Oser Communications Group

GOURMET NEWS JULY 2014 www.gourmetnews.com General News GENERAL NEWS 3 BRIEFS United States Overtakes France as Volume Leader in Global Wine Consumption According to a report recently released by the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, the United States has overtaken France to become the largest wine-drinking country in the world in terms of the overall volume of consumption. American oenophiles imbibed 29.1 million hectoliters (or 29.1 billion liters) in 2013, more than any other single country. Meanwhile, over- all global wine consumption was slightly down for the year. Following the United States, the French were the second-largest wine consumers in the world in 2013 with a total of almost 28.2 Mhl consumed. The top five were rounded out by Italy (21.8 Mhl), Germany (20.3 Mhl) and China (16.8 Mhl). The rankings for 2013 are the same as those for 2012, with the single exception of the switched posi- tions for the United States and France. Despite its dominance in terms of the overall volume of wine consumed, the United States still lags far behind in terms of per capita consumption. According to the Wine Institute, Americans currently drink 10.46 liters per person per year, rank- ing it number 62 in worldwide per capita consumption. Remarkably, Vatican City leads the way with 62.2 liters consumed per person. France ranks fifth with 45.61 liters. Italy stands in ninth position with 37.63 liters. And Germany is number 21 with 24.48 liters. When it comes to American wine con- sumption, certain varietals stand out above the rest as particularly in-demand. Con- sumer research firm The Nielsen Company reports that chardonnay is the most popu- lar varietal among U.S. consumers, fol- lowed by cabernet sauvignon, merlot, pinot grigio, moscato, white zinfandel, pinot noir and sauvignon blanc. In addition to the U.S. milestone achieve- ment of becoming the largest wine-con- suming country in the world, the American wine industry itself reached a significant milestone in 2013, as overseas U.S. wine exports hit an all-time high. U.S. wine pro- ducers exported 48.4 million cases of wine to foreign markets last year, valuing $1.55 billion. This is up 7.5 percent over 2012 U.S. wine exports. As the United States continues to ramp up its own wine production, overall wine imports into the country are on the decline. A report last year from financial group Rabobank estimated that bulk wine im- ports were down as much as 17 percent in 2013, although bottled wine imports were actually up 8 percent. GN Global Food & Beverage Packaging Summit Comes to Chicago The Global Food & Beverage Packaging Summit is scheduled to take place July 16-17 at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, Ill. The annual event brings together food industry leaders and packaging professionals for a two-day symposium on strategies for protecting brand identity and the development of cutting edge packaging for new products. This year's Global Food & Beverage Packaging Summit is set to feature speakers from a number of prominent companies, including Denise Lefebvre, Vice President of Global Beverage Packaging at PepsiCo, Terry Schwartz, Director of Global Design, Campbell Soup Company and Jill McCurdy, Director of Packaging Innovation and Development for MillerCoors. For more information on The Global Food & Beverage Packaging Summit, to view a complete agenda for the event or to register as an attendee, visit www.fbpackaging.com. Las Vegas Market to Showcase Fashion- Forward Design The Summer Las Vegas Market will be held July 27-31 at the Las Vegas World Market Center, showcasing the best in furniture, home décor and gift products. Over 1,500 exhibitors are expected at the five-day event. The Summer Las Vegas Market is the place to go to be the first to see thousands of newly introduced products. Products on exhibition represent the best in fashion-forward, design- driven gift, gourmet and tabletop manufacturing. The show features over 5 million square feet of exhibit space, including 850,000 square feet that have been added in just the last year. For more information on the Las Vegas Summer Market, to view a complete list of show highlights and to register as an attendee, visit www.lasvegasmarket.com. Fresno Food Expo Coming July 24 The 2014 Fresno Food Expo will bring new opportunities for growth in both buyer and exhibitor participation with an anticipated 140 exhibitors and 700 pre-registered, qualified buyers attending. The public portion of the Fresno Food Expo is anticipated to welcome 1,200 attendees; this sizable involvement spurs the region's community to engage with the local food industry with continued support throughout the year by purchasing local products at grocery stores and in restaurants. A feature at the show, the Fresno Food Expo New Product Awards, serves as a platform to highlight innovative new products and trends in the food industry. In the past, these awards have provided additional exposure for companies like Rosa Brothers Milk Company, Bella Viva Orchards and Valley Spirits, all 2013 winners. Buyers and exhibitors may pre-register for the 2014 Fresno Food Expo to be held on Thursday, July 24 by visiting www.fresnofoodexpo.com. Mrs. Green's Natural Market Celebrates Grand Openings with Community Donations Mrs. Green's Natural Market celebrated the grand openings of three new stores with a series of donations totaling nearly $25,000 to community organizations that promote healthy, sustainable lifestyles. Several Mrs. Green's locations across the United States and Canada committed to donating up to five percent of in-store proceeds from one week this spring in an effort to give back. Mrs. Green's, a rapidly expanding sub- sidiary of Natural Markets Food Group, recently opened new loca- tions in three high-profile markets: West Windsor, N.J., New Canaan, Conn. and Burlington, Ontario. Another store is planned to open in the West Village of Manhat- tan later this year. "Mrs. Green's believes that eating healthy, fresh, natural products is the best way to promote a sustainable lifestyle," said Sherry Nolan- Schultz, NMFG Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. "We wanted to give back to the communities that have wel- comed us with open arms in a meaningful and positive way. We be- lieve these donations continue our mu- tually beneficial partnerships—both with our workers, our customers and our communities." In West Windsor, N.J., the new Mrs. Green's location donated $10,000 to America's Grow-A-Row, a non-profit ded- icated to providing a positive impact through volunteer efforts of planting, picking, rescuing and delivering fresh produce to underprivileged communi- ties. In Ontario, the Burlington store do- nated five percent of in-store proceeds (a total of more than $3,000) to McMaster Children's Hospital in nearby Hamilton. And in Connecticut, the New Canaan store donated almost $4,500 to the New Canaan Nature Center, a non-profit en- vironmental education center and sanc- tuary that focuses on helping members of the community relate to nature. In addition to the donations made by these new stores, a Mrs. Green's location in Lincoln Park, Ill. donated five percent of its in-store proceeds (over $6,000) made during the Spring Celebration Week the store hosted from March 27- April 3 to the Lincoln Public School "Eat What You Grow" Garden Club. The club teaches children the benefits of growing and eating your own vegetables. "Mrs. Green's Natural Market has proven that they are completely commit- ted to providing fresh produce to not only their customers, but also those folks across New Jersey who are food insecure, through their recent and extremely gen- erous donation to America's Grow-a- Row," said Chip Paillex, President and Founder of America's Grow-a-Row. "Their contribution will en- sure that thousands of pounds of free fruits and vegetables will make it onto the plates of those folks who are suffering from hunger across the state." "[It is] always won- derful when new businesses in the community support McMaster Children's Hospital and the children in our region," said Jennifer Laughton, Vice President of Develop- ment, for McMaster Children's Hospital Foundation. "We are delighted to be a part of the Mrs. Greens Natural Market's success." GN

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