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By: Ed Sealover | Denver Business Journal

Colorado’s convenience-store owners have taken a step toward being able to sell full-strength beer.

The state House Business Affairs and Labor Committee approved a measure late Wednesday that would allow convenience stores of under 5,000 feet to sell an alcoholic product bigger than the reduced-strength beer that they now are limited to pedaling. The 7-4 vote came after other bills that would have expanded alcohol sales died two straight years in legislative committees.

Unlike its predecessors, however, HB 1186, sponsored by Rep. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, does not give the same sales allowances to grocery stores, which are pushing a separate bill this year to allow them to buy liquor stores’ licenses.

And it also limits convenience stores to selling only full-strength beer rather than being able to offer wine or spirits to customers. Liston cited those two factors as having a big influence on a committee that rejected a bill to allow beer and wine sales at convenience and grocery stores last year by a similar margin.

Committee members heard hours of testimony from craft brewers and liquor-store owners that allowing convenience stores to tap into a product now available only at liquor stores will harm both of their industries and cost jobs during a recession.

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C-Stores, Consumers, Distributors, Featured, Manufacturers, Retail beer, colorado, convenience store, hb 1186

By: Jan Wichayanuparp | Phoenix New Times

Imagine a lavish spread of drinks, pates, cheeses, chocolate and confections sprawling over an area the size of three football fields, and you will get an approximation of what it’s like to be at the 35th Winter Fancy Food Show, held last week in San Francisco’s Moscone Center.

Billed as the largest marketplace for specialty food and beverages on the West Coast, this industry trade show is not only an opportunity for checking out new trends in the market — it’s a golden ticket for unlimited noshing.

With more than 1,300 exhibitors pushing free samples, Fancy Food is Disneyland for foodies.

Among the thousands of exhibitors from over 30 countries, it was good to see Arizona admirably represented by Fairy Tale Brownies, Arizona Gunslinger Hot Sauce, Green Valley Pecan Company, and others.

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Consumers, Distributors, Equipment and Supply, Featured, Industry News, Manufacturers, Restaurants, Retail fancy food show, san francisco, sweet republic, wichayanuparp

We’ll be posting a weekly recap of all of our Tweets and re-Tweets. You can also follow us at: www.twitter.com/FsDashboard!

You’ll see that we follow tweets from Food Manufacturers and Distributors, to Restaurants and Associations, to Journalists and Bloggers, Retail Grocery Stores to Convenience Stores, Industry publications and celebrated Chefs, to Foodies and Goverment agencies……

We cover the landscape of the food industry.

Hmm…this will make some folks really happy! Burger King plans beer-selling Whopper Bar in South Beach http://su.pr/1LYJaS

RT @foodservicecom Buffalo Wild Wings Opens 600th Location http://ow.ly/Z9e5

RT @SpecialsAgent RT @TheCedarHotel Watch AFC & NFC Championships at The Cedar Hotel this Sunday and enjoy our 1/2 OFF EVERYTHING Sunday special!

RT @QSRmagazine NRA says 2010 looks rosier than 2009 http://bit.ly/4RNwjp

RT @ihospitality IH Industry News: 3 Scrumptious Restaurant Stocks (at Investopedia): http://bit.ly/6V4nkW

RT @slashfood The Humane Society bought stock in two fast-food chains. Um, what?! http://bit.ly/8q6nw5

RT @Perishables Grp 61% in PG poll said fresh food shopping behaviors will hold steady in 2010; 30% predict a rebound, with shoppers trading up, purchasing more

RT @FreshCategory Identify New Consumer Norms : The recession has changed how customers shop, possibly forever. http://bit.ly/88e6JD

RT @SpecialsAgent RT @AtriumMall FREE SUSHI! This afternoon from 3:30 to 4:00 p.m. at TOKYO LUNCH BOXES, when you Buy 1 at Reg. Price. Lower Level.

RT @RonRuggless Chili’s parent swings to profit http://bit.ly/4E378Y Ending deep-discount ‘3-4-$20′ promo

Innovative way of selling goods? New trend? An unpackaged grocery store helping consumers leave package-waste behind. http://su.pr/3S9BmZ

RT @technorati Borders destroying unsold books http://bit.ly/6fcwZM and http://bit.ly/6STViK how quickly can social media make a difference?

