Graeter’s ice cream makes its own pastries, chocolates and ice cream from scratch for its chain of three-dozen stores in the Cincinnati area, and now believes its loyal following will translate to a successful Tampa Bay expansion. The premium high milk-fat ice cream attracts a large mail-order business and Florida has been the top address […]
Category: Midwest
Posted in, Midwest
Shopko Stores, Pamida Merge
Two of the nation’s leading Midwest-based general merchandise retail chains, Shopko stores and Pamida, will merge to create one of the largest U.S. retailers focused on serving smaller and rural communities, according to a news release. The combined entity will have nearly 350 locations in 22 states and plans for new store growth in the […]
Posted in, Midwest, West
Players Tackle Hunger in San Fran Prior to Kraft Bowl Game
As a warmup for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl played at AT&T Park on Saturday, football players from the University of Illinois and the Bruins of UCLA served meals to some of San Francisco’s neediest at St. Anthony’s and Glide Memorial on Friday, reports the San Francisco Business Times. “At a time when we see […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Midwest, Suppliers
Lauer Retires from Topco
Steven K. Lauer has retired from his positions as president and CEO of Topco Associates LLC in Skokie, Ill. Lauer, who retired Dec. 23, has been with the cooperative for 19 years. He joined Topco in 1993 as CFO and was promoted to president and CEO in 1999. Under Lauer’s leadership, Topco’s membership has grown […]
Posted in, Midwest
ConAgra, General Mills Optimistic for New Year
Omaha, Neb.-based ConAgra Foods Inc. and Minneapolis-based General Mills Inc. both are banking on earnings growth in the second half of their fiscal years, following muted first-half results with margins down from higher costs and sales volume crimped by rising prices, reports The Wall Street Journal. On Dec. 20, “the two packaged-food giants posted double-digit […]
Posted in, Midwest
Kroger Workers in Mid-Michigan Ratify New Contract
Michigan Kroger workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 have voted to approve a new three-year contract by a vote of 84 percent “yes” to 16 percent “no.” “The proposal had the full recommendation of the bargaining committee as it preserved members’ health benefits and pension, and provided top-rate wage […]
Posted in, Midwest, National, New Products
Kraft Debuting 70 Products for New Year
Kraft Foods Inc. knows its consumers well and is feeding their hunger for bold flavors, easy meal solutions and better-for-you offerings with more than 70 new product innovations, according to a company news release. “Americans are having more interactive experiences with food and want the opportunity to do some of the cooking themselves,” says Barry […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Midwest
Glorioso’s Design Firm Earns Recognition
Glorioso’s Italian Market recently won The Business Journal’s 2011 Real Estate Award for Best New Development or Renovation. The project was directed by Mehmert Store Services Inc. of Sussex, Wis., which worked with Glorioso’s Italian Market on a major renovation of the historic Astor Theater, converting the 20,000-s.f. building into the new location for Glorioso’s […]