Phoenix, Arizona-based healthy grocer Sprouts Farmers Market Inc. announced in mid-January that it soon will finish construction of a new store in Pasadena, Maryland. The nearly 30,000-s.f. store at 8048 Ritchie Highway will open at 7 a.m. April 15. Details about the grand opening celebration will be announced later. “Since Sprouts first opened in the […]
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GT’s Living Foods Celebrates 25 Years Of Making Kombucha In U.S.
In honor of the brand’s 25th anniversary and the ancient tradition that dates back to 221 B.C., Los Angeles-based GT’s Living Foods has introduced Sacred Life, a special and limited-edition kombucha. Available only this year, Sacred Life Kombucha infuses fresh pressed ginger, young coconut water and alkaline-rich blue spirulina that naturally gives the liquid a […]
Hazelnut Growers Of Oregon Introduces Oregon Orchard ‘Confection Collection’
Hazelnut Growers of Oregon plans to launch four new Oregon Orchard hazelnut chocolates in February. The Oregon Orchard confections are dipped in premium, artisanal chocolate. The four flavors are: dark chocolate, milk chocolate, skinny milk chocolate (20 percent less chocolate) and marionberry chocolate. This line of 6-oz. resealable pouched confections will be available at the […]
Snap Kitchen Rolls Out Free Shipping To 235M Households
Austin, Texas-based Snap Kitchen is offering free ground shipping across 38 states for its nutritionally balanced, ready-to-eat meals. For those who prefer to shop in-store, Snap Kitchen’s dietitian-curated and chef-prepared meals also have launched in Whole Foods Market stores in Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma, in addition to all 34 Whole Foods Market stores in Texas. “We’ve been pleased with the […]
Houchens Industries CEO/Chairman Jimmie Gipson To Retire
Jimmie Gipson, long-time executive, CEO and chairman of the board at Houchens Industries, shared his retirement plans at the company’s Jan. 24 board meeting. Gipson, who has close to 55 years with the company, will retire March 31 from the Bowling Green, Kentucky-based company. The board has elected EVP Dion Houchins to succeed Gipson as […]
Grocery Business Is In DNA Of Mackenthun’s Fine Foods Family
by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest August Mackenthun opened a little butcher shop in Plato around the turn of the last century. The exact year is not known, said Kim Mackenthun, who with his son, Jaime, and daughter, Jessa, owns the business today. “Jaime and Jessa’s great-great-grandfather started a little store 12 miles west of (Waconia) right about […]
Coca-Cola Showcases Innovation, Actionable Insights At NACS Show
by Treva Bennett/staff writer The Coca-Cola Co. showcased a variety of innovation and actionable insights at the 2019 NACS Show, held in October at the World Congress Center in Atlanta. New products and new flavors will be introduced early this year, with a few released in late 2019. According to J.C. Harvey, director of […]
Recommended: Publix To Buy Neptune Beach Lucky’s Lease
Publix Super Markets Inc. confirmed late Jan. 27 that it intends to buy the Lucky’s Market lease in Neptune Beach, Florida, raising the possibility that it will bring its GreenWise Market concept to Duval County. “I can confirm that we are under contract to purchase five Lucky’s leases with locations in Clermont, Naples, Neptune Beach, […]
California Agricultural Companies Help Boost K-9 Campaign
Maxco Supply Inc. and SunWest Fruit Co. are collectively pledging $15,000 to help kick off the Parlier Police Department’s “Campaign K-9,” which seeks to raise $80,000 to cover the costs associated with purchasing the animal. The police dog will be tasked with protecting the rural community of Parlier in Fresno County, California, and assist with […]
NCASEF Says 7-Eleven Ignores Requests To Hear Franchisee Concerns
In the 15 years since Joe DePinto has served as CEO of Dallas, Texas-based 7-Eleven, franchisees have struggled with profitability and working conditions. That’s according to the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees (NCASEF), an elected, independent body representing the interests of more than 7,200 7-Eleven franchised locations in the U.S. NCASEF is concerned […]
