SBWire

Over the past decade or so, gift baskets have really taken off in popularity. For gift givers, they offer a wonderful way to present someone with a selection of beautiful and personally-selected items. For the lucky people who are receiving them, opening up the beautifully-wrapped gift baskets and finding the marvelous goodies tucked inside is always a special experience.

The global food and beverage retail industry has witnessed significant growth over the last five years and is expected to continue its growth momentum, reaching approximately US $5,776 billion in 2017 with a CAGR of 5%over the next five years. Lucintel, a leading global management consulting and market research firm, has analyzed The Global Food and Beverage Retail industry and presents its findings in “Global Food and Beverage Retail Industry 2012-2017: Trend, Profit, and Forecast Analysis.”

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer with 16 locations throughout the Triangle, has announced that the Raleigh store located at 350 East Six Forks Road sold a winning lottery ticket worth $250,000 in the Mega Millions drawing on Friday, March 30. Only four tickets in North Carolina matched all five white balls to earn the quarter-million dollar prize. In addition to Raleigh, winning tickets were sold in Broadway, Jacksonville and Wendell. Smaller awards in the state will also be given to the owners of 369,594 tickets totaling $3 million in prizes.

China growing economy is helping to drive demand for U.S. business, offering a new market for wines, spirits and other goods. With U.S. wine exports reaching record levels last year, businesses should try to sell more aggressively their wines, spirits and other agricultural products into China’s market.

An ancient 800-year-old wine shop in Wye is set to reopen, due to the ambitious designs of owner Patrick Keegan. Located in Upper Bridge Street, the medieval undercroft is believed to have been a store stocking wine imported from Bordeaux, France in the late 13th Century. Restoration works have been under way for the past 18 months, to open the grade 2, listed cellar to the public. Evo Promotions Managing Director Georgina Smith commented, calling it an “an interesting project and a great example of how determination and focus can really achieve great things.”

A teenager from Swaffham, inspired by a school project, has opened a shop in Swaffham selling traditional treats. 18 year old Stewart Bell, attended Litcham High School and then Dereham Sixth Form College where he studied A-levels, including business studies and law. He is the owner of Bell’s Confectionery Emporium on Swaffham’s Market Place, in what used to be the Tourist Information Centre. “It’s great to see the entrepreneurial spirit in someone so young,” commented Lewis Morton, managing director of Morton Solutions, a Norwich-based sales and marketing company, “It takes a lot of motivation and perseverance to start a small business.”

METTLER TOLEDO has introduced the latest addition to its line of counter and backroom scales for the grocery industry, the Impact M. Improved operational efficiency, easy scale operation, and on-screen display promotions are just a few of the features offered with the Impact M, poised to decrease downtime and increase focus on the customer.

After a long week, there is often nothing better than leaving the kitchen mess behind and splurging on a meal out. For seafood aficionados the pull of lobster bisque, coconut shrimp, or clam chowder can often be overwhelming, yet damaging to the pocketbook. Free Red Lobster Coupons eases this dilemma by helping diners make a meal out more affordable than ever.

Residents of Monroe, Loganville, and the surrounding areas now have a new choice for cakes: Hoosier Girl Cakery is open for business. The bakery specializes in cakes, pound cakes, and cupcakes made entirely from scratch.

Eating out is one of life’s little luxuries; there’s something unmistakably enjoyable about a meal cooked by someone else. Whether it’s quick bite while travelling or a regular meal with the whole family, nothing beats a regular trip to a restaurant to relax, enjoy some good cooking and best of all not have to worry about doing the dishes afterward.

METTLER TOLEDO has introduced the latest addition to its line of counter and backroom scales for the grocery industry, the Impact M. Improved operational efficiency, easy scale operation, and on-screen display promotions are just a few of the features offered with the Impact M, poised to decrease downtime and increase focus on the customer.

Maximus Vending LLC, a vender of candy and toy products in the Shreveport - Bossier City markets, is pleased to announce the delivery and placement of a A&A Global PN95 gumball machine at Trejos Mexican Restaurant in Shreveport, LA. The A&A Global PN95 was delivered and setup on February 2, 2012.

An online beverage retailer is touting that it has added Zuberfizz Root Beer to its Ultimate Root Beer Sampler on its website. Zuberfizz Root Beer is the creamiest of root beers with a smooth taste and inviting flavor. BeveragesDirect.com is excited to stock this new line of premium sodas for their customers:

Maximus Vending LLC, a vender of candy and toy products in the Shreveport - Bossier City markets, is excited to announce the delivery and placement of a Northwestern Super 60 Gumball machine to the practice of Dr. Tim Angely at Advanced Chiropratic. The new Northwestern Super 60 is expected to be placed on location on January 31, 2012.

Maximus Vending LLC, a vender of candy and toy products in Shreveport Louisiana, announces an increase of over 138% in the month of January. From January 1, 2012 through January 28, 2012, sales were performing well above expectations. Benefiting the rapid growth in the month of January was the late placement of 2 candy machines, as well as several locations performing above expectation.

Nation’s Largest Grocery Retailer Tops Listing Compiled By Chronicle Of Philanthropy Of American Companies That Give Back To Their Communities

Campfire cookouts come to the city as Philly beerhall puts the fun into functional art. The popular draw of a Big Bowl O’ Zen Sculptural Firebowl inspired the restaurant to order a second firebowl, subsidized by food sales.

The website Freeredlobstercoupons.org is announcing Red Lobster’s Surf and Turf special starting from $14.99. The website specializes in finding the most sought after red lobster coupons and special offers; providing them to the public with no hidden fees or commitments.

According to sources at Wholesale Pages, the site has received an increasing number of inquiries for several sweet products and edibles offered by various suppliers listed on the site. As Christmas approaches, traders in the UK seem to be stocking supplies of sweets just so they can meet high demands of the season.

Although studies have shown the optimal daily intake of fruits and vegetables is between eight to nine servings, most people rarely make room for them in their diets. In reality, many individuals only consume about two to three servings per day, if that.

Now for the first time home bakers in Sweden can order custom printed marzipan cake coverings for home delivery.

The holiday season is in full swing and across the country people are trying to come up with perfect gifts for everyone on their list.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR), the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer with 16 stores throughout the Triangle, has announced that it will be offering quadruple fuel points on holiday gift card purchases as well as helpful, money-saving tips for customers during the holiday season. The tips were compiled by Kroger associates, mom bloggers and frugal living experts.

Jollibee, the country’s largest and leading fast-food chain, launches its online payment service with AsiaPay, an electronic payment solution and technology provider in Asia and the company behind PesoPay, allowing Jollibee’s online delivery website to accept and collect credit card payments online.

GoPicnic Brands Inc., the award-winning Chicago-based leader in great-tasting, ready-to-eat balanced meal solutions, and Enjoy Life Foods, the leading allergen-friendly brand in the Supermarket and Natural Foods stores, announced today the launch of their revolutionary new SunButter + Crackers, a no-refrigeration, no-preparation meal that is also vegan, gluten-free and free of seven common allergens: wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, dairy, eggs, fish and shellfish.