Sponsored content It’s not about food, it’s about a meal by Tyson Foods Inc. According to Eric LeBlanc, director of channel marketing, deli, at Tyson Foods Inc., “A good, satisfying meal is the backdrop of the family dinner table, and both are still important to families. It’s time for prepared foods to stop offering pieces […]
Category: National
New Survey Showcases How Americans Enjoy Breakfast
Whether it’s the slurp of a honey banana smoothie or the crackle of fresh bacon, breakfast is what gets many of us out of bed in the morning. A new survey conducted by the National Honey Board highlights how the U.S. does breakfast, in time for both National Honey Month and Better Breakfast Month in […]
J.M. Smucker Co. Closes $375M Deal With Hometown Food Co.
The J.M. Smucker Co. has completed the sale of its shelf-stable baking business, including the exclusive U.S. rights to the Pillsbury brand, along with the Hungry Jack, White Lily, Jim Dandy, Martha White and Funfetti brands, to Hometown Food Co., a wholly-owned portfolio company of Brynwood Partners VII L.P. and Brynwood Partners VIII L.P. The $375 million […]
Campbell To Sell Its Fresh And International Business Units
Campbell Soup Co. on Aug. 30 announced plans to sell its non-core businesses—including its fresh and international units—as part of its “board-led strategy and portfolio review to improve performance and drive shareholder value.” Campbell International consists of Arnott’s and the Kelsen Group, along with the company’s manufacturing operations in Indonesia and Malaysia and its businesses in […]
Kroger Offering Instacart Delivery In 75 More Markets
The Kroger Co. and Instacart are expanding their partnership by bringing same-day delivery to 75 additional markets throughout the U.S. by late October. The expansion will grow Kroger and Instacart’s nationwide footprint by 50 percent, making the delivery service available through more than 1,600 stores. Kroger customers in more communities throughout the country—starting Aug. 30 with […]
Gene Simmons Launches ‘Money Bag’ Line Of Sodas
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, co-founder of KISS and serial entrepreneur Gene Simmons has launched a new soda line in cooperation with Niagara Falls, New York-based Rock Steady Sodas Inc., a subsidiary of Johnnie Ryan Bottling Co. The new line, Money Bag Sodas, is made with all-natural flavors, colors and sweeteners and packaged in eco-friendly glass […]
7-Eleven’s Stout Promoted Following Delgado Jenkins’ Retirement
7-Eleven has promoted Jack Stout, SVP of merchandising, to SVP of merchandising, marketing and demand chain. Stout succeeds Jesus Delgado Jenkins, former EVP and chief merchandising officer, who retired in June. Stout is responsible for the company’s merchandising operations, category management, new product introductions, new category and profit center development, store sets, marketing and merchandise […]
Frito-Lay Brings A Twist To Lunch Notes With New Chip Bag Packaging
As summer comes to a close, parents face the transition from relaxed schedules to the structure and routine that the schoolyear brings. In a twist to the common notion that parents can’t wait for back-to-school and students dread it, some statistics suggest otherwise: kids look forward to getting back to school, and many parents struggle […]
V8 Introduces New Plant-Powered Beverage With Sweet Potatoes
Campbell Soup Co., maker of V8, is launching V8+Hydrate, a new plant-based beverage featuring sweet potato juice. “This category-changing beverage taps into the naturally occurring electrolytes and glucose of the sweet potato and perfectly blends it with water—creating an isotonic beverage that quickly replenishes fluids and nutrients,” says Campbell. With 45 calories in each 8-oz. can, V8+Hydrate contains one full […]
Kroger To Phase Out Single-Use Plastic Bags By 2025
The Kroger Co. on Aug. 23 announced it will phase out single-use plastic bags and transition to reusable bags across its family of stores by 2025. Seattle-based QFC will be the company’s first retail division to phase out plastic bags, and Kroger expects QFC’s transition to be completed in 2019. “As part of our Zero Hunger […]
Chicken Presents Opportunity For Sales Growth Across The Store
The old saying warns us not to count chickens, but for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, measuring chicken sales is essential to the bottom line. From the meat department to deli to dairy and more, chicken is an important product driving a total of $26.2 billion in annual sales in the U.S. But chicken’s […]
Whole Foods, Hy-Vee, Aldi Top Seafood Sustainability Rankings
Greenpeace recently released its 2018 “Carting Away the Oceans” (CATO) report, ranking Whole Foods, Hy-Vee and Aldi the top three retailers out of the 22 largest supermarket chains in the U.S. for their seafood sustainability efforts. Target came in at No. 4, rounding out the retailers in this year’s “best” category. Since 2008, Greenpeace has evaluated […]
Milk’s Missed Opportunity
by Cindy Sorensen/founder and CEO, The Grocery Group With approximately 96 percent of all households purchasing milk, it holds an enviable spot in consumers’ shopping baskets and refrigerators. There is only one other category that can claim a higher household penetration, and that is toilet paper. But milk’s stronghold with consumers is fading. As competition […]
HR & Benefits News: Key To Success—Hire & Keep The Best People
HR & Benefits News is a monthly column by Chris Cooley, co-founder of MyHRConcierge and SMB Benefits Advisors. It’s no secret, hiring and keeping workers has significant impact on independent grocers. Its impact is second only to “competition from other retailers” say independent grocers who participated in the 2018 Independent Grocers Financial Survey prepared by […]
Long Lines, Slow Checkout Lower Shopper Satisfaction And Revenue
Technology company Digimarc Corp. has released findings from a commissioned survey revealing that long lines and poor checkout experiences reduce shopper morale, and are significant reasons for why consumers would shop elsewhere or shift to buying groceries online. Key findings from study include: Line length and the checkout experience has become as important as price […]
S.Pellegrino Rolling Out Canned Sparkling Water
S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water is introducing cans to its product lineup. “Delivering the same refreshing mix of gentle bubbles and fine mineral balance customers know and love, the new S.Pellegrino cans are a fun and tasteful new way to enhance any dining occasion, from an alfresco dinner to a sunset picnic,” the company says. […]
Holiday Timing Snaps Weis Markets’ Consecutive Sales Increases
Weis Markets’ second quarter sales totaled $871.1 million vs. $876.6 million for the same period in 2017. The sales drop snapped a 16-consecutive-quarter streak of rising store sales. According to Weis, the company’s second quarter sales were adversely affected by the Easter holiday shift, since the 2018 Easter sales week fell on the last week of […]
Release Of Retailer SNAP Data Imminent
The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied the Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) request to withhold annual individual store SNAP redemption information. Following this decision, FMI immediately filed an application for a stay in the U.S. Supreme Court. “Given the significant case load of the Court, we believe it is highly unlikely the stay will […]
Albertsons And Rite Aid Terminating Their Merger Agreement
Albertsons Cos. Inc. and Rite Aid Corp. have mutually agreed to terminate their previously announced plans to merge. In a statement, Albertsons said it believes that the strategic rationale of the Rite Aid combination was compelling, including the $375 million of cost synergies and $3.6 billion of identified revenue opportunities. “We disagree with the conclusion […]
Aldi Growing Its Fresh Offerings By 40 Percent
Aldi announced Aug. 9 its plan to deliver more of the fresh products customers want most, including fresh, organic and easy-to-prepare options. By the time the nationwide fresh product rollout is completed in early 2019, about 20 percent of products in every Aldi store will be new compared to the previous year. Aldi is increasing […]
