Sept. 6 marks the 10th annual celebration of National Tailgating Day. The day of celebration was created by Luke Lorick, president of Tailgating Challenge, a tailgating-focused social media brand. Lorick’s enthusiasm for tailgating turned into a brand with a mission: test out the coolest tailgating gear and give fans a chance to win. Over the […]
Category: Feature
At Community-Focused Hometown Food Center, ‘Fresh Is What We Do Best’
In the small Lower Alabama town of Headland, just nine miles north of Dothan – where several national grocery chains are located – one independent grocer continues to thrive by doing what the big-box stores can’t – connecting deeply with its community and focusing on fresh, local products. Hometown Food Center, owned by Jai Freeman […]
Trion Positions For Future On Foundation Of Innovation, Enduring Values
For six decades, Trion Industries has been a steadfast presence in the retail landscape, particularly renowned for its shelf management solutions. Celebrating its 60th anniversary, the family-owned company stands as a testament to adaptability, innovation and a solid commitment to quality, deeply rooted in its American-made ethos and strong community ties. The company’s trajectory has […]
Webinar Unpacks Trends From IDDBA 2025
Consumer anxieties, vibrant merchandising and the fast rising influence of Middle Eastern and Mediterranean fare topped the talking points during a June 12 International Dairy Deli Bakery Association-sponsored webinar, “Digesting All the Trends at IDDBA 2025.” Maeve Webster, president of the Bennington, Vermont-based consultancy Menu Matters, and Mike Kostyo, VP, sifted through what they saw on the show floor to […]
Longtime Leader McCloud Bids Farewell To USC FIM
Cynthia McCloud, director of Food Industry Programs and adjunct faculty at the University of Southern California (USC) Marshall School of Business, is retiring. McCloud, a student in the Food Industry Management (FIM) program in 1990, has served as director since 2014, following a 40-year career in the food industry. In a farewell speech during the […]
Harris Teeter Reopens Hurricane-Damaged Store In Hendersonville, NC
In what wasn’t merely another retail remodel, the Harris Teeter store at 636 Spartanburg Highway in Hendersonville, North Carolina, officially reopened June 10 following an eight-month closure due to damage from Hurricane Helene. For the grocer’s team and the community, the occasion marked a far more profound milestone. In late September, Helene made landfall in […]
French Yogurt Brand La Fermière Fortifies U.S. Operations
Since entering the U.S. market eight years ago, French yogurt company La Fermière has maintained a 35-40 percent year-over-year growth rate. In 2024, the brand sold about 16 million ceramic pots of yogurt and oven-baked crème desserts. The company has a manufacturing plant in New York, as well as a newly opened West Coast facility […]
American Bakers Association Offers Optimistic Outlook
Despite inflation and economic uncertainty, the American Bakers Association (ABA) forecasts steady, slow growth in the retail and foodservice space over the next few years. Acknowledging that 94 percent of consumers are concerned about their current financial situation due to inflation, ABA President and CEO Eric Dell still sees some positive signs. “The good news […]
