by Terrie Ellerbee/editor-Midwest, Southwest Albertsons on Broadway opened its doors 79 years to the day that Joe Albertson opened his first cutting-edge, innovative store just a few miles down the road at 16th and State streets. In his obituary in 1993, the amenities in that first store were described as “unheard of in markets of […]
Category: Industry News
Quality Chekd Dairies Names Excellence Awards Finalists
Quality Chekd Dairies Inc., a member-owned organization of independent dairy processors, has named three outstanding dairy processors as finalists for the Irving B. Weber Award, which the organization developed and modeled after the Association for Manufacturing Excellence Award. This award represents the highest honor for overall quality throughout the Quality Chekd organization. Finalists are judged […]
Food 4 Less Brings Blockchain To Shoppers With New Soccer Promo
Food 4 Less, a banner of The Kroger Co., has partnered with Greenfence Consumer to deliver a gamified experience and exclusive collectible content to Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) fans, leveraging blockchain technology and GFT Authentic Digital Collectibles. Food 4 Less is supporting the blockchain-based promotion through in-store, digital and blockchain marketing tactics to enable […]
Sorensen: Connecting With Hispanic Shoppers
by Cindy Sorensen/Founder and CEO of The Grocery Group The Hispanic population represents the fastest-growing ethnic group in the U.S. In fact, by 2020, Hispanics will be the largest ethnic group. They currently represent 17 percent of the population and will grow to be 29 percent by 2050. This growth will occur in all regions […]
NACS Concerned About New Swipe Fee Settlement
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has raised concerns about the latest settlement announced in the Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation (MDL 1720). “The broken swipe-fee system will not be fixed simply by Visa and MasterCard throwing some money to merchants,” said Lyle Beckwith, NACS SVP for government relations. “These […]
National Pork Board Offers Back-To-School Recipes From Latino Influencers
The back-to-school season is in full motion, and the National Pork Board (NPB) wants to help parents prepare meals not just for their kids, but for the whole family. NPB has partnered with top digital Latino influencers to develop “healthy, savory meals for everyday eating.” “Back to school is a special time for the entire […]
Food Retail Study Determines Transparency Yields Greater Brand Loyalty
A new report released Sept. 18 from Label Insight and the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) reveals that grocery shoppers exhibit loyalty to those products that create deeper relationships through information exchange. “The Transparency Imperative” report found that shoppers increasingly demand transparency and a closer connection to their food, so much so that 75 percent are more […]
USDA Loosens SNAP Restrictions In North Carolina Through Oct. 31
The USDA on Sept. 16 approved a waiver that will allow Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants in North Carolina to buy hot foods with their benefits through Oct. 31. USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue emphasized the importance of the waiver, noting that many North Carolina residents who evacuated to shelters cannot store food and are […]
Applestone Meat Vending Machines Expanding In New York
More than 14 years ago, Joshua Applestone and his wife, Jessica, opened a whole-animal butcher shop in the Hudson Valley of New York called Fleisher’s. With his latest project, automated vending machines, Joshua and the Applestone Meat Co. strive to tackle two new challenges: 24-hour accessibility and affordability. In addition, it’s a way to make […]
Rouses Makes Calcasieu Parish, La., Debut With Sulphur Store
Rouses Markets opened its first store in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana, on Sept. 12, marking the retailer’s 57th location. Customers were lined up outside the store at 800 Carlyss Boulevard in Sulphur long before doors opened at 7 a.m. Donny Rouse, CEO, personally greeted customers as they entered. Opening-day festivities included a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the mayor […]
SpartanNash Completes Transition Of Two Minnesota Econofoods
SpartanNash on Sept. 12 celebrated the grand reopening of its newest Family Fare Supermarkets in Northfield and Red Wing, Minnesota. The retailer invested $3 million in the Northfield store, located at 601 Division Street, and $500,000 in the Red Wing store, located at 615 Main Street. The stores, which previously operated under the Econofoods banner, […]
Harps Appoints New Bakery Director And Advertising Manager
Springdale, Arkansas-based Harps Food Stores Inc. recently made two new leadership appointments. Hydie Hale has been named director of all bakery and deli operations, and Sarah Thacker has been named advertising manager. Hale, a native of Fort Smith, attended Westark (now University of Arkansas Fort Smith). In 1997, while a student at the college, Hale […]
Rosie Bringing E-Commerce To 270 Southeastern Piggly Wiggly Stores
Piggly Wiggly Alabama Distributing Co. (PWADC) has selected Ithaca, New York-based Rosie Applications to implement online shopping at its more than 270 retail locations across the Southeast. Given the growth in consumer demand for online shopping services, PWADC says it wanted a partner that would exceed customer expectations and help their stores grow revenue in […]
H-E-B Opens 10th Central Market Store In Texas
Central Market, a banner of H-E-B, opened the doors of its newest location at the corner of Midway Road and Northwest Highway in Dallas, Texas, last week with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. This store marks the company’s 10th specialty retail location in Texas, and the third location in Dallas. Central Market Midway brings 250 jobs to […]
Raley’s Revamps Its Check Stands With Better-For-You Options
Raley’s is reimagining the checkout experience in an effort to help customers make better decisions at the check stand. The California-based retailer has reduced the overall candy offerings at its check stands by 25 percent, fully eliminated conventional candy and replaced it with a selection of snack options that take nutritional value, portion control and […]
Gristedes Joins Allegiance Retail Services To Improve Offerings
Gristedes has joined the Allegiance Retail Services Cooperative. Gristedes, owned by Red Apple Group of New York City, is the 30th member of the cooperative and increases the number of stores serviced by Allegiance to 120. Gristedes operates 23 stores in the New York metro market. “Strategically aligning the Gristedes business with Allegiance in the New York […]
Premium Brands Holdings Ready To Buy Maine’s Ready Seafood Co.
Premium Brands Holdings Corp., a Canadian producer, marketer and distributor of branded specialty food products, plans to purchase Ready Seafood Co. of Portland, Maine. Ready was founded in 2004 by brothers John and Brendan Ready and has grown from a small startup to a major processor, distributor and marketer of lobsters in the U.S. It has three production […]
PepsiCo Launches Nutrition Greenhouse Program For Startups
PepsiCo has launched the “Nutrition Greenhouse” accelerator program designed to discover and support emerging brands in the food and beverage sector. The North American program follows the launch of PepsiCo’s Nutrition Greenhouse in Europe, now in its second year. In 2017, eight startups in the European program delivered an estimated combined sales growth of more than $10 […]
Stir Foods And Pacifica Foods Acquires Sabra’s Salsa Business
Stir Foods and Pacifica Foods (Stir-Pacifica), a custom manufacturer of soups, sauces, dressings and fresh salsas for both retail and foodservice customers, has acquired Sabra Dipping Co.’s salsa business, based in Oceanside, California. The acquisition includes the Santa Barbara and Chachies brands, which will continue to be produced at the Oceanside facility, and the Sabra […]
Aldi To Hire More Than 100 In Georgia Sept. 17
Aldi will host a one-day hiring spree on Monday, Sept. 17, for all store locations in Georgia. These hiring events will focus on filling more than 100 positions across Georgia as well as the Asheville and Greenville region. “Aldi is nationally recognized for its commitment to employees,” the company says, noting that it offers “generous […]
