Research Topic

NEW YORK - Carbonated soft drink sales increased a mere 0.5 percent in the United States in 2001, an increase of about 54 million cases over 2000, based on preliminary statistics released today from Beverage Marketing Corporation.

MEXICO CITY - Wal-Mart de Mexico (Walmex) plans to invest 6 billion pesos ($663 million) in 67 new units over the next 18 months, Reuters reports.

MINNEAPOLIS - As the mass-merchandising industry begins to mature, the channel's focus on food as a vehicle for growth is resulting in supercenters that are beginning to look like conventional grocery stores, says U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray Senior Food Processing and Distribution Analyst George Dahlman.

TORONTO - U.S. organic and natural foods grocer Whole Foods Market has picked Toronto for its first foreign store and is considering opening another in Vancouver, British Columbia, Reuters reports.

WASHINGTON - A report issued by the U.S. General Accounting Office warns that weaknesses in import controls and lax enforcement of animal feed rules could make it easy for mad cow disease to enter the country, The Associated Press reports.

PARIS - Local food shops or "epiceries" in France have decreased by more than 70 percent over the past 30 years after supermarket chains made their debut, according to a report released today by the government statistics agency, INSEE, The Associated Press reports.

ZURICH - Swiss healthcare group Novartis AG and U.S. drinks and snack food giant PepsiCo Inc. have ended their functional foods joint venture less than two years after its launch, Reuters reports.

CHICAGO - While trust seems to be eroding across numerous business sectors in America, supermarkets rated highest in the latest Golin/Harris Trust survey.