News on Chips and Snacks from Northern America

February 22, 2008

P&G marketers affected by consolidation

P&G has announced plans to consolidate its global business which is expected to result in the loss of several key marketing positions as underperforming brands are closed.

February 22, 2008

The Chippery: Potato chips made to order, while you wait

Every few minutes, Ralph Robinson puts another potato in the end of a small metal chute that's connected to a stainless-steel tank. At the opposite end of the 4-foot-long machine, thin, crispy potato chips roll off a wire conveyor belt and drop into a ...

February 21, 2008

Conagra cuts jobs in Europe, Asia;Lamb Weston not affected

Conagra Foods is cutting back its operations in Asia and Europe, as the packaged-food manufacturer shrinks its international operations due to disappointing sales. "Sales for our consumer businesses weren't what we wanted them to be in those mark...

February 21, 2008

Dale & Thomas bets on premium popcorn

There is urgency in the air at Dale &Thomas in Englewood, N.J., where Chief Executive Warren Struhl, its majority stakeholder, wants to prove that his firm can become, if not the "Starbucks of popcorn,"as he often says, at least a profita...

February 20, 2008

How to deal with rising Food and Ingredient Prices

A few days ago we decided that we would dedicate this PotatoPro Newsletter to the rising ingredient prices. With a publication today by Pepsico on the impact of rising ingredient costs and today's closing price in New York for crude oil for the first time over $100 a barrel ($100.74), the topic could hardly be more current.

February 20, 2008

ConAgra Foods Provides Unprecedented Nutrition Labeling

ConAgra Foods, Inc., (NYSE: CAG) today announced simple and unique packaging enhancements designed to help consumers make better-informed food choices to improve their diet and health. The new nutrition guide, designed by ConAgra Foods, will be feature...

February 20, 2008

The Inventure Group, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Total Year 2007 Results

The Inventure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SNAK) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 29, 2007. Fourth Quarter: Net Revenues for the Fourth Quarter ended December 29, 2007 were $25.6 million, up 58.7% comp...

February 20, 2008

PepsiCo says price rises will not hurt sales

Soft drink and snack maker PepsiCo Inc plans to raise prices and reduce the size of some products this year to offset soaring commodity costs, but does not expect these measures to significantly hurt sales volume, a senior executive said on Wednesday. ...

February 18, 2008

Profile of Pepsico CEO Indra Nooyi

Indra Nooyi is an entirely different kind of CEO, a product of her native India as well as of PepsiCo's family-values approach to grooming CEOs. She is not hung up on pay. She's not shy about asking for help when she needs it. She's 52 years old an...

February 15, 2008

Many snack foods in the US have gone 'trans-fat free'

Many snack foods and spreads on the market are now free of artery-clogging trans fat, but consumers still need to be savvy label-readers, according to researchers. In a sampling of packaged foods at a local Wal-Mart, researchers at the University of Mi...

February 13, 2008

Weaver's Potato Chips closes doors

Weaver's Potato Chips, located in Lincoln, Nebraska, has announced it will close its doors at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. According to the owner of the company, Dan Coch, all 80 employees were notified Wednesday morning of the closing. The Weaver's invest...

February 12, 2008

Estrella de Food Network invita a la diversion con los chips de tortilla Tostitos

Compartiendo la pasión por los grandes sabores, la versatilidad y los eventos informales, Tostitos, con sus chips de tortilla, y la estrella revelación de Food Network, Ingrid Hoffmann, anunciaron el lanzamiento de una campaña a nivel nacional, por int...

February 10, 2008

Frito-Lay works with Food Network to promote Tostitos to women.

In an effort to scoop up more sales from women 25-54, Frito-Lay’s Tostitos is prepping a year-long multiplatform campaign with Food Network’s Simply Delicioso. Beginning this month, six 30-second on-air vignettes will show Hoffman whipping up a diffe...

February 07, 2008

Ganancias de PepsiCo caen en 4to trimestre

La compañía de bebidas estadounidense PepsiCo Inc. anunció el jueves una disminución de las ganancias del cuarto trimestre, afectada por una mayor tasa tributaria y una caída del volumen en las ventas de refrescos carbonatados. PepsiCo -que fabrica P...

February 07, 2008

PepsiCo Reports Strong Sales and Operating Results for 2007 Fourth Quarter and Full Year

PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) reported continued strong operating performance in the fourth quarter of 2007. Net revenue increased 17% in the quarter and reported operating profit increased 9%;core division operating profit, excluding restructuring items, increa...

February 06, 2008

Troyer Farms to set record for 'The Most People Eating Potato Chips at the Same Time'

On Saturday, February 9, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. at the Tullio Arena, Troyer Farms and the Erie Otters will set a Guinness World Record at the Tullio Arena for "The Most People Eating Potato Chips at the Same Time!" In appreciation to their custome...

February 03, 2008

Procter & Gamble aumento utilidades en el 2do trimestre de 2007

La agencia internacional de noticias A informó que las utilidades del grupo Procter &Gamble aumentaron en el segundo trimestre gracias a un incremento de sus ventas, ayudadas por el efecto de la caída del dólar, a pesar de un margen reducido. El...

February 02, 2008

P&G Reports Profit and Sales Growth; Announces a Plan to turn Folgers into a stand alone Coffee Company

The Procter &Gamble Company (NYSE: PG) announced net sales growth of nine percent to $21.6 billion for the quarter. Sales were up behind strong volume growth from continued success on key product initiatives and double-digit organic growth in deve...