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 […]
Category: Nonfood Items
Posted inNonfood Items, Bonus Content, Guest Contributors, Home Page Latest News, National
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 […]
Posted inWest, Home Page Latest News, Nonfood Items
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 […]
Posted inNational, Home Page Latest News, Nonfood Items
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 […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Merchandising News, National
Grocery Checkstands Drive Greeting Card Sales
Hallmark is partnering with several top supermarket retailers to test a new opportunity for greeting card sales at the grocery checkstand and is seeing positive sales as a result. One grocery partner reported seeing not only increased sales, but more units sold and a higher average price per card. “We are always looking for flexible […]
Posted inCorporate Store News, Albertsons, Grocery Industry, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, National, Nonfood Items
Albertsons Cos. Acquires MedCart Specialty Pharmacy
Albertsons Cos. has acquired MedCart Specialty Pharmacy in order to, the supermarket chain says, strengthen and extend its pharmacy specialty services. MedCart Specialty Pharmacy is an URAC-accredited pharmaceutical and healthcare provider of customized specialty care services and medication management for patients and physicians addressing complex diseases. “MedCart Specialty Pharmacy has built an exemplary operation, which complements […]
Posted in, Bonus Content, Guest Contributors, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, National, Nonfood Items, Wholesaler/Distributor News
Non-Food For Thought: Are You Ready To Spring Into Warm-Weather Sales?
by Naomi Sleeper/director of business development, Imperial Distributors In honor of Father’s Day coming up in June, our May non-foods thoughts focus on products for male consumers. With grilling tools and gadgets—as well as camping gear and summer beer accessories—on display in stores now, supermarkets offer a variety of giftable seasonal general merchandise suitable for men […]
Posted inNonfood Items, Equipment & Technology, Health & Wellness, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National, Organic Natural, Specialty, Suppliers, Wholesaler/Distributor News
AWG Partners With RangeMe To Scale Growth Across All Categories
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) is partnering with RangeMe, an online platform that streamlines new product discovery between product suppliers and retailers, to scale its retail buying efforts for general merchandise, health and beauty and specialty, natural and organic items for all of its members. “The technology and vendor interfacing that RangeMe provides will benefit our members and […]