Sprouts to open 30 new stores in 2019

Phoenix-based natural food retailer Sprouts plans on launching 30 stores in 2019; these new locations will include Sugar Land, Texas; Las Vegas; Naples, Florida; and Lynnwood, Washington. The company currently operates more than 300 stores in 19 states, and will be disclosing its 2018 third-quarter earnings on the first of November. Read more at Winsight Grocery Business ...

Ecolabeling is of no help in sustainable seafood sales

In a new study conducted in Germany and Norway, researchers found that labels pointing out the sustainability of a given type of seafood led to consumers buying more seafood overall, not just the sustainable varieties. What this finding implies is that when retailers recommend consumers eat less of something within a given category, what stands out in their memories is the category overall rather than any other directives. Read more at EurekAlert …

Chipotle CEO: Don’t underestimate the power of digital to boost sales

Chipotle has been focusing its efforts on upgrading its digital sale capabilities, and it’s paying off. The company’s mobile app, internal software and in-restaurant technology have all been targeted by head executive Brian Niccol in this respect. Chipotle’s digital sales grew 48.3 percent in the third quarter, and now make up 11.2 percent of overall sales. Changes include a second-make line solely for digital orders, digital order pick-up shelves and drive up windows for added convenience. Read more at CNBC  …

How much herbicide can you tolerate in your food, and for how long?

Glyphosate, AKA the herbicide Roundup, has unfortunately been detected in many of the food products we hold most dear—such as ice cream, granola bars and even orange juice. Although the levels of herbicide in these products are often low, scientists don’t yet know what the cumulative effect of ingesting glyphosate over a long period of time might be. The studies recounted in this article are in stark contrast with the Trump administration’s deferral of glyphosate in food as “nothing to worry about.” Read more at Bloomberg …

Caught between Trump’s tariffs and tax changes, soybean farmers face uncertain future

While the USDA has predicted a record soybean harvest this year, farmers of the crop have little to celebrate because of the current uncertainty of the export market for US-grown soybeans. China has now imposed a 25 percent tariff on soybean imports from the US, and the new tax law reducing corporate taxes has also impacted the grain cooperative business, so farmers need quickly to figure out the most optimal way to sell their grains, and to whom. Read more at NPR …