The Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association (TGCSA) on Jan. 20 will host a training seminar for the state’s retailers that plan to bring wine to their shelves in July 2016. These retailers “will have to navigate a complicated set of rules and regulations,” according to TGCSA. One requirement for retailers is to certify clerks […]
Category: Industry News
Posted in, Center Store, Frozen Food, Perishables, Southeast
Blue Bell To Begin Next Phase Of Market Re-Entry Next Month, Includes Southeast
Blue Bell Ice Cream will enter phase five of its market re-entry plan over a two-week period beginning Jan. 18. The week of Jan. 18 will include middle and eastern Tennessee, the northern sections of Alabama and Georgia and parts of Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The week of Jan. 25 will include […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Industry News, National, Store News
Study: Associates Are The Trump Card In Nurturing Supermarket Loyalty
The Retail Feedback Group (RFG), a provider of actionable stakeholder feedback, has released its 2015 U.S. Supermarket Experience Study. The research, now in its eighth year, found that supermarkets continue to generate high satisfaction among their shoppers, scoring an average of 4.44 on a 5-point scale, where 5 is highest. Shoppers who felt like a […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Marketing News, Southwest, Store News
Buy For Less Gives Away New Home Just In Time For Christmas
This Christmas season is one Oklahoma City resident Barbara Allen likely will never forget. Santa, a.k.a. Buy For Le$$, gave her a new home on Dec. 19. She held the winning key to the front door of the 1,642-s.f. house located in Sycamore Creek in Yukon, Oklahoma. “It’s been a tough year and this is […]
Posted in, National, Perishables, Suppliers
Nestlé Vows To Switch To 100 Percent Cage-Free Eggs By 2020
Nestlé says it will switch to 100 percent cage-free eggs in the U.S. by 2020. The company’s announcement follows similar vows from the likes of McDonald’s, Taco Bell, Compass Group, Aramark, Sodexo, Starbucks, Panera Bread, Dunkin’ Donuts and more. According to The Humane Society of the United Staes (HSUS), Carnival Corp.—the world’s largest cruise company—announced this month a 100 […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Industry News, National
Food Retail Industry Study Urges Shopper-Centric Approach Vs. Category Management
Category management in the food retail industry is stagnant, according to a new study by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI), Deloitte Consulting LLP and Winston Weber, but a roadmap to a more insightful shopper-centric way of doing business is accessible in today’s market. The collaborative business planning study suggests that the biggest shortcomings of category […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Industry News, Marketing News, National, Suppliers
New Study Forecasts Growth In Grocery Spending For Holiday Season
‘Tis the season to be shopping, and a new study from Acosta, a leading full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods industry, shows 57 percent of shoppers who were surveyed plan to spend more on groceries during the 2015 holiday season as compared to last year. Acosta’s shopper survey, conducted in early […]
Posted in, Executive News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Merchandising News, Perishables, Southeast
Laurel Grocery Co. Reports Three Executive Changes
David Pearson, president of Kentucky-based Laurel Grocery Co., has announced executive changes that were effective Nov. 15. On that date, Kip Faulhaber was promoted to SVP of merchandising and marketing, overseeing all marketing, merchandising and procurement for the entire company. Carey Otwell joined Laurel as VP of fresh, responsible for meat, produce, bakery and deli and […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Center Store, Marketing News, National, Suppliers
Bud Light Gets A Redesign
Bud Light has unveiled its plans for a new look. This redesign—the first major overhaul of Bud Light’s visual identity in eight years—will include a reimagined Bud Light logo and contemporized primary and secondary packaging and is part of a larger brand evolution under way at Bud Light. “In 2016, we’ll put a more modern […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Produce News, Suppliers
Report: Q3 Sales Of ‘eat brighter!’-Branded Products Up Among 78% Of Suppliers
Results from a recent survey administered by Produce Marketing Association’s (PMA) Research Center show eat brighter! growing in presence, with 78 percent of suppliers reporting an increase in sales of products branded with eat brighter! during the third quarter of 2015. The study also finds increased activity over this period among grower-shippers and promotional boards […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Industry News, National, Suppliers
National GMO Labeling Law Will Not Pass This Year
