On Oct. 29, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program as mandated by the 2018 Farm Bill, allowing federally approved hemp to be grown under clear guidelines and making hemp farmers eligible for many agricultural programs. Hemp genetics company HGH Seed Inc. welcomes the introduction of a consistent regulatory […]
Author Archives: Erica Sacra
Erica was a Staff Writer at The Shelby Report.
Posted inBeverage News, Packaging News, Southwest, Suppliers
Boochcraft Now Distributing Its High-Alcohol Kombucha In Colorado
Chula Vista, California-based Boochcraft, a handcrafted high-alcohol kombucha brand made with fresh-pressed juices, will now offer its variety of flavors to Colorado. Boochcraft will distribute through CSArtistans Distributing. To mark the new distribution, local events will commence this month with information soon to follow. “The demand for Boochcraft in Colorado has been loud and clear […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Southwest
Pure Market Launches Its E-Commerce, Product Grading Platform
Denver, Colorado-based Pure Market, an e-commerce and product grading platform, has launched with ratings for thousands of consumer food and household products across a range of categories. The platform was created to empower consumers to make more informed shopping decisions based on analytical chemistry-based research culled from scientific lab testing for harmful elements such as […]
Posted inProduce News, Perishables, Southeast, Sustainability News
BrightFarms To Build North Carolina Greenhouse, Create 54 Jobs
BrightFarms, the No. 1 brand of locally grown packaged salads, will expand into North Carolina with a new 280,000-s.f. hydroponic greenhouse in Hendersonville. Once complete, the farm will create 54 “green-collar” sustainable agriculture jobs that all pay a living wage and offer industry-leading health benefits and training. The new greenhouse will grow a variety of salad […]
Posted inNational, Private Label Brands
IRI Survey: Consumers Turn To Private Brands For Better Value
An IRI Consumer Connect Survey reveals private brand dollar sales grew 3.8 percent in 2019, twice the rate of national brands. Although 57 percent of consumers say their financial health is good, fears of a recession are driving slightly less consumer confidence in Q3 2019, according to the latest IRI Consumer Connect Survey results. Expecting […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, West
WAFC Elects Four New Executives To Board Of Directors
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has added four industry executives to its board. “We are excited to welcome these four talented executives to the WAFC board of directors. We look forward to their contributions as we expand WAFC education initiatives for the benefit of our food industry associates,” said Sarah Wehling, WAFC president […]
Posted inWest, Association News, Home Page Slider
AFMA Honors Excellence In Leadership Award Recipients
The Arizona Food Marketing Alliance (AFMA) recently honored the 2019 Excellence in Leadership Award recipients. This year’s event recognized: Steve Harding, SVP of operations for Cardenas Markets LLC – Retailer of the Year. Chris Saline, market director for the New Southwest Region of Frito-Lay – Supplier of the Year. Geoff Stickler, owner of Express Foods, […]
Posted inInternational Foods, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Slider, Independent Store News, Southeast
Sedano’s Opens 35th Florida Store In Hialeah With New Look, Features
Miami-based Sedano’s Supermarkets opened its 35th store in Florida and its 10th location in Hialeah, the city where the storied retailer was founded in 1962, on Nov. 6. With nearly 100 new employees, the 35,000-s.f. store located at 1170 West 49th Street introduces Sedano’s new look and a more spacious layout inclusive of an expansive […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Equipment & Technology, Independent Store News, Southeast, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Alex Lee Using AI Technologies In Its MDI Wholesale Biz
To support its wholesale distribution business, Merchants Distributors (MDI), Alex Lee is implementing Demand ForecastingAI and Warehouse Replenishment from Symphony RetailAI, a global provider of AI-enabled revenue growth management solutions and customer-centric insights for retailers and CPG manufacturers across the entire value chain. Headquartered in Hickory, North Carolina, MDI supplies more than 600 retail food stores with food […]
Posted inMarketing News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, National
Kroger Debuts New Logo And Launches Brand Transformation Campaign
The Kroger Co. has launched its new “Fresh for everyone” tagline and changed its logo as part of what it’s called its “brand transformation.” “Kroger’s new brand launch is a unifying framework for our seamless shopping experience that is designed to deepen our connection with customers and associates today and into the future, support our […]
Posted inPackaging News, Amazon Fresh, National, Sustainability News, Whole Foods
Beverage Companies Unite For ‘Every Bottle Back’ Initiative
