Billionaire In Talks To Buy Fresh & Easy, Relaunch Wild Oats Brand

June 13, 2013 Bloomberg Businessweek

Billionaire Ron Burkle is in talks to buy Tesco Plc (TSCO)’s unprofitable Fresh & Easy chain in the U.S., according to people familiar with the discussions. Burkle would use the stores to relaunch the Wild Oats brand, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because the process isn’t public.

Restaurants Stay ‘True Blue’ With Maryland Crabs

In Anne Arundel County, Vin 909 is among the dozen eateries that received a state certification for using local crab meat. This is the second year for the Department of Natural Resources True Blue program, which promotes restaurants that use a majority of Maryland crab meat in their meals.

South Shore Meats Touts Portion Control To Combat Rising Prices

June 12, 2013 South Shore Meats

With no end in sight to the steady rise of beef commodity pricing, South Shore Meats is developing creative, portion control strategies to help restaurateurs deliver prime cuts with cutting into profits. The strategy is in response to pricing that has risen steadily since 2000.

Village Farms Hosts Tomato School At Delta, BC Greenhouse

Recently Village Farms hosted Chefs from several Vancouver Fairmont properties in their Delta, British Columbia greenhouse for a tomato school. The gathering consisted of the chefs, cooks, and sous-chefs from the local region including; The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, The Fairmont Waterfront, The Fairmont Vancouver Airport, and Fairmont Pacific Rim. Chefs toured the 110 acre greenhouse facility to experience a number of Village Farms exclusive varieties including; Heavenly Villagio Marzano tomatoes, Delectable TOV tomato-on-the-vine, Exquisite Heirloom tomatoes, Mini Sensation cherry tomatoes, Sinfully Sweet campari tomatoes, and Juicy beefsteak tomatoes.

NPD: Restaurant Supper Visits Will Fare Better Over Next Ten Years

June 12, 2013 NPD Group

The restaurant supper occasion has lost over 650 million consumer visits since 2006 but will gain about 795 million visits over the next decade, according to a foodservice industry forecast by The NPD Group, a leading global information company.  NPD’s recently released A Look Into the Future of Foodservice report forecasts a four percent growth in restaurant supper visits through 2022.