Grocery Industry News: Retail & Supply Chain Updates
Posted in, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Perishables, Produce News, Suppliers

More Than Half Of U.S. Households Purchase Fresh Mushrooms

The Mushroom Council recently released a study analyzing the latest mushroom shopper purchase trends. The Fresh Mushroom Fast Facts study provides key insights into the shopping behaviors that are driving fresh mushroom category growth. According to the study, more than half of U.S. households purchased mushrooms in 2015. Nearly four out of five purchasing households […]

Posted in, Dairy News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Organic Natural, Perishables, Suppliers

General Mills Partners With Cooperative To Increase Organic Dairy Supply

General Mills has formed a sourcing partnership with the largest organic cooperative in the U.S. that will help about 20 dairy farms add around 3,000 acres to organic dairy production over the next three years. The program with Wisconsin-based Organic Valley will drive more acres in the U.S. into the organic certification process and builds […]

Posted in, C-Store News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Store News

Casey’s Fiscal Year Ends Strong As Company Looks To Expand East And South

On June 6, Casey’s General Stores Inc. reported diluted earnings per share of $1.19 for the fourth quarter of fiscal year ended April 30 vs. $1.05 for the same period a year ago. For the year, diluted earnings per share grew 24 percent to $5.73 vs. $4.62 for the same period last year. “Fiscal 2016 […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Southeast

Kroger’s Mid-Atlantic Division Ratifies Agreement With UFCW Local 400

The Kroger Co.’s Mid-Atlantic division has ratified a new labor agreement with the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 400. The agreement covers 5,100 associates in Virginia from Bristol east to Appomattox and from Martinsville north to Harrisonburg, three stores in Kingsport/Johnson City, Tennessee, and two stores in the Bluefield, West Virginia, area. “We are […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest

Meijer Opens Supercenters In Wisconsin And Indiana

Meijer opened a new 192,000-s.f. supercenter in Sussex, Wisconsin, on June 7. The Sussex store is one of nine new Meijer supercenters to open this year, and part of an investment of more than $400 million in new and remodeled stores that will create 3,000 new jobs across the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based retailer’s six-state foot […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Perishables, Produce News, Suppliers

Second Mushroom Council, Beef Checkoff Veal Summer Grilling Promotion Under Way

The Beef Checkoff and the Mushroom Council have teamed up for a second Veal Mushroom Summer Grilling Promotion. A new Veal and Portobello Mushroom Blend Burger recipe has been introduced through labels placed on specially marked packages of veal. The promotion is supported with a consumer sweepstakes featuring a $500 grand prize and two $50 […]

Posted in, Dairy News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Perishables, Store News, Suppliers, Sustainability News, West

Grocery Outlet Sets Cage-Free Egg Goal

Extreme-value grocery retailer Grocery Outlet Bargain Market is working with suppliers to source 100 percent cage-free eggs for all of its locations by 2025, based on available supply. “Many Grocery Outlet stores serve underserved populations who regularly experience food insecurity. Our first obligation is to these customers, and we are committed to providing them wholesome, quality […]

Posted in, Corporate Store News, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National

Walmart Annual Meeting: McMillon Says Company Will ‘Reimagine Retail’

On Friday, June 3, at Walmart’s 46th annual shareholders meeting, President and CEO Doug McMillon urged the company’s 2.3 million associates to get behind the company’s vision, saying, “We have the opportunity to reimagine retail again.” As part of this “reimagining,” McMillon announced that Walmart is now working with Uber and other partners to test […]

Posted in, Bakery News, Deli News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Perishables

Survey: How Much Would You Invest In Your Deli/Bakery Department Manager?

by Lorrie Griffith/editor At what level in your company’s hierarchy do you feel comfortable spending money for team members to go to conferences, conventions and workshops to enhance their job performance? While a lot of companies don’t hesitate to send upper- and mid-level executives to these kinds of events, there can be hesitation when it […]

Posted in, Corporate Store News, Equipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Southwest

Kroger Introduces Online Grocery Shopping In Greater Houston

Select Kroger Houston division customers are now able to try ClickList, the chain’s exclusive online grocery ordering service. Stores testing the service include Baytown (6315 Garth Road), Cypress (9703 Barker Cypress Road), Galveston (5730 Seawall Boulevard) and Tomball (24350 Kuykendahl Road). As an introductory offer, Kroger will waive the $4.95 service charge for a customer’s […]

