AGF Adds Natural Fruit 'To Go'
Gourmet Foods here has created a new way to eat on the run, with its all-natural 100% fat-free Fruit Stick.
The new fruit sticks contain no added sugar and no artificial flavors, colors, sulfites or preservatives. They come in four flavors: apricot, Concord grape, black cherry and California strawberry.
"We've found that kids of all ages love Fruit Sticks and their convenient, portable, easy-to-peel-open and eat packaging. We older kids love them too for their natural fruity taste and because they're fat-free, cholesterol-free and very low in sodium," said Richard Ehrman, product developer and AGF president.
The Fruit Sticks are available packaged in individual flavors and variety packs, in boxes of 18, 24 and 48, as well as 150 bulk packs. Retail stores will be supported by a "Lead the Pack" introductory promotion, with suggested retail pricing of two sticks for $1. The company also plans to do extensive in-store demoing.
JBR Buys Organic Coffee Co.
SAN LEANDRO, Calif. -- JBR Gourmet Foods here, one of the nation's leaders in the gourmet coffee and tea industry, announced it has acquired Organic Coffee Co. of Boulder, Colo.
The acquisition adds Organic's coffee varieties to JBR's product line and expands their share of the rapidly growing organic coffee market.
"This acquisition continues our philosophy to provide the best quality product at an appropriate, reasonable price and thereby provide the best value to customers," said Jon B. Rodgers, president and chief executive officer of JBR.
The OCC's distribution includes 800 grocery stores across the United States. OCC's operations will move to JBR's San Leandro facility, where 50,000 pounds of coffee are produced each day.
Kellogg Elects New CEO
BATTLE CREEK, Mich. -- Kellogg Co.'s board of directors here has elected Carlos M. Gutierrez chief executive officer, effective April 23, 1999. This is also the date of the company's annual meeting of stockholders.
Gutierrez, 44, will retain the titles of president and chief operating officer. Arnold G. Langbo, who is currently the CEO, will remain chairman of the board until April 2000. He has previously announced his intention to retire in that year. Langbo is also chairman of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, Washington.
Gutierrez' appointment was widely seen by analysts as a bid to revitalize the nation's biggest cereal maker. Kellogg sales and profits have declined in the past year. Two other key appointments were also announced by the cereal maker.
Jacobus ("Koos") Groot became executive vice president of the Kellogg Co., and president of its Asia-Pacific division, Jan. 7. Concurrent with Groot's appointment, Kellogg relocated its Asia-Pacific headquarters from Sydney, Australia, to Hong Kong, where Groot is based. Groot, 47, a citizen of The Netherlands, succeeds Jean-Louis Gourbin, who now oversees Kellogg's European operations.
John D. Cook was appointed executive vice president of Kellogg Co. and president of Kellogg North America. Cook oversees two of Kellogg's largest markets, the United States and Canada. He succeeds Thomas Knowlton, who resigned from the company.
