by Katie Lundin/marketing and branding specialist, Crowdspring We all enjoy a good meme poking fun at embarrassing mistakes online. But, it’s far less funny when your product or package is the butt of those jokes. Poor packaging leads to worse things than a bruised ego—it leads to lost sales and revenue. And, it’s no mystery why. People’s […]
Category: National
Posted inDeli News, Food Service News, Grocery Store Layout, National, Tyson Deli
Better For Them Means Better For Us, Too
sponsored content by Eric LeBlanc, director of marketing-deli, Tyson Foods Inc. To paraphrase a popular book: Supermarkets were made for people, not people for the supermarkets. That’s why we put frequently purchased items like milk, butter and eggs at the back of the store. Because that’s what people want—to walk the entire real estate of […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, C-Store News, National, Packaging News, Suppliers
Grenade Accelerates U.S. Expansion Through C-Store Launch
Global sports and nutrition brand Grenade is increasing its availability throughout the nation. The maker of the Carb Killa line of low-sugar, high-protein snacks, Grenade has secured partnerships with leading convenience store chain, Speedway, as well as a number of other partnerships including Royal Farms, Dash In, GetGo and Wawa. Grenade also has signed […]
Posted inBakery News, Dairy News, Frozen Food, Home Page Slider, National, New Products, Suppliers, The Kroger Co.
‘Frozen 2’ Ice Cream Cake Makes Its Grocery Store Debut
To mark the release of Disney’s “Frozen 2,” which hit theaters Nov. 22, Carvel, in partnership with Rich Products/I Love Ice Cream Cakes, released a special-edition Disney “Frozen 2” Ice Cream Cake. The new product, which is the first ice cream cake under the Disney “Frozen 2” moniker, is a snowflake-themed cake with vanilla and chocolate ice […]
Posted inOnline Grocery Technology, Amazon Fresh, Home Page Slider, National, Whole Foods
Mercato To Offer One Year Of Unlimited, Free Grocery Delivery For $1
Mercato, the online grocery e-commerce platform for independently owned grocery and specialty food stores, is putting its popular Mercato Green annual membership on sale for $1 (a $96 value) on Small Business Saturday. Mercato wants to encourage food shoppers to “shop small” year-round by providing this one-time, 24-hour offer for its delivery membership program on Saturday, Nov. […]
Posted inNational, Executive News, Home Page Latest News
NGA Brings On Huie To Government Relations Department
Terence Huie has joined the government relations department of the National Grocers Association (NGA) as a manager of PAC and grassroots. In this role, Huie will manage NGA’s political action committee, Grocers PAC, and its grassroots advocacy efforts. He joined NGA on Oct. 30. “Terence’s experience in managing PAC and grassroots accounts for companies, trade associations […]
Posted inNational, Albertsons, Association News, Executive News, Suppliers, Wholesaler/Distributor News
NGA Appoints Kirtland, Raya To Board, Presents Industry Service Award To Jones
The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, has appointed Amy Kirtland EVP of independents, fresh and exclusive brands at KeHE Distributors, and Lori Raya, chief merchandising and marketing officer at SpartanNash, to fill vacancies on its board of directors. Kirtland serves KeHE’s customers in the areas of grocery independents […]
Posted inBeverage News, Center Store, Dairy News, Home Page Slider, National, Packaging News, Suppliers
Chobani Expands To Offer Oat-Based Products, Natural Dairy Creamers
Chobani, America’s No. 1 Greek yogurt brand, is debuting an entire platform of batch-made oat-based drinks and cultured oat blends, as well as dairy-based creamers. “Like yogurt, oats are an ancient food with deep roots in our culture and our land. These grains deserve to be celebrated,” said Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani. “I […]
Posted inInternational Foods, Amazon Fresh, Guest Contributors, Home Page Slider, National, Whole Foods
Soto: Know Your Multicultural Customers So You Can Grow Sales
by Terry Soto/multicultural marketing expert The California Grocers Association’s “Minding the Gap” Strategic Conference took place recently in Palms Springs, California, where retailers brought up specific challenges they currently are attempting to manage when it comes to growing sales among multicultural grocery shoppers. Understanding how to assort authentically for diverse Hispanic and Asian shoppers came […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, National, Packaging News
New Deloitte Study Looks Ahead To The Future of Fresh
Two-thirds of shoppers have increased their spending on fresh foods over the past two years, with more than 60 percent of consumers spending up to 30 percent of their average monthly grocery budget on this category, according to the Deloitte “Future of Fresh” survey released Nov. 13. Key takeaways Over the last two years, two-thirds of consumers […]