RT @FoodBizDaily Mars Businesses Unite to Donate $475K to Haiti Relief Efforts

RT @FoodMfg Smithfield Meatpacking Plant To Close In Iowa http://bit.ly/78YzZ4

Great Article in the NYT re: Chicken and Russia. Thx to Rick for the link… http://su.pr/17mz2K

I dunno….RT @manageyourbar Holiday Inn introduces human bed warmers http://bit.ly/5ztKU4

RT @RestaurantMentr Back Yard Burgers Launches Website, Social Media Campaign http://bit.ly/54Fg2M

RT @SpecialsAgent No time to bring lunch 2day? Find specials for Jan. 20th here: bit.ly/6KVjDv Or, enter your address 4 a detailed list near u: bit.ly/5yZBim

Owner of Uno Chicago Grill files for bankruptcy http://bit.ly/6C91G2

Sonic Announces New Animal Welfare Policy http://su.pr/6CfTXB

RT @ihospitality IH News: Ruby Tuesday revs up NASCAR sponsorship http://bit.ly/6AOODm

RT @SpecialsAgent What’s for dinner? Beef? How ’bout a burger? Find all of Chicago’s burger specials tonight here: http://bit.ly/7JzvLM

Kraft Foods Wins Over Cadbury With $19B Offer, 11th-hour Wooing http://su.pr/22W3Hc

Cadbury accepts Kraft’s offer!

RT @manageyourbar Fresh allegations filed in Hilton/Starwood espionage case http://bit.ly/7fIn1e

RT @SpecialsAgent Love Bagels? Bagel Sandwiches? We’ve got your lunch deal right here: Get 2 for 1 at Great American Bagel Company: http://bit.ly/5GAUjk

RT @SpecialsAgent Celebrate w/FREE popcorn today (and everyday) at Parrots Bar & Grill or Quenchers Saloon

RT @Foodimentary January 19 is National Popcorn Day

I’d recommend Bill! RT @bmarler IF there was an USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety this is what they should be doing http://bit.ly/8ghHmR

Before Noon? It’s 5 somewhere! LOL RT @OCWeeklyFood Bloody Marys, anyone? Five Great Things To Drink Before Noon: http://bit.ly/4HGL1t

RT @imbibe Ever thought of becoming a brewer? Check out these brewing pros who started out at home: http://bit.ly/7FkRVZ

RT @FoodBizDaily Unilever sells Shedd’s Country Crock® business to Hormel Foods http://bit.ly/65j2Ww

This is troubling: NYC Students Reveal Food Fraud with DNA Barcoding http://su.pr/4CbJSs

Not so “New”, but another opinion: Fast-Food Chains ‘Holding Up’ In Bad Economy http://su.pr/1Bk9Ln

How Do Food Companies Determine “Serving Size”? http://su.pr/2Wi1OB

F.D.A. Concerned About Substance in Food Packaging http://su.pr/8hA1cv

RT @PeterRomeo Taco Bell franchisee says he’ll shut long-standing restaurant rather than pay for $200K update mandated by hdqtrs. http://snipurl.com/u4b9y

RT @paulbarron Why Geo-Lo will have a map to your restaurant profits http://post.ly/JGWw

RT @manageyourbar Molson Coors to launch training programme http://bit.ly/79KPA4

RT  We won’t either! @FoodWriterDiary Never understand PA liquor laws:Rest. req’d to sell beer for on-premise consumption http://bit.ly/62kYqJ

RT @BevNETcom Headline: Red Bull North America CEO resigns http://bev.bz/A8B

U.K. Surgeon wants to ban butter: http://su.pr/2H5mpk

Fast Food Restaurants Showing Signs of Fatigue http://su.pr/1l2OMR

RT @Nestle Targets Malnutrition to Fight Danone’s Gains http://su.pr/18W3Hv

Tyson Food Labeling Lawsuits End http://su.pr/4aX9w6

Cadbury shares move up: http://su.pr/28OgOC

RT @INrestaurants Starbucks Accepting Haiti Donations at Store Registers http://ow.ly/XMva

RT @WholeFoods For all those who were asking, here’s the rundown of our Haitian Earthquake relief efforts in our stores: http://bit.ly/8rVBJM

RT @ZagatBuzz Jamie Oliver to open BBQ chain (@eater) http://is.gd/6vkFm

RT @FoodBizDaily Walgreen planning to roll out fresh foods and prepared meals http://bit.ly/6zcgjU

RT @PeterRomeo Taco Bell founder Glenn Bell died Sunday at age 86, chain’s current parent announces.

