Top 10 Food Stocks To Buy For 2014

As retail and fast-food workers strike across 60 cities as a means to get their employers to raise wages as high as $15 an hour, most Americans support the labor union system, a fact that will not help the protesters at all.

A new Gallup poll on support for unions shows that:

Heading into Labor Day weekend, a majority of Americans, 54%, approve of labor unions, a slight increase from 52% in 2012 and six percentage points above the all-time low observed in 2009. Thirty-nine percent disapprove of labor unions.

The 2009 dip might be accounted for because many believed that strong unions that had gotten high wages for their members damaged auto manufacturers like General Motors Co. (NYSE: GM), which eventually filed for Chapter 11. That caused the layoffs of tens of thousands of workers. The incident was not isolated. Unions had helped push up compensation to levels that often were unsustainable in a brutal downturn.

Labor’s success has been blunted as big industries like fast food and large retailers largely have kept them out. Several industries, like newspapers, have pushed labor out across many years of bitter strikes. The labor movement lost much of its momentum over the past three decades. One other conclusion of the Gallup poll is that most people believe unions will weaken more over time.

Hot Beverage Stocks To Buy For 2015: Nestle SA (NESN)

Nestle SA is a Swiss Company engaged in the nutrition, health and wellness sectors. It is the holding company of the Nestle Group, which comprises subsidiaries, associated companies and joint ventures throughout the world. It has such business units as Food and Beverage, Nestle Waters and Nestle Nutrition. It is also active in the pharmaceutical sector. It divides its products into Powdered and liquid beverages, Water, Milk products and Ice cream, Nutrition, Prepared dishes and cooking aids, Confectionery, PetCare and Pharmaceutical products. In February 2011, the Company acquired CM&D Pharma Ltd. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Chad Fraser]

  These are the first significant moves made by the Caira, a former executive at Nestle SA (NYSE: NESN) who helped expand that company’s hot and cold beverage division.

• [By Corinne Gretler]

  Swiss stocks fell for a second day, their first back-to-back losses this month, as Nestle (NESN) SA retreated after reporting slower growth in sales.

• [By Celeste Perri]

  Nestle SA (NESN) is selling Givaudan (GIVN) SA shares worth $1.27 billion at yesterday�� closing price to institutional investors, winding down its stake in the world�� largest flavorings maker.

Top 10 Food Stocks To Buy For 2014: Nestle SA (NSRGY)

Nestle SA is a company engaged in the nutrition, health and wellness sectors. It is the holding company of the Nestle Group, which comprises subsidiaries, associated companies and joint ventures throughout the world. The Company has such business units as Food and Beverage, Nestle Waters and Nestle Nutrition. Nestle is also active in the pharmaceutical sector. It divides its products into nine categories: Prepared dishes and cooking aids, Beverages, Confectionery, Ice cream, Water, PetCare, Milk products, Nutrition and Pharma. It has numerous subsidiaries engaged in various areas of activity, including Alcon Ophthalmika GmbH (Austria), Alcon Bulgaria EOOD (Bulgaria) and Galderma Laboratorium GmbH (Germany) for pharmaceuticals; Novartis Nutrition GmbH (Austria) and Hjem-IS A/S (Denmark) for food and beverages, and Galderma International SAS (France) and Galderma Laboratorium GmbH (Germany) for health and beauty activities. The Company is headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland. In July 2008, Novartis AG acquired a 25% stake in Alcon, Inc. from Nestle SA. In March 2010, the Company acquired Kraft Foods Inc' frozen pizza business.

In April 2008, L'Oreal and Nestle SA's joint venture, Galderma Pharma S.A., announced that its United States holding company, Galderma Laboratories, Inc., had acquired approximately 97% interest in CollaGenex Pharmaceuticals, Inc. During the year ended December 31, 2004, Nestle had 500 factories in 83 countries around the world. In 2004, 15 factories were acquired or opened and 29 closed or divested.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Carlton Delfeld]

  My favorite stock pick is Nestl茅 (NSRGY). This consumer giant has a share-buyback program, a focus on growth in emerging consumer markets, and a rising dividend.

• [By Jim Jubak]

  We're talking about big dollars. Fonterra, for example, collects 89% of all milk produced in New Zealand and dairy sales account for 25% of all of New Zealand's exports. And China is a huge and fast-growing market for baby formula for companies that include Abbott and Danone, Nestle (NSRGY), and Mead Johnson.

