Social media outlets are abuzz with commentary about the announcement made Tuesday that The Kroger Co. plans to purchase Harris Teeter Supermarkets for approximately $2.5 billion. All the chatter, much of it negative, even led Harris Teeter President and COO Fred Morganthall to issue a message of reassurance to the company’s customers. “While details are still […]
Author Archives: Kristen Cloud
Kristen was Editor at The Shelby Report.
Posted in, National
Report: Fruit, Vegetable Consumption Falls In U.S. And Western Europe
Consumption of fruits and vegetables in the U.S. and Western Europe is reportedly on the decline. In a new report published by Rabobank’s food and agribusiness research and advisory team, the bank says despite efforts by governments to promote the benefits of a healthy diet consumption of fruit and vegetables in Western Europe and the […]
Posted in, National
Grocery And Restaurant Competition Heats Up
More grocery stores are going beyond free samples and adding restaurants, bars and other eateries to their stores to encourage consumer dollars. The Hartman Group finds that competition between restaurants and grocery stores will continue to grow as supermarkets edge in on the foodservice industry. Serving food and drinks to consumers encourages spending at the […]
Posted in, National
Summer Fancy Food Show Highlights Food Trends
Bacon might finally move out of the spotlight to make way for kale pops, chia pods and simmer sauces with global flavors—just some of the trends spotted at the 59th Summer Fancy Food Show in New York. The show was held June 30-July 2 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. The show is the […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
General Mills Unveiling Gobal Lineup Of 200 Products
General Mills executives today will share the company’s new product innovation plans during the company’s annual Investor Day meeting at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). “Product innovation is the fuel that creates category growth,” says Ken Powell, chairman and CEO of General Mills. “We have a robust new product plan, with more than 200 […]
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Publix To Open Third Miami Sabor Location
Publix Super Markets is opening a new Sabor format store in Miami on Thursday. The 28,800-s.f. store in the Altos Plaza-Sabor Shopping Center at 121 SW 22nd Ave. will be the third Sabor location in Miami for the Lakeland-based grocery chain. It will be the eighth Publix Sabor, all of which are located in South […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Flowers Receives Approval To Acquire Hostess Bread Brands, Bakeries
Flowers Foods Inc. confirms that it has received regulatory approval pursuant to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act to acquire the Wonder, Nature’s Pride, Merita, Home Pride and Butternut bread brands; 20 bakeries; and 36 depots from Old HB Inc., formerly known as Hostess Brands. Thomasville, Ga.-based Flowers expects to complete the transaction in the coming weeks. In […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Report: Walmart Says It’s Winning Ad War With Publix
It’s been about a year since Walmart began running television and print ads in Florida directly targeting Publix shoppers. The ads, as the Tampa Bay Business Journal reports, promise that shoppers can compare their receipts from Publix to the same items on sale at Walmart to find a savings. And reports indicate that Walmart believes […]
Posted in, National
Target’s Co-Founder, First President Dies At 88
Mr. Douglas James Dayton, who led the transformation of his family’s department store into Target Corp., lost a long battle with cancer Friday. He was 88 years old. The Associated Press reports that Mr. Dayton was the youngest of George Nelson Dayton’s five sons who took over the family’s downtown Minneapolis department store from their […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Champion Skiier Randall To Promote Alaska Seafood
The Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute (ASMI) has tapped Nordic skiing World Champion Kikkan Randall to help it promote the health and fitness benefits of Alaska seafood. “Kikkan Randall is the perfect fit as an ambassador for Alaska Seafood,” says Mike Cerne, executive director of ASMI, a public-private partnership between the state of Alaska and the […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Mobile Recipe Planner Brings Grocery Aisle Resources To Veggie Consumers
Allens Inc., a U.S.- based vegetable leader, has launched a new, consumer-friendly mobile recipe planning tool geared toward meeting the needs of on-the-go families. New content, search options, recipes and grocery lists all make it easier for consumers to answer the question…What’s for dinner tonight? The widget can be accessed on any iPhone or Android […]
Posted in, Southwest, Store News
Market Street Offers Guests ‘Best Of Texas’ Throughout July
Market Street is inviting guests to discover flavors made or grown in Texas during its annual Best of Texas expo, taking place each weekend in July. The event will feature top products from the Lone Star State at all 11 Market Street locations in north and west Texas. Best of Texas guests will have the […]
Posted in, National
FMI Applauds Delay of Affordable Care Act’s Employer Mandate
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is applauding the administration’s decision this week to delay enforcement of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) employer mandate after receiving information regarding implementation challenges and the need for additional clarity from FMI members and other stakeholders in the employer community seeking to comply with the law. “FMI has been working with […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Dianne’s Celebrates First Year With New Cakes, New Look
Dianne’s Fine Desserts, a provider of gourmet frozen thaw-and-serve desserts, celebrated its first year as a standalone company by unveiling several enhancements to its product offerings, as well as a new look for the company. Black Tie Desserts, a Dianne’s Fine Desserts brand for in-store retail bakeries, debuted new products, including several cheesecakes—Lemon Blueberry Mascarpone, […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, West
Alcohol Now Allowed On Casino Floor At Navajo Nation’s Twin Arrows
The Navajo Nation Gaming Enterprise (NNGE) says Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly signed legislation Tuesday allowing alcohol to be taken onto the casino floor of its Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort, located along I-40, exit 219, just east of Flagstaff, Ariz. The legislation was approved by the Navajo Nation Council Friday and forwarded to Shelly. […]
Posted in, Northeast, Store News
12 Former GU Stores Open Under New Tops Banner
Tops Friendly Markets, a leading full-service grocery retailer in upstate New York, northern Pennsylvania and western Vermont, has officially unveiled 12 former Grand Union stores in eastern and northern New York under the Tops banner at grand re-opening ceremonies. The new Tops-branded stores include locations in Saratoga, Warrensburg, Warren, Franklin, Essex, Clinton and Fulton counties. […]
Posted in, National, West
Unified Refinances Senior Debt
Unified Grocers Inc., the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the western U.S., said today that it has successfully completed a refinancing of its senior credit facilities. The refinancing included both the replacement of the existing revolving credit facility together with the pay-down of approximately half of its higher rate senior secured notes. The Commerce, Calif.-based […]
Posted in, Perishables, West
Culinary Artist Creates Milk-Based Frozen Treats With Toma Leche
This year, the California Milk Processor Board (CMPB), creators of Got Milk? and Toma Leche, has teamed up with culinary artist Bricia Lopez to create a series of chilled, easy-to-make milk-based treats that capture iconic Latin American flavors and aromas. In four distinctive forms—aguas frescas (sweetened waters), licuados (smoothies), paletas esquimales (dipped popsicles) and raspados […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Center Store, National, Nonfood Items, Whole Foods
‘El Chavo’ Makes Way To U.S. Toy Aisles, Including Select Supermarkets
Leading U.S. toymaker Jakks Pacific Inc. says the new “El Chavo” toy line, inspired by the popular comedy series, is set to hit store shelves—including those at select supermarkets—in August. Jakks currently is the North American Master Toy Licensee for “El Chavo,” a partnership entered with Televisa and exclusive licensing agent Univision. “Being on the air continuously […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Thai Kitchen Enters Frozen Aisle With New Entrees
Thai Kitchen’s new frozen entrées mark the first Thai offering in the frozen aisle. Available in five varieties, Chicken Pad Thai, Chicken Green Curry, Chicken Red Curry, Vegetable Green Curry and Vegetable Red Curry, the line of authentic meals are made with quality ingredients like rice noodles, crisp vegetables, and sauces prepared with Thai-style herbs […]