United Supermarkets has acquired Llano Logistics Inc., which has operated United’s two distribution centers in Lubbock and Roanoke since their opening. The deal closed May 31 and means Llano, which had been owned by Exel Inc., a subsidiary of Deutsche Post DHL, is now owned by United, and the approximately 300 Llano employees are now […]
Category: Industry News
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Avocados From Mexico Implements New $36M Marketing Strategy
Avocados from Mexico Inc. (AFM), the newly formed marketing agency dedicated to the Mexican avocado industry, is allocating $36 million to grow the category and propel the Avocados from Mexico brand. To implement this strategy, Tim O’Connor, CEO of AFM, will appoint Arnold Worldwide as integrated agency of record and Ketchum as PR agency of […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Frozen Food Month Showed Positive Results For Category
The 30th annual March National Frozen Food Month showed an encouraging lift in dollar and unit sales as compared to last year. The promotion, sponsored by the National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA), achieved a 4 percent increase in dollar sales and a 3 percent increase in unit sales over the previous year, according […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Grocery Store Layout, Midwest
api(+) Designed Schnucks Grocery Store In Ballwin, Mo.
Tampa, Fla.-based api(+) provided architecture and interior design services for Schnucks Kehrs Mill location in Ballwin, Mo. The store is comprised of a 40,000-s.f. ground floor and a 5,000-s.f. mezzanine. api(+) was selected for the project after its design success of Schnucks’ 80,000-s.f. flagship located in Des Peres, Mo. The Ballwin location, which opened in […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Pork Cuts To Get New Consumer-Friendly Names At The Meat Case
Consumers will soon find more consumer-friendly names on packages of fresh pork cuts in retail meat cases across the country. The new names, such as the porterhouse pork chop, are designed to allow retailers to differentiate and merchandise pork cuts more effectively while aiding shoppers in selecting and preparing pork. “The new names will help […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, West
San Fran Sues Monster For Marketing To Kids Despite Alleged Health Risks
San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera has filed a lawsuit against Monster Beverage Corp. for allegedly violating California law with its marketing of highly caffeinated energy drinks to children as young as 6 years old, despite scientific findings that such products may cause “significant morbidity in adolescents” from elevated blood pressure, brain seizures and severe […]
Posted in, Perishables, Southeast
Sabra Opens Global ‘Center of Excellence’ R&D Facility
Sabra Dipping Co., makers of one of the country’s best-selling hummus, opened the doors to the new Center of Excellence (COE) research and development facility on April 30 in Chesterfield County, Va. The center, which is located on the site of Sabra’s hummus manufacturing facility—the world’s largest, the company says—will further research capabilities and improve […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Blue Bell Introduces Italian Cream Cake Ice Cream
The newest flavor from Blue Bell is fabuloso…or maybe delizioso. Blue Bell has combined a popular cake with its ice cream to create Italian Cream Cake Ice Cream. Italian Cream Cake is a vanilla ice cream with pieces of Italian cream cake, shredded coconut, roasted pecans and a smooth cream cheese icing swirl. “We’ve created […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Waldo Hidden On Wrapper Of New Chocolate Bar
Praim Group, the food licensing, marketing and distribution company, announced on Monday its agreement to create and distribute a line of all-natural chocolate bars featuring Where’s Waldo?® The four limited-edition collectible designs feature two everyday and two holiday SKUs. The 3.5-oz. milk chocolate bars are kosher; MSRP is $1.99-$2.49. The packaging features Where’s Waldo scenes […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Chicken, Ground Beef Top List Of Riskiest Meats
Ground beef and chicken are the riskiest meat and poultry products in the American food supply and pose the greatest likelihood of hospitalization, according to a new report released today by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI). Furthermore, according to the nonprofit group’s analysis of more than 33,000 cases of foodborne illness […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Industry News, National