Posted in, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, Perishables

Doc’s Food Stores Promotes ‘The Blend’ In Three Departments

Doc’s Food Stores, which operates as Country Mart, JB’s Market and Apple Market in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma, has launched the Mushroom Council’s “Blend” in its deli, meat and produce departments at all of its stores. “The Blend” is mixing finely diced mushrooms into proteins such as beef, turkey, lamb or pork to make hamburgers, […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Perishables, Suppliers

Cargill To Acquire Fort Worth-based Five Star Custom Foods

Cargill has signed an agreement to acquire Fort Worth, Texas-based Five Star Custom Foods Ltd., a business specializing in cooked protein products and custom prepared soups and sauces for the foodservice and food processing sectors. The acquisition includes both of the Five Star Custom Foods facilities in Fort Worth and Nashville, Tennessee. Terms of the […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Perishables, Suppliers, Sustainability News

GMA Highlights Industry Progress In Reducing Food Waste

The food industry has made significant strides in cutting food waste and is taking steps to reduce consumer confusion around product date labeling, an expert from the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) told the House Agriculture Committee on May 25. GMA Senior Director of Sustainability Meghan Stasz testified at the hearing on behalf of the Food […]

Posted in, Beverage News, Center Store, Home Page Latest News, Marketing News, National

IBWA: Bottled Water Consumption, Sales Increase

The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA), in conjunction with research, consulting and financial services firm Beverage Marketing Corp. (BMC), has released 2015 bottled water statistics, which show that Americans’ consumption of bottled water increased by 7.9 percent and bottled water sales rose 8.9 percent vs. the previous year. BMC now indicates that bottled water is poised […]

Posted in, Bakery News, Beverage News, Center Store, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Perishables, Snacks Brands, Suppliers

TreeHouse Foods To Close California And Wisconsin Facilities

TreeHouse Foods is closing manufacturing plants in Azusa, California, and Ripon, Wisconsin. The Azusa facility has approximately 660 employees and produces bars and snack products primarily for retail customers. The full facility is expected to close and production is expected to end in the second quarter of 2017. Products produced at the Azusa facility will […]

Posted in, Food Service News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Southwest, Sustainability News

H-E-B Store In Austin Makes History With COTE Award

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) and its Committee on the Environment (COTE) has selected H-E-B at Mueller in Austin, Texas, as one of the top 10 examples of sustainable architecture and ecological design projects that protect and enhance the environment. H-E-B is the first grocery store to receive a national AIA COTE Top Ten Award. “Following […]

Posted in, Center Store, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Merchandising News, National, Suppliers

Mars Introduces New Flavors For Snickers, Twix And Dove Brands

Mars Chocolate North America has launched several new flavor extensions to its chocolate brands, such as Snickers Hazelnut, Twix White Chocolate Cookie Bars, Dove Sorbet Bars, Dove Peanut Butter and Dark Chocolate Promises as well as a wide range of seasonal offerings for these brands plus the M&M’s, Milky Way and 3 Musketeers brands. Mars […]

Posted in, Coborn's, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology, Suppliers

Coborn’s And Foodtown Deploy Birdzi’s Shopper Engagement Platform

Minnesota-based Coborn’s and New Jersey-based Foodtown, have selected the Birdzi (sounds like bird’s eye) platform to provide personalized digital savings for their shoppers and increase customer engagement. The independent chains selected Birdzi for its ability to create personalized offers and drive loyalty at home, in store and on the go. The Birdzi platform allows retailers to […]

Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, National, Perishables, Suppliers

Federal Bill Aims To Make Food Expiration Dates Less Confusing, Reduce Waste

A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate and House Wednesday would make expiration date labeling on food less confusing, helping to eliminate a key cause of consumer food waste in the U.S. Forty percent of food in America goes uneaten, and consumers are responsible for more of that waste than grocery stores, restaurants or any […]

Posted in, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Midwest, Organic Natural

Earth Fare Opens Fourth Ohio Store

Earth Fare opened its fourth Ohio location yesterday in The Venue at Belden, located at 3939 Everhard Road in North Canton. Every item in the new 24,000-s.f. store is free of artificial fats, trans-fats, colors, preservatives and sweeteners and high fructose corn syrup, as well as bleached or bromated flour. Its meat, seafood and poultry […]