Perimeter

New focuses on convenience, health, and self-indulgence will help drive dairy department sales.

SACREMENTO, Calif. -- Building awareness and demand for California Grown products was a primary focus of California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent six-day trade mission to China, Nov. 14 through Nov. 20.

NAPLES, N.Y. -- This was a year of transition for many packaged goods marketers, paving the way for an extremely active year for new products in 2006, according to global business information provider Datamonitor. New packaged goods rollouts in the United States are up 6.5 percent from last year, though Oct. 31, 2005, as the end of low-carbmania has allowed other health-and-wellness-related trends to take hold.

AUSTIN, Texas -- The number of Americans who've tried organic foods has jumped to 65 percent in 2005, compared to 54 percent in 2003 and 2004, and a quarter of 1,000 people responding to a survey said they're consuming organics more than they did a year ago, said Whole Foods Market here.

YUBA CITY, Cal. -- Sunsweet Growers Inc., a leading marketer of dried plums, specialty dried fruit products and fruit juices, is constructing a fruit drying facility on land it has purchased in Chile. The facility will protect Sunsweet during short California crop years and provide access to low-price markets currently inaccessible with California fruit.

Progressive Grocer asked a panel of experts to assess the current state of category management and suggest how it could be improved. Their answers point the way to the next step in the practice's evolution.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Aiming to help families -- especially those who are culinary- or time-challenged -- gather at home and share a festive meal, Food Lion here is offering store-cooked dinners, including turkey, dressing and all of the fixings.

Wilmington, Del. -- Wal-Mart and the Produce For Better Health Foundation (PBH) based here are setting the stage for millions of shoppers to Go Wild With Fruits and Vegetables during a one-day retailtainment event featuring characters from DreamWorks' "Madagascar" film being released in video form next week.