Shoppers’ Belts Remain Tight Despite Economic Improvement
Even as the economy improves, 94 percent of Americans indicate they will remain cautious and keep their spending for food, beverage and household goods at its current level, according to Deloitte’s 2013 American Pantry Study. More than nine in 10 (92 percent) consumers surveyed indicate they have become more resourceful, and 86 percent say they […]
Posted in, Midwest, Perishables
Fox Bros. Brats Take Home WAMP Awards For Fifth Time
Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly was recognized for the fifth time in as many trips to the annual Wisconsin Association of Meat Processors (WAMP) Convention. The 2013 competition was held in Madison April 4-6. In conjunction with the convention, Fox Bros. entered several of its Almost World Famous Brats to compete with more than 1,000 other […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Greek Yogurt Continues Its Sales Growth Marathon
In the wake of the Greek yogurt craze, yogurt remains a superfood with a significant upside, according to a recently released report from Packaged Facts, “The Yogurt Market and Yogurt Innovation: Greek Yogurt and Beyond.” Packaged Facts forecasts that U.S. retail sales of yogurt will approach $9.3 billion by 2017, up from $7.3 billion in […]
Posted in, Industry News, Southeast
Tennessee House Approves Sales Tax Decrease On Groceries
The Tennessee House has unanimously approved a proposal to cut the state’s sales tax on groceries. The Memphis Business Journal reports that the proposal was put forward by Gov. Bill Haslam. If approved by the Senate, Tennessee’s sales tax on groceries will decrease from 7 percent to 5 percent. The decrease is expected to cost […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
KCBS, Under New Ownership, Becomes BeaconUnited Cincinnati
Former KCBS CEO and owner Sarsgard has left the company Co-Sales Co. of Arizona and Carlin O’Brien of Illinois, along with John Rutherford and John Schipper of Cincinnati, have completed the acquisition of KCBS, a Cincinnati-based sales and marketing agency. “We are pleased to announce new ownership for KCBS, which will now be called BeaconUnited […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Blue Bell Brings Contest Winner Caramel Turtle Cheesecake To Freezer
Blue Bell fans overwhelmingly voted to bring back Caramel Turtle Cheesecake Ice Cream in last year’s Crankin’ Back the Clock Flavor Contest, and it will arrive in stores this month. Caramel Turtle Cheesecake is a cheesecake ice cream filled with chocolate-coated caramel turtles, roasted pecans and cheesecake pieces with a chocolate cookie crust all surrounded […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Magnum Partners With Designer Zac Posen For U.S. Launch Of ‘Gold?!’
Magnum Ice Cream has introduced its “Magnum Gold?!” golden ice cream bar in the U.S. Magnum Gold?! features vanilla bean ice cream swirled with sea salt caramel and dipped in a golden coating made with Belgian milk chocolate. In celebration of the launch, American fashion designer Zac Posen created a one-of-a-kind, 24-karat gold dress inspired […]
Posted in, Perishables, Southeast
Belle Foods’ New Meat Case Labels Help Consumers Get Information
Belle Foods is offering smartphone users the opportunity to get meat information while shopping the case. The new pork and beef labels encourage customers to use their smartphone to scan the Quick Response (QR) code to learn more about cooking methods for various cuts of meat. With the help of the Beef Checkoff and Pork […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Nestle Survey Looks At Frozen Food Habits
When it comes to frozen, ready-made meals, some of us are keeping secrets. According to a new survey by NestleUSA, 25 percent of Americans confess to having passed off frozen meals as their own culinary creation. Another 14 percent admit to having “accidentally” taken a co-worker’s frozen meal in the workplace. These and other findings […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Lean Cuisine, Fresh Express Team Up To Offer New Salad Product
Lean Cuisine and Fresh Express are partnering to help consumers make good food choices, with new Lean Cuisine Salad Additions and Fresh Express lettuce. The salad, according to a news release, can be prepared in minutes and is 350 calories or less. “We know that Lean Cuisine consumers have lettuce in their fridge, but they […]