Specialty food consumers are spending more of their food dollars on specialty food this year, and the all-powerful Millennial generation is gravitating toward specialty food for snacks and on-the-goal meals, according to new research from the Specialty Food Association. Overall, specialty food shoppers say they are spending one in four of their food dollars on […]
Category: Grocery News
Posted in, Grocery News, Industry News, National, Store News
Expert Harold Lloyd: Walgreens, Not Walmart, Is The Competition
Supermarket expert Harold Lloyd doesn’t understand why grocers are so worried about Walmart. Rather, he says successful convenience stores like Sheetz and Wawa, as well as drugstore chain Walgreens, are the retailers that grocers should be concerned about—mainly because they’re easy to shop. They excel at what Lloyd refers to as “Flow and Focus.” This […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Organic Natural, West
Natural Grocers Will Open Eighth Oregon Store In Eugene Sept. 23
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage will open its eighth Oregon location in Eugene on Sept. 23 at 201 Coburg Rd. “Natural Grocers is excited to introduce itself to the Eugene community, where lifestyle and healthy living intersect for residents in so many different ways,” said Kemper Isely, co-president of Natural Grocers. “We know Eugene residents […]
Posted in, Center Store, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest
Buehler’s Introduces Big Beer Exchange At Wooster Milltown
As part of Ohio-based Buehler’s Fresh Foods’ Wooster Milltown remodeling project, the store now offers fresh draft beer on tap. The new “Big Beer Exchange” is located in the beer department and features eight tap varieties of craft and specialty beers. Reusable glass containers, also known as growlers, are available in 32- and 64-oz. sizes. […]
Posted in, Center Store, Industry News, National, New Products
RAP Protein Gummies A Lighter, Sweeter Alternative To Bars
RAP Protein Gummies, the first protein gummy snack to hit the market, launched nationwide on Sept. 10. RAP Protein Gummies are a convenient alternative to protein bars and shakes, which are often heavy in fat, available in a limited flavor profile and can be time consuming to make at home. The new gummies are fat […]
Posted in, Center Store, Industry News, Organic Natural, Southwest
Ancient Harvest Introduces Hot Cereals Featuring Grains
Ancient Harvest is serving up ancient grains for breakfast with the debut of its line of hot cereals. Featuring a blend of quinoa, millet, amaranth and gluten-free rolled oats, the new hot cereal line, like all Ancient Harvest products, is organic (non-GMO) and gluten-free. Prepared by adding water and heating in a microwave or cooking […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Report: Latinos A Bright Spot For Nutritional Supplements Market
Hispanics have taken to using supplements in greater numbers over the last five years, and comprise the fastest growing ethnic population for vitamin and mineral use, according to Nutritional Supplements in the U.S., 6th Edition, a recent report by market research publisher Packaged Facts. The market growth in this segment is particularly noticeable when compared […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural, Suppliers
Crider Selected For First-Ever OTA Member Of The Year Award
Steve Crider doesn’t see a problem with being outspoken and tenacious, especially when it comes to getting things done in Washington, D.C., to support the organic food and agriculture movement and to act as advocate and champion for the organic industry. The Organic Trade Association (OTA) is honoring Crider for his strong and consistent voice […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Nielsen’s Hale Delivers ‘State Of’ Report At GMDC Conference
At the Global Market Development Center’s (GMDC) 2014 General Merchandise (GM) Marketing Conference, Todd Hale, a retail insights thought leader, presented on behalf of Nielsen the “GM State of the Industry 2014,” a business session that provided more than 400 attendees with an exclusive look into the retail landscape and its performance in GM categories. This […]
Posted in, Center Store, Industry News, Southeast
Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Now Certified A Women-Owned Company
The Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) certified Natalie’s Orchid Island Juice Co. as a women’s business enterprise as of Aug. 22. The WBENC is the largest third-party certifier of businesses owned, controlled and operated by women in the U.S., as well as the nation’s leading advocate of women-owned businesses as suppliers to America’s corporations. […]
Posted in, Center Store, Industry News, Southeast, Suppliers
Goya Foods Unveils State-Of-The-Art Distribution Center In Georgia
Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, has opened a state-of-the-art distribution center in Georgia to help it expand its business in the Southeast. Located at 4005 Haworth Parkway in McDonough, the facility hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony and tours Sept. 17. “We are so happy and excited to open the doors of our new distribution center and […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Grocery News, Midwest
Protein2o Headed To Kroger Midwest Stores This Fall
Protein2o’s line of protein-enhanced waters will be available to more consumers, thanks to a distribution deal with Kroger. Initially, Kroger stores in the Midwest will carry the high-protein, low-calorie water that contains 30 percent of the RDA of protein but without the high calories and fat that many protein shakes and specialty energy drinks contain, […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Traina Foods Debuts Sriracha Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup
Traina Foods, a leading seller of premium sun dried fruits, is rolling out new Sriracha Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup, an addition to the award-winning Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup that debuted in 2012. “Our California Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup truly celebrates the tomato,” said Willie Traina, CEO of Patterson, Calif.-based Traina Foods. “And now we are […]
Posted in, Health & Wellness, Organic Natural, West
Dave’s Killer Bread Line Earns Non-GMO Project Verification
Dave’s Killer Bread (DKB) has achieved Non-GMO Project verification for all its 13 varieties of organic breads. DKB uses no artificial ingredients, preservatives or high fructose corn syrup. The Oregon-based company is the No.1-selling organic bread maker in the U.S. Packaging on all products, including DKB’s popular 21 Whole Grains and Seeds, Blues Bread and […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
U.S. Surpasses France As Largest Wine Market
The U.S. topped France as the world’s largest wine market last year as Americans continue to develop a greater appreciation for the libation. According to the Beverage Information and Insights Group’s 2014 Wine Handbook, the wine category increased 1.9 percent to 325.4 million 9-liter cases last year. Production and consumption levels also are at an […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
General Mills To Acquire Annie’s For $820M
General Mills has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Annie’s, a leading U.S. producer of branded organic and natural food products with net sales of $204 million in its latest fiscal year, completed March 2014. The transaction is valued at approximately $820 million. Annie’s will join General Mills’ U.S. natural and organic products portfolio, […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Northeast
Rosati Ice Goes To School
To prevent the natural downturns an Italian ice company experiences in the colder months, Philadelphia’s Rosati Ice took its products to school. Rich Trotter, president of the 102-year-old company, said, “Typically the water ice business makes money in the summer and loses money in the winter, and if the summer is better than the winter, […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Reed’s New Product Marries Coffee And Kombucha
Reed’s Inc. is adding an organic coffee kombucha to its line of Reed’s Culture Club Kombucha. The new Coffee Kombucha will be showcased at the upcoming Natural Products Expo in Baltimore, Sept. 18-20, and will be introduced to store shelves across the country this fall. “The kombucha culture is traditionally grown in a tea base. […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Southwest
American Born Moonshine Launches In Texas
American Born Moonshine has expanded to Texas, marking the brand’s first foray into the Lone Star State. Texas marks the latest state for American Born Moonshine’s continued expansion throughout the U.S. following numerous successful launches in the southeastern U.S. and California. “Texas has an incredibly rich heritage of moonshiners, especially in the East Texas region […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Blue Bell Introduces Malt Shoppe Ice Cream
Blue Bell has put its own spin on the old-fashioned chocolate malt with its new Malt Shoppe Ice Cream, a chocolate malt ice cream loaded with milk chocolate-covered malted milk balls. “There was a time when the whole family hopped in the car and went out for burgers, fries and malts,” said Paul Kruse, Blue […]