Frick’s Quality Meats Inc. has broken ground on a 28,320-s.f. expansion of its existing 120,000-s.f. facility in Washington, Missouri. The expansion represents a $11.5 million investment in the region and will create 40 new jobs. Frick’s Quality Meats is a family-owned company that makes smoked meats and sausages with distribution to grocery retailers in 44 […]
Category: Industry News
All Hy-Vee Brand Shelf-Stable Tuna Products Now Responsibly Sourced
Less than one year after Hy-Vee announced it was expanding its Seafood Procurement Policy to include the shelf-stable tuna category, 100 percent of its private-brand shelf-stable tuna products are now sourced from environmentally preferred fisheries. “We continue to push forward in our seafood sustainability goals and add categories to our list of responsibly sourced items,” […]
Buehler’s Fresh Foods Names New Board Of Directors
Buehler’s Fresh Foods, a regional supermarket chain located in northeast Ohio, has named the board of directors for its newly formed company. Dan Shanahan, president and CEO of Buehler’s, was elected as chairman and is joined on the board by Jim Tapscott and Paul Nanula. “We welcome the addition of these two outstanding new board […]
Stater Bros. Charities Donates $75K To Toys For Tots Program
Since 2005, Stater Bros. has partnered with the U.S. Marine Corps (U.S.M.C.) Toys for Tots program during the holiday season. Earlier this month, representatives from Stater Bros. gathered to present a $75,000 check to local Toys for Tots Program ambassadors. Funds from this donation are used to purchase new toys for disadvantaged children in the […]
New Maine Food Group Executive Director Working To Join Retailers And Producers
by Mike Berger/editor-Northeast Christine Cummings, new executive director of the Maine Grocers and Food Producers Association (MGFPA), will be returning to her position in January after maternity leave. She joined the association in 2017 and was promoted to executive director in June. She is excited about the growth of the association, the rise of Maine […]
Raley’s Launches Same-Day Delivery Service In Reno
Raley’s eCart e-commerce platform is launching its third phase of delivery service to Reno, Nevada. The grocer’s offerings now can be delivered to select zip codes in the Reno area. This is the next step in Raley’s investment in e-commerce, developed with the purpose of making grocery shopping more convenient for its customers. In November, […]
Sprouts Farmers Market Readying Stores In Its Home State
Sprouts Farmers Market soon will finish construction on new locations in Tempe and Scottsdale, Arizona. Those stores will be among four opening in the first quarter of 2018 in the grocer’s home state. The 30,000-s.f. Tempe store is located at 931 East Elliott Road and will open on Wednesday, March 21, at 7 a.m. The […]
No Evil Foods Earns ‘Living Wage Certified’ Status
No Evil Foods has been deemed “Living Wage Certified” by Just Economics WNC. Companies meet living wage certification criteria by paying at or above the Western North Carolina standard of $13.00 per hour without benefits, or $11.50 per hour with benefits. Just Economics Living Wage Certification is currently the largest program of its kind and […]
Organic Valley Commits To Be Renewably Powered By 2019
Organic Valley, a national cooperative of organic farmers and an organic brand, has announced a first-of-its-kind community partnership that will enable Organic Valley to source 100 percent of its electricity from renewable sources. “Our future demands bold, new thinking about our sources of energy, and there is nothing more natural to a farmer than harnessing the […]
FDA Observational Data Shows Most Common Food Safety Violations
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has released its inspectional observation data for fiscal 2017—an overview of violations cited by FDA during routine food facility inspections from October 2016 through September 2017. FDA consulting firm Registrar Corp. firm compiled the most commonly cited food safety violations: Lack of Effective Pest Exclusion/Screening–The facility does not take effective measures to […]
Give Fresh Departments A Boost With Chinese New Year Promotions
Frieda’s Specialty Produce offers training and programming to help retailers ring in the Year of the Dog: Draw in shoppers to your store with the unique food experience of a Chinese New Year promotion. Frieda’s Specialty Produce offers special support to customers who book a Chinese New Year promotion by Jan. 10; it includes a […]
Fresh Thyme Looks Back At 2017, More Growth Planned For 2018
Fresh Thyme Farmers Market, a full-service specialty grocer focused on fresh, healthy and organic offerings, grew by 20 stores and more than 2,000 new hires in 2017, bringing its total footprint to 66 stores across the Midwest. Since opening its first store in 2014, Fresh Thyme has expanded across nine states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, […]
At Hanover Co-op Food Stores, ‘Local’ Actually Means Local
Associated Grocers of New England member If you’ve ever seen a picture postcard of a quaint New England town, then you have a pretty good idea about the communities Hanover Co-op Food Stores serves, according to Allan Reetz, director of public relations. The 81-year-old co-op operates four retail stores in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, […]
Technology-Rich ShopRite Of North Greenbush Opens In New York
ShopRite Supermarket opened its new ShopRite of North Greenbush in Renssalaer County, New York, in early December. The 55,000-s.f. store, in Van Rensselaer Square shopping center, boosted the local economy by more than 175 jobs. The ShopRite of North Greenbush—the first store in Rensselaer County for the supermarket chain—features a large selection of fresh produce, […]
PFMA Commends Pennsylvania House For Action On Anti-Skimming Devices
The Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) commended the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for unanimously passing legislation that would update and upgrade Pennsylvania law to help prevent, eliminate and punish the use of fraudulent credit/debit card devices. HB 1918, sponsored by Rep. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York), would make skimmer and scanner devices and their use illegal. It […]
New York C-Store Retailers Object To Predictive Scheduling Regulations
According to the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), New York convenience store operators are giving the state labor department an earful about the negative impacts of predictive scheduling regulations they are threatening to unilaterally impose on employers statewide. Retailers have filed formal comments objecting to the proposed rules, which they say would add costs […]
7-Eleven Testing App For Mobile Ordering, Delivery & In-Store Pickup
7-Eleven Inc. is testing on-demand ordering for delivery or in-store pickup at select Dallas stores with its new 7-ElevenNOW smartphone app. Currently being tested in 10 downtown and uptown stores, 7-ElevenNOW is expected to roll out to other U.S. locations in 2018. Customers in the Dallas area who enroll in the new app will receive […]
Convenience Chain Weigel’s Names New CEO, Promotes Execs
As a result of Weigel’s continued growth in Knoxville, Tennessee, and surrounding communities, the operator of 66 convenience stores, a dairy and a bakery has promoted several key management personnel, effective Dec. 14, 2017. Ken McMullen, president since 2001, now will serve as Weigel’s CEO. McMullen joined the company in 1981 as operations manager and […]
The Right Coin Management Strategy For Grocers: Turn Hidden Costs Into Profits
by Jim Weaks/ VP, Cummins Allison The grocery industry is constantly changing. Grocers must adapt to changes in consumer behaviors and expectations, online competitors luring away once-loyal shoppers and economic uncertainty that threatens already razor-thin margins. With that in mind, the pressure is on to control costs and find new ways of increasing profitability. Fortunately, […]
Crazy Water Nationally Recognized For ‘Crazy Good’ Packaging
Mineral Wells, Texas-based Crazy Water was honored with a 2017 Clear Choice Award from the Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) at this year’s Packaging That Sells Conference, held in Chicago. The award recognizes the country’s top brands and manufacturers for “first-rate designs that shape powerful brand experiences.” Crazy Water was selected for its new Crazy Fizz and Crazy Water […]
