Ray Sprinkle has been at the helm of URM Stores Inc. in Spokane, Washington, for four years now. During that time, the retailer-owned co-op has enjoyed some bright spots, like sales growth and a frozen and refrigerated warehouse expansion, while also weathering some storms, including a data breach. The future looks to be mostly sunny, […]
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NGA Staff Changes Bring Promotions And New Hires
The National Grocers Association (NGA), a national trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, has promoted key staff and added new staff members. According to the organization, the changes will help it expand its member benefits and advocate policies to better serve America’s independent grocers. “The grocery business is changing faster than ever, and we’re […]
7-Eleven Launches Its First USDA Organic, Cold-Pressed Offerings
7-Eleven stores are carrying a new line of organic, cold-pressed proprietary juices. The new juices are part of the retailer’s 7-Select GO!Smart private brand line of better-for-you snacks and beverages. They comes in four varieties: Clean & Green—kale, cucumber, apple, spinach, mint, celery, lime, parsley; Tropical Glow—pineapple, orange, banana, apple, mango, passionfruit, coconut water; Berry & Bright—Tart cherry, carrot, blackberry, […]
Company Veteran Wescoe Named President Of Whole Foods’ Northeast Region
Whole Foods Market announced Jan. 8 that it has appointed 24-year company veteran Nicole Wescoe as president of its Northeast region, overseeing 41 stores in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Her territory includes the East Coast’s first Whole Foods Market 365 store, opening in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood in January, and a new Whole […]
NACS: Sales Of Healthy Foods & Beverages Expected To Keep Growing In 2018
Healthy food and beverage sales growth led to positive overall sales at convenience stores in 2017, and retailers expect the momentum to continue in 2018, according to a survey of retailers recently released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). A total of 103 member companies participated in the December 2017 survey. More than […]
Bashas’ Chicken Challenge: Turn A Rotisserie Chicken Into Three Dishes
After stretching their pocketbooks during the holidays, families are looking for ways to stretch their grocery dollars, so Arizona grocer Bashas’ is encouraging them to get creative in the kitchen with a new challenge: share three easy-to-make dishes from one Bashas’ rotisserie chicken. The hometown grocer’s second annual “Stretch Your Dollar” Rotisserie Chicken Challenge will […]
Food City Will Celebrate New Look At Tucson, Arizona, Store Jan. 10
Food City is celebrating its newly remodeled store at 1740 W. Ajo Way in Tucson, Arizona, with a grand reopening event on Wednesday, Jan. 10. The newly remodeled store has festive décor and expanded products, service offerings and features, according to Food City, a Bashas’ banner. They include: An expanded bakery department, which features pan […]
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: […]
Sprouts To Enter South Carolina With Q2 Round Of Openings
Phoenix, Arizona-based Sprouts Farmers Market will open six new locations in the second quarter of 2018, including one in Simpsonville, South Carolina, bringing the company’s footprint up to 16 states. Sprouts will open approximately 30 new stores across the country in 2018. The six new stores included in the announcement are: Augusta, Georgia—630 Crane Creek […]
SpartanNash Introduces ‘Our Family’ Brand To Michigan Retailers
SpartanNash is introducing the Our Family brand to the Michigan market—at its 87 retail stores, including Family Fare Supermarkets, D&W Fresh Market, Forest Hills Foods, ValuLand and VG’s stores, and at more than 300 independent retail customer stores throughout the state. Our Family products are available in every aisle of the store, including items like […]
FIM Program Celebrates 60th Class At USC Marshall School Of Business
“We are delighted to welcome the 60th class of food industry executives to USC Marshall,” said Food Industry Management (FIM) Director Cynthia McCloud. “Each year companies choose their best emerging leaders to spend four months immersed in Marshall’s top ranked business education. It’s an investment of time that pays off greatly for them in the […]
Lamb Weston To Expand French Fry Processing Plant In Oregon
Lamb Weston plans an expansion of french fry processing capacity in North America. “The french fry category has been growing at attractive rates around the world, and we believe industry capacity has been challenged in recent years to keep up with continued growth in market demand,” said Tom Werner, president and CEO of Lamb Weston, […]
CEO Of Online-Only British Grocery Chain To Keynote FMI Midwinter
As the food retail industry navigates the “e-commerce revolution” and customers shift toward purchasing opportunities beyond in-store shopping, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has invited Tim Steiner, co-founder and CEO of Ocado: the online supermarket, to be a keynote speaker at the 2018 Midwinter Executive Conference. FMI hopes Steiner will be able to help its members better understand […]
AGNE To Purchase Five Vermont Independent Grocery Stores
Associated Grocers of New England (AGNE) will buy one of Vermont’s largest independent retail grocery chains and add five stores to its roster. Vermont grocer Mike Comeau is selling his stores in Waterbury, Richmond, Shelburne, Johnson and Jericho to AGNE, which is headquartered in Pembroke, New Hampshire. In announcing the purchase, Comeau said, “As we […]
Lunds & Byerlys Launches Digital Loyalty Program, Integrated Coupons
Lunds & Byerlys, a Minnesota-based, family-owned grocer, and Unata, a provider of 1-to-1 digital solutions for grocers, have launched Lunds & Byerlys Extras and Integrated Digital Coupons, two new digital features that the companies say will deliver convenient and affordable shopping for customers online and in-store. Lunds & Byerlys Extras is the retailer’s new digital […]
AnnaSea Foods Group Debuts ‘Simply Perfect Poke’ Meal Kits Nationwide
Western United Fish Co. dba AnnaSea Foods Group, a family-owned and -managed company, is launching retail-ready Simply Perfect Poke Kits in seven flavors. With ingredients sourced from Hawaii, varieties include: Shoyu Ah Poke, Wasabi Ahi Poke, Spicy Ahi Poke, Limu Ahi Poke, Albacore Tuna Poke, Sriracha Salmon Poke and Garlic Shrimp Poke. According to AnnaSea, […]
Vuzix And Powershelf Partner For Smart Glasses That Aid Stocking
Vuzix Corp., a supplier of smart glasses and augmented reality (AR) technologies for the consumer and enterprise markets, has entered into a strategic partnership with Powershelf to deliver a “comprehensive wearable Internet of Things (IoT) smart glasses solution for stocking retail store shelves.” The “Powershelf Stock-to-Sight and Pick-to-Sight, powered by Vuzix” solution uses AR technology […]
Georgia Independent’s Own-Recipe Fried Peanut Clusters Spawn A Thriving Second Business
by Lorrie Griffith/editor–Southeast West Foods, an independent grocery store in the rural southwest Georgia town of Edison, has been making and selling fried peanuts to its customers for many years. The store’s owner, John West, who bought the store from his dad, Richard, back earlier in this decade, said the peanuts have always been a […]
New Prepaid2Cash App Can Scan And Cash Out Prepaid Cards
Prepaid2Cash, a service that converts network-branded (Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Discover) prepaid cards into cash, now is available as iOS and Android apps. After initial setup, the Prepaid2Cash app allows users to scan their prepaid card and receive payment via direct deposit, usually within three business days. Prepaid2Cash says it is the first company and […]
Hy-Vee Program Raises $290K For Veterans And Military Members
Hy-Vee customers joined the company’s annual Hy-Vee Round Up for the Homefront initiative during the month of November and raised $290,068.85 to support our country’s active-duty military members and veterans. Starting Nov. 1 and running through Nov. 30, the Round Up program provided customers at the company’s 246 grocery stores across eight Midwestern states the […]
