Consumables

WASHINGTON - The National Retail Federation announced earlier this week it expects sales in November and December, excluding autos, gas and restaurant sales, to increase a solid 3.6% to $655.8 billion — significantly higher than the 10-year average of 2.5% and above the seven-year average of 3.4% since recovery began in 2009.

Additionally, NRF is forecasting non-store sales to increase between 7% and 10% to as much as $117 billion.

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Dannon is teaming up with the NFL and rolling out special packaging that will allow consumers to support the American Cancer Society and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Throughout October, Dannon will contribute up to $500,000 of proceeds to support breast cancer screenings and promote awareness through the stories of NFL moms and survivors Sue Olsen and Janice Wilkerson. 

MCLEAN, Va. -- Mars plans to combine Wrigley with its chocolate business, creating the Mars Wrigley Confectionery.

Mars says the combination will help deliver greater value to customers, and enable the segment to address consumer trends and insights holistically in what is increasingly seen as one global confectionery category. 

LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. -- The growing cold brew coffee category is getting a new entrant, and this one is certified USDA Organic.

The White Coffee Corporation is introducing "Organic Cold Brew."  Cold brew, the method of brewing coffee through a totally cold process without exposure to hot water, is taking the country by storm. According to Mintel, the cold brew category of the specialty coffee market has soared, with sales increasing 339% between 2010-2015. 

SAN JOSE, Calif. - Black Friday no longer reigns as the biggest shopping day of the year, RetailNext reported Thursday.

That honor is now expected to be held by Dec. 23, as holiday shoppers fill their baskets with last-minute gifts to contribute to the biggest shopping day in terms of sales. The busiest shopping day in terms of store traffic - Super Saturday, Dec. 17 -  is expected to be driven by shoppers who don't literally wait until the last moment when it comes to gift gifing.  

PHOENIX -- Inventure Foods is bringing more restaurant flavors into consumers' homes with the introduction of TGI Fridays Party Bites.

The new Party Bites are baked, not fried, and feature just 140 calories per one-ounce serving. 

CHICAGO -- The Jell-O brand is joining other food manufacturers in simplifying the ingredients of some of its best-selling products.

Jello-O is introducing a new product line made with "real ingredients" such as banana, cocoa and vanilla bean and fruit juices.  Jell-O Simply Good contains no artificial flavors, dyes or preservatives.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- Gerber has announced a line of infant formulas with probiotics, making it the only brand to offer probiotics in all milk-based powder formulas.