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SOLON, Ohio — Lean Cuisine on Tuesday announced the launch of its new Salad Additions, a line of meal-worthy salad combinations that are prepared in a steam pouch in minutes to spruce up in-home salads.

AUSTIN, Texas — Natural foods retailer Whole Foods Market has appointed a former Accenture executive as its global VP and chief information officer, the company said.

Whole Foods announced the appointment of Jason Buechel, who will report directly to co-CEO Walter Robb and CFO Glenda Flanagan, overseeing the technology team in the company's Austin, Texas, headquarters and 12 regional offices in the United States and the United Kingdom.

LAS VEGAS — Panasonic, a worldwide leader in consumer electronics technology, announced the Panasonic Breakfast Collection from the floor of the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show. The company will offer three small kitchen appliances: a toaster, coffee maker and kettle, each featuring bold aesthetics.

LAS VEGAS — Panasonic announced new models to their 2013 lineup at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show. With these new items, Panasonic hopes to broaden their appeal and functionality with a wide array of styles to choose from.

"With the Panasonic 2013 lineup of headphones we aimed to create unique styles and form factors that have mass appeal while providing music lovers and true audio enthusiasts the ultimate in sound quality and design," said Tom Hantson, Product Category Manager, Panasonic Consumer Marketing Company of North America.

NEW YORK — Snacks used to be primarily something given to children as a reward, but today, they're a major part of Americans' eating habits, according to a new report.

Bellevue, Wash.-based market research firm The Hartman Group surveyed members of HartmanSalt.com, a food information website and used data from its Eating Occasions Database to find that Americans, on average, eat 2.3 snacks per day, most frequently in the afternoon, evening and late at night.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop is offering free produce for a year to winners of a healthy eating contest it is sponsoring, the Ahold banner said.

Through the end of this month, customers who purchase any 10 products designated as "Healthy Ideas" at one time using their Stop & Shop card will be automatically entered into the chain's Healthy New Year Free Produce for a Year sweepstakes.

AUSTIN, Minn. — Hormel Foods announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Skippy peanut butter business from Unilever United States, of Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the United States and other jurisdictions.

CHICAGO — Retailer and supplier consolidation has led to the demise of some conventional trade shows, but that’s not the case with the Sweets & Snacks Expo.

Record attendance is expected at the event scheduled for May 21 through May 23 in Chicago due in part to format changes by event organizer the National Confectioners Association and the strength of merchandise categories represented at the mega event.