Walmart Stores Inc.’s board of directors has elected company veteran Doug McMillon, 47, to succeed Mike Duke, 63, as president and CEO, effective Feb. 1. McMillon also was elected to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately. McMillon currently serves as president and CEO of Walmart International—a segment of Walmart’s overall operations with more than […]
Author Archives: Kristen Cloud
Kristen was Editor at The Shelby Report.
Sue Bee Honey Now Bears ‘Support The USA Honeybee’ Seal
Sioux City, Iowa-based Sue Bee Honey has begun placing “Support the USA Honeybee” seal labels on all its branded products to inform consumers that they are buying 100 percent all-natural American honey and supporting American beekeepers and the role their bees play in pollinating more than $47 billion in American crops. David Allibone, president of […]
Greek Gods Brand Adds Honey Peach To 24-oz. Yogurt Lineup
The Greek Gods brand is adding Honey Peach flavor its lineup. This new flavor will be available in a 24-oz. tub. “The Honey Peach flavor is exceptionally delicious, and we are excited to add an additional fruit flavored offering to the lineup,” said Basel Nassar, COO of the Hain Refrigerated Foods Division. Honey Peach is […]
WAFC Elects Two New Board Members
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has elected two new members to its board of directors: Ann Reed and Mike Servold. Reed is VP of merchandising for The Kroger Co.’s Fred Meyer Stores Division, based in Portland. She is responsible for merchandising for 132 stores in Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington that employ more […]
Pilot Flying J Celebrates 55th Year In Business
Pilot Flying J, the largest operator of travel centers and travel plazas in North America, marked a big anniversary this week. The Knoxville, Tenn.-based company recognized its 55th year in business on Wednesday. The Pilot journey began in 1958 when James A. “Jim” Haslam II opened the first Pilot in Gate City, Va.—Pilot Store No. […]
Specialty Food Association Accepts 152 New Members
The Specialty Food Association has accepted 152 companies for new membership, including makers of ghost chili sea salt, bacon brittle, burrata and lavender martini mocktails. Among the new members are Blis Caviar of Grand Rapids, Mich., maker of flavor-infused wild domestic caviar; Califia Farms of Pasadena, Calif., producer of cold brewed coffee, almond milk and […]
Blue Diamond Posts Record Sales And Revenue
Blue Diamond Growers’ global almond sales soared to $1.2 billion, up $189 million in fiscal year 2012-13. Value-added sales volume increased by 14 percent, even with a crop that was 7 percent smaller, according to President and CEO Mark Jansen, who addressed the cooperative’s grower owners at the company’s annual meeting. Value-added sales now represent more […]
FPFC To Auction Off Retailers For Charity
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) will be auctioning opportunities during its Dec. 4 holiday luncheon to meet retailers for lunch, dinner or golf. Caterina’s Club, an Orange County-based organization that provides meals for homeless children, will be the beneficiary of the auction. Confirmed are Miguel Garcia and Brian Balladares of Ralphs Grocery Co.; […]
Women’s Study: Eating Tree Nuts Reduces Pancreatic Cancer Risk
According to a long-term women’s health study recently published, women in the study who ate a 1-oz. serving of tree nuts two or more times a week had a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those studied who did not include nuts in their diet. This is the first study to measure the association […]
MountainKing’s Steakhouse Roasters Provide Healthier Alternative To Frozen Fries
MountainKing has introduced its new Steakhouse Roasters, a slender, thin skin, tubular-shaped fresh potato variety filled with flavor that doesn’t require peeling and cooks fast to create steakhouse-quality, oven-baked wedge fries. Known within the produce industry as “fingerlings,” MountainKing says it has reinvented this specialty potato with a new name and new packaging to attract […]
Progressive/Mission Asparagus Deal Creates Year-Round Program
Progressive Produce’s recent acquisition of Mission Asparagus has propelled the grower into the elite of asparagus suppliers, according to the company. Already growing thousands of acres in Mexico, Peru, California and Washington State, some in partnership with Keystone Fruit Marketing, Greencastle, Pa., Progressive’s increased Mexico and California acreage has solidified its year-round availability. “This year-round […]
C&K Market Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Will Keep About 40 Stores
To address legacy costs, sell or close underperforming stores and resolve debt issues, C&K Market Inc. has filed a voluntary petition for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Oregon, Eugene. C&K’s operations are expected to continue as normal throughout the bankruptcy process as it develops a reorganization plan. The […]
Spartan Stores, Nash Finch Co. Merge To Become SpartanNash
Spartan Stores and Nash Finch Co. announced their intention to merge over the summer in an all-stock merger valued at approximately $1.3 billion, including existing net debt at each company. That merger is now official after a vote by shareholders held Monday. More than 99 percent of Spartan Stores shareholders and more than 98 percent of Nash […]
Food Packaging Choices: Sustainability Trumps Novelty
An independent research study conducted by MindClick Global on behalf of the Steel Market Development Institute (SMDI), a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), found that when asked about sustainability in food packaging choices, two-thirds of consumers preferred steel cans. The results support findings that consumers consider sustainability to be a […]
Meijer Again Expects To Lead Midwest With Lowest Per-Pound Price On Turkeys
Meijer is once again announcing aggressive pricing on turkeys that are expected to lead the Midwest in low-price Thanksgiving birds. “A Thanksgiving meal isn’t complete without the turkey, and with these great prices, Meijer wants to ensure that our customers can provide their families with the best holiday experience,” said Jerry Suter, VP of fresh […]
NGA Hires New Communications Director
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has hired Laura Strange as its director of communications and marketing. Strange, who most recently served as a communications director on Capitol Hill, is responsible for the implementation and advancement of communications and marketing strategies targeted for audiences and outlets on the national, local and industry-specific levels. She also will […]
Sunkist Soda Refreshes Packaging
Dr Pepper Snapple Group recently enlisted the help of New York City brand agency CBX to refresh the packaging graphics for Sunkist Soda, first introduced in 1978. Sunkist Soda once was known for its California style, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group believed there was an opportunity to take the brand back to its “fun in […]
Kum & Go And PepsiCo Expand Recycling Program In Tulsa
Kum & Go and PepsiCo say their recycling program has expanded to all of Tulsa’s 47 Kum & Go locations. Since launching in January, the recycling initiative has successfully diverted more than 6,000 pounds of recyclable materials from the landfill—about 120,000 plastic bottles and aluminum cans in total. Recognizing the success and impact of the […]
H-E-B First Company To Be Inducted Into Texas Business Hall Of Fame
During the 31st annual induction dinner, the Texas Business Hall of Fame Foundation honored H-E-B as one of this year’s inductees. This was the first time that a company, rather than an individual, was inducted into the Hall of Fame. “We are honored to receive this award,” said Craig Boyan, H-E-B president and COO. “It’s […]
FPFC Donates $10K To Support Typhoon Relief In The Philippines
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) has made a contribution of $10,000 through The Philippines Red Cross to support relief efforts in the wake of Typhoon Haiyan. Thousands of Filipinos were killed during the storm that struck earlier this month and millions have been left homeless and without food. In addition to providing temporary […]
