The Obama administration has an opportunity — perhaps an obligation — to outline a doctrine that lays out criteria by which the United States will develop, deploy and use tactics such as drones and cyber attacks. Peter W. Singer and Thomas Wright wrote this memorandum to President Obama as part of Big Bets and Black Swans: A Presidential Briefing Book.

What are the key strategic goals and ethics that should drive development of drones and cyber systems?

When is authorization required for the operational deployment of such technologies versus notification?

How does the United States ensure that technologies that limit physical risk to the operator do not numb us to the political consequences of their use?

http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2013/01/an-obama-doctrine-on-new-rules-of-war

Had the good fortune to listen to Dr. Singer the other evening and this was one of the many topics he covered. One that we most certainly need to address as technologies evolve & the world moves forward. It is a long piece, but I believe worth the read.

SAN DIEGO — A San Diego Superior Court has imposed a fine of $833,136 on Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market for overcharging on meat and seafood items.

Prosecutors alleged that Fresh & Easy had charged customers more at checkout for certain products than the prices listed on shelves and had marked meat and seafood packages at a higher price per pound than indicated on the shelves.

Weights and measures officials in 12 California counties recorded instances of price fraud during 124 inspections at 82 Fresh & Easy stores. The case was filed by the San Diego District Attorney’s, San Diego
City Attorney’s, and Riverside District Attorney’s Consumer & Environmental Protection Units

The judge also ordered Fresh & Easy to implement a “Get It Free” program for the next three years. If the retailer overcharges for an item at the register, the customer will be entitled to $3 off the lowest advertised price, or to get the item free if it is priced at less than $3.


Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/meat/fresh-easy-fined-800000-overcharging-meat-seafood#ixzz2IswCMIID

The Campbell Soup Co. has been included among the Global 100 Most Sustainable Corporations in the World, a ranking from Toronto-based media and investment research company Corporate Knights. Camden, N.J.-based Campbell is one of 10 U.S. companies, and the only U.S. food and beverage company, to appear in the ranking. The Global 100 includes companies from 22 countries across six continents.

According to Dave Stangis, Campbell’s VP, public affairs and corporate responsibility, the listing “recognizes how Campbell integrates corporate responsibility into business strategy. We continue to strengthen our long-term commitment to creating value for our business and society as a sustainable and socially responsible company.”

To assemble the Global 100, Corporate Knights employs a two-step methodology: selecting companies based on such information as sustainability disclosure practices, financial health and product types, and then scoring them by sector-specific key performance indicators mainly related to energy, water, waste metrics and community engagement.

Among Campbell’s sustainability initiatives are investments across its plant network over the past four years that have yielded savings of more than $42.5 million; a reduction in water use by more than 3 billion gallons, and energy savings resulting in the elimination of more than 280,000 metric tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, since 2009, resulting in ongoing annual savings of more than $2.5 million; the construction of a 60-acre, 10-megawatt solar field at its largest manufacturing site, where 24,000 sun-tracking panels generate 15 percent of the electricity to operate the plant, and a partnership to create a biogas power plant at the same site to generate renewable electricity from waste generated from product production; a product packaging redesign that saved more than 1.2 million pounds of plastic in fiscal 2012; and the rollout of the 10-year, $10 million "Campbell Healthy Communities" program to reduce the rates of childhood obesity and hunger.

http://www.progressivegrocer.com/top-stories/headlines/corporate-responsibility/id37167/campbell-among-100-most-sustainable-corporations/

January 24th...

Enjoy!

Any favorites?

Pumpkin for me!

Americans are going to chow down on 1.23 billion chicken wings during Super Bowl weekend this year. But there will be fewer wings available and they’ll cost more, according to an annual report.

The NFL championship game, this year between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens, is the biggest day of the year for chicken wings, according to the National Chicken Council.

This time around, however, there will be 12.3 million fewer wings eaten than last year, or a 1% decline, according to the trade group.

