News Wed Mar 18 2009

Oatmeal: the New Black

The Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit is being held in Chicago this week, with a few choice quotes from the kings and queens of industry in attendance being released to the public to chew on, and it looks like they've finally given an ear to healthier eating:

"With the success of Starbucks and Jamba Juice, there are a lot of people interested in oatmeal, it's becoming the new black. Oatmeal is in."

--Mark Schiller, President of Pepsico/Quaker Food and Snacks Division (maker of Frito-Lay, Rice-a-Roni, Aunt Jemima, and of course, Pepsi products)

"There is a perception that high fructose corn syrup is evil and that's changed some behavior. Some manufacturers are taking it out of products. We're taking some out. We've had some push back from natural foods centers."

--David Wenner, CEO, B&G Foods (maker of Ortega brand foods, Cream of Wheat products)

More interesting trends: meat sales aren't doing as well as a result of economic problems ("Huzzah!" to our livestock in the audience), but restaurant business is slowly picking up again and rural economies are doing well in this recession, which could mean that (overall) brighter days are ahead. But I'm sure you already knew that.

— Robyn Nisi / Comments (2)