By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – Kellogg Co (K.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) cut its full-year outlook on Monday after a disappointing first-quarter performance, and its shares fell nearly 6 percent in premarket trading.

The world’s largest cereal company cited weakness in its European business and in some categories in the United States, and said it would continue to invest in future growth.

NEW YORK, April 19 (Reuters) – The U.S. wine market has come
a long way since 1967 when Banfi Vintners started importing
Riunite Lambrusco from Italy. Now, the third generation of the
family that runs the company is introducing products and making
acquisitions to suit the times.

In June, Banfi will launch Sweet Red and Sweet White
varieties of Riunite in the United States, aimed at
twenty-something year olds who may never have heard the slogan
“Riunite on ice, That’s nice”.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – Coca-Cola Co (KO.N: Quote, Profile, Research) posted higher-than-expected quarterly results after the world’s largest soft drink maker sold more beverages, even in developed markets with economic challenges, fuelling hopes that conditions are improving.

The maker of Sprite, Minute Maid orange juice and vitaminwater, which does business in more than 200 countries, saw volume rise 3 percent in Germany and Japan, 6 percent in Spain and 1 percent in the United States, in a sign that consumers may be opening their wallets again after economic uncertainty curbed demand.

April 17 (Reuters) – Coca-Cola Co reported
higher-than-expected quarterly results on Tuesday after the
world’s largest soft drink maker raised some prices and sold
more beverages.

The maker of Sprite, Minute Maid orange juice and
vitaminwater also said it was on track with a productivity
program aiming to save $550 million to $650 million a year by
the end of 2015.

April 16 (Reuters) – Anheuser Busch InBev’s
Brazilian unit AmBev agreed to buy a roughly 51
percent stake in the Dominican Republic-based brewer Cerveceria
Nacional Dominicana (CND) for over $1.2 billion, forming the
biggest beverage company in the Caribbean.

The world’s biggest brewer, with brands like Budweiser and
Stella Artois, said AmBev is paying about $1 billon for a 41.76
percent stake in the maker of Presidente beer from majority
shareholder E. Leon Jimenes, which itself owns 83.5 percent of
CND, the largest brewer in the Dominican Republic.

/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Coca-Cola Co is dropping its membership in a conservative national advocacy group that supports “Stand Your Ground” laws such as the one being used as a defense in the Florida killing of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin.

The move by the world’s biggest soft drink maker comes as corporate America faces increased scrutiny from consumers and shareholder activists over lobbying and political spending.

/NEW YORK (Reuters) – Coca-Cola Co is dropping its membership in a conservative national advocacy group that supports “Stand Your Ground” laws such as the one being used as a defense in the Florida killing of an unarmed black teenager, Trayvon Martin.

The move by Coke follows a similar one by PepsiCo and comes as corporate America faces increased scrutiny from consumers and shareholder activists over lobbying and political spending.

By Martinne Geller

(Reuters) – Constellation Brands Inc (STZ.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) forecast earnings for its new fiscal year well below Wall Street estimates, sending the wine maker’s shares down nearly 8 percent.

The maker of Robert Mondavi and Ravenswood wines pointed to a sharp drop in free cash flow this year due to the absence of tax benefits that boosted cash flow in fiscal 2012.

April 5 (Reuters) – Constellation Brands Inc gave an
earnings forecast for its new fiscal year that was well below
Wall Street estimates, sending the wine maker’s shares down
nearly 7 percent.

The maker of Robert Mondavi and Ravenswood wines said on
Thursday that it expected earnings of $1.93 to $2.03 per share,
excluding items, for fiscal 2013, which will end next February.
That compares with $2.34 per share earned in fiscal 2012.

New York, April 4 (Reuters) – Surprise rippled across
America last month as a new wave of consumers discovered that
hamburgers often contained ammonia-treated beef, or what critics
dub “pink slime”.

What they may not have known is that ammonia – often
associated with cleaning products – was cleared by U.S. health
officials nearly 40 years ago and is used in making many foods,
including cheese. Related compounds have a role in baked goods
and chocolate products.