Company Watch

• Mio crashes liquid drink-mix category, spawning imitators
  Kraft Foods Group's Mio liquid water enhancer has become so popular so quickly, brands such as Coca-Cola are upping the ante, writes Natalie Zmuda. Declared "one of our most successful new products ever" by Kraft CEO Tony Vernon, Mio has garnered a 12.28% fruit-drink-mix market share. Coca-Cola will use an integrated marketing campaign to promote its new, similar offering, Dasani Drops. Advertising Age (tiered subscription model) (11/5)     

• Del Monte Fresh signs shipping contract with CHEP
  Del Monte Fresh Produce and shipping provider CHEP have signed a new contract for shipping-platform solutions in North America, both companies said. CHEP has provided shipping pallets for Del Monte Fresh since 2006. "Fresh Del Monte and CHEP USA continue to be long-term, strategic partners aligned on both productivity improvement and environmental sustainability issues," said Michael Pooley, CHEP USA's senior vice president of sales. Progressive Grocer (11/2)     

Trends

• Coffee exports up nearly 3% across globe
  World coffee exports climbed 2.95% from October 2011 to September 2012, according to data from an intergovernmental body of coffee-exporting countries based in London. Guatemala, Mexico, Costa Rica, Indonesia and several other countries all boosted exports, while Brazil, India and Ethiopia saw declines. Drinks Business Review (11/5)     

Advertising & Marketing

• Secret debuts anti-bullying site for girls
  Secret Deodorant last month launched an interactive "Gang Up for Good" program on its anti-bullying web site, MeanStinks.com, in honor of National Bullying Prevention Month in October. The hub features expert and peer advice for girls, along with tools for helping girls prevent bullying among friends. Drug Store News (11/2)     

• Wrigley Canada promotes 5 Gum brand with fashion show
  Wrigley Canada staged a "flash fashion" show at Toronto Fashion Week in October with a line of clothing tied to its 5 Gum brand. The idea came after research showed that the gum, which comes packaged in black wrapping, is popular with the fashion-conscious. "Brands that are lifestyle-oriented are doing more innovative things to engage the consumer," said Wrigley Canada's brand manager for 5 Gum, Vanessa Tong. Financial Post (Canada) (11/2)     

• Other News

• Kimberly-Clark launches incontinence-awareness campaign in China
  MediaPost Communications/MediaDailyNews (11/2)     

Retail Spotlight

• Giant Eagle debuts budget concept in Pittsburgh
  Giant Eagle opened Good Cents Grocery + More in Pittsburgh, calling it "the missing link between discount stores and supermarkets." The low-cost store offers deli, meat and cheese products as well as a 3,800-square-foot produce section, with more than 230 conventional and organic items. Progressive Grocer (11/2)     

Hot Topics

Top five news stories selected by GMA SmartBrief readers in the past week.

• Campbell hires its first CMO, takes aim at younger consumers (The Wall Street Journal)

• Snack bar market nears $6 billion (CandyAndSnackToday.com)

• Clorox announces leadership changes (Drug Store News)

• Duracell brings power to Battery Park (Advertising Age (tiered subscription model))

• Burt's Bees combines coupon offer with peeling billboard (MediaPost Communications)

• Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.

Health & Wellness

• Nutrition experts weigh in on 9 fad diets, foods
  Nutrition experts say fad diets and foods touted as being healthy -- including gluten-free and Paleo plans, Chia seeds, probiotics and veggie-laden "green smoothies" -- can have nutrition benefits but may not be for everyone. People need to balance the scientific evidence with their own nutrition needs. Real Simple (10/2012)     

GMA News

• AIOE validation webinar #3: only two days left to register
  On November 8, 2012, from 12:00-1:00 p.m. (EST), The Alliance for Innovation & Operational Excellence (AIOE) -- a GMA-PMMI partnership -- will present Determining What to Test, Who to Test It and How to Measure It, the third in a series of five webinars on validation.
  
  Based on the recently released guidelines document Validating the Reduction of Salmonella and Other Pathogens In Heat Processed Low-Moisture Foods, this webinar will feature Food Safety Manager David Anderson of Del Monte Foods and Robert Rogers, senior advisor for food safety and regulations at Mettler-Toledo, who will provide insight into how your company can:
  
  • Best identify choices for starting validation tests based on process, food form, and pathogen selection;
  • Spend validation dollars wisely;
  • Understand lab needs and personnel experience, and;
  • Understand measurement of key process validables and use of published information to guide validation process.
  Register today before time runs out!     

Government & Food Safety

• Online database helping to speed food recall process
  Faster responses to product recalls are being facilitated by the Rapid Recall Exchange, an online service developed by the Food Marketing Institute and GS1 US with support from the Grocery Manufacturers Association to standardize and speed communication between food retailers and manufacturers. The database focuses on user authentication as a way to verify that the correct person at a company has received information about a recall. Food Quality magazine (October/November 2012)     

Click here to view more job listings.

SmartQuote

Whoever is winning at the moment will always seem to be invincible." --George Orwell, British novelist and journalist