Tasty Tidbits

• The Consumer Price Index for all food at-home compiled by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor fell 0.1%, its fifth straight month of decline.

• Energy shots, 2 oz. drinks with concentrated doses of caffeine, B vitamins and amino acids, were all but unheard-of four years ago. Now sales are expected to reach $700MM this year, almost double last year’s $370MM. They cost 20x the per-ounce cost of a Coke, and are the rage among college students, drivers, construction workers and others who need to stay alert. A 7-Eleven College Park, MD, sold 400 shots during finals week this Spring.

• A new restaurant chain called University Char-Grill will debut in Rock Hill, SC, with plans to open 30 others over the next 5 years. The menu features burgers, grilled chicken sandwiches and 20 flavors of milkshakes, and it targeting the “fast casual” middle ground between fast-food and formal restaurants.

• Mmmm, ice cream: 27% of Americans claim chocolate is their favorite flavor; 22% say it’s vanilla and cookie dough/cookies and cream. Some 45% claim their favorite way to eat ice cream is in a cup while 29% prefer a cone.

• Confirming what readers of our weekly newsletter already have been told, sales in the carbonated drinks category have been flat to slightly negative over the past 5 years according to Mintel. Up to 34% of adults purchasing beverages switched to water over carbonated beverages. This switch has impacted the convenience-store channel the most, where sales were down 1.9% ($8.3bn) and volume was off 5.5% ($5.5bn).

• Despite problems with the organics movement, a survey of wealthy consumers who’ve taken a hit in the recession by Packaged Facts shows they are still more likely to buy natural, organic and ethical foods. While other demographic groups have slowed or stopped their purchases of “green” items, consumers earning more than $75K as individuals ($100K as households) are actually more likely to be them.

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