Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced April 16 that EarthFresh, a Canadian produce company, will create 100 jobs and invest $22 million in an advanced technology packing plant and distribution center in College Park. Kemp said, “Georgia is the epicenter of the Southeast and offers international companies a solid home base as they expand into […]
Category: Industry News
POS Technology Helps Value Center Boost Shopper Engagement
Value Center Marketplace’s efforts to improve efficiency storewide have been effective with new point-of-sale (POS) technology. In 2015, Value Center focused on ways to customize its POS systems to be more comprehensive, open and flexible. This included adopting new technology that could integrate everything from the time clock to new product pricing into a single […]
Campbell’s Foodservice Offers Video Series To Support Operators
Campbell’s Foodservice, based in Camden, New Jersey, has developed Behind Our Lines, a series of educational and inspirational videos. The initial collection of eight videos introduces professional chefs from Campbell’s culinary team and showcases the versatility of frozen soup with suggestions for different ways to serve the same product. “Having been an operator, I understand […]
Giant Eagle Using Autonomous Solution To Take Digital Inventory
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Giant Eagle unveiled a pilot program with Simbe Robotics to deploy Tally, the autonomous, shelf-auditing and inventory analytics solution, in the Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Akron areas. Tally is ensuring products are on shelves when and where customers expect them to be, allowing store associates to focus on customers. In the pilot program, Tally […]
GMDC Named Association Affiliate Of Retail Analytics Council
Retail industry trade association Global Market Development Center (GMDC) is now an association affiliate of the Retail Analytics Council. GMDC President and CEO Patrick Spear will represent GMDC for all RAC-related activities. “It’s an honor for GMDC to be an association affiliate for the Retail Analytics Council,” Spear said. “This is a significant opportunity for […]
GMA Report Finds Americans Have Desire To Recycle But Are Confused
A report called Reduce, Reuse, Confuse shows that although Americans are more environmentally concerned than ever, a patchwork system of local policies has confounded consumers and damaged recycling efforts. According to the study from the Grocery Manufacturers Association, 75 percent of Americans say they have changed their behavior in recent years to be more environmentally […]
Butterfly Equity Buys Bolthouse Farms from Campbell Soup Company
An affiliate of Butterfly Equity has agreed to purchase Bolthouse Farms from Campbell Soup Co. for $510 million. The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to be completed by the end of 2019. Butterfly Equity is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm specializing in the food sector. Bolthouse Farms is Butterfly’s fourth […]
Zespri Operations Manager Jason Donaldson Dies At 46
Mr. Jason Donaldson, operations manager for the Americas for Zespri North America, died unexpectedly on March 22 while on a business trip overseas. He was 46. “We are devastated by the unexpected passing of a great colleague and friend,” said Ben Hughes, GM-Americas for Orange County, California-based Zespri. “Jason brought a contagious energy and enthusiasm to […]
AWG Presents Merchandising, Store Manager And Lou Fox Awards
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) presented 11 Excellence in Merchandising Awards, the Store Manager of the Year Award and its Lou Fox Community Service Award on March 26 in conjunction with its 2019 Innovation Showcase and Annual Meeting held in Overland Park, Kansas. The company is based in Kansas City. The Excellence in Merchandising Award recognizes […]
Toshiba Self-Checkouts Add Value For Michigan Retailer
Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions self-checkout systems have helped Value Center Marketplace increase revenues and customer satisfaction. Value Center’s focus on customer experience has resulted in improved store revenues and operating efficiency for the Michigan grocer due to the deployment of Toshiba Self-Checkout Systems units at two stores. Providing shoppers with a convenient and frictionless option […]
Digitally Engaged Food Shopper Study Expanded by FMI, Nielsen
The Digitally Engaged Food Shopper study has been expanded by Food Marketing Institute and Nielsen to address the constant changes in digital platforms. The study delivers an omnichannel roadmap for the food marketing industry. Through a broadened roster of advisory partners, this year’s output will bring to life a set of actionable tools and resources […]
Midan Marketing Segments Meat Consumers To Understand Trends
In an effort to help retailers understand customers who purchase meat, Midan Marketing conducted an updated segmentation study of meat consumers in the U.S. The study, conducted in late 2018, is the second edition of segmentation research Midan Marketing conducted in 2016, which provided key insights into six distinct meat consumer groups. According to Midan […]
Sabra Offering Limited-Edition Salsa Verde Hummus
Sabra Dipping Co. in White Plains, New York, is offering Salsa Verde Hummus for a limited time. Inspired by traditional flavors of Mexico, the new Salsa Verde Hummus includes Sabra’s Classic Hummus topped with roasted tomatillos, jalapenos, cilantro and lime. “We’re really excited to bring the Salsa Verde Hummus to market,” said Grant Cowherd, brand manager. […]
Fairlife To Increase Production With New Facility In Arizona
Fairlife LLC plans to build a 300,000-s.f. production and distribution facility in suburban Phoenix in its efforts to increase overall production. The Fairlife facility costing more than $200 million in Goodyear, Arizona will be in addition to its current production plant in Coopersville, Michigan. It is expected to create more than 140 jobs once its […]
Kristyn Lawson Hired As SVP Sales At FiveStar Gourmet Foods
Kristyn Lawson has been hired as SVP of sales at FiveStar Gourmet Foods as part of the company’s expansion. Prior to joining FiveStar, Lawson previously served as VP of sales at Good Foods. While there she launched the Good Foods retail brand across North American retail channels. Lawson will report directly to FiveStar Gourmet Foods […]
FoodThink Study Examines Consumer Trust In Food Industry
A FoodThink study reveals that nearly half of consumers who regularly buy food for their households don’t trust the food industry to do the right thing, and nearly one-fourth actively distrust it. FoodThink researchers have studied consumer trust in food since 2012, and this new study examines food industry trust issues and how to address […]
Bristol Farms’ New Store Will Have Plant-Based Meat In Butcher Shop
When Bristol Farms opens its new store in Yorba Linda, California, this month, it will become the first grocery store in the country selling plant-based meats and entrees in the butcher section. The selection will include plant-based chicken burgers and breakfast sausage from Huntington Beach, California-based Before the Butcher, as well as items like no-meat […]
Greenleaf Foods Building Plant In Indiana, Biggest In North America
Greenleaf Foods SPC plans to build a plant in Indiana which will be the largest plant-based protein manufacturing facility in North America. The 230,000-s.f. facility on 57 acres off Interstate 74 in Shelbyville will more than double Greenleaf Foods’ production capacity. The $310 million facility is scheduled to become operational in late 2020 and will […]
Preferred Freezer Services Planning $60M Warehouse In Virginia
Preferred Freezer Services plans to build a $60 million cold storage warehouse in Portsmouth, Virginia. Along with the 200,000-s.f. cold storage warehouse, the company plans to hire 60 associates. The new facility will be used to import, export, process and distribute a variety of food products. “The entire Preferred Freezer Services team is honored to […]
Walmart Renovating Stores In 6 States To Enhance Customer Service
Walmart plans to spend millions remodeling and renovating 157 stores in six states for customer service innovations. Stores in Texas, Florida, California, Indiana, Arizona and Pennsylvania will receive upgrades to expand customer-focused innovations such as online shopping, grocery pickup, grocery delivery, pickup towers, autonomous shelf scanners, fast unloaders and autonomous floor scrubbers. Nationwide this fiscal […]
