by Kristen Cloud/staff writer A referendum to allow food retailers in Tennessee to sell wine passed everywhere it was on the ballot last year. While getting that referendum on the November ballot was a long and oftentimes arduous process, the challenges aren’t over. Grocery stores in the 78 municipalities where wine sales will be allowed in […]
Category: Grocery News
Posted in, Grocery News, Independent Store News, Industry News, International Foods, National, Shelby Signature Content
AWG Continues To Strengthen Focus On Hispanic Business
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer It would probably be an understatement to say that Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) puts a special focus on its Hispanic business. The Kansas City, Kansas-based wholesaler has been growing its Hispanic segment over the last four years and has seen a more than 500 percent increase in sales, according to Carlos […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National, Suppliers
Campbell Shifts Portfolio Toward Faster-Growing Categories, Regions
Campbell Soup Co. is providing an update on the company’s key strategic imperatives. Led by President and CEO Denise Morrison, executives have outlined actions the company is taking to reshape Campbell and improve its growth trajectory by strengthening its core business and expanding into faster-growing spaces. This includes Campbell’s plans to change many of its […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Center Store, Corporate Store News, Industry News, Southwest
The United Family Expands Pharmacy Services With Medication For Pets
The United Family has expanded its pharmacy services with the launch of “Pet Meds” at 57 pharmacy locations in West Texas, North Texas and New Mexico. The program allows shoppers to fill prescriptions for their four-legged family members in-store and online. “Our guests rely on our pharmacies to fill their prescription needs, and we are […]
Posted in, National, New Products, Suppliers
New Product Innovation: The Why Behind The Try
Innovation matters. In the consumer product realm, it can drive profitability and growth, and it can help companies succeed—even during tough economic times. On the opposite side of the sales counter, consumers have a strong appetite for innovation, but they’re increasingly demanding and expect more choice than ever before. Around the world, more than six […]
Posted in, Center Store, Industry News, Midwest, National, New Products, Organic Natural
Federated Group Announces Relaunch Of Seven Farms Line At Summer Show
The theme of the Federated Group’s 2015 Summer Buying Show July 19-21 was “Driving Success Through Winning Practices.” According to Federated Group VP of Category Management Jen Linke, face time is among them. “One of the best things about the show is people meeting face-to-face and that winning practice of human interaction,” Linke told The […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National, Organic Natural, Store News
UNFI Terminating Contract With Albertsons, Safeway
United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) says its contract as a distributor to Albertsons Cos. Inc., which includes the Albertsons, Safeway and Eastern Supermarket chains, will terminate on Sept. 20, 2015, rather than upon the original contract end date of July 31, 2016. For the company’s fiscal year ending Aug. 1, 2015, revenue from Albertsons is […]
Posted in, Center Store, Midwest, Organic Natural, Suppliers
Bee Bald Man Care Products Now Available At Schnucks
Bee Bald, a premier line of men’s grooming products, has an official partnership with Schnuck Markets. Schnucks will now carry the line of “man care products,” which features a cleanser, scrub, shave cream, healing balm and moisturizer with SPF, at a variety of Midwest locations. Bee Bald’s skin care products use natural ingredients including honey, […]
Posted in, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Perishables, Southwest, Sustainability News
Greenpeace Again Names Whole Foods Tops For Seafood Sustainability
For the third consecutive year, Greenpeace named Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market the top retailer for seafood sustainability in the nonprofit’s annual ranking of U.S. supermarkets. The company earned the highest overall score in the report’s nine-year history, as well as the highest individual scores for transparency, purchasing policies and private label canned tuna sourcing. […]
Posted in, New Products, West
AFS Introduces Red Button Vintage Creamery Ice Cream
Utah grocery wholesaler Associated Food Stores (AFS) is launching Red Button Vintage Creamery Ice Cream. The dessert, which was created through a partnership with Cache Valley, Utah-based Casper’s Ice Cream, the parent company of Fat Boy, is available exclusively through AFS. Red Button Ice Cream is made with whole milk and all-natural sugar to provide […]
