Food Processing - September 2007 - (Page 19)

•NEW PRODUCTS• Peter Pan relaunched but will it fly? ConAgr A Foods InC., omAhA, neb., is returning Peter Pan peanut butter to grocery store shelves and launching an integrated direct-to-consumer campaign to reassure consumers that it has fixed the salmonella problem. new packaging, a new web site, a satisfaction guarantee, discount coupons, free offers and advertising all are supporting the relaunch of the brand. The product was scheduled to reappear on store shelves beginning in August, the first time since February, when the peanut butter was suspected as the source of salmonella that may have been the cause of two deaths and more than 600 of illnesses in 47 states. Poor sanitation and maintenance at a plant in sylvester, ga., are believed to have allowed in moisture that fostered the growth of salmonella. That plant was renovated and opened in early August to produce the peanut butter, although a co-manufacturer also helped with initial production. during the product’s absence, the company continuously tracked consumer data that indicates nearly 80 percent of consumers who previously purchased Peter Pan would do so when it returns to store shelves. “Additionally, retailers – many of whom have held shelf space open specifically for Peter Pan Peanut Butter’s return – are committed to carrying the brand. In fact, three of the top five Peter Pan retailers in the nation have increased distribution of the returning Peter Pan Peanut Butter items,” said a company statement. A ConAgra spokesperson told another news medium the company heard from two million consumers since the recall, and all will get coupons for a free jar. Plus, those consumers will be invited to go online and invite up to three family members or friends to get coupons for $1 off. The spokesperson said the direct-toconsumer marketing program and the 100 percent satisfaction guarantee are “the best approach” to win consumers back. • E N E R G Y• At least this ethanol doesn’t steal from corn r Ange Fuels In July seCured a construction permit from the state of georgia to build a plant that can produce ethanol from wood waste. It would be the country’s first commercial-scale plant producing cellulosic ethanol, a renewable fuel produced from non-edible crops or agricultural waste. government officials hope it will reduce the nation’s dependence on oil without impacting the supply of corn, which is far and away the main source of ethanol in the u.s. Current government proposals call for 36 billion gallons a year of domestic ethanol by 2022. But experts say it will be hard for corn ethanol production to surpass 15 billion gallons a year because production will be limited by available land, according to the Wall Street Journal. Plus the diversion of corn could severely impact the food supply. Cellulosic ethanol can be made from plants such as switchgrass and corn stover, although the range Fuels plant will use wood waste. These processing plants are costly to build, so the dept. of energy is considering a $76 million grant to help fund the project. range Fuels hopes to break ground on the plant this summer in Treutlen County, ga. range Fuels is funded by Khosla Ventures llC, a menlo Park, Calif.-based venture capital firm specializing in alternative energy investments, according to the Journal. Briefly cincinnati’s Procter & Gamble Co. filed suit against Kraft Foods Inc., northfield, ill., in late August claiming a new plastic container for Kraft’s maxwell House coffee infringes on patents for p&g’s folgers coffee container. p&g introduced the plastic folgers container with much fanfare in 2003 and has said the package helped increase sales. “we made large investments to overcome the technical challenges in making a lightweight plastic container that can withstand the pressure changes that occur between the factory and the consumer’s home,” said Jim Johnson, p&g chief legal officer. “many innovations in this container are covered by p&g patents, which we believe maxwell House has infringed.” PepsiCo Inc., purchase, n.y., was reported in talks to buy russia’s top juice maker Lebedyansky, which is being auctioned, according to reuters news service. A russian business daily said the American firm offered to buy 76 percent of lebedyansky for $1.5-$2 billion. Flowers Foods Inc., Thomasville, ga., reports cfo Jimmy woodward is stepping down sept. 15 for “family reasons.” cfo since 2000, he still will advise the company on some financial matters as r. steve Kinsey, corporate controller, takes over as cfo. Kinsey joined flowers in 1989 as a tax associate and was named vice president and controller in 2003. www.foodprocessing.com sepTemBer 2007 food processing • 19 http://www.foodprocessing.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Food Processing - September 2007

Contents Editor's Plate Power Lunch NewsBites Regulatory Issues Rollout Food Biz Kids Product Spotlight Next-Generation Manufacturing Models Product Development Ingredients Packaging Show Previews New Product Profiles Toops Scoops

Food Processing - September 2007

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