In November, leading houseware brands Spectrum Diversified Designs and ICI USA (Tovolo) merged their businesses in an effort to create a company that will deliver more value and creative product solutions for housewares retailers, the companies say. ICI’s knowledge of kitchen tools, gadgets and food prep, combined with Spectrum’s knowledge of storage and organization items […]
Category: Nonfood Items
Nonfood news for grocery retailers: health and beauty, household, pet and general merchandise trends.
See more center store coverage in Aisle Watch.
New Kuvings Vacuum Blender ‘Minimizes Oxidation, Preserves Nutrients’
Kuvings, the company behind the Whole Slow Juicer, has introduced the SV500, a new vacuum blender that removes more than 90 percent of the oxygen from the blender container before processing to “virtually eliminate oxidation, separation and foam and maximize nutrition and freshness of smoothies, dressings and sauces.” The SV500 expands the line of blenders and […]
New Year’s Projections For Last Year’s Hottest Non-Food Products
by Naomi Sleeper/Imperial Distributors Identifying the staying potential of trends and fads of this past year can shed light on what products to expect (or not) in 2018. Here are reflections on some of the hottest items that dominated the non-foods business in 2017 and projections for their performance this year. 1. Fidget Spinners Trend: […]
Delta Brands Buys Dollar Value Business From Personal Care Products
Delta Brands Inc. of New York has purchased the dollar value business of Personal Care Products (PCP). With this acquisition, Delta Brands hopes to strengthen its position as a supplier of value-priced, everyday consumable products in the health and beauty care and household care categories. The acquisition brings under the same umbrella the following brands: Health […]
Hallmark Aims To Spread Cheer With New Holiday Cards, Videos
According to Hallmark research, nearly three-fourths of consumers who send holiday cards do so because they know how good it feels when they receive a holiday greeting. This holiday season, Hallmark wants to “help people celebrate by spreading cheer to those they love with new selections of intricately designed Signature cards.” The holiday collection features […]
Kroger Introduces Sustainable ‘Our Brands’ Floral Line
The Kroger Co. has introduced Bloom Haus, a sustainable Our Brands floral line launching in its family of stores in time for the holidays. The move comes as the company looks to enhance its Our Brands offerings as part of its Restock Kroger Plan. “Customers can always count on our professional florists to help them […]
7-Eleven Launches Private Makeup Brand ‘Simply Me Beauty’
7-Eleven is now offering cosmetics with the launch of Simply Me Beauty, an “affordable, fashion-forward” line of makeup. Available exclusively at 7-Eleven stores, the Simply Me Beauty brand was created to appeal to Millennial women. The 40-item assortment features cosmetics and cosmetic accessories for the face, eyes and lips, including offerings for day or night […]
Bashas’ Unveils Newly Remodeled Navajo Nation Grocery Store
Bashas’ Diné Market opened the doors this week to its newly remodeled store in Window Rock, Arizona, with a store blessing, remarks from Navajo Nation VP Jonathan Nez, and a performance from Roxyanne Harvey, a traditional Navajo singer. “From the moment shoppers step through the doors, they are welcomed by the new look and feel […]
JOH Buys Milwaukee HBC Broker Hansen-Stahl Sales & Marketing
JOH has acquired Hansen-Stahl Sales & Marketing (H&S), a full-service health and beauty care broker with headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The addition of H&S will provide new areas of expertise and broader support to JOH clients and customers in the health, beauty care and GM categories in the Midwest, including Walgreens, Ulta Beauty and Meijer. “Allen Hansen […]
Vape Company Space Jam Expanding Into National C-Store Chains
Space Jam Juice LLC, a vape company, is expanding into national convenience store chains, growing from its current 4,000 stores to 10,000 by the end of 2017, and 25,000 stores by the end of 2018. This year’s authorizations include: Circle K Arizona, 580 locations; Circle K West (California, Oregon, Washington), 236 locations; 7-11, 400 locations; Giant (New Mexico), 260 […]
Ahold Promotes Teal Pumpkin Project For Allergy-Safe Halloween
Ahold USA’s Stop & Shop, Giant Food and Giant-Martin’s stores are the exclusive grocery partners on the East Coast for the Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) Teal Pumpkin Project. The project’s goal is to help shoppers become more aware of food allergies and ensure safe choices for children this Halloween. Shoppers will find special Teal Pumpkin Project […]
GMDC Names HBW17 Product Showcase Winners
Global Market Development Center (GMDC) has revealed the top 10 products and merchandising displays showcased at its 2017 Health Beauty Wellness Marketing Conference (HBW17). The event, which brought more than 200 retailers, wholesalers, suppliers and service companies together, includes an annual showcase that lets participants select the brands they believe are the most innovative and will spark the […]
‘Bodega’ Unmanned Pantry Boxes Compete For C-Store Biz
A startup called Bodega began a pilot test in the San Francisco Bay Area 10 months ago, according to a Fast Company article that said Bodega’s goal is to make corner stores “a thing of the past.” Bodega’s unmanned 5-foot-wide pantry boxes are located in apartments, offices, dorms and gyms and contain non-perishable items typically found […]
Hallmark Partners With Funny Or Die For New Card Collection
Hallmark’s Shoebox brand is launching a new collection of greeting cards developed in partnership with the comedy brand Funny Or Die. Funny Or Die collaborated with the creative team at Hallmark to develop designs and editorial for 24 cards. Earlier this year, the cards were displayed on Funny Or Die’s website for fans to vote for their favorites. Hallmark […]
Walmart Reports Strongest Food Comp Jump In Five Years, GMV Up 69 Percent
Walmart reported today that it continued to gain traction in both food sales and its e-commerce business in its second quarter. Walmart U.S. traffic increased 1.3 percent and comparable-store sales grew 1.8 percent. It marks Walmart’s 12th consecutive quarter of positive comp sales. “The grocery business continued to improve as food categories delivered the strongest […]
7-Eleven Selling Safe Sunglasses For Upcoming Eclipse
In anticipation of the total solar eclipse crossing the United States on Aug. 21, 7-Eleven is offering special and safe sunglasses for viewing. Available in a two-pack and single pack, the Explore Scientific Sun Catcher solar eclipse glasses offered by 7-Eleven are approved for viewing by the American Astronomical Society (AAS). “An opportunity like this only […]
Oregon Becomes Fifth State To Raise Smoking Age To 21
Oregon on Aug. 9 became the fifth state to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to anyone under age 21 as Gov. Kate Brown signed the measure into law. The legislature approved the bill in July. Tobacco 21 laws also have been enacted by California, Hawaii, New Jersey, Maine and at least 255 cities and […]
Getting SMART About Back-To-School
by Naomi Sleeper/director of business development, Imperial Distributors As the summer season comes to a close, families are starting to do their back-to-school (BTS) shopping. According to a National Retail Federation (NRF) study, BTS and college spending is the second highest shopping season for retailers, after the winter holidays. Total BTS spending accounts for more than […]
Oregon Expected To Become Third State To Raise Tobacco-Buying Age
Oregon is about to become the third state in the nation to raise the age for buying tobacco products to 21. The measure passed in the State House by a 39-to-20 vote on July 6. Although the Senate passed the measure in March, 19 to 8, SB 754 will need to return to the Senate […]
IHA Executive Dies After Fall At Yellowstone National Park
Jeff Murphy, VP, international, at the International Housewares Association (IHA), died Wednesday, June 7, during a hiking trip to Yellowstone National Park. The 53-year-old’s death was the result of a fall near Turkey Pen Peak in Mammoth Hot Springs, Wyoming, according to National Park Service officials. He went missing on Wednesday and a search began […]
