Chiquita Brands International Inc. is apparently pulling out of avocado sales. The Charlotte Business Journal reports that the company plans to exit the avocado business over the next few months to concentrate strategic resources on the core categories of bananas, salads and apples. Chiquita’s banana sales, at $2 billion, amounted to 64 percent of sales […]
Category: Industry News
Posted in, Marketing News, National, New Products
Consumers Help Alexia Foods, Tyler Florence ‘Reinvent A Classic’
For the second year in a row, Alexia Foods, a line of premium all-natural side dishes, and celebrity chef Tyler Florence invited consumers nationwide to have their culinary opinions heard by voting for the next great French fry flavor in the brand’s “Reinvent a Classic” campaign. The winning fry flavor, Bruschetta Waffle Fries, created by […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Southwest
FMI’s Upcoming Private Brands Summit : Think Like A Customer
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) will feature the 2012 Private Brands Summit, taking place alongside “FMI2012: The Food Retail Show” in Dallas, Texas, in May. The Summit will provide greater communication and collaboration amongst trading partners in order to promote the growth of private brands. “This year’s Private Brands Summit goes beyond creating ‘me too’ […]
Posted in, Perishables, Southeast
Rouses Unveils Signature Line Of Sustainable Gulf Coast Fish
The latest fish story out of Louisiana stars three Gulf Coast fish—drum, sheepshead and flounder—and a local family at the forefront of a national movement to promote local, seasonal, sustainable food. Rouses Markets is introducing its own brand of flash-frozen, wild-caught local fish at all 38 of its stores. “Season, fishing restrictions and weather affect […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
China Surpasses U.S. As World’s Biggest Grocery Market
The onward march of the Chinese consumer continues, with China overtaking the U.S. as the biggest grocery market in the world in 2011, according to new research out of the United Kingdom. CNBC.com reports that the Chinese grocery sector was worth $970 billion at the end of 2011, while the U.S. market came in at […]
Posted in, Midwest, Perishables
Murtha Wins 2012 Hy-Vee Cake Decorator Challenge
Amy Murtha of Belton, in her first Hy-Vee cake challenge finals, took home first place and $1,000 with a whimsical depiction of a garden that combined color and originality with oversized lady bugs, smiling snails and overturned clay pots. “It was a real shocker because I really didn’t expect to win,” Murtha said. “Amy’s Enchanted […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Midwest
Schnucks Now Offering Schnupons
St. Louis-based Schnucks now offers “Schnupons,” which customers can sign up for by texting the word “Schnucks” to the number 223344. Customers then receive a text message with an introduction to the program. Once in, customers automatically receive Schnupons that are redeemable at all Schnucks, Logli and Hilander locations. Customers show their phones to the […]
Posted in, National, New Products, Northeast, Perishables
Al Fresco All Natural Rolls Out New Smoked Andouille Chicken Sausage
al fresco All Natural—America’s No. 1 chicken sausage—is introducing its newest addition to its line of natural chicken sausage: Smoked Andouille. This new flavor is made with Cajun seasoning and lean chicken meat and then naturally hardwood smoked for a deep, rich spicy flavor. “We’re so excited to introduce our first smoked flavor to the […]
Posted in, Midwest, Perishables
Hy-Vee Reverses LFTB Decision
On March 22, Hy-Vee Inc. released a statement saying that it would no longer carry ground beef products containing lean finely textured beef (LFTB) because of “a loss of consumer confidence in the product.” But many customers told the West Des Moines-based company that they did want to be able to purchase the products, so […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
No. of Coupons in Grocery Down, HBC Up in 2011
In 2011, grocery product marketers reduced the total quantity of coupons in the marketplace, while HBC marketers maintained a steady volume of coupons to promote their products to frugal-minded shoppers, according to the 2012 Coupon Facts Report, issued by NCH Marketing Services, a Valassis company. A total of $470 billion in coupon value was offered […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Northeast
New Jersey’s Doherty Receives FMI Association Executive Award
Linda M. Doherty, president and CEO of the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), received the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Donald H. MacManus Association Executive Award on March 28 in recognition of her outstanding leadership and accomplishments in the food distribution industry. The award was presented at FMI’s Day in Washington. “Linda works diligently to represent […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Southeast
Food Lion’s Brand Strategy Unveiled in Stores in Three States
On March 28 Food Lion launched its new brand strategy in 268 stores in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. The changes focus on lower prices on thousands of products, quality store brands, produce and a better overall shopping experience. These markets are the first stores in 2012 to unveil the new strategy, which Food […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Suppliers
Callaghan to Retire from Pepperidge Farm; Britt is Successor
Pat Callaghan, 61, plans to step down as president of Pepperidge Farm at the end of the Campbell Soup Co.’s fiscal year on July 31, after more than 30 years of service. Campbell named Irene Chang Britt, 49, currently Pepperidge Farm’s chief strategy officer, as the new president. Britt will be based at Pepperidge Farm’s […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, National
Tyson Partners With Jose Cuervo, Tabasco For Coupon Promotion
Tyson Foods Inc. will partner with Jose Cuervo and Tabasco hot sauce for a spring and early summer savings promotion, available in stores and online from April 30-June 29. Consumers will save with in-store coupons for $1 off 2 pounds or more of Tyson wings or boneless wings from the deli department, 75 cents off […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Harris Poll Study Identifies Brands With Staying Power
According to Harris Poll, 15 brands hold an eight-time consecutive run at the top of the 23rd annual EquiTrend study that measures equity of more than 1,500 brands across 127 categories. Within this list are “mega-brands” that in essence came to define their respective categories, like Coca-Cola, Oreos, Gatorade, Subway Restaurants and Life Savers. All […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Perishables
Midan Marketing Maps Out Seven Meat Industry Trends
Midan Marketing has released the first report in “The Consumers’ Case,” the marketer’s ongoing effort to help the meat industry keep its pulse on the ever-changing consumer and meet their needs. From Midan Marketing’s webinar on March 20, seven trends emerged, with corresponding implications for grocers. Non-Existent “Average” Consumer In today’s changing world, there is […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Kraft Foods Changing Its Name
The name “Kraft Foods” has been around for decades, but the maker of all sorts of cereals, snacks and other well-known food products says it’s time to go in another direction, starting with a name change, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Pending shareholder approval, Kraft Foods will become Mondelez International. The company, which is splitting into […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Marketing News, National, Whole Foods
Report: Sam’s Club, Aldi, Publix, H-E-B Have Most Loyal Customers
A new research report published by Temkin Group, “2012 Temkin Loyalty Ratings,” indicates that only seven companies—four of which are grocery retailers—earned “very strong” loyalty ratings: Sam’s Club, Aldi, USAA, Publix, credit unions, Amazon.com, and H-E-B. At the other end of the spectrum, 37 companies earned “very weak” loyalty ratings. The research examines consumer loyalty […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Shelby Content
FMI, GMDC Partner on Health and Wellness Conference
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Global Market Development Center (GMDC) plans to partner in offering a comprehensive conference in 2013 focused on health, beauty and wellness. The FMI and GMDC event will take place May 31-June 4, 2013, at the JW Marriott Hill Country in San Antonio, Texas. Food retailers and wholesalers, health and beauty […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Americans Open To Purchasing Wine From Various Countries
While wine drinking is not linked as closely to American dining and culture as it is with that of some European nations, most Americans buy and drink wine—only 38 percent say they never buy a bottle of wine. And, nearly half of U.S. adults over age 21 say they drink wine several times per month […]