Meijer Selects Hyer To Help Execute Its Gig Strategy
In an effort to drive even more efficiencies throughout its stores, Midwest retailer Meijer plans to utilize the Hyer platform/app across its 246-store footprint and its Serv-U-Success operation, to connect gig workers with identified tasks on demand. The Hyer app will allow Meijer to support its workforce needs in real-time, ensuring it can meet consumer […]
Updated: Lucky’s Market To Sell 11 Stores, Begins Chapter 11 Proceedings
Lucky’s Markets has agreed to sell various ongoing stores to its founders, Bo and Trish Sharon, who will be a stalking horse in the Lucky’s Chapter 11 process which was filed earlier this week, according to a Jan. 30 statement by investment banking advisor PJ Solomon. On Jan. 27, the Niwot, Colorado-based natural foods chain […]
Albertsons’ Own Brands Welcomes Alice Chan VP Of Sales And Marketing
The Own Brands team from Albertsons welcomed Alice Chan to its leadership team on Monday, Jan. 20. Chan joined the organization as VP of Own Brands sales and marketing. “Alice is an energetic and visionary leader who brings more than 16 years of proven results in the CPG industry with PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay Division,” said Own […]
Calavo Growers’ Renaissance Food Group To Acquire Simply Fresh Fruit
Calavo Growers Inc.’s Renaissance Food Group (RFG) subsidiary has signed a definitive agreement to acquire SFFI Co. Inc. doing business as Simply Fresh Fruit (SFFI). Founded in 1999 and based in Vernon, California, privately held SFFI is a processor and supplier of a broad line of fresh-cut fruit, principally serving the foodservice and hospitality markets […]
Honey Bunches Of Oats Launches New Frosted Cereal, Whimsical Ads
The Honey Bunches of Oats brand has expanded its lineup to include the new Honey Bunches of Oats Frosted cereal. The new cereal medley adds a frosty layer of sweetness to Honey Bunches of Oats flakes, which are then paired with the brand’s granola bunches. “The Honey Bunches of Oats brand is known for delicious […]
Food City Recognizes 100-Plus Associates For Volunteerism
Through its Claude P. Varney Volunteer Recognition Program, Abingdon, Virginia-based Food City recently recognized more than 100 associates for their volunteerism. “As a company, we strive to maintain a high level of dedication to service, quality, value and community involvement, while providing a work environment that enables our associates to grow both personally and professionally […]
Instacart Launching New Instacart Meals At Publix Stores
Instacart is introducing Instacart Meals—a new grocery meals product that the company says powers easy ordering, delivery and pickup of made-to-order food. The launch marks Instacart’s move into grocery meal delivery, helping retailers bring more in-store aisles and experiences online for customers across North America. With the new Instacart Meals product, customers can order specialty counter […]
Hass Avocado Board Offers New Category Market Development Tool
A new Avocado Category Market Development Tool just released by the Hass Avocado Board is designed to help retailers and industry stakeholders identify, quantify and prioritize potential market-level opportunities for 45 markets. Each market has a unique profile, which varies significantly by population, category development and other measures using a multi-metric model approach to reviewing […]
2020 Will Be A Year Of Innovation For Mars Wrigley Brands
Mars Wrigley showcased some of its innovations for a number of its iconic brands at the recent 2019 NACS Show in Atlanta. Shaf Lalani, VP of strategic demand leadership, said 2020 will be a big year for Mars Wrigley, with M&M’s Fudge Brownie being its largest launch. “You’re probably familiar with the caramel launch we […]
Entire Lineup From Oskar Blues Gets An Updated Look
Colorado-based Oskar Blues Brewery has introduced a fresh look for Dale’s and its entire lineup of craft beers in 2020 In its first major design update in over a decade, Oskar Blues has combined its imagery with a clean, bold new system of packaging being distributed nationwide. “Since the very beginning, we’ve focused on liquid […]