Consumers, Distributors, Featured, Industry News, Manufacturers, Market Trends, Related Industry Sites, Site News fsdashboard, social networking, twitter

We’ll be posting a weekly recap of all of our Tweets and re-Tweets. You can also follow us at: www.twitter.com/FsDashboard!

You’ll see that we follow tweets from Food Manufacturers and Distributors, to Restaurants and Associations, to Journalists and Bloggers, Retail Grocery Stores to Convenience Stores,  Industry publications and celebrated Chefs,  to Foodies and Goverment agencies……

We cover the landscape of the food industry.

@paulbarron Yum Brands gives $500,000 to provide food for victims in Haiti – AWESOME @kfc_colonel http://ow.ly/WUlp

@QMG Chinese create shamless knock-off’s of famous American restaurant brands such as Starbucks and McDonald’s: http://ow.ly/WUuU

@PeterRomeo A roundup of what restaurants and chains are doing to help earthquake victims in Haiti: http://snipurl.com/u3ec3

@NRNonline Daphne’s Greek Cafe files for Ch. 11: The fast-casual Daphne’s Greek Cafe chain filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy pr… http://bit.ly/7VffJs

@FoodMfg Peanut Butter Recall Spreads To Other Products http://bit.ly/6YygpK

@RestaurantMentr McDonald’s Contributes to Disaster Relief Efforts in Haiti http://bit.ly/8biiQF

@Debra_Blueberry U.S. Foodservice Donates $50,000 to Haiti Relief Effort: http://bit.ly/60IIEh

@FastFoodMaven RT @QSRweb Exclusive.. @DelTaco parent company selling sister-brand: Captain D’s on the market http://ow.ly/Wvvb

@FoodBizDaily General Mills Foundation Pledges $250,000 to Earthquake Relief in Haiti

Nice to see: @FoodBizDaily Brat Pitt and Angelina Jolie donates 1 million to Doctors without Borders

Gr8 use of Twitter: @SouthBeachGril is vry proud of crew. Hlth Insp. just graded our restaurant-a 99.5 & many compliments on our operation!

@ZagatBuzz Hugh Jackman, aka Wolverine, to be the face of @Lipton_Tea via @guardiannews http://is.gd/6fecq

@RestaurantMentr Applebee’s launches remodeling push http://bit.ly/8t9Icb

@RestaurantMentr The Women’s Foodservice Forum Names Fritzi Woods as Incoming President and Chief Executive Officer http://bit.ly/8jAp7P

@bmarler is ALWAYS on top of things. Interesting points regarding Nestle Toll House and Contaminated Flour… http://bit.ly/7gGISw

@RonRuggless V-Day at White Castle?: burger chain offers candlelight dinner reservations http://bit.ly/8qk2Dm questioning Harold & Kumar’s “relationship”

@ihospitality IH News: Seattle’s Best to debut canned coffee drinks http://bit.ly/8xqSGC

@PeterRomeo McDonald’s promotes Don Thompson to president, succeeding Ralph Alvarez. Jan Fields named U.S. president

@PeterRomeo Gene Baldwin named interim CFO for Benihana Inc. http://snipurl.com/u2m7o

@seriouseats Cute. Coca-Cola “Happiness Machine” dispenses more than just soda to group of college students. Video: http://su.pr/6wZ9Lt

@RonRuggless Keep On Truckin: RT @FastFoodMaven: Kogi BBQ generates $2 million in 1st year http://bit.ly/5CBQc3

@slashfood Irony of the day: fast food restaurants in UK hospitals http://bit.ly/5NoE9p

@NexCenBrands Multiple-Concept Franchising: The Growing Allure Of Operating Several Brands http://bit.ly/Nex0113A

@eartheats Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwback Will Kill You Just As Fast As The HFCS Kind http://bit.ly/6oFgQD (via @TreeHugger) /@aschweig

@DairyFoods HP Hood recalls Heluva Good Cold Pack Cheese Food: Click here for full story http://bit.ly/7c4O6v

@ZagatBuzz Food makers quietly cut back on salt (@wsj) http://is.gd/6b7M8

@paulbarron Fast Casual goes global as Chipotle eyes France, Germany for new restaurants http://ow.ly/W8oN

@RonRuggless Feeling Their Oats: Another coffee co. offers hot oatmeal http://bit.ly/91vHjO This time Caribou

@ihospitality IH Retail News: Pepsi’s Social Marketing Campaign Stumbles Out of the Gate: Erick Schonfeld subm.. http://bit.ly/698w8k

@npdfood Americans are using more store brand and private label products … and have been since 2002, reports NPD.

