Simplot to Focus on Healthier Foods
Food production giant J.R. Simplot will start offering more low-fat and healthy food, according to this article in the Idaho Statesman. The company rode the McDonald’s star, providing pre-cut French fries for the fast food chain (and, eventually, its competitors) before it moved into other arenas and became a major force in the food industry. The corporation still considers potatoes its bread and butter, but it’s forced to acknowledge a change in American eating habits. It already produces French fries without trans-fats, and CEO Larry Hlobik anticipates fresher and more natural foods in the future.
My colleague Betty Carlson recently mentioned the apathy of food companies when it comes to public health, but the market may turn heads where social responsibility failed.