The Coca-Cola Co., Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo launched the Every Bottle Back initiative, an effort to reduce the industry’s use of new plastic by making significant investments to improve the collection of the industry’s valuable plastic bottles so they can be made into new bottles. These competitors are coming together to support the circular […]
Posted inOrganic Natural, Independent Store News, Produce News, Southwest
Natural Grocers Customers Raise More Than $100K For Organic Farmers
In September, Organic Harvest Month, Natural Grocers customers raised $100,585 for the Organic Farmers Association, an organization led and controlled by certified organic farmers that works to create a voice for all organic farmers. Natural Grocers shoppers across 19 states made in-store contributions and exceeded the $50,000 target goal by more than 100 percent, further proving […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Bakery News, Deli News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Perishables, Private Label Brands, Produce News, Southeast
Thibodaux, Louisiana, Rouses Features Nicholls State University Theme
Rouses Markets has teamed up with Nicholls State University for its first-ever collegiate-themed grocery store. The décor and merchandise at Rouses Markets is tailored to each location, but this new store goes a step further. The interior is painted Colonels’ red and gray, and there are Nicholls logos and school photos throughout. There’s even a […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, Amazon Fresh, Center Store, Home Page Slider, Snacks Brands, Southwest, Suppliers, Whole Foods
Good Day Chocolate To Launch Functional CBD Chocolate Line
Boulder, Colorado-based Good Day Chocolate, the nationally distributed, category creator of chocolate supplements, is launching a new CBD product line that combines Fair Trade chocolate with pure, third-party-tested CBD in the form of broad spectrum hemp extract, organically grown at farms in Oregon and Colorado, with zero percent THC. The company says as a whole […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, National
New CFI Research Takes Closer Look At Sugar-Conscious Consumers
New research shows there are two distinct groups paying attention to the sweet substances added to enhance the flavor of some of our favorite foods and beverages. A report from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) details the motivations, fears, attitudes and values of two dominant consumer segments, the cautious and carefree, who are engaging […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, National
FMI Commends USDA Effort To Provide Regulatory Framework For Hemp
On Oct. 29, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) release of a federal regulatory framework for domestic hemp, which establishes a domestic hemp production program as set forth in the 2018 Farm Bill. This interim rule is intended to help expand production of domestic hemp and to help meet the growing consumer demand […]
Posted inGelson's, Beverage News, Corporate Store News, West
Gelson’s Debuts New Offerings From ‘Winemaker of the Year’ Fayard
Encino, California-based Gelson’s is launching three new bottlings in its exclusive collection of Gelson’s Wines, all produced through its ongoing collaboration with Julien Fayard, named 2016 “Winemaker of the Year” by Wine Spectrum. On November 2, from 2 until 5 p.m., all 27 Gelson’s stores will pour samples of the newly curated wines, complemented by holiday meal […]
Posted inIngles Markets, Corporate Store News, Health & Wellness, Southeast
Ingles Teams Up With ABCCM, WLOS-TV, iHeartRadio To Donate Meals
On Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 11 a.m., Ingles Markets, along with partners ABCCM, WLOS-TV and iHeartRadio, will present the total amount of food and funds raised during the Ingles’ Kids Pantry one-day food drive held on Oct. 9. The drive, held at the Ingles Market on Tunnel Road in Asheville, North Carolina, consisted of 60 […]
Posted inSouthwest, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Frito-Lay Marks Anniversary Of Southern Dallas Thrives With Grant
PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay North America gave a $1 million grant from The PepsiCo Foundation to support the expansion of its Southern Dallas Thrives initiative. The additional funding brings the company’s total commitment to Southern Dallas to more than $3 million. Frito-Lay is the founding partner of Southern Dallas Thrives, an initiative created alongside United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and The PepsiCo Foundation. Today […]
Posted inSouthwest, Center Store, Packaging News
Wholesome Introduces Allulose, A New Natural Ingredient Sweetener
Wholesome Sweeteners has introduced Wholesome Allulose, a new natural ingredient that offers zero-calorie sweetness with no net carbohydrates or glycemic impact. In a recent study published by the International Food Information Council Foundation, 77 percent of respondents were limiting or avoiding sugar in their diets. Allulose has zero calories, zero net carbohydrates, zero glycemic impact and […]