The American Wholesale Marketers Association’s (AWMA) 2012 Expo is sold out, but space is being added to accommodate additional manufacturers at the group’s annual convention event—to be held Feb. 15-17, at the Paris Hotel in Las Vegas, Nev. “We are intent on making sure that each year the AWMA show introduces new features and activities. […]
Author Archives: Kristen Cloud
Kristen was Editor at The Shelby Report.
Posted in, Northeast, Organic Natural, Perishables
Stonyfield’s Hirshberg Selects Walt Freese as Successor
Business leader Walt Freese will join Londonderry, N.H.-based Stonyfield as president and CEO. Co-founder Gary Hirshberg will continue as Stonyfield chairman and shareholder, while advocating for change in national food and agriculture policies, including the labeling of genetically engineered foods. Hirshberg hand-selected Freese, former CEO of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc., who will take the […]
Posted in, Midwest, Perishables, Suppliers
Best Chicago Meat Co. Buys Moo & Oink Brand
Best Chicago Meat Co. purchased Moo & Oink’s intellectual property at public auction for $530,000 in December. The four Moo & Oink stores—three in Chicago and one in Hazel Crest—filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in late September. Because there were no bidders on the real estate, the stores will remain closed. Purchased by Best Chicago […]
Posted in, Industry News, West
PMA Makes $900K Contribution to Center for Produce Safety
Food safety in the produce industry continues to be top of mind for consumers and industry leaders in 2012. Recognizing that ensuring consumer confidence in produce is crucial to building greater consumption, the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has pledged a donation of $900,000 to the Center for Produce Safety (CPS) over the next two years. […]
Posted in, Northeast
Giant Eagle Opens Market District in Pittsburgh’s North Hills
Giant Eagle Inc. today opened its fifth Market District location in five years—and its first in Pittsburgh’s North Hills suburbs. Located in the Township of Pine at 155 Towne Centre Dr., the newly expanded 90,000-s.f. culinary, dining and shopping destination is celebrating its grand opening with in-store demonstration and autograph signing appearances by food celebrities […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Shelby Content, Southeast
GE Capital Provides Credit Facility to Navarro Discount Pharmacy
GE Capital, Corporate Retail Finance is now the administrative agent and sole lender on a $65 million asset-based credit facility for Navarro Discount Pharmacy, the largest Hispanic-owned pharmacy chain in the U.S. and an MBF Healthcare portfolio company. The financing will be used to refinance debt and for general corporate purposes. Founded in 1960, Miami-based […]
Posted in, West
Your Local Market Hosts Charity Benefit Friday
Your Local Market in Bellevue, Wash., will hold a benefit Friday, Jan. 13, for Bellevue LifeSpring (formerly Overlake Service League), a local charity that provides emergency services, youth programs and educational assistance within the Bellevue community. The event, FridayFest, is free and open to the public, with wine and beer tasting and free samplings all […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Shelby Content, Southeast
Winn-Dixie Joins Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance
Florida-based Winn-Dixie is joining the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance (DPCA), an initiative aimed at tipping the scales against the epidemic of diabetes, prediabetes and obesity by expanding access to community-based programs that use evidence-based approaches to help prevent and control diabetes. Trained Winn-Dixie pharmacists in 29 select Winn-Dixie stores in Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Betty White Celebrating 90th Birthday with Betty Crocker
From one Betty to another—Betty Crocker has created a birthday cake for Betty White’s 90th birthday special, which airs Monday, Jan. 16 (8-9:30 p.m. ET) on NBC. Betty Crocker will present Betty White with a triple chocolate celebration cake inspired by the legendary star. Betty Crocker also will provide each celebrity guest of the NBC […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Center Store, Marketing News, National
Dr Pepper Celebrates Heritage with ‘One-of-a-Kind’ Campaign
For more than 125 years, Dr Pepper has celebrated being “one of a kind.” Today, the brand gives a nod to its heritage and celebrates the spirit of originality with the debut of its “Always One of a Kind” advertising campaign. The new commercial is a cheerful celebration of people who are confidently and proudly […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Pacific Natural Foods Redesigns Packaging
Tualatin, Ore.-based Pacific Natural Foods, a leader in the organic and natural food industry, is rolling out new packaging on its soup, broth and non-dairy beverage lines this year. The updated look will have greater impact on shelf, making the products easier to find and purchase, according to the company. The redesign includes a modernized […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Perishables
Fungicide Fear Sparks Price Jumps in Orange Juice Market
The discovery of low levels of fungicide detected by a juice company has wreaked havoc in the orange juice market, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reports today, Jan. 11. March orange juice futures jumped 9.6 percent, or 20 cents, to $2.08 a pound on the ICE Futures Exchange, a CNN Money report said. Industry insiders […]
Posted in, West
Fresh & Easy Shutters A Dozen Stores
Several Fresh & Easy grocery stores that are underperforming will be temporarily closing, KABC Los Angeles report. The company that owns the stores said it is shutting down 12 locations in California, Arizona and Nevada “At this time, there is simply not enough growth in sales and customers at these stores to keep them open. […]
Posted in, Perishables, Southeast
Tennessee Pride Introduces Healthier Breakfast Options
Madison, Tenn.-based Tennessee Pride has introduced a full line of premium sausage patties, which includes two healthier options: Turkey and Reduced Sodium. The Turkey variety has 60 percent less fat, and the Reduced Sodium patties have 40 percent less sodium; both products contain no MSG. The idea for the new product line came from consumer […]
Posted in, Northeast
Grocery Workers Mobilize for Giant, Safeway Bargaining
Demanding that Giant and Safeway “share the fruits of our labors,” UFCW Local 400 stewards and activists are mobilizing for the start of bargaining Wednesday, Jan. 11, on a new contract affecting 17,000 workers in the Washington, D.C., area. “With their current contract expiring on March 31, 2012, and with both companies enjoying strong profits […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Northeast
Vitasoy USA Appoints Rolnick VP Sales, Marketing
Vitasoy-USA, a North American tofu and Asia pasta innovator based in Ayer, Mass., has appointed Susan Rolnick as VP of sales and marketing. In making the announcement, President and CEO Walter M. Riglian said, “Susan Rolnick is a dynamic sales and marketing leader who has demonstrated success across many facets of our business, including sales, […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
USDA Paying More Attention To Chinese Organics
The Seattle Times reports that, because of continuing food safety concerns about products exported from China, which are compounded by political corruption issues that seem to enable manufacturers to cut corners and export tainted food, “the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) organic program has decided to visit China more often.” The central concern is that […]
Posted in, Center Store, Midwest, Southeast
Graeter’s Ice Cream Hitting Publix, Winn-Dixie Shelves
Graeter’s ice cream makes its own pastries, chocolates and ice cream from scratch for its chain of three-dozen stores in the Cincinnati area, and now believes its loyal following will translate to a successful Tampa Bay expansion. The premium high milk-fat ice cream attracts a large mail-order business and Florida has been the top address […]
Posted in, Center Store, Southeast, Southwest
Hostess Likely to File for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Hostess Brands Inc. is getting ready to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, its second such filing, sources told The Wall Street Journal. Privately held Hostess has about $860 million in debt and has been squeezed by high labor costs and rising ingredient prices, the sources said. The Irving, Texas-based company, previously called Interstate Bakeries Corp., […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Valpak Coupons Now Available on CheckPoints App
Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, will expand its reach further by making its coupons available on CheckPoints, an app that gives shoppers access to discounts and savings right when and where they need them. Valpak will offer its savings to mobile consumers via CheckPoints with national brand partners such as Procter […]