CHICAGO – A few stats from Mintel’sl research reports on food and drink markets that are actually being improved by recessionary woes. “Over the past year, we’ve seen people trying to save money on food by either dining out less, cutting supermarket bills, or both. More people cook at homeMORE HERE

I couldn’t find the familiar Merita packaging and happened to notice the new Hostess pkg. My heart sank right then and there, but I thought maybe it was the same product with only a new brand name. MORE HERE

You read it here last October, namely the need for PepsiCo’s Tropicana orange juice to bring back the mascot Tropic-Ana. Many were not sure why she was dropped, especially in the last two decades, when the Hispanic population of the U.S. has boomed. Perhaps it was one of those stupidMORE HERE

Kraft Foods and ConAgra Foods, like most mega-consumer products companies these days, have limited use for “niche” brands. These are brands with limited by loyal following, especially when tastes change over the years. So it is sad to report that, despite years of survival as the “red-headed stepchild” of theseMORE HERE

FORT LAUDERDALE – Make a simple boring product, keep at it, and folks will buy it. That’s the philosophy behind National Beverage Corp. (NASDAQ:FIZZ), makers of the discount brands Shasta, Faygo, LaCroix and Everfresh. The company reported a good financial period ending January 31, 2009. Revenues increased 5 percent toMORE HERE

MONTVALE, N.J. – There is but one grocery chain that inspires literature. It’s the Great Atlantic and Pacific Tea Company (NYSE: GAP), this year celebrating its 150th anniversary. In John Updike’s Kennedy-era short story “A&P” a 19-year-old clerk identifies with three scantily clad girls who come into an A&P inMORE HERE

GLOUCESTER COURTHOUSE -Little Sue can’t find her way to the store. We were in Gloucester, Virginia a few weeks ago and happened upon one of the last Little Sue convenience stores. We went in the store, and the clerk said it was one of the last two remaining; it wouldMORE HERE

PALMYRA, Penn. – If you like Lebanon bologna, there is only one brand, Seltzer’s. Made and smoked by hand in Palmyra Pennsylvania, Selzter’s was founded by Harvey Seltzer, who “created a unique blend of pure beef and spices in 1902, his bologna was so popular that he began commercial production andMORE HERE

Pepsico will bring back Tropicana’s old package after an outcry. The news was reported on the British website Brand Republic. The packaging was created by Arnell; it got early bad reviews on the trendy design website Under Consideration. Here at BrandlandUSA, not only did we not like the new design,MORE HERE