Each spring, Western Michigan University’s Food/CPG Marketing Program’s two-day conference brings more than 500 industry executives together to discuss key industry issues and emerging developments. Save the date to attend this year’s conference on Monday, March 25 and Tuesday, March 26 at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in Kalamazoo, Mich. WMU is one of the premier…
DetailsUnlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes pose little threat to cardiac function, reported Reuters, citing a statement from the European Society of Cardiology. The findings from the world’s first clinical trial on the cardiac effects of electronic cigarettes were presented at annual the meeting of the European Society of Cardiology on August 25. “Electronic cigarettes are not…
DetailsYou should consider making lifetime gifts, in trust or outright, in order to use your federal lifetime gift tax exemption now instead of waiting to use your federal estate tax exemption at death. A married couple can transfer up to $10.5 million (indexed for inflation) during their lifetimes, which can benefit multiple generations with no…
DetailsDespite the improving economy, consumers are still visiting dollar stores, whether in search of a bargain, the thrill of the hunt, or because of the influx of food and beverage products in those stores, according to a recent report by The Hartman Group. The Shopping Topography report found that food and beverages work in synergy…
DetailsThe American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the Act), which was signed into law by President Obama on Jan.2, 2013, made permanent the $5 million exemption (indexed for inflation) for federal gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes and set the maximum rate at 40 percent (up from 35 percent in 2012) with respect to…
DetailsAs we’ve previously reported, taxes have gone up and then come down and now, at the moment, are going up again next year. The last three years have witnessed substantial changes in federal estate and gift tax laws and more changes are undoubtedly coming. Such changes offer a number of opportunities for clients to achieve…
DetailsGas prices play a significant role in how consumers feel about the economy overall, according to the results from the new 2013 NACS Consumer Fuels Report. Nearly 9 of 10 consumers (88%) surveyed in a national poll of gasoline purchasers said that the price at the pump has an impact in how they feel about…
DetailsIt’s been a hot summer, but the market for ice cream in America has got it licked. According to recent Mintel research, in 2011, the ice cream and frozen novelty market emerged from two years of struggling sales and posted a 4.1% increase from the previous year (retail sales of $10.7 billion) and is poised…
DetailsDistilled spirits made market share gains in 2012 and now account for more than a third of all alcohol sales, a report from the Washington-based Distilled Spirits Council says. The distilled spirits industry market share edged upward in 2012, gaining share from both beer and wine, as companies innovated with new sophisticated line extensions, and…
DetailsSuper-premiums beers (those costing more than about $22 per case) are beating crafts and import beers in supermarket sales, SymphonyIRI Group said in its recent 2012 Mid-Year Beer Category & Craft Segment Review webinar, says Supermarket News. Sales in the categories are up $93.1 million, $67.2 million and $32.2 million, respectively. Super-premium brands include Bud…
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