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Folgers, the coffee formerly known as the best part of waking up, is aiming further change its image by branching out into gourmet coffees. With new and improved packaging, new and improved flavors and a $20 million dollar advertising campaign, the company is hoping to prevent to loss of customers as these days "a gourmet version of coffee is the new standard."

But since the name of Folgers is associated with being an "everyday" coffee, not a premium coffee, they had to create a new category of coffee that wouldn't alienate their no-frills customer base. Market research told the Folgers executives that people who drink their coffee will "save" premium coffees for special occasions. So, to appeal to existing customers while potentially attracting new customers, the new Folgers Gourmet Selections are "gourmet-inspired coffee [and can] be consumed on an everyday basis."

Folgers has had mixed success with its recent product trials, so it's too early to say for certain whether they will be a success. You can get a free sample here if you want to try it before it hits shelves in September.

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If you thought that the country most likely to have its residents eat pre-prepared food was the United States, you would be wrong. While the sheer number of people dining out in the US might be greater than in most countries, the average Briton will eat 365 meals a year out of home - one every day. In comparison, the average person eats out only 306 times per year in the United States, coming in third after Italy, where the Italians dine out 308 times each year. Also high on the list were the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, France and Germany.

The survey, conducted by the group Datamonitor, showed a link between a stronger work ethic and the likelihood of eating outside the home. The reasoning for this is that in countries where employees work longer hours and seem to have trouble tearing themselves away at the end of the day, the employees eat out more frequently. They also show a stronger inclination for fast, snack and pre-prepared foods that can beat eaten on the go or at a desk, as opposed to choosing to dine restaurants.

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If a study about clean car interiors done by Taco Bell, makers of the oh-so-portable Crunchwrap, wasn't interesting enough. Canned- and fresh-fruit and vegetable giant Del Monte recently released the results of a study saying that Americans aren't eating enough fruits and vegetables. The study, "State of the Nation's Plate," says that only 10 percent of Americans are eating the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables, according to a recent article in Food Business Review Online. What's more, it says that less than half of Americans are aware of the current dietary guidelines suggested by the Department of Health and Human Services and the USDA.

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