This year’s Missouri Grocers Association (MGA) Annual Convention & Merchandising Show was moved to another venue—Osage Beach—and a different month. Dan Shaul, MGA state director, and Balls Food Stores COO Mike Beal, new president of the MGA’s board, said both factors had a role in the event’s success. “This year, we moved the convention from […]
Category: Industry News
Posted in, Beverage News, Center Store, Industry News, Market Profile, Shelby Signature Content, Southeast
Tennessee Food Retailers Face Challenges In Readying For Wine Sales Next Year
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer A referendum to allow food retailers in Tennessee to sell wine passed everywhere it was on the ballot last year. While getting that referendum on the November ballot was a long and oftentimes arduous process, the challenges aren’t over. Grocery stores in the 78 municipalities where wine sales will be allowed in […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Grocery Store Equipment, Industry News, Midwest, Online Grocery Technology
Schnucks Customers Can Now Use Apple Pay At All Locations
St. Louis-based Schnucks now accepts Apple Pay at all 98 store locations in five states. Shoppers can forego their wallets and use their iPhone, Apple Watch or iPad to pay. According to Schnucks VP of IT Infrastructure David Steck, Schnucks completed the new payment terminal rollout to all stores in June and was certified by […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Independent Store News, Industry News, International Foods, National, Shelby Signature Content
AWG Continues To Strengthen Focus On Hispanic Business
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer It would probably be an understatement to say that Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) puts a special focus on its Hispanic business. The Kansas City, Kansas-based wholesaler has been growing its Hispanic segment over the last four years and has seen a more than 500 percent increase in sales, according to Carlos […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Online Grocery Technology
Study: Mobile Technology Use Among Shoppers Rises As Retail Habits Change
Consumer financial services company Synchrony Financial has released findings from its 2015 Digital Study that further confirm the importance of a comprehensive mobile strategy for retailers to effectively engage shoppers and enhance the customer experience. The survey, conducted in March and April with nearly 7,000 Synchrony Bank cardholders and random shoppers nationwide, gathered insights on […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest, Store News
August Celebration Planned For Jungle Jim’s 40th Anniversary
Jungle Jim’s International Market will host “Birthday Bash” events at both its Fairfield and Eastgate locations Aug. 17-22 to celebrate its 40th anniversary. The retailer said in a news release that those attending can expect “a flock of food trucks, a surge of samples, fantastic fireworks, sightings of Jungle Jim himself, free safari tours of […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Center Store, Corporate Store News, Industry News, Southwest
The United Family Expands Pharmacy Services With Medication For Pets
The United Family has expanded its pharmacy services with the launch of “Pet Meds” at 57 pharmacy locations in West Texas, North Texas and New Mexico. The program allows shoppers to fill prescriptions for their four-legged family members in-store and online. “Our guests rely on our pharmacies to fill their prescription needs, and we are […]
Posted in, Center Store, Industry News, Midwest, National, New Products, Organic Natural
Federated Group Announces Relaunch Of Seven Farms Line At Summer Show
The theme of the Federated Group’s 2015 Summer Buying Show July 19-21 was “Driving Success Through Winning Practices.” According to Federated Group VP of Category Management Jen Linke, face time is among them. “One of the best things about the show is people meeting face-to-face and that winning practice of human interaction,” Linke told The […]
Posted in, Industry News, Midwest
Piggly Wiggly Midwest Assists In Building Home For Veteran
Piggly Wiggly Midwest is partnering with Home for Our Troops (HFOT) to assist in building a new specially-adapted home for a Wisconsin veteran, retired Army Staff Sgt. Russell Dennison. Dennison was severely injured by an improvised explosive device (IED) in Afghanistan in 2012, which resulted in the amputation of both of his legs. His wheelchair-accessible […]
Posted in, BJ's Wholesale Club, C-Store News, Industry News, National
Study: Wawa And Costco Are Consumers’ Favorite Places To Fuel Up
Wawa and Costco are consumers’ favorite places to fill up their gas tanks, according to a study by Market Force Information. Nearly 7,000 consumers were polled for the study, which was designed to uncover where consumers prefer to fuel up and why they prefer one chain to another, as well as trends in mobile app […]
Posted in, Industry News, Southeast
