping off Luther?

iTop Chef/i Spices Up Las Vegas

Top Chef Spices Up Las Vegas

Shared via AddThis

Kati Rolls

So, I was reading the NYT this morning and ran across this article on Midtown Lunch.com, which is essentially a website that " serves those who toil in Midtown and hope to find something decent and reasonably priced to eat on their lunch breaks."

Well, the lead in photo was this image below of Kati Rolls, which looked awesome . . . I did some digging.

What is a Kati Roll (from Wikipedia)?

Kati roll is a street-available fast food popular in Kolkata, India. In Kolkata, it is thought to be introduced by Nizam's, a restaurant in the city noted for its Mughlai food^{[citation needed]}. In Mumbai, it is similar to a frankie.

It is said that the kati roll was the result of some quick thinking on a busy day, when the number of customers purchasing kebab and parathas outstripped the rate at which plates could be washed, so the chef decided to wrap some of the kebabs in parathas rather than serve them on plates.

The basic kati roll begins with paratha toasted on a tava. Whipped egg is poured in the tava's center and topped with the bread. Fried vegetables are roasted in butter and stuffed inside. Spices, red onion slivers and lime are sprinkled on top. Spicy potatoes, paneer, chicken tikka or mutton can also be stuffed inside. At certain outlets, the kati comes wrapped around a non-greasy rumali roti.

Where can I get one?
Well if you're in NYC you can check out the Kati Roll Company
If you don't live in "The City" you can check out these recipes Tarlal Dalal or Recipezaar

ConAgra Foods Reveals A New Brand Identity

The new identity has been created after research with multiple stakeholder groups, including customers. The logo features a new, more contemporary color palette along with a ‘spoon in plate’ icon designed to reinforce the company’s position. The tagline, “Food you love” reinforces the company brands that consumers love, Con Agra said.

Gary Rodkin, CEO of ConAgra Foods, said: “Our new brand identity is an articulation of the essence of ConAgra Foods–making great food. We’ve changed the company fairly dramatically over the past several years to get these strong brands and products at the core of everything we do."

Food Business Review
BrandWeek

Have You Seen This?

Spotted in Target (Thanks Jessica). Thoughts?

Check it out

Do You Know Who Made That?

Sonoco Products Co. isn't a household name, but its packages are in millions of shoppers' pantries worldwide.

The 110-year-old, $4.1 billion packaging giant manufactures everything from Pringles canisters to Febreeze bottles to industrial products, such as paperboard tubes and cable reels. Sonoco has 300 facilities in 35 countries, including about six in the Charlotte area.

Read the Full Article

Whip It Good?

Re-design for Kraft's Miracle Whip


Brand New

No Grapes, No Nuts, No Market Share: A Venerable Cereal Faces Crunchtime

WSJ attempts to answer the un-answerable: What the hell is a Grape Nut?

For 111 years, over breakfast, Americans have wondered: What's a grape nut? A grape nut looks like a kidney stone, but the name, unlike shredded wheat's, isn't self-descriptive. This raises many reasonable questions: Is it grapes that haven't developed? What part of the grape do they use? For those who have read the box and learned what Grape Nuts are made of (flour), a denser issue arises: How does a cereal with the mouthfeel of gravel get manufactured?

Also, some insight into the new euphemism-heavy campaign:

"We need to bring it back to life in a relevant way," says Kelley Peters, the "insights" director who charts Grape Nuts psychographics for Ralcorp's $5 million resuscitation attempt. Her target: men 45 years old and up. "Men aspire to it," she says. "It's strong and stern, the father figure of cereals." Her marketing chief, Jennifer Marchant, points out: "It tends to break your teeth sometimes."

Wall Street Journal

Besides Increased Cholesterol You May Have Scored Some Great Glassware

Check out the 8 Coolest Sets of Fast Food Premium Glasses

Looks Like They're "Crisps" After All

Britain’s Supreme Court of Judicature has answered a question that has long puzzled late-night dorm-room snackers: What, exactly, is a Pringle? With citations ranging from Baroness Hale of Richmond to Oliver Wendell Holmes, Lord Justice Robin Jacob concluded that, legally, it is a potato chip.

The decision is bad news for Procter & Gamble U.K., which now owes $160 million in taxes. It is good news for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs — and for fans of no-nonsense legal opinions. It is also a reminder, as conservatives begin attacking Judge Sonia Sotomayor for not being a “strict constructionist,” of the pointlessness of labels like that.

In Britain, most foods are exempt from the value-added tax, but potato chips — known as crisps — and “similar products made from the potato, or from potato flour,” are taxable. Procter & Gamble, in what could be considered a plea for strict construction, argued that Pringles — which are about 40 percent potato flour, but also contain corn, rice and wheat — should not be considered potato chips or “similar products.” Rather, they are “savory snacks.”

Read the whole article at New York Times