Research & Analysis

Blue Book Services/Produce Reporter Co., provider of credit and marketing information to businesses involved in the wholesale fresh fruit and vegetable industry, on Tuesday announced the launch of its new Web Service interface. Designed and developed by Buyproduce, the new interface allows Blue Book customers to seamlessly and instantly retrieve time sensitive Blue Book data from virtually any application.

(Reuters) - Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., the world's largest chewing gum maker, said on Tuesday that second-quarter earnings rose 8.6 percent, as growth in shipments and better margins offset higher marketing costs and pressure from weak European currencies.

(AP) - Concerns about beef safety in Europe sent McDonald's Corp.'s [NYSE:MCD - news] profits lower for a third straight quarter.

(Reuters) - Chiquita Brands International Inc., the No. 1 banana producer, on Tuesday reported a second-quarter loss due to weak European currencies, higher production costs and lower canned vegetable prices.

(Reuters) - Consumer products maker Colgate-Palmolive Co. said today that its second-quarter net income rose 9.6 percent as higher margins offset the effects of weak foreign currencies that led to flat sales.

(Reuters) - Ralston Purina Co., the largest U.S. pet food maker, said on Monday that fiscal third-quarter net earnings rose nearly 27 percent, driven by firm sales volumes in all segments of its business and lower interest expenses.

(PRNewswire) - PepsiCo Inc. said today it completed its previously announced plan to acquire Tasali Snack Foods, the leader of the Saudi Arabian salty snack market, from Savola Snack Foods.

(PRNewswire) - Nash Finch Company, a Fortune 500 Minneapolis-based food retailer and distributor, today announced the addition of two new directors to develop and roll-out the company's specialty store concepts, a Hispanic-oriented retail supermarket and Buy N Save, an extreme value retail store.