CHICAGO (BUSINESS WIRE) — Fitch Ratings expects consumers to remain value conscious when making food purchase decisions in 2010, which will support the stable outlook for U.S. packaged foods companies. Although the economy has started to recover, unemployment has reached 10 percent and is expected to remain high, which will weigh heavily on consumer spending. This value focus provides both pros and cons for packaged foods companies, which benefit from consumers' propensity to eat at home more often, but face weaker operating performance in their food service businesses when consumers restrict restaurant spending.
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