• [By WWW.GURUFOCUS.COM]

  The IVA International Fund (Trades, Portfolio) Class A (NAV) (��he Fund�� ended the quarter on September 30, 2014 with a return of -1.00% versus the MSCI All Country World Index (ex-U.S.)(��ndex�� return of -5.27%. This brings our year-to-date return to 3.42% versus the Index return of 0.00% for the same period.Global equity markets were volatile this quarter, falling late July to early August and again in September, as the Federal Reserve prepares to end its quantitative easing program and markets digest the possibility of them raising rates earlier than expected as the U.S. economy slowly improves. Also, a few economic indicators released this quarter signaled growth in China is slowing which rattled markets.We were pleased with the Fund�� performance this quarter and, more specifically, from September 4 to September 30 when the MSCI All Country World Index (ex-U.S.) fell -5.56%. During this time we demonstrated our resiliency in down markets with our Fund returning -1.76% as our cash position served as a buffer. We are also happy with our performance year-to-date as it highlights that our stock picking has been good enough to offset the dilution from our cash exposure which was 25.0% at quarter-end. As longterm, absolute return investors, cash plays a critical role in the portfolio: it is the ammunition to buy future bargains and it helps protect the portfolio on the downside, as demonstrated this quarter.Over the quarter our equities outperformed those in the Index*, averaging a return of -2.9% versus -5.2%, respectively. Our relative outperformance was driven by our holdings in the consumer discretionary sector and Japan, which generated many of the portfolio�� top contributors. Our stocks in Japan continue to perform well on an absolute and relative basis. Over the quarter, they averaged a gain of 1.6% versus those in the Index down -2.3%, and added 0.3% to our return in U.S. dollars. Also, year-to-date, our Japanese stocks are up 14.0% versus

• [By Blake Bos]

  Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) currently holds 25% of the market share in packaged coffee, and is now making a very ambitious push further into this space with the release of its Verismo home coffee machines. But thus far, consumers' reactions to the machine have been very lukewarm. In this video, Motley Fool consumer goods analyst Blake Bos takes a look at Starbucks' machine compared to the Nespresso machine from Nestle (NASDAQOTH: NSRGY  ) . He tells us what consumers like better about the Nespresso, but also why Starbucks won't be giving up the fight in this space anytime soon.

Top 10 Food Stocks To Buy For 2014: Ralcorp Holdings Inc.(RAH)

Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. engages in manufacturing, distributing, and marketing private-brand food products, ready-to-eat cereal products, and other regional and value-brand food products. Its products include ready-to-eat and hot cereals; nutritional and cereal bars; snack mixes, corn-based chips, and extruded corn snack products; crackers and cookies; snack nuts; chocolate candy; salad dressings; mayonnaise; peanut butter; jams and jellies; syrups; sauces; frozen griddle products, including pancakes, waffles, and French toast; frozen biscuits and other frozen pre-baked products, such as breads and rolls; frozen and refrigerated doughs; and dry pasta. The company offers its products under various brands, including Post, Honey Bunches of Oats, Pebbles, Post Selects, Great Grains, Spoon Size, Grape-Nuts, Honeycomb, 3 Minute Brand, Ralston, Parco, Lofthouse, Krusteaz, Panne Provincio, Major Peters?, Medallion, Ry Krisp, Champagne, Monet, Rippin? Good, Hoody?s, Linette, JERO, Flavor House, Nutcracker, Pennsylvania Dutch, Heartland, Golden Grain, Anthony?s, Pasta Lensi, Ronco, and Mueller?s. It also develops, manufactures, and markets emulations of various types of branded food products to retailers, mass merchandisers, and drug stores to sell under their own store brands or under value-brands. Ralcorp Holdings, Inc. sells its products to retail chains, mass merchandisers, grocery wholesalers, warehouse club stores, drugstores, restaurant chains, and foodservice distributors in the United States, as well as in Canada, Europe, and southeast Asia. It offers its products through a broker network, internal sales staff, independent sales agency, a network of third party warehouses, and independent truck lines. The company was founded in 1995 and is based in St. Louis, Missouri.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Louis Navellier]

  A $15.5 billion business that employs 34,800 worldwide, ConAgra is the fourth largest player in the Processed & Packaged Goods industry. In early 2013, ConAgra completed its buyout of Ralcorp Holdings (RAH) making the combined company one of the largest packaged food players on the continent.

