The National Confectioners Association (NCA) once again saw record attendance at its Sweets & Snacks Expo, held May 24-26 at McCormick Place in Chicago. According to the organization, the Expo drew in more than 17,000 industry professionals from more than 90 countries. The expo hosted more than 750 companies exhibiting their products across nearly four […]
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.
General Mills Launches First All-New Cereal Brand In 15 Years
For the first time in more than 15 years, General Mills is introducing an all-new cereal brand—Tiny Toast—that arrives on store shelves across America this week. Available in strawberry and blueberry flavors, whole grain is the first ingredient in Tiny Toast, which also has no artificial flavors or colors from artificial sources and no high […]
Wisconsin Grandmother Wins Chicken Of The Sea Contest
Chicken of the Sea has awarded a 75-year-old grandmother of five in Appleton, Wisconsin, for taking up Tae Kwon Do after receiving a black belt in mixed martial arts. Barb Estabrook was honored for “making a commitment to live a more adventurous, happier and healthier life” as part of the seafood company’s “Sea the Possibilities” […]
Buck Promoted To EVP/COO At The Hershey Co.
Michele Buck, who formerly led Hershey’s U.S. and Canadian businesses as president-North America, has been promoted to EVP and COO, effective June 2. Buck, 54, will continue to report to John P. Bilbrey, chairman of the board, president and CEO of The Hershey Co. in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Buck has more than 25 years of consumer […]
IBWA: Bottled Water Consumption, Sales Increase
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), in conjunction with research, consulting and financial services firm Beverage Marketing Corp. (BMC), has released 2015 bottled water statistics, which show that Americans’ consumption of bottled water increased by 7.9 percent and bottled water sales rose 8.9 percent vs. the previous year. BMC now indicates that bottled water is poised […]
TreeHouse Foods To Close California And Wisconsin Facilities
TreeHouse Foods is closing manufacturing plants in Azusa, California, and Ripon, Wisconsin. The Azusa facility has approximately 660 employees and produces bars and snack products primarily for retail customers. The full facility is expected to close and production is expected to end in the second quarter of 2017. Products produced at the Azusa facility will […]
Mars Introduces New Flavors For Snickers, Twix And Dove Brands
Mars Chocolate North America has launched several new flavor extensions to its chocolate brands, such as Snickers Hazelnut, Twix White Chocolate Cookie Bars, Dove Sorbet Bars, Dove Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Promises as well as a wide range of seasonal offerings for these brands plus the M&M’s, Milky Way and 3 Musketeers brands. Mars […]
Blue Plate Introduces Category First: Mayonnaise Made With Greek Yogurt
Blue Plate Mayonnaise is introducing the industry’s first mayonnaise made with Greek yogurt. Blue Plate Light Mayonnaise with Greek Yogurt (Blue Plate Light Greek) features creamy, tangy Greek yogurt for a full-flavored light mayonnaise with half the fat and calories of traditional mayonnaise, plus one gram of protein per serving. The new Blue Plate Light […]
Craft Beer Targeting Women Launches In Florida
High Heel Brewing, a new craft beer company founded by master brewer Kristi McGuire, will introduce a line of craft beers targeted at female craft beer consumers. The company, which produces its beers in partnership with St. Louis-based Brew Hub, plans to introduce its first two beers this summer. High Heel’s beers will be brewed […]
Hershey Debuts Brookside Yogurt Flavored Fruit & Nut Bars
As part of an increased focus on its snacking profile, The Hershey Co. is adding a new flavor to its Brookside Fruit & Nut Bar line, expanding its Brookside portfolio to include Yogurt Flavored Fruit & Nut Bars. The new bars are made with real fruit, natural flavors, nuts and seeds and are accented with a […]
FDA Updates Nutrition Facts Label For Packaged Foods
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled updated nutritional information for most packaged foods sold in the U.S. May 20. “I am thrilled that the FDA has finalized a new and improved Nutrition Facts label that will be on food products nationwide,” said Obama. “This is going to make […]
McLane Co. Joins Partnership For A Healthier America
McLane Co. Inc. has signed on as a partner of the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), an organization that works to make healthy choices easier for families. As part of McLane’s commitment, it will enhance its healthier-for-you offerings and support PHA’s goal of solving the childhood obesity crisis within a generation. Temple, Texas-based McLane […]
Nonfood Sales Recover As Consumer Spending On Self Care Rises
The Global Market Development Center (GMDC) has released inaugural health, beauty and wellness (HBW) retail level sales data from its new proprietary GMDC/Nielsen Health Beauty Wellness Hierarchy. The sales information gives a detailed look at trends across all nonfood categories representing products that shoppers purchase pertaining to their personal health and wellness in the food and […]
Krispy Kreme Signs Distributor To Serve C-Stores Nationally
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. has entered a partnership with TSW Foods LLC to bring Krispy Kreme brand packaged goods like snack bags, honey buns and single-serve pies to convenience stores across the U.S. The products will join Krispy Kreme Doughnuts’ other primarily yeast sweet treats already available via direct store delivery in more than 5,000 […]
Boone Brands To Introduce Chili Sauce ‘Comparable’ To Texas Pete
Texas Pete Chili Sauce fans may have reason to celebrate. More than one year ago, The Shelby Report published a story online announcing the discontinuation of the popular TW Garner Food Co. hot dog chili sauce. To date, that article has received more than 180—mostly negative—responses. Now, Boone Brands, a company located in Sanford, North Carolina, that […]
Georgia Ag Commissioner: Related Recalls Reflect Supply Chain Collaboration
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black is alerting citizens to several recent recalls that include a wide range of products that were distributed and sold in the state. The products are being recalled over concerns of Listeria monocytogenes contamination, which poses health risks to consumers if eaten. “Recalls are one of the food safety control measures […]
Sprout Nutrition And Crossmark Partner For Growth
Sprout Nutrition (formerly Sprout Organic Foods) and Crossmark Inc. have partnered to bring organic whole foods to babies, toddlers and all family members. The partnership gives Sprout expanded category presence and broad access to retailers with consumer insight capabilities while broadening Crossmark’s presence within the baby and organic family snack categories. With this agreement, Sprout is […]
Bush’s New Product Helps Consumers Make Homemade Hummus
Bush Brothers & Co. has launched Hummus Made Easy, a first-in-market product that allows consumers to prepare hummus at home in three steps. “Research shows that an increasing number of consumers are turning to hummus as they seek out more healthy and delicious snack options,” said Michael Morris, senior brand manager, Bush Brothers & Co. […]
Tic Tac Minion Mints Back By Popular Demand
Minion Mints, based on the comical characters from the “Despicable Me” movies, have returned after a highly successful run last summer. Tic Tac received an overwhelming response when it launched the mints for a limited time last year. Social media was buzzing with tips on where to purchase the mints, as stock flew off the […]
Kellogg Brands Add Breakfast, Snack Choices
Kellogg Co. brands like Raisin Bran, Pop-Tarts, Special K and Cheez-It are launching new items this spring. Battle Creek, Michigan-based Kellogg says that “the new products reflect people’s desire for wholesome foods with recognizable ingredients, the need for convenient options and the continued wish for food that is fun and delicious.” The Kellogg’s Raisin Bran […]