@manageyourbar Diageo Congratulates NJ Legislature for Passing Legislation to Combat Drunk Driving http://bit.ly/6SNgNz

@RonRuggless Not Taking It w/ Grain of Salt: Chefs boiling over proposed NYC salt crackdown http://bit.ly/4Os9FQ

@JeffreySummers The Casual Restaurant Bankruptcy Epidemic: http://bit.ly/6Dx2iy

@foodrecalls PARKERS FARM, INC. RECALLS SEVERAL PRODUCTS BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE HEALTH RISK: PARKERS FARM, INC. OF COON RAPIDS, MI… http://bit.ly/6ZupJ5

@ashleyebentley A new program from the USDA seeks to find a way to increase fruit and vegetable consumption among food stamp recipients: http://ow.ly/VhBI

@FoodMfg Wisconsin To Open Sausage Development Center http://bit.ly/5fFpTp

@TheGourmetGirl Did you know by federal law, for a noodle to actually be a noodle it must have 5.5% egg solids in it, otherwise it cannot be called a noodle

Agriculture, C-Stores, Consumers, Distributors, Equipment and Supply, Featured, Finance | Economics, Global, Health | Probiotic, Industry News, Manufacturers, Market Trends, Monthly Highlights, Related Industry Sites, Restaurants, Retail, Site News fsdashboard, recap, twitter

Drinks Business Review.com

According to the company, Volunteer Distributing’s existing relationships with a network of retailers, including grocery chains and convenience stores, will ensure that drank is made widely available to consumers in the region. drank is a carbonated relaxation beverage infused with melatonin, valerian root and rose hips.

Randy Gregory, general manager of Volunteer Distributing, said: “drank is such a unique product that’s currently not being sold in our area, so we think this is the perfect opportunity for us to expand our non-alcohol section, by introducing this hot new product to our consumers.

“This Extreme Relaxation beverage has caused a real buzz amongst distributors and thirsty consumers alike. By stocking this industry leading product, we hope that we can help our customers relax by putting drank into the hands of consumers throughout the western Tennessee region.”

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Consumers, Distributors, Featured, Manufacturers drank, innovative beverage, volunteer distributing

By: Renee M. Covino | Convenience Store News

Taking a cue from supermarkets and popular soup/salad bars, both regional and national c-store operators are incorporating hot soup into their foodservice mix to separate themselves from their competitors.

Quick Chek’s new store design last year put the emphasis on fresh food, and included “gourmet-quality” soups such as Chicken Noodle Galore, Pot Roast Vegetable, Italian Wedding, Sweet Potato Bisque, Roasted Tomato and Garlic, and Spicy Chili. This winter, the Whitehouse Station, N.J.-based chain kicked off the cold weather season by offering its morning coffee patrons a complimentary cup of soup on a Wednesday in mid-December. Customers who purchased any size Quick Chek coffee that morning received a special hand stamp entitling them to come back for a complimentary cup of soup later that afternoon or evening.

Meanwhile, Kwik Trip’s 60,000-square-foot kitchen commissary makes its own soups, supplying roughly 500,000 gallons of them to its 350-plus stores on an annual basis, and Parker’s Market gas station in Savannah, Ga., advertises its fresh soups daily on its Web site. In addition to Chicken Noodle, the gourmet-inspired convenience store rotates selections such as Kickin’ Crab Corn Chowder and Cheesy Chicken Enchilada.

Additionally, Giant Eagle Express in Pittsburgh, puts out four soups each day and rotates them every four hours to keep them fresh, according to a company spokesperson, who stated the location is “very proud” of its soups, as it’s “a growing area right now.” Modeled after its parent, Giant Eagle grocery stores, which reportedly has had soup sales increase year-to-year recently, some of the regionally popular varieties the store offers include Italian Wedding soup, Broccoli Cheese soup, Wisconsin Cheese soup and Cheesy Chicken Tortilla.

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C-Stores, Consumers, Distributors, Featured, Manufacturers, Retail convenience store, giant eagle, kwik trip, parkers market, quick chek, soup

By Dave Nicholson | The Tampa Tribune

PLANT CITY – A Michigan based food distribution company has purchased a sprawling warehouse off Park Road from the Albertson’s supermarket chain.

Gordon Food Service said it is buying the 1-million-square-foot warehouse as part of its expansion plans.

“This facility is in a prime location to support our rapid growth in Florida. We expect to begin shipping to our customers in central Florida from Plant City in the fall of 2010,” Gordon Food Service President Jim Gordon said in a statement.