Posted inBeverage News, Bakery News, Dairy News, Guest Contributors, Marketing News, National, Packaging News, Shelby Originals, Sustainability News
Sorensen: Innovation In Thought Was Lacking This Year
by Cindy Sorensen/founder and CEO, The Grocery Group Each year as I prepare to write my dairy industry “year in review” column, I reflect on the newsworthy events that occurred in the industry in the previous 12 months. This reflection often includes a look back on the following: new product introductions; ingredient, product and package […]
Posted inNational, Association News, Executive News
Wagner And Pederson Appointed To GMA Leadership Team
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is adding Roberta Wagner and Spencer Pederson to its growing leadership team as the organization prepares to relaunch as the Consumer Brands Association in January 2020. Roberta Wagner will join GMA as the VP of regulatory and technical affairs on Dec. 2. Wagner spent 33 years in public service, most […]
Posted inBeverage News, Home Page Slider, National, Suppliers
Anheuser-Busch Purchases Remaining Shares Of Craft Brew Alliance
On Nov. 11, Craft Brew Alliance (CBA), a Portland, Oregon-based brewing company that creates craft beers, and Anheuser-Busch (A-B) said they will expand their partnership, with A-B agreeing to purchase the remaining CBA shares it does not already own in a merger transaction for $16.50 per share, in cash. “Today’s announcement represents an exciting next […]
Posted inAssociation News, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, National, Shelby Originals, Shelby Signature Content, Wholesaler/Distributor News
UPDATED: ROFDA To Join Forces With NGA Jan. 1
The Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) organization will merge under the National Grocers Association (NGA) umbrella, effective Jan. 1, 2020. The announcement was made this morning at the NGA and ROFDA co-located fall conference in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. ROFDA’s current share groups and buying programs will continue to operate under this new […]
Posted inPrivate Label Brands, National
Private Brands Research Shows Complexity Of Consumer Expectations
Newly released consumer research by Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and its insights provider IRI reveals that food retail private brands have greater influence on where grocery customers shop. Today, 46 percent of consumers say store brands influence their store choice, versus just 35 percent three years ago, and private brands are gaining fans across a […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, National
USDA Rules Deliver Clarity For Farmers And Hemp Industry
On Oct. 29, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) established the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program as mandated by the 2018 Farm Bill, allowing federally approved hemp to be grown under clear guidelines and making hemp farmers eligible for many agricultural programs. Hemp genetics company HGH Seed Inc. welcomes the introduction of a consistent regulatory […]
Posted inNational, Private Label Brands
IRI Survey: Consumers Turn To Private Brands For Better Value
An IRI Consumer Connect Survey reveals private brand dollar sales grew 3.8 percent in 2019, twice the rate of national brands. Although 57 percent of consumers say their financial health is good, fears of a recession are driving slightly less consumer confidence in Q3 2019, according to the latest IRI Consumer Connect Survey results. Expecting […]
Posted inMarketing News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, National
Kroger Debuts New Logo And Launches Brand Transformation Campaign
The Kroger Co. has launched its new “Fresh for everyone” tagline and changed its logo as part of what it’s called its “brand transformation.” “Kroger’s new brand launch is a unifying framework for our seamless shopping experience that is designed to deepen our connection with customers and associates today and into the future, support our […]
Posted inPackaging News, Amazon Fresh, National, Sustainability News, Whole Foods
Beverage Companies Unite For ‘Every Bottle Back’ Initiative
The Coca-Cola Co., Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo launched the Every Bottle Back initiative, an effort to reduce the industry’s use of new plastic by making significant investments to improve the collection of the industry’s valuable plastic bottles so they can be made into new bottles. These competitors are coming together to support the circular […]
Posted inHealth & Wellness, National
New CFI Research Takes Closer Look At Sugar-Conscious Consumers
New research shows there are two distinct groups paying attention to the sweet substances added to enhance the flavor of some of our favorite foods and beverages. A report from The Center for Food Integrity (CFI) details the motivations, fears, attitudes and values of two dominant consumer segments, the cautious and carefree, who are engaging […]