Posted in, Center Store, Midwest, Suppliers
Mars Chocolate Investing $100M More In Topeka
Mars Chocolate North America will invest an additional $100 million at its Topeka, Kansas, manufacturing plant that opened just over a year ago. Mars will build a new 90,000-s.f. facility, creating 70 permanent full-time jobs. The company says the new investment in Topeka underscores its commitment to manufacturing its products in the U.S. More than […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, New Products
Lay’s ‘Do Us A Flavor’ Finalists Revealed
Out of millions of submissions from fans across America, Lay’s, one of the marquee brands from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, has unveiled the four finalist flavors competing for a $1 million grand prize in the Lay’s “Do Us A Flavor” contest: Lay’s Wavy West Coast Truffle Fries, Lay’s Southern Biscuits and Gravy, Lay’s New York Reuben […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
Study: Fears About Ingredients Driving Shopper Behavior In Food, Personal Care Categories
With consumer fears escalating about potentially harmful ingredients in food and personal care products, a new survey from Daymon Worldwide reveals that 40 percent of consumers have lost enjoyment of the foods they eat due to safety and quality concerns, and many are actively seeking stores that offer product alternatives. Nearly twice as many parents […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, Suppliers
Texas Businessman Invests In Blue Bell
In a sign that it may be facing financial trouble from the fallout of its all-product recall earlier this year, Blue Bell Creameries says that prominent Texas business investor Sid Bass has become an investor and partner with the Brenham-based company. Blue Bell products have yet to return to store shelves. “We are pleased Sid […]
Posted in, Dairy News, National, Perishables, Suppliers, Women In The News
Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board Members Appointed
U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed eight members to fill vacancies on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. The terms for these appointees began July 1 and expire on June 30, 2018. Newly appointed members are: Brian Linney, Sterling, Virginia (Region 3); Greg Schwarz, Dallas, Texas (Region 8); John Cox, Millersville, Pennsylvania (Region […]
Posted in, Center Store, Marketing News, National, New Products
Lean Cuisine Brand Gets A Makeover
The Lean Cuisine brand says it is reintroducing itself as a modern eating brand and ally for women’s wellness. No longer focused on diet, the Lean Cuisine brand relied on insights from hundreds of women as it evolved to reflect a shift in the way Americans—primarily women—are eating and shopping. Women want chef-inspired, ethnic dishes […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National, Perishables, Sustainability News
Anchor Wins 2015 Design Excellence Award
The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) recently reviewed nearly 100 entries for all types of packaging, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical and health and beauty, and chose Anchor Packaging’s Embraceable as a winner of the 2015 AmeriStar Design Excellence Award. All entries were judged on innovation, product protection, economics, performance, marketing and environmental impact. IoPP’s AmeriStar […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Suppliers
ConAgra Getting Out Of Private Brands Biz
In releasing its 2015 fourth quarter results ended May 21, ConAgra Foods said Tuesday that it plans to “exit the private brands operations.” Sales for the company’s private brands segment were $1 billion, down slightly, in the fourth quarter. The company estimates that the extra week favorably impacted sales and volume by approximately 7 percent. […]
Posted in, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, National, New Products, Perishables, Suppliers
Jack Link’s Debuts Five ‘Wild Side’ Sausage Varieties At Walmart
Jack Link’s Protein Snacks has introduced Jack Link’s Wild Side Sausage line. The Minong, Wisconsin-based company says the new sausages feature “unexpected” ingredients that range from handcrafted bacon jerky to hardwood-smoked beef and pork to spicy jalapeño peppers. Jack Link’s Wild Side Sausage line sausages are fully cooked and available in five varieties: Original Hardwood Smoked […]
Posted in, C-Store News, National, New Products
7-Eleven Adds Premium Lines To Private Brand Offering
7-Eleven is adding two premium lines, 7-SelectGO!Yum and 7-SelectGO!Smart, to its 7-Select private brand offering, which first rolled out in 2013. The new line extensions satisfy consumer requests for variety in both indulgent and better-for-you products, according to the Dallas, Texas-based convenience store chain. “We set out to surpass customer expectations with products exclusively available […]