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Distributors, Featured, Retail albertsons, distribution center, gfs, gordon food service, plant city

By: Walter Pincus | Washington Post

One of the least publicized elements of the cost of the fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq is the need to truck into Iraq and landlocked Afghanistan almost all the perishable and non-perishable food items consumed by U.S. forces and civilian personnel.

The Defense Logistics Agency is preparing to contract out delivery of more than $10 billion worth of food to U.S. troops and other government personnel serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait and Jordan. The solicitation is broken into two contracts — one for Afghanistan for five years and another for Iraq, Kuwait and Jordan for four years.

The list of items is extensive. The prime vendor, according to the bid solicitation, “must be capable of supplying all chilled products, semi-perishable food stuffs, frozen fish, meat and poultry, other frozen foods (fruits, vegetables, prepared foods, etc.), dairy and ice cream products, fresh and frozen bakery products, beverage base & juices (for dispensers), beverages & juices (nondispenser), fresh fruits and vegetables, non-food items.”

In addition, the vendor will deliver government-furnished food products such as “Unitized Group Rations, Meals Ready to Eat, Health and Comfort packs and other operational rations items (either currently in existence or to be introduced during the term of this award).”

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Distributors, Equipment and Supply, Featured, Manufacturers afghanistan, beverage, dairy, defense logistics agency, delivery contracts., foodstuffs, frozen fish, fruits, iraq, jordan, kuwait, meat, poultry, vegetables

From: FDA.gov -

At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Marshals today seized bulk restaurant food productat Won Feng Trading Company, a food processor and warehouse in Nashville, Tenn. The products are adulterated under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act because they have been held under unsanitary conditions whereby they may have become contaminated with filth. The Act uses the term “insanitary” to describe such conditions.

U.S. Marshals seized all FDA-regulated foods, including a wide variety of bulk restaurant foods, such as 44-pound bags of rice, fresh produce and frozen food products that are susceptible to contamination by rodents, insects, or other filth

The agency has not received any reports of consumer illnesses.

Won Feng receives food from throughout the United States and distributes its products within the state of Tennessee. The FDA estimates the value of the seized goods to be more than $1 million. U.S. Marshals executed this seizure pursuant to a warrant issued by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee.

“The violations at Won Feng Trading are both serious and repetitive,” said Michael Chappell, the FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs. “The FDA will take actions against any food companies that fail to provideadequate safeguards to ensure that products they produce or hold for sale remain free of contamination.”

The FDA had previously issued a Warning Letter to Won Feng in May 2009, citing numerous deviations from current Good Manufacturing Practice requirements, including ineffective measures taken by the firm to exclude pests. The firm stated in a June response to the FDA that it had corrected the violations cited in the Warning Letter.

In a follow-up inspection completed in November 2009, the FDA investigators found evidence of an active and widespread rodent infestation in the building, including live and dead rodents, rodent hair, rodent nesting material, evidence of rodent-gnawed food, and rodent urine. The FDA investigators also observed insect filth and live birds in the building, and found that the building had defects that could allow pests to enter food storage areas.

These unsanitary conditions and practices led to today’s seizure action.

Consumers, Distributors, Equipment and Supply, Featured, Manufacturers, Restaurants, Retail contamination, fda, food safety, nashville, Won Feng Trading Company

REUTERS

An outbreak of food-borne illness, linked to dangerous bacteria in ground beef, sickened 28 people and caused at least one death, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Monday.

The CDC said a New York adult with underlying medical conditions had died and another possibly related death in New Hampshire was under investigation. State officials attribute the New Hampshire death to the O157:H7 E. coli bacteria.

All but three of the 28 cases listed by the CDC were in the U.S. Northeast and 18 were in the New England states. Sixteen hospitalizations were reported, said a CDC spokeswoman. The bacteria involved were from a common strain, so tests were under way to see if all of the reported cases were related.

Over the weekend, Fairbank Farms of Ashville, New York, recalled 545,699 lbs (248,450 kg) of ground beef products.

The Agriculture Department, which oversees meat safety, said an investigation led it to conclude “there is an association between the fresh ground beef products and illnesses in Connecticut, Maine and Massachusetts.” USDA worked with state and federal officials in examining a cluster of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses.

A potentially deadly bacteria, E. coli can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration and, in severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, the elderly and people with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

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Consumers, Distributors, Featured, Manufacturers, Restaurants, Retail e coli, ecoli, fairbanks farms, food safety, recall