BI-LO, Harveys And Winn-Dixie Donate $3M To Help Support Wounded Warrior Project
Through a combination of customer and vendor donations and all profits earned at BI-LO, Harveys and Winn-Dixie grocery stores July 4th, Southeastern Grocers will donate $3,044,091.38 to support the Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) Independence Program (IP), which helps warriors live life fully on their own terms. Ian McLeod, CEO and president of Southeastern Grocers, said, […]
Posted in, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Southwest
El Centro Offers Retail Management Certificate For Dallas-Area Workers
El Centro College has partnered with the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) to provide a new retail management certificate as part of the industry organization’s ongoing mission to provide quality education and career opportunities for employees. The White House recently lauded the retail management certificate as part of President Barack Obama’s Upskill Initiative that […]
Posted in, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Perishables, Southwest, Sustainability News
Greenpeace Again Names Whole Foods Tops For Seafood Sustainability
For the third consecutive year, Greenpeace named Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market the top retailer for seafood sustainability in the nonprofit’s annual ranking of U.S. supermarkets. The company earned the highest overall score in the report’s nine-year history, as well as the highest individual scores for transparency, purchasing policies and private label canned tuna sourcing. […]
Posted in, Dairy News, National, Perishables, Suppliers, Women In The News
Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board Members Appointed
U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed eight members to fill vacancies on the National Fluid Milk Processor Promotion Board. The terms for these appointees began July 1 and expire on June 30, 2018. Newly appointed members are: Brian Linney, Sterling, Virginia (Region 3); Greg Schwarz, Dallas, Texas (Region 8); John Cox, Millersville, Pennsylvania (Region […]
Posted in, Center Store, Marketing News, National, New Products
Lean Cuisine Brand Gets A Makeover
The Lean Cuisine brand says it is reintroducing itself as a modern eating brand and ally for women’s wellness. No longer focused on diet, the Lean Cuisine brand relied on insights from hundreds of women as it evolved to reflect a shift in the way Americans—primarily women—are eating and shopping. Women want chef-inspired, ethnic dishes […]
Posted in, Online Grocery Technology, Store News, West
Haggen Selects Unata To Support New Loyalty Program
Haggen Food & Pharmacy has selected omni-commerce provider Unata to help launch its new customer loyalty program and e-commerce experience. The implementation will allow for more personalized marketing across Haggen’s channels, including online, mobile and in-store. Bellingham, Washington-based Haggen says its new e-commerce platform will increase its customer experience offerings and digital presence. Advanced machine-learning […]
Posted in, National, Perishables, Suppliers
Blue Bell To Begin Test Production In Coming Weeks
Blue Bell Creameries has notified the FDA and state health officials in Alabama that it hopes to begin test production of ice cream at its Sylacauga facility in the next several weeks. When production resumes at the Alabama plant, it will be on a limited basis as the company seeks to confirm that new procedures, […]
Posted in, Industry News, Southwest
Brookshire Brothers Benefit To Feature Texas Icon Ray Wylie Hubbard
A benefit for the Wimberley Valley, Texas, community that was ravaged by floods Memorial Day weekend will take place Aug. 9, with all proceeds from the concert going to the Wimberley Relief Effort. Nutty Brown Café owner Mike Farr ́ is offering his amphitheater for the event. Tickets are on sale online at nuttybrown.com and […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National, Perishables, Sustainability News
Anchor Wins 2015 Design Excellence Award
The Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) recently reviewed nearly 100 entries for all types of packaging, including food, beverage, pharmaceutical and health and beauty, and chose Anchor Packaging’s Embraceable as a winner of the 2015 AmeriStar Design Excellence Award. All entries were judged on innovation, product protection, economics, performance, marketing and environmental impact. IoPP’s AmeriStar […]
Posted in, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, Midwest, National, New Products, Perishables, Suppliers
Jack Link’s Debuts Five ‘Wild Side’ Sausage Varieties At Walmart
Jack Link’s Protein Snacks has introduced Jack Link’s Wild Side Sausage line. The Minong, Wisconsin-based company says the new sausages feature “unexpected” ingredients that range from handcrafted bacon jerky to hardwood-smoked beef and pork to spicy jalapeño peppers. Jack Link’s Wild Side Sausage line sausages are fully cooked and available in five varieties: Original Hardwood Smoked […]