The group attributed the slide to fewer chickens in 2012, as corn and animal feed prices soared to record highs amid a severe summer drought and ethanol fuel production regulations.

http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-super-bowl-chicken-wings-20130122,0,4072433.story

ST. LOUIS (KMOV) -- Researchers at Washington University say a new study found lower drinking age restrictions can have an impact on drinking habits later in life.

Researchers found residents who grew up in states which permit drinking before the age of 21 were more likely to binge drink and develop alcohol dependency as adults.

The study also found a minimum drinking age of 21 years old had positive effects, including reducing the numbers of deadly traffic accidents.

http://www.kmov.com/news/local/Wash-U-study-Lower-drinking-ages-effects-alcohol-behavior-later-in-life-188077831.html

According to The NPD Group, The baby boomer generation and their seniors – also known as “mature traditionalists” – have staked an increasing proportion of the commercial foodservice industry’s traffic during the past five years, while visits from the millennial generation have declined.

According to The NPD’s recent report -- “Boomers and Beyond – Targeting for Success,” which delves into what seniors expect from restaurant visits, the menu items they prefer, and what restaurant operators can do to attract and retain their business – members of the boomer generation are making more visits to every segment of the restaurant industry now than prior to the recession.

Historically, older consumers were less frequent restaurant visitors than those in younger age groups and so received less marketing attention as efforts generally were made to reach the heaviest buyers, according to the report. The visit rate for older restaurant consumers is now the same as it is for those younger. Boomers and older have increased their share of restaurant traffic by six percentage points since 2008, while millennials have decreased their share by six percentage points.

“A lot of restaurant marketing dollars are aimed at millennials but market share capture remains the growth path for restaurant operators, just as it has been for the past five years,” said Bonnie Riggs, NPD restaurant industry analyst. “Gaining market share among population segments increasing in both number and their use of restaurants, like Boomers, eases the struggle. Operators just need to keep in mind that reaching the older customers requires recognizing what it is they want from their restaurant experiences.”

http://www.progressivegrocer.com/top-stories/headlines/consumer-insights/id37156/boomers-dine-out-while-millennials-cut-back/

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The response to Hurricane Sandy was an eye-opener for retailers, associations and the entire food industry, with plenty of lessons for future crises, said a panel of industry leaders at a Midwinter session here.

Regional leaders faced daunting challenges in coordinating logistics and communicating to stakeholders. While some had faced prior crises, there was really no full preparation for a storm of that magnitude, they said.

Following are some of the lessons learned by panelists,

• Business must take care of itself in this type of crisis, because the first priority of government is area residents rather than businesses.

• Build relationships with parties such as utility companies in advance, because some of these parties fail to become directly involved in high-level crisis discussions with government and businesses at the time of a catastrophe.

Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/2013-fmi-midwinter-executive-conference/storm-response-sparked-new-lessons#ixzz2InUpnpX0

MISSISSAUGUA, Ontario — Walmart Canada here on Tuesday said it plans to complete at least 37 supercenter projects in the company’s next fiscal year, which begins Feb. 1.

The company also said it would expand its distribution network to support its ongoing store growth. The distribution center projects, construction of new stores, and expansion, remodeling or relocation of existing stores represents an investment of more than $450 million, the retailer said. These expansion plans are expected to generate more than 7,000 store, trade and construction jobs.

“Our associates across the country have done an incredible job this past year serving our customers and opening a record number of new stores and supercentres,” Shelley Broader, president and chief executive officer of Walmart Canada, said in a statement. “This year, we are ramping up our focus on lowering prices and helping customers lower their cost of living, as we continue to bring our supercenter format to more Canadians.”

Walmart said it would announce specifics of its projects as details are finalized throughout the year. The company said that nine supercenters were due to open in Canada this Friday, bringing its total to 379 stores and 209 supercenters. The company opened 73 new projects in the current year, including the conversion of 39 former Zellers locations.


Read More: http://supermarketnews.com/retail-amp-financial/walmart-canada-plans-37-supercenters-2013#ixzz2InTuOYRX