Frozen Foods

Meal planning is much on the minds of those involved with the store core. From the rollout of the “Smart Choices Program” -- envisioned as a comprehensive, consistent nutrition-labeling system across CPG brands and even stores – to the planned theme of “Pasta Meals on Every Family Table” for the upcoming World Pasta Day 2009 event, the grocery industry is working hard to persuade U.S. consumers, who are eating at home more often during the recession, to choose center store products when whipping up their own creations.

Classics by Palermo’s™ Rising Crust pizzas from Milwaukee-based Palermo’s Pizza feature a pizzeria-style crust that rises as it bakes. The frozen pies come in five varieties: Cheese, Pepperoni, Sausage (Italian sausage), Combination (pepperoni and Italian sausage), and Supreme (pepperoni, Italian sausage, green pepper, onions, red pepper and black olives).

Whole Foods Market and Chef Ann Cooper, America’s “Renegade Lunch Lady,” have teamed up to remake school lunches with the “School Lunch Revolution” campaign.

The often novel snacking choices of children are a big concern for parents, who want to make sure their offspring nosh more nutritiously between meals, according to a survey commission by Saint Simons Island, Ga.-based frozen snack manufacturer Farm Rich, a Rich Products Corp. brand.

Edwards® Singles Á La Modes are heating up the frozen food section. Available in Hot Fudge Brownie, Hot Apple Crisp and Hot Turtle Brownie varieties, the product line offers a bowl of premixed brownie batter or cinnamon apple mix, and a vanilla ice cream cup. The batter or mix is popped in the microwave for under a minute and then topped with the ice cream for a satisfyingly decadent treat.

Carla R. Cooper, a former SVP at PepsiCo and 28-year CPG veteran, has joined the board of directors at Daymon Worldwide, the Stamford, Conn.-based private label broker and consultancy.

A new market research report from MarketsandMarkets, “Global Baby Food Market (2009-2014),” has found that the worldwide baby food market is expected to be worth $37.6 billion by 2014, with an estimated compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.0 percent from 2009 to 2014.

Weis Markets has implemented a third 90-day price freeze on 2,600 of its staple items, including private label and brand-name products in center store, frozen, dairy, produce, meat, deli and bakery