Top 10 Food Stocks To Buy For 2014: Flowers Foods Inc (FLO)

Flowers Foods, Inc. (Flowers Foods), incorporated in October 2000, is a producer and marketer of bakery products in the United States. The Company is the producer and marketer of packaged bakery foods for retail and foodservice customers in the United States. Flowers Foods operates 44 bakeries that produce a range of bakery products, which include breads, buns, rolls, snack cakes, and pastries. These products are sold through a direct-store-delivery network with access to approximately 70% of the United States population in the East, South, and Southwest, as well as in certain markets in California. Select Flowers products are sold nationwide through customers' delivery systems. Among the Company�� top brands are Nature�� Own and Tastykake. The Company has two business segments: direct-store-delivery (DSD segment) and warehouse delivery segment (warehouse segment). In May 2011, the Company acquired Tasty Baking Company. In July 2012, it acquired Lepage Bakeries, Inc.

The DSD segments focuses on the production and marketing of bakery products to United States customers in the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast and Southwest, as well as select markets in California and Nevada primarily through its DSD system. The warehouse segment produces snack cakes and breads and rolls that are shipped both fresh and frozen to national retail, foodservice, vending, and co-pack customers through their warehouse channels. The Company�� brands include Whitewheat, Cobblestone Mill, Blue Bird, ButterKrust, Dandee, Mary Jane, and Mary Jane and Friends. During the year ended December 31, 2011, it introduced the new products under this brand, including Nature�� Own Whitewheat Sandwich Rounds; Nature�� Own Whole Grain Sandwich Rolls and Hot Dog Rolls; Nature�� Own Cinnamon Raisin Thin Sliced Bagels; Nature�� Own Soft Oatmeal Specialty Bread; Nature�� Own 100% Whole Grain Specialty Bread, and Nature�� Own Honey Wheat Berry Specialty Bread. In addition to Nature�� Own, its DSD segment also marke! ts: a range of specialty breads and rolls under the Company-owned Cobblestone Mill brand; white breads and buns under regional company owned and franchised brands, such as Sunbeam, Bunny, Aunt Hattie��, Holsum, and ButterKrust; Tastykake and Blue Bird branded snack cakes and pastries; flour, white, and corn tortillas under the Mi Casa and Frestillas brands, and fresh packaged bakery products under store brands for retailers.

The Company�� warehouse segment markets a range of specialty breads and rolls under the European Bakers brand, breads, buns, and rolls for specific foodservice customers, and tortillas and tortilla chips under Leo�� Foods and Juarez. This segment�� snack cakes are sold under the Mrs. Freshley��, Broad Street Bakery, and store brands. Its warehouse segment products are distributed nationally through retail, foodservice and vending customer warehouses.

The Company competes with Grupo Bimbo S.A. de C.V./Bimbo Bakeries, Hostess Brands, Inc., Sara Lee Corporation, Campbell Soup Company, McKee Foods Corporation, Cloverhill Bakery, Hostess Brands, Inc., Alpha Baking Co., Inc., Rotella�� Italian Bakery, United States Bakery, Turano Baking Company and All Round Foods, Inc.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tim Brugger]

  Following the announcement earlier this year of its intention to buy several bakeries, depots, and brand names as part of Hostess' bankruptcy proceedings, Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO  ) has completed the $355 million deal, the company announced yesterday.

• [By Caroline Bennett]

  The board of directors for Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO  ) announced a three-for-two stock split at the annual shareholders meeting this week and increased the total annual cash dividend by $0.035.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Following the announcement last month that a pair of private equity investors will return Twinkies to store shelves on July 15, Flowers Foods (NYSE: FLO  ) said yesterday it has received regulatory approval to purchase the old Hostess Brands portfolio of breads, including Wonder, Nature's Pride, and Home Pride.

• [By Dividend]

  Flowers Foods (FLO) has a market capitalization of $4.59 billion. The company employs 9,800 people, generates revenue of $3,046.49 million and has a net income of $136.12 million. Flowers Foods�� earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) amounts to $328.30 million. The EBITDA margin is 10.78 percent (the operating margin is 7.17 percent and the net profit margin 4.47 percent).