Congress has failed to reach an agreement this year on legislation that prevents states from enacting their own labeling laws concerning genetically modified organisms, commonly referred to as GMOs. Many in the food industry are expressing disappointment, including the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), which says the failure prevents “a costly and confusing 50-state patchwork of […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Produce News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content
Disney Is Using ‘The Force’ For Good
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Since 2006, the goodies in Walt Disney Co. parks haven’t been as fatty, sweet or salty as they once were. That’s when the company updated its nutritional standards. The better-for-you change became no less than a guiding force for the organization, said John King, VP of licensing, consumables and Disney consumer […]
Posted in, Center Store, Midwest, Perishables, Produce News, Suppliers
Meijer, Masterpiece Flower Co. Enjoy 50-Year Partnership In Michigan
Thanks to its longstanding partnership with a Michigan grower, Meijer is continuing its tradition of supplying each of its 223 stores across the Midwest with locally-grown poinsettias this holiday season—enough to fill about eight football fields. But the partnership with Masterpiece Flower Co. has also allowed the Byron Center, Mich.-based grower to expand its own […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Industry News, National, Online Grocery Technology
With Walmart Pay, Retailer Introduces Its Own Payment Solution
Walmart has introduced Walmart Pay, which it touts as a fast, easy and secure way for customers to pay with their smartphones in Walmart stores. The retailer said Walmart Pay was built with the goal of improving how customers check out and to expand mobile payment access. With this launch, Walmart said it becomes the […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, Independent Store News, Industry News, National, ROFDA Reports, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, Women In The News
Pace Of Change Sparks New, And Renewed, ‘Worries’ Among Execs
Food retailing has changed greatly over the last decade, and perhaps nowhere can that be seen more clearly than through the Food Marketing Institute’s “Worry Index,” a polling of anxieties that keep executives up at night, so to speak. “One of the most distinguishing facts about this year’s list is that half of the items […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Industry News, National, Suppliers
JAB Holding To Buy Keurig Green Mountain
JAB Holding Co. is purchasing Keurig Green Mountain of Vermont. The deal, estimated at $13.9 billion and approved by Keurig Green Mountain’s board of directors, was announced today. JAB is acquiring Keurig Green Mountain in partnership with strategic minority investors, who already are shareholders in Jacobs Douwe Egberts B.V., (“JDE”), including Mondelēz International and entities affiliated […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Produce News, West
December Marks National Pear Month And Peak Season
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has officially declared December as National Pear Month, a time to celebrate the abundance and variety of USA Pears, now at their peak and available nationwide. Pears can star in festive appetizers and holiday feasts, gifted fresh, preserved as jam or chutney, and as portable, healthy snacks throughout this active […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Independent Store News, Industry News, National, Online Grocery Technology
AWG Picks Freshop As Grocery E-Commerce Platform Provider
Members of Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) now are able to take advantage of the services of Freshop Inc., a comprehensive grocery e-commerce solution, that recently was chosen as the wholesaler’s technology solution and provider. With more than 600 member-owners and 3,400 retail outlets in 31 states, AWG is the second largest retailer-owned grocery cooperative in the […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Industry News, West, Whole Foods
Amazon Prime Now Comes To San Diego, Offers One-Hour Delivery
Amazon Inc.’s Prime Now one-hour delivery service has expanded to San Diego, California, and surrounding areas in time for Thanksgiving. Amazon Prime members in San Diego now have access to one-hour delivery on thousands of daily essentials, such as paper towels, milk, diapers and electronics, which can be ordered through a mobile app. Through the […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Southeast
Flavor Of Georgia Contest To Host 10th Annual Event
Whether it’s a specialty sweet treat, small-batch pork sausage or pimento cheese made from Grandma’s secret recipe, the University of Georgia’s (UGA) Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest shines a spotlight on the state’s craft food scene. The contest, which will celebrate its 10th year in 2016, has served as a springboard for participating food manufacturers, […]