New Beer Institute data shows that retail beer sales rose more than 2% in 2011, highlighting beer’s continued strength within the alcohol beverage sector.
The lackluster economy may have dampened growth for the restaurant industry at large, but fast-casual restaurants continue to stand out as one notable exception.
Hormel Foods Corp.’s fiscal fourth-quarter profit slipped 3% as weak sales and higher ingredient costs hurt the maker of Spam, Dinty Moore stew and other packaged food brands.