Month: September 2012

Sticky Toffee Pudding Co. Making An Impression Nationwide

September 24, 2012 James R. Jeffrey, Austin CultureMap

Tracy Claros moved to Austin in 2003 to start a dessert company, having reasoned the United Kingdom’s market was overcrowded, while the U.S.’s had little exposure to British desserts. She launched The Sticky Toffee Pudding Co., based on the British dessert classic, in 2004, but it hasn’t been easy. She hadn’t reckoned on U.S. demand for more sophisticated chilled deserts being almost non-existent compared to the U.K. and the rest of Europe. …

All Things Baking 2012 Deemed A Success

September 24, 2012 All Things Baking

All Things Baking, which took place in Houston, Texas September 9 through September 11, lived up to its tagline as “All the things you’ve ever wanted in a baking show.” Thousands of attendees took advantage of the education, hands-on demonstrations, bakery tours and the latest innovations from leading vendors. Created to serve as the industry’s annual marketplace, meeting place and educational forum during the 2-year gap in the IBIE rotation, the show was timed perfectly for attendees. Participants hailed from all across the United States and 27 countries including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Italy, Guatemala and Australia. …

Industry Market Research Report: Supermarkets & Grocery Stores In The US

September 24, 2012 IBISWorld

Accounting for more than 72.0% of the country's $680.0 billion food retail market, the Supermarkets and Grocery Stores industry dominates food sales in the United States. The industry is flooded with supermarkets aiming to grab market share by securing locations in neighborhoods that allow residents to shop conveniently. Operating in a highly competitive and saturated product market, the industry is in the mature phase of its life cycle. Over the five years to 2012, industry revenue is expected to decrease an average of 0.6% per year to reach $491.2 billion, with revenue dropping an estimated 2.1% in 2012 alone. …

Piggly Wiggly Midwest Reaches Agreement With Union Workers

September 24, 2012 Tom Daykin, Journal Sentinel

Supermarket operator Piggly Wiggly Midwest and employees at the company's unionized stores throughout Wisconsin have signed a new contract, ending a labor dispute that threatened to close the chain's flagship Sheboygan store. …

Portland’s New Seasons Market

September 24, 2012 Julie Brothers & Lee Glenn, Huffington Post

So what sets the New Seasons Markets apart? Their core philosophy — a connection to place. This is apparent in many ways: commitment to the region, commitment to growers and suppliers, commitment to the community, commitment to each store's neighborhood and commitment to staff… locavore on a comprehensive scale. …