Market Trends

PRINCETON, N.J. - The Uniform Code Council Inc. and EFS Network Inc. today announced an agreement to collaborate to accelerate the establishment of EAN.UCC standards for the foodservice industry.

HOUSTON - Houston-based food safety company Suntex Group Ltd. has inked a deal with The Kroger Co. to offer Suntex Clean fully sanitized, ready-to-eat fresh produce in all 125 Houston-area Kroger stores.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Rochester, N.Y.-based retailer Wegmans has opened a 114-seat fine dining restaurant featuring items such as pasta carbona, seared yellow fin tuna, jasmine rice tempura and ginger sesame dressing, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle reports.

WASHINGTON - U.S. consumer prices barely edged higher in July as a sharp drop in clothing prices helped temper rising food, energy and medical care costs, the government said today.

COLUMBUS, Ohio - In five years, Wal-Mart could be twice as big as it is today if it increases its market share in major categories such as food and apparel and newer areas such as gasoline, predicts global consulting and market research firm Retail Forward.

WASHINGTON, D.C. and SANTA MONICA, Calif. - Consumers still conduct their primary shopping at supermarkets, but feel they save more money and receive better value while being tempted to buy more items when shopping at warehouse club stores and supercenters, according to a new consumer poll.

ISTANBUL - U.S. farming groups are counting on new products such as edible crayons to make use of surplus soybean production and boost prices, Reuters reports.

BOSTON - In a move that reflects consumers' increasing interest in natural foods, a New York investment firm has acquired a majority interest in Annie's Homegrown Inc., the Wakefield, Mass.-based manufacturer of all-natural and organic pasta products.