During its annual stockholders’ meeting April 14, Joe DiBenedetto, retired Atlanta Division VP, was elected to Publix Super Markets’ board of directors. “We are pleased to have Joe rejoin the Publix family in a different capacity,” said Publix Chairman of the Board Ed Crenshaw. “His more than 44 years of Publix experience, including being instrumental […]
Category: Grocery News
Texas Governor Makes Plans To Reopen State’s Economy
On April 17, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott laid out the state’s plans for reopening the Texas economy from the Covid-19 crisis. As part of his plan, the governor issued an executive order which amends the current Texas “stay at home order” for the retail sector, according to the Texas Retailers Association (TRA). The amended order allows […]
Rite Aid Expands Covid-19 On-Site Testing With 7 New Locations
Rite Aid continues to expand Covid-19 testing sites with new locations opening Monday, April 20, in New York, New Jersey, Michigan and Ohio, through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). New Rite Aid Covid-19 self-swab testing site locations include: Lansing, Michigan: 715 South Main Street in Eaton Rapids; Flint, Michigan: 9090 […]
Continental Mills Purchases New Facility To Expand Production Capacity
Tukwila, Washington-based Continental Mills Inc., the maker of baking, breakfast and snack brands including Krusteaz speed-scratch mixes and others, has purchased a 175,000-s.f. facility in Effingham, Illinois, located adjacent to its existing manufacturing facility in Effingham. Acquired from Hodgson Mill, the facility will provide the company the capacity it needs to support continued growth. “This […]
Niagara Bottling Expands Jupiter, FL Water Bottling Operations
Niagara Bottling plans to invest $38 million to expand its operations in Palm Beach County, Florida. Responding to increased demand for bottled water, the company added two new production lines at its 409,000-s.f. manufacturing and distribution facility located in the Palm Beach Park of Commerce, a 1,200-acre master planned industrial park in Jupiter, Florida. This expansion […]
Foster Farms Donates Additional 400K Poultry Servings To Hunger Relief
Livingston, California-based Foster Farms is donating an additional 400,000 servings of poultry to community hunger relief organizations throughout California to help families impacted economically by Covid-19. Recently, the family-owned company announced a donation of two million servings of protein to food banks and community organizations on the West Coast, and in Louisiana and Alabama. “The […]
EFI Offers Resources For Farmworker Protection, Continuity Of Supply
In these times of uncertainty as the world responds to the coronavirus, Equitable Food Initiative has curated a library of best-in-class resources and practices that provides for employee communication during the current pandemic. EFI is a workforce development and skill-building organization that partners with growers, farmworkers, retailers and consumer advocacy groups to promote responsible labor […]
North Dakota’s Baker Boy Celebrates 65 Years In Business
Bakery manufacturer Baker Boy Inc., based in Dickinson, North Dakota, celebrated its 65th anniversary this week. Baker Boy President Guy Moos marked the occasion by praising all of the company’s employees, past and present. “I want to express my utmost gratitude to all of the dedicated people who have worked for Baker Boy over the […]
CA Grocery Stores Enhance Commitment To Health, Safety For All
The California Grocers Association (CGA), in collaboration with Gov. Gavin Newsom and labor leaders, announced statewide safety standards that will help ensure consistent practices in all essential retail stores, including grocery, to enhance protection for employees and shoppers and prevent the spread of Covid-19. Some of the standards were formalized through an Executive Order issued […]
Produce For Kids Launches Stock The Food Pantries Initiative
Orlando, Florida-based Produce for Kids has provided more than 12 million meals to families in need through Feeding America over the years, and now the organization is looking to rally the produce industry and beyond to support Feeding America’s Covid-19 Response Fund through its new Stock the Food Pantries fundraising initiative. On April 1, Feeding America announced an estimated $1.4 […]
New Study Reveals Covid-19 Impact On Americans’ Food Habits
Americans ordered to stay at home during the Covid-19 pandemic are being forced to find new ways to fulfill their daily responsibilities and occupy their free time. A new study released April 15—”America Gets Cooking: Food Trends During Covid-19″—offers a glimpse at how the coronavirus crisis is impacting adult American consumers’ food preferences and behaviors, […]
Independent Supermarkets Brave Pandemic Challenges To Service Customers
Port Washington, New York-based Associated Supermarkets Group (ASG) says independent supermarkets are open and servicing their customer’s grocery needs despite facing many challenges, including lack of employees and an uncertain supply of goods due to the pandemic. Supermarket owners, along with their employees are on the front lines, opening their doors every day to keep […]
Hellmann’s Establishes Food Relief Fund For Frontline Workers
As part of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey-based Unilever’s ‘United for America’ initiative, Hellmann’s launched a Food Relief Fund that will provide $1 million to feed frontline workers and people in need in New York City, Hellmann’s birthplace and the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic epicenter. To start, Hellmann’s Food Relief Fund will provide $500,000 worth of […]
Flowers Foods Temporarily Closes Georgia Bakery Due To Pandemic
Thomasville, Georgia-based Flowers Foods Inc., producer of Nature’s Own, Wonder, Tastykake, Dave’s Killer Bread and other bakery foods, announced April 14 that it has temporarily stopped production at its bakery in Tucker, Georgia, to safeguard the wellness of its 255 team members. The bakery, which produces primarily frozen, non-retail specialty and foodservice bread and bun […]
IDDBA Plans Live Webinar Series Through Remainder Of April
The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) is conducting live webinars throughout the remainder of April. Webinars are open to both IDDBA members and nonmembers. The April schedule is as follows: April 17: Retail Fresh Foods and COVID-19: What’s Next for Deli, Dairy, and Bakery—Since the beginning of March, producers and retailers in the fresh […]
Price Chopper Takes Nimble Approach While Awaiting ‘New Normal’
by John McCurry/contributing writer The ringing cash registers at Price Chopper’s 51 stores in the greater Kansas City region tell the tale of strong business. However, in the early weeks of the coronavirus era, there is much more to tell than increased sales. “If you look at so many changes happening in the country, the […]
Recommended: Kentucky, Kroger Partner On Free Drive-Thru Testing
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Gov. Andy Beshear said Kentucky is partnering with Kroger to launch free drive-thru COVID-19 testing across the state. The drive-thru testing will be limited to health care workers, first responders, people age 65 and older and individuals with chronic health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease and other immune-system-lowering diseases, […]
Shoppers Praise Grocers’ Response To Covid-19 Pandemic
U.S. grocery shoppers are highly concerned about the coronavirus pandemic. The Hartman Group/FMI U.S. Grocery Shopper Trends COVID-19 Tracker report from the first wave of research (March 21-26) finds that American consumers express a high degree of concern about the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, with 92 percent concerned and 69 percent “extremely” or “very” concerned. The vast […]
First Insight: Treatment Of Essential Workers Impacts Consumer Decisions
How essential retailers treat their employees during the coronavirus pandemic is having a significant impact on consumer shopping decisions, according to a new study by First Insight. The company found that overall, 59 percent of respondents surveyed in early April stated that they would shop less at an essential retailer that has sick employees come […]
Rite Aid To Open More Covid-19 Testing Locations In Coming Weeks
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania-based Rite Aid is expanding Covid-19 testing sites as part of its partnership with the White House Coronavirus Task Force. In addition to the current testing site in Philadelphia, Rite Aid has added a new location, at a Rite Aid store located at 2604 Linglestown Road in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. In coordination with the […]
