In an effort to combat food insecurity in the Bay Area–specifically summer food insecurity when children are out of school–Eric Lindberg, co-CEO of Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, and Kristin Richmond, CEO of Revolution Foods, are partnering with Alameda County Community Food Bank to distribute 10,000 bags filled with healthy food items. Donations for the bags […]
Category: Center Store
Center store news for grocery retailers: dry grocery, pantry staples, merchandising and category trends in the aisles.
See more center store coverage in Aisle Watch.
Lay’s Debuts Four Global Chip Flavors Nationwide
Lay’s is introducing four international potato chip flavors this summer. According to a recent Mintel study, three out of five people feel they have become more adventurous when it comes to trying ethnic cuisines. Lay’s, one of the brands from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, is putting this to the test by bringing some of the top […]
Kashi Unveils Refreshed, ‘Cleaner’ Brand Identity
With the inspiration that “good clean food deserves good clean design,” Kashi is launching a new and refreshed brand identity that reflects its belief that food should not only taste good, but do good. Created in partnership with Jones Knowles Ritchie, the new look is a commitment to visually telling the brand story of bringing […]
Senate Passes Roberts/Stabenow GMO Labeling Bill; Now To The House
Next week is a big week in the U.S. House of Representatives for the U.S. food industry, following the July 7 Senate passage of a bipartisan bill that creates a national labeling standard for all foods made with genetically engineered (GE) ingredients and genetically modified organisms (GMOs). Industry groups commended the Senate for its passage […]
Senate To Hold Final Vote On Compromise GMO Labeling Bill
On July 6, the U.S. Senate voted 65-32 to end debate and have a final vote on bipartisan national legislation regarding the disclosure of genetically engineered ingredients in food products. The compromise bill, S. 764, was championed by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kansas) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan). It includes reforms to […]
Dry Grocery Segment Prices Rose 1.3 Percent In First Half Of 2016
Price-Trak, a market research company specializing in price and trade promotion reporting, has reported that items in the Dry Grocery segment rose an average of 1.3 percent in 1st Half 2016 vs. same period last year. Overall, prices increased .6 percent within the total Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) area as tracked by Price-Trak, a service […]
Food Lion/General Mills Promo Provides Customer Savings, Fights Hunger
Through July 12, Food Lion customers can save $2 instantly when they buy General Mills products. To qualify for the promotion, Food Lion MVP customers must purchase five participating items and scan their MVP card at checkout, where they will instantly receive a $2 coupon. In addition, General Mills will donate $50,000 to Food Lion […]
Krinos Foods Invests In a New Facility In The Bronx, N.Y.
Krinos Foods, a global importer, distributor and manufacturer of Greek, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern specialty foods in North America, has opened the doors to its state-of-the-art, 100,000-s.f. facility in the Bronx section of New York City. Krinos Foods outgrew its longtime Long Island City location and invested $25 million into its new Bronx operational facility. […]
Hershey Rejects Mondelez Takeover Bid
The Hershey Co. Board of Directors on June 30 rejected an offer from Mondelēz International to buy the company. Hershey confirmed that it had received a preliminary, non-binding indication of interest from Mondelēz International to acquire the company for a mix of cash and stock consideration, totaling $107 a share of Hershey common stock. The […]
Hostess Brands Will Go Public & Have New Owners, And More…
Grocery News In Brief… Hostess Brands LLC has new owners and plans to go public. The maker of Hostess Twinkies, Ding Dongs and CupCakes has entered into new agreement with Gores Holdings Inc., which will introduce Hostess as a publicly listed company with an anticipated initial enterprise value of approximately $2.3 billion. Funds managed by […]
MOM’s Organic Market Commits To Solar, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Maryland-based MOM’s Organic Market has begun purchasing all power from a designated solar farm in Kingsville, Maryland. This 1.5-megawatt DC system is projected to output 2,124,000 kilowatts per year. MOM’s will purchase the entire system’s output for the next 20 years. The power generated by the solar farm will account […]
Column: Getting A Boost From Nutrition Bars
by Naomi Sleeper Director of Business Development Imperial Distributors As the sun makes an appearance in the summer, so do we…on bike paths, hiking and running trails, waterfronts, sports fields; any outside venue, really. The seasonal upswing in outdoor activities, enhanced by a growing focus on wellness and active lifestyles, means a boost in the […]
Mars Releases Principles In Action Summary Report
Mars has released its annual Principles in Action Summary report, which outlines progress made in 2015 in areas of sustainability, health and well being, food safety, responsible marketing and workplace engagement across its business segments. “We have made significant progress toward making our operations truly sustainable over the last five years,” said Barry Parkin, chief […]
Honey Consumption Rising In U.S.
The National Honey Board, citing the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), reports that honey consumption continues to rise in the U.S., with an average of nearly one pound (0.9 pound) of honey being consumed per person compared to 0.5 pounds consumed per person in 1990. “It is exciting to see more […]
Barons Market Adds Olive Oil And Vinegar Bars To All Stores
San Diego-based natural grocer Barons Market has installed olive oil and vinegar tasting stations in all six of its locations. Ten olive oils and 14 vinegars fill silver vats at each store’s tasting station, where shoppers will find bread for dipping. Unique flavors include citrus habanero olive oil and honey ginger white balsamic vinegar, with […]
General Mills Names Company Veteran Harmening President And COO
General Mills has appointed Jeffrey L. Harmening president and COO, effective July 1. Harmening will be responsible for all company operations, including U.S. retail, international, the convenience store and foodservice segments, sales and channel development, as well as global supply chain, and innovation, technology and quality functions. Harmening will continue to report to chairman and […]
Teasdale Foods Acquires Mesa Foods
Teasdale Foods has acquired Louisville, Kentucky-based Mesa Foods. Teasdale, which is majority owned by private equity firm Snow Phipps Group, is a national provider of private label and branded Hispanic foods to the retail, foodservice and wholesale channels. Founded in 1984, Mesa is a producer of private label tortillas, flat breads, taco shells, taco kits […]
Pillsbury Introduces Girl Scout Cookie Flavored Baking Mixes
Pillsbury is launching its new licensing relationship with Girl Scouts of the USA by bringing two of America’s favorite Girl Scout Cookie flavors to the kitchen with new Pillsbury Girl Scouts Thin Mints and Caramel & Coconut Flavored Baking Mixes. “We are very pleased about our licensing relationship with Girl Scouts of the USA, as […]
Wrigley Adds Skittles Line, Jobs To Factory In Illinois
On June 14, Wrigley’s Mars Inc. subsidiary opened a state-of-the-art addition to its Yorkville, Illinois, factory. The Yorkville expansion is the result of a $50 million investment by Mars that adds 145,000 s.f., a new Skittles line and 75 new jobs—a 25 percent increase in the workforce at the facility. “Mars has a long-standing history […]
Evans Brewing Co. Bolsters Distribution To Washington
Craft beer maker Evans Brewing Co. has expanded its product distribution to Washington with the signing of an agreement with Browar Polska Inc. to distribute the company’s core year-round packaged beers to retailers in the state. Evans Brewing 22-oz. bottles are landing on shelves in the Washington market now. Washington has traditionally been a key […]
