Author Archives: Kristen Cloud

Celebrity chef and restaurateur Tom Colicchio joined several U.S. lawmakers last week in reintroducing the Genetically Engineered Food Right To Know bill, which would direct the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to require that food manufacturers label foods containing genetically modified food ingredients. Another legislator, Rep. Mike Pompeo, is expected to reintroduce the Safe […]

The National Retail Federation released its 2015 economic forecast projecting retail industry sales (which exclude automobiles, gas stations and restaurants) will increase 4.1 percent, up from the 3.5 percent growth seen in 2014. The 4.1 percent increase would mark the biggest annual growth since 2011 when retail sales for the year increased 5.1 percent. Additional […]

Target announced plans to open 15 U.S. stores this year, with an emphasis on its smaller-sized TargetExpress format located in urban centers. The discounter will open eight TargetExpress locations, one CityTarget and six general merchandise stores. In addition to previously announced TargetExpress openings in San Francisco, San Diego and St. Paul, Minn., Target plans to […]

Whole Foods Market announced last week that it recently signed leases for eight new store locations in the United States and three in Canada. The U.S. stores are planned for Baltimore; Bellingham, Wash.; Bridgewater, N.J.; Charlotte, N.C.; Chicago; Mandeville, La.; Sarasota, Fla.; and Toledo, Ohio. The Canadian stores are planned for Calgary and Edmonton, Alberta, […]

VERC Enterprises, Duxbury, Mass., was selected to receive the 2014 Excellence in Risk Management Award from Energi Insurance Services Inc. for its commitment to loss prevention and safety. This marks the second consecutive year VERC Enterprises has received the honor. Energi is a Peabody, Mass.-based industrial reinsurance company that provides specialized insurance and risk management […]

Snyder’s-Lance Inc. has formed Clearview Foods, a new snack food division with a focus on developing innovative and better-for-you options. Clearview Foods will concentrate its efforts on growing the Snack Factory, Pretzel Crisps, Eat Smart and Late July Organic Snacks products. The company also introduced a new logo for the division inspired by Snyder’s-Lance’s strategy […]

Wawa recently launched the Wawa Remodel Program, a massive effort to remodel older, legacy stores to reflect Wawa’s latest store design and food service offerings. In 2015, Wawa will remodel 40 existing stores—the most remodels to happen in one year ever in Wawa’s history. Older stores will get new store graphics and designs, and store […]

The Mass. Restaurant Assn. is reminding members that Form 8027 used by establishments to make annual reports to the IRS on receipts from food or beverage operations and tips reported by employees is due by March 2 for manual forms and electronic forms are due by March 31. Two conditions apply for using the form: […]

TGI Fridays Inc., in relationship with Microsoft Corp., is equipping servers with 8-inch tablets so they can quickly and accurately process orders and payments while at the table. Oracle’s MICROS RES 5.4 allows TGI Fridays to manage the various aspects of running a restaurant, from tableside ordering to traffic and queue management, all from one […]

Golbon, a national food service buying group based in Boise, Idaho, announced the addition of Arnold’s & Eddie’s Foods of Chicopee, Mass., known as Arnie’s Meats Inc., to its buying group. Arnie’s Meats has grown dramatically since 1974. Four small trucks have increased to 10 large trucks making deliveries five days a week from Nyak, […]

Merchant Cash & Capital, an alternative finance company, has formed a partnership with the New York State Restaurant Association (NYSRA), the largest trade association in New York and the official voice of the more than 50,000 restaurants in New York. “Restaurants have funding needs that are often not met by traditional funders,” says Stephen Sheinbaum, […]

Giant Food Stores in Carlisle, Pa., announced a partnership with its sister company Peapod to provide online grocery shopping services to more than 60 communities in greater Harrisburg and York, Pa. A new fulfillment facility in Camp Hill will service these communities. Approximately 50 new jobs have been created, which include personal shoppers and delivery […]

Stop & Shop has launched its exclusive brand of new World Menu products. These internationally inspired items feature quality ingredients and bold flavors, including many Italian and Asian favorites. The 50-item line is found throughout the store, with a large variety in the frozen department. Some items are ricotta and spinach tortellini paired with broccoli […]

Haddon House of Medford, N.J., has joined the IX-ONE product data and image exchange as a charter member. The goal of IX-ONE is to provide clean, accurate and standardized product data and images to the trade. Haddon House will work closely with IX-ONE to help grow the exchange and strongly encourage the participation of its […]

Stew Leonard’s will open its fifth store and first grocery store location on Long Island in Farmingdale, N.Y., in early 2016. The family-owned and -operated store, nicknamed the “Disneyland of Dairy Stores” by The New York Times, was founded as a dairy store in 1969 in Norwalk, Conn., and has grown to include three other […]