Arca Seals Coca-Cola Acquisition But Economic Backdrop Looks Shaky (Americas Food and Drink Insight)
January 7, 2009
Mexico-based Coca-Cola bottler Embotelladoras Arca has announced the successful conclusion of its purchase of a Coca-Cola franchise for the north-western region of Argentina. The deal, first announced in March 2008, highlights the firm’s commitment to Argentina and can be viewed in light of the rapid increase in consumption of soft drinks in the country, which compares with growing signs of market maturity in Arca’s Mexican home market. However, the possibility of a sharp reduction in consumption must be factored into any purchase due to the economic risks associated with Argentina’s idiosyncratic economic policies, risks which have worsened since the deal
Candy Corn Facts
January 6, 2009
Candy Corn has been a favorite of many for a long time. Every year around fall, people start breaking out the candy corn. The sweet soft crunch which seems to be a mystery to everyone is enjoyed by millions everywhere. Its fall colors and strangely unique taste make it a huge success throughout stores and people’s homes. However mind boggling this may be, candy corn has been around for over a hundred years. This sweet snack was enjoyed by even the oldest of fame, and was manufactured by the biggest candy companies in history.
Unsung Food Heavens
January 6, 2009
My friend Matt Gross, who happens to be the Frugal Traveler for the New York Times, gets to go to a lot of pretty amazing places in the line of duty, and has as impressive a palate as any I’ve ever seen. (And one of the oft-repeated stories in my family involves my dad eating bugs in a market in Bangkok … and managing to gross out even the locals; I vividly remember once having a bar debate with Matt about which of us would theoretically eat a prepared human placenta.) A couple months ago, for a great story that’s now appearing in the Amtrak magazine, Arrive, Matt took his father on a 48-hour foodie odyssey that spanned the cuisines of Central America, the Caribbean, Hungary, Italy and Turkey … all without leaving the limits of a single city. What wonderful, exotic place did the Grosses go to discover foodie heaven? Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Morinaga Merger Speculation Grows (Asia Pacific Food and Drink Insight)
January 5, 2009
Falling first half sales have done nothing to quash the merger talk that continues to surround Japanese dairy company Morinaga Milk Industry and compatriot confectioner Morinaga & Co. The two companies are reportedly planning to reunite - having separated in 1949 - in order to lift economies of scale and improve their ability to compete in a declining Japanese consumer goods
Vodka: The Proof Is in the Price
January 4, 2009
It’s always amusing watching daily papers catch up to trends, mostly recently with the flurry of stories on how Americans are trading down when it comes to wine. That’s old news in this house. We’ve moved on to the hard stuff. It happened after we dispensed the very last of our vodka, a great bottle of Türi that students from Estonia had presented my consort after a photography workshop in Sicily, and suffered a severe case of sticker price shock at the liquor store. We have to have the stuff around for the odd friends whose lips never touch wine, but we weren’t about to drop , let alone or more, for the stuff in all the ads. And we were too chicken to invest in the Skid Row kinds. The compromise was Skyy, .99 but with such a cool bottle. I left the store worrying “guests will know,” but the very first friend who came by didn’t even wait for our defensive, “We just bought it for the color.” She started raving: “This is our favorite. We had a vodka tasting at our place, with all the big brands and test tubes and everything, and this one came out on top.” I’ve since learned you can get it for a lot less. But it does make me wonder how low you could go with vodka. At freezer temperature, it all tastes the same to me.
Popcorn History - From Caves to Watching Online Movies
January 2, 2009
Popcorn and Online Movies - A Yummy History - Long before movie goers discovered that popcorn and movies go together like Bogie and Bacall, popcorn was being enjoyed by our cave dwelling ancestors. Imagine eating a snack that’s well over 5,000 years old! Eatin’ Popcorn In A Cave Way back when, someone was apparently munching some popcorn in a cave in what is now New Mexico.
War of the Waters - Tap Versus Bottled Water
December 31, 2008
Bottled water vs tap water is a debate which has been raging for years. Ever since the fear about contaminants in municipal water supplies first sprang up, more and more people have sought bottled water as a safer, healthier alternative. But the more we learn about water treatment standards, the muddier the line between tap water and bottled water has grown.
Bulk Candy
December 29, 2008
We all love candy, in fact the mention of it makes our mouth watery. This sweet tasting snack comes in different types such as chocolates, toffees, licorice e.t.c and normally a vegetable or fruit coating is applied to give it a shine. It’s made from a solution of sugar and water or milk.
Attractive Bundt Cake Pan Designs and Appetizing Bundt Cake Mixes
December 27, 2008
Bundt pans are as convenient and easy to use like the traditional cake pans. Not only those, the cakes and desserts they deliver are pretty and can be topped and garnished easily. The appearance and presentation of the finished product is what makes bundt cake pans stand out from regular baking pans.
Nutritious, Delicious Watercress
December 25, 2008
Watercress conjures up an image of English nobles at high tea, nibbling tiny sandwiches of watercress and while balancing cups of tea. Although watercress sandwiches are commonly served at English high teas, this peppery salad green is also one of the most popular vegetables in Chinese cooking and one of the most potent vegetables for fighting cancer.