Top 10 Food Stocks To Buy For 2014: Rallye SA (RAL)

Rallye SA is a France-based holding company organized around two sectors of activity: large scale distribution to the food stores and supermarkets and distribution of sports items. The Company is present in France, Latin America, Poland, and Asia through its interests in brands, such as Geant, Monoprix, Leader Price, and United Grocers Cash & Carry, among others. It also has its interst in the Groupe Go Sport. Rallye SA is notably present in France, the United States, Luxembourg, Poland and Colombia, among others. The Company operates through its subsidiaries and affliated companies, such as Cobivia SAS, L��abitation Moderne de Boulogne, Magasins Jean SAS, Matignon Sablons SAS, MFD SA, Parande SAS, Casino Guichaqrd Perrachon DA, Groupe Go Sport, Sivigral SCI and French Develompent Venture SA. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Holly LaFon]

  A risk involved with the company is that its Republic Bank & Trust business derives 78% of its net income from TRS, which offers bank products that help get customers who electronically file their tax returns their payments. RB&T is only of the few financial institutions in the U.S. that provide the service. Under the program, the taxpayer may receive a Refund Anticipation Loan (RAL), which has been questioned by various governmental and consumer groups. In May 2011, RB&T received an order to cease and desist which could result in an order by the FDIC to terminate its RAL program. It has a hearing on Feb. 12, 2012 in Kentucky regarding the matter.

Top 10 Food Stocks To Buy For 2014: Woolworths Ltd (WOW)

Woolworths Limited is an Australia-based company. The Company operates in five segments: Australian Food and Liquor, New Zealand Supermarkets, Petrol, BIG W and Hotels. Australian Food and Liquor segment is engaged in the procurement of food and liquor and products for resale to customers in Australia. New Zealand Supermarkets segment is engaged in the procurement of food and liquor and products for resale to customers in New Zealand. Petrol segment is engaged in the procurement of petroleum products for resale to customers in Australia. BIG W segment is engaged procurement of discount general merchandise products for resale to customers in Australia. Hotels segment is engaged in the provision of leisure and hospitality services, including food and alcohol, accommodation, entertainment and gaming. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jonathan Burgos]

  Woolworths Ltd. (WOW) dropped 1.6 percent to A$33.22 after Australia�� largest retailer said challenging economic condition were evident in the second quarter.

Top 10 Food Stocks To Buy For 2014: Tesco PLC (TSCDY)

Tesco PLC, incorporated on November 27, 1947, is engaged in retailing and associated activities in the United Kingdom, China, the Czech Republic, Hungary, the Republic of Ireland, India, Malaysia, Poland, Slovakia, South Korea, Thailand and Turkey. The Company also provides retail banking and insurance services through its subsidiary, Tesco Bank. The Company�� operations in the United Kingdom is the within the Company, with over 3,000 stores. The Company�� in-store picking model is complemented by a small number of specialized dotcom-only stores, which allow the Company to respond to customer demand. The Company�� Click & Collect service is a part of its multichannel offering and enables customers to pick up their shopping when and where it suits them. It has over 1,500 Click & Collect collection points for general merchandise and over 150 Grocery Drive-thrus in the United Kingdom.

The Company�� operations in India include sourcing and its service centre, as well as a franchise arrangement with Tata Group. The Company�� Hindustan Service Centre (HSC) is the global services arm for Tesco worldwide, providing business services for Tesco operations globally. Tesco HSC is engaged in creating and executing strategic initiatives covering information technology (IT), Financial, Commercial and Property, among others. The Company also provides 80% of the stock sold by Star Bazaar, both food and non-food, sourced through its distribution centre in Mumbai. This distribution centre also provides wholesale products to traditional Indian retailers, kirana stores, restaurants and other businesses, providing small farmers and other suppliers with a way to sell their wares to the local market.

The Company has an online business and 22 of virtual stores in South Korean subways and bus stops, which help time-pressed customers, shop on-the-go using their smartphones. Tesco Lotus is its international business, serving over 11 million customers every week in over 1,400 stores. Tesco Bank! offer a range of simple personal banking products, principally-mortgages, credit cards, personal loans, and savings.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Josh Zachariah]

  Tesco (TSCDY) has been selling well short of the price Warren Buffett paid last year. In November he paid some $18 a share and it now sells for less than $15 (a P/E less than 9). The remarkable thing is how unchanged the business is despite the sell-off. What catalyzed the sharp drop in price was comments by the CEO that earnings growth would be muted for 2012. But what I��e discovered, as Warren Buffett certainly has, is that the company is an exceptional business selling at a very attractive price.

• [By Sally Jones]

  According to the GuruFocus Value Screen for finding historical lows, two food retailers Empire Company Limited (TSX:EMP.A) and Tesco PLC (TSCDY), and a farm and ranch retailer, Tractor Supply (TSCO) are held by guru investors and are being traded at or near a 10-year low. �Here are the company updates and trading highlights as of the third quarter of 2013.