WHOLE FOODS REMOVES KOMBUCHA

AUSTIN, Texas — Whole Foods Markets last week temporarily removed several brands of kombucha from its stores because of concerns over slightly elevated alcohol levels. More than a dozen kombucha suppliers agreed to voluntarily recall their products after conversations with the retailer indicated that alcohol levels may be elevated in some of the fermented, sweetened tea beverages, Whole Foods spokeswoman Kate Lowery told the Associated Press. The label on one popular brand — GT's Kombucha — states, “Please note: Due to fermentation, this product may contain a trace amount of alcohol (less than 0.5%).” Products that have an alcohol content of 0.5% or more must carry government warnings. Whole Foods is working with suppliers “to review these potential labeling issues for a swift resolution,” Lowery told the AP.

STEW LEONARD'S LAUNCHES ORGANIC MILK

NORWALK, Conn. — Stew Leonard's here has introduced a new line of private-label organic milk produced by family-owned farms throughout New England. Stew Leonard's Organic Whole Milk, Organic 1% Lowfat Milk and Organic Fat Free Milk are U.S. Department of Agriculture Certified Organic, and are produced by local, family-owned Clover Farms Dairy, which was started in 1924. The new line will be sold in half-gallon cartons at an introductory price of $2.99. Stew Leonard's regular milk is currently priced at $1.89 per half-gallon. “Our customers have raised their families drinking Stew Leonard's milk for more than 40 years,” Stew Leonard, Jr., chief executive officer of the company, said in a release. “Our milk has always been free from synthetic hormones, and we've always sold milk from local farms for the lowest price possible.”

SOBEYS LAUNCHES BREAKFAST SANDWICH

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia — Sobeys here has launched a new line of $2.99 breakfast sandwiches at 95 of its locations in western Canada. “It's a response to customer demand for food solutions, and the breakfast-sandwich segment has been growing steadily as witnessed by the number of outlets carrying a similar product,” Mike Lupien, a Sobeys spokesman, told the Winnipeg Free Press in a recent report. The scrambled egg and cheese sandwiches on English muffins or in wraps are available hot from the time the stores open at 6 a.m. through 11 a.m., and are merchandised as a refrigerated grab-and-go product through the remainder of the day, according to the report. Company officials said they do not currently have plans to launch a more comprehensive breakfast menu.

THRIFTY SHOPPING LIKELY TO CONTINUE

CHICAGO — Despite indications that the economy is improving, many consumers feel that their financial situation will remain stagnant or will worsen during the coming year, according to a report released by the NPD Group here. Respondents to the market research company's “What's Next on the Road to Recovery” report said that they have learned to get by with less during the past two years, and that they will continue to practice thriftiness for at least the next six to 12 months and possibly longer. “Most consumers have unquestionably felt the sting of tough economic times and have cut back on spending and adopted thriftier behaviors; behaviors that may become entrenched the longer the recession continues,” Dori Hickey, director of product development for NPD and author of the report, said in a release. “Our findings suggest we may be looking at a new ‘normal.’” These behaviors include decreasing overall spending on groceries, clipping more coupons from newspapers or magazines, searching for manufacturers coupons online, searching store circulars for products that are on sale, stocking up on food and beverages that are on sale, and buying less expensive brands.