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Gourmet News Feb. 2014

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2 GENERAL NEWS GOURMET NEWS FEBRUARY 2014 www.gourmetnews.com General News FDA Extends Comment Period on Measure to Further Reduce Trans Fats in Processed Foods The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently decided to extend the comment period by 60 days, to March 8, 2014, on its preliminary determination that partially hydrogenated oils, the primary dietary source of artificial trans fat in processed foods, are not "generally recognized as safe" for use in food. This extension is being provided in response to numerous stakeholder requests to provide additional time for comments. The FDA published a notice in the Federal Register announcing its preliminary determination on November 8, 2013. At that time, the FDA provided 60 days, until January 7, 2014, for interested persons to provide comments and scientific data pertaining to the notice, including specific is- sues related to possible alternative approaches, time needed for reformulation, burden on small businesses and other technical challenges to the removal of PHOs from the food supply. Now, interested parties will have until March 8 to offer their comments. "I would definitely take advantage of this comment period to put thoughts together that are not just opinion but also include data and scientific arguments," said John Moore, a food and drug attorney with the law firm Venable LLP "[The food] industry . should definitely comment on industry difficulty in reformulating some of these products." If the FDA finalizes its tentative decision to ban PHOs from all foods made and sold in the United States, the impact on food companies could be considerable. In addition, a number of food products that U.S. consumers have come to love may be changed forever. For a small business, reformulating an entire product line to remove the banned substance could be an expensive and difficult task. In addition, there are several foods, including margarine and canned frostings that food scientists have yet to reformulate without PHOs. If the products can not be reformulated, there is a small chance that they could be removed from the market entirely. Interested parties can submit their comments electronically to the FDA docket on www.regulations.gov. Use docket number FDA-2013-N-1317. GN Annual Economic Contribution of Craft Brewers to U.S. Economy Reaches $34 Billion According to new data from the Brewers Association, a not-for-profit trade association that represents the majority of U.S. breweries, small and independent American craft brewers annually contribute $33.9 billion to the U.S. economy. The figure is derived from the total impact of beer brewed by craft brewers as it moves through the three-tier system (breweries, wholesalers and retailers), as well as all non-beer products that brewpub restaurants sell. "With a strong presence across the 50 states and the District of Columbia, craft breweries are a vibrant and flourishing economic force at the local, state and national level," said Bart Watson, staff economist for the Brewers Association. "As consumers continue to demand a wide range of high quality, full-flavored beers, small and independent craft brewers are meeting this growing demand with innovative offerings, creating high levels of economic value in the process." In addition to the national impact, the BA examined output of the craft brewing industry by state, as well as the state economic contribution per capita for adults over 21. The top five states in terms of overall economic contribution of the craft brewing industry are California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania and Colorado. The top five states in terms of per capita economic output are Oregon, Colorado, Vermont, Maine and Montana. The BA's data was compiled based on studying the economic contributions of the craft brewing industry in 2012. For some or all of 2012, 2,347 craft breweries operated in the United States, comprised of 1,132 brewpubs, 1,118 microbreweries and 97 regional craft breweries. During this timeframe, craft brewers sold an estimated 13,235,917 barrels of beer, with a retail dollar value estimated at $11.9 billion. The industry also provided more than 360,000 jobs, with 108,440 jobs directly at breweries and brewpubs, including serving staff at brewpubs. For additional study statistics and methodology, including state-by-state data, see the economic impact page on the Brewers Association website at www.brewersassociation.org. GN BRIEFS Clearwater Beach Uncorked to Return for Its Third Year Clearwater Beach Uncorked is returning for its third annual food and wine extravaganza, February 8-9 from 1-5 p.m., beachside in front of the Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach Resort and Spa in Clearwater, Fla. Organizers anticipate 5,500 guests for this two-day gastronomic affair. Clearwater Beach Uncorked will offer the perfect pre-Valentine's Day beach weekend filled with an extensive array of sweet and savory samplings complemented by an impressive selection of wines, spirits and craft beers from around the globe. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with wine specialists, vintners & brew masters, as well as the areas best and brightest chefs. The Grand Tasting Village will include delicious samplings from the areas top restaurants, wine from over 100 wineries and an exciting array of micro-brews and craft beers. Tickets are currently on sale at www.clearwaterbeachuncorked.com. Expo Finefood Returns to China's HOTELEX This Spring One of the largest exhibitions in the hospitality industry, HOTELEX Shanghai will be held from March 31-April 3 at Shanghai New International Expo Center. One of the most important parts of HOTELEX, Expo Finefood, will have an exhibition area of over 45,000 square meters. There are over 450 exhibitors scheduled to participate in a number of exhibitor categories, including bakery & ice cream, coffee & tea, beverages, wine & spirits, cooking ingredients and more. The event will feature many exciting worldlevel events. As the main theme exhibition of HOTELEX, Expo Finefood is packed with exciting events that broadcast the most cutting-edge hospitality trends and feature the most influential industry opinion leaders. Exciting events play as a perfect platform for new concept launches and product showcases to connect both exhibitors' and visitors' demands. The online registration system for HOTELEX and Expo Finefood is now open at www.hotelex.cn. U.S. Retail Sales to International Shoppers Spiked during 2013 Holiday Season International shoppers increasingly look to U.S. retailers to meet their holiday shopping needs, and they once again took advantage of America's biggest shopping holidays for special deals and promotions. Black Friday saw the greatest spike of the year in international shopping activity, with cross-border spending at U.S. retailers more than quadrupling compared to the average shopping day in 2013. This is according to data compiled by Borderfree, a cross-border e-commerce company. Cyber Monday also showed a significant boost in international shopping, with crossborder spending at U.S. retailers more than tripling. Cross-border spending remained el- evated throughout the entire holiday season, averaging an increase of 53 percent compared to the average shopping day in 2013. When it comes to international shoppers, the holiday shopping season kicks off earlier (in early October) and ends earlier as well (around Dec. 13) so shipments can be guaranteed for Christmas delivery. The savviest U.S. retailers understand these nuances and launch promotions aimed at the international consumer segment earlier in the year. "The doors are open for international shoppers to access the iconic American brands they love, and U.S. retailers are honing their ability to reach these shoppers and provide an experience on par with that of domestic customers," said Michael DeSimone, Chief Executive Officer of Borderfree. "The significant uptick in cross-border spending throughout the holidays, especially over Cyber Weekend, illustrates the significant opportunity for U.S. retailers, who are steadily becoming more aware and actively courting an international audience." "International marketing is critical for U.S. retailers looking to capture a slice of global demand for American products and can raise a brand's profile among consumers," added DeSimone. "Among our U.S. retail partners that launched targeted international marketing campaigns this holiday season, several saw sales gains of 50 to 100 percent." The top countries for U.S. retail sales during the 2013 holiday season included (in order) Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Germany. U.S. retailers saw the highest growth in China, with 279 percent growth in samestore sales this holiday season compared to the previous year. Other top countries for year-over-year sales growth included South Korea (91 percent), Israel (78 percent), Sweden (74 percent), Mexico (67 percent), Spain (56 percent) and Russia (49 percent). GN

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