News On French Fries and Potato Specialties from the Americas

January 09, 2009

CONAGRA LAMB WESTON: An in-depth discussion with Mark Hayden, senior VP of supply chain and distribution sales

Refridgerated and Frozen Foods held an extensive interview with Mark Hayden, senior VP of supply chain and distribution sales at Conagra Lamb Weston.An exerpt: “When you get into these types of economic conditions, operators need someone to bring them...

January 09, 2009

Weak economy hits US Potato Industry

The outlook for the 2008 U.S. potato crop was just fine until recession reared its ugly head.The weak economy is reducing demand from restaurants because people simply aren't eating out as often, industry officials said this week during the 2009 nation...

January 08, 2009

Lamb Weston looking at Maine, but not touching

Potato processing giant Lamb Weston has no immediate plans to develop a facility in Maine, although the company continues to watch economic and agricultural activity in the state.“We have been monitoring the opportunities for Lamb Weston’s potential in...

December 18, 2008

Jay Gould: The New York Fries president on selling fries when times are tough

Jay Gould: The New York Fries president on selling fries when times are tough (video)

December 17, 2008

US Potato Stocks Down 9 Percent From December 2007;Usage for processing down, especially for dehy.

The 13 major [US] potato States held 242 million cwt of potatoes in storage December 1, 2008, down 9 percent from a year ago and 7 percent below December 1, 2006. Potatoes in storage accounted for 66 percent of the 2008 fall storage States' production,...

December 11, 2008

La crisis empuja la venta informal de papas fritas en México

Con carteles en los cruceros y entradas a las estaciones de metro en la Ciudad de México se anuncia y vocea la oportunidad de comprar dos paquetes de papas Sabritas por cinco pesos, promoción que según los vendedores es “muy llamativa en momentos de cr...

December 05, 2008

Conagra Foods eager to break ground for new Lamb Weston Offices in Richmond

ConAgra Foods is eager to start a new office building for subsidiary Lamb Weston now that the Richland City Council has approved a new $1.4 million deal for land at Columbia Point. ConAgra spokesman Jeff Mochal said Thursday that some details remain to...

November 06, 2008

Demand Sweet Potato Fries 'exploding'

“This fry thing has just exploded,” said Jimmy Burch, partner in Burch Farms Inc., Faison, N.C. “We doubled the business we did last year, and last year we doubled the business we did the year before.”Also expecting to double their fry sales this year...

November 04, 2008

ConAgra is committed to sustainability and is improving its packaging to make it more environmentally friendly

ConAgra Foods, one of the world's largest packaged foods companies, is changing its environmental programs from compliance-driven to proactive sustainability initiatives.With manufacturing facilities around the globe, ConAgra has implemented an integra...

October 30, 2008

Gain Report: Potatoes and Potato Products Canada 2008

Canadian harvested area for potatoes in 2008/09 could fall to 148,000 hectares, more than 11,000 hectares, or 7% below the year earlier level reflecting a combination of lower planted area and harvest problems due to wet weather in Prince Edward Island...

October 27, 2008

American Frozen Food Institute Chairman Announces Robert L. Garfield as Interim President

American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) Chairman James E. Matthews Jr. of the H.J. Heinz Company today announced Robert L. Garfield has assumed the role of interim president of AFFI following the resignation of Leslie G. Sarasin. Garfield takes over for...

October 24, 2008

McCain Foods Canada honours top potato growers in Manitoba

It was an exciting time for two dedicated area producers on Wednesday evening when they were selected in the top spot for 2008 in the McCain Top 10 Growers for Portage la Prairie competition. Anton Wiebe and Sheldon Falconer, from Anton Wiebe Ltd. of...

October 23, 2008

USPB organizes reverse trade mission 'Processed Potatoes 101'

The U.S. Potato Board recently wrapped a week-long course called "Processed Potatoes 101"for business representatives from more than 14 countries.The gathering, which took place in Pasco, Wash., was the largest the board ever put together. Th...

October 22, 2008

McCain Foods outsources accounting functions to India: 25 jobs cut in Florenceville

McCain Foods is axing 25 jobs in New Brunswick as part of a move to outsource accounting functions to India. The head of McCain Foods (Canada) says the outsourcing of the jobs is part of the company's efforts to become more competitive globally. The ...

October 21, 2008

McDonald's French Fries: MacFries or McFries?

So here it is, a PotatoPro Newsletter on 'McDonald's World Famous Fries' or MacFries as I will keep calling them in short. Yes, as far as I could figure out they were called MacFries, not McFries, even though Google gives more than twice as much hits on McFries than MacFries.

October 17, 2008

Lamb Weston and Unisur announce strategic partnership;Unisur expands facilities.

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston, the largest potato company in North America, and Unisur Alimentos Ltda, the only frozen French fry and dehydrated potato processing company in Chile, announced the formation of a new strategic partnership focused on Chile an...

October 15, 2008

Executive Says Heinz Will Do Just Fine in Recession

H.J. Heinz’s low-priced “comfort foods” will help the company weather the turbulent economy, according to Art Winkleblack Heinz’s chief financial officer. Heinz is doing well with its Ore-Ida frozen potatoes, soups, beans, and condiments. Winkleblack ...

October 10, 2008

Purdue University developing 'Radiant Fryer'

A new cooking technology under development at Purdue University could please both dieters looking for lowercalorie meals and food retailers seeking lower costs. It has the potential to produce “fried” foods using vastly less oil, and to cook them at sp...