According to the California Avocado Commission (CAC), this year’s Fourth of July avocado sales figures indicate 118.3 million pounds were sold in the U.S. in support of holiday festivities, making it the highest Fourth of July consumption period on record. The results were stronger than the 100-million-pound pre-holiday projection and surpassed the 2016 actual by […]
Category: National
Hunger Fundraiser Under Way In 28 U.S. Grocery Stores
Making Change, a 501(c)(3) organization that partners with retailers nationwide to run point-of-purchase fundraisers, has launched its campaign for summer 2017, “Hunger Knows No Season.” The campaign runs through the end of September, which is Hunger Action Month. A total of 28 stores in different regions across the country are participating in the fundraiser: nine […]
Report: Grocery E-Commerce Growing, But 97% Of CPG Dollars Still Spent In Store
Since the first modern-day supermarket opened nearly a century ago, there had been little change in the grocery retail space—at least until recently with the emerging popularity of e-commerce. While other online retail had seen growth early on, the trend took longer to make its mark on grocery, as new research and insights from Acosta show that […]
KeHE’s Website Earns Industry Awards For Design
KeHE Distributors’ new website has received industry recognition for outstanding design from The Communicator Awards, the Davey Awards and the W³ Awards. “We are honored to receive this global recognition for our new website,” said Ari Goldsmith, executive director of marketing at Naperville, Illinois-based KeHE. “The colorful aesthetics, easy navigation and enriched content of our website […]
New Agreement Calls For Walgreens To Buy Half Of Rite Aid’s Stores
Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) is expected to purchase about half of Rite Aid’s stores as part of a new merger agreement announced Thursday. The proposed deal will give Walgreens 2,186 Rite Aid units for approximately $5.2 billion vs. Rite Aid’s full store fleet of nearly 4,600 that Walgreens said it intended to purchase in an original agreement announced in October 2015. […]
New Grocerytalk Program Developed For Supermarket, CPG Industries
Shoptalk, an organizer of events for retail and e-commerce innovation, has launched Grocerytalk, a new program for the grocery and consumer packaged goods industries to take place during Shoptalk on March 18-21, 2018, at the Venetian in Las Vegas. Grocerytalk will include content, networking and other unique experiences that focus on the evolution of how consumers discover, […]
A ‘Superconsumer’ Opportunity For Supermarket Bakery Sales
The International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA), in collaboration with The Cambridge Group, has identified a bakery “superconsumer,” who offers supermarkets an increased sales opportunity. Bakery superconsumers are 10 percent of households who drive 24 percent of the total bakery spend. They spend 2.4 times more ($357 per year), purchase six subcategories and shop at […]
NACS Partners With The American Red Cross
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and the American Red Cross are teaming up to advance community giving and disaster relief programs for NACS member companies. NACS is the first retail-focused association to partner with the American Red Cross on such a program. The groups are focusing on developing resources to facilitate donation collection by convenience store […]
American Bakers Association Lauds Nutrition Facts Label Compliance Date Extension
The American Bakers Association (ABA) is praising the Food & Drug Administration for extending the compliance date for label changes to the Nutrition Facts Panel on food and beverage products. The FDA announced its intentions in mid-June. The FDA issued the final regulation in May 2016, requiring revisions to the Nutrition Facts Panel by July 2018. “The agency has […]
Industry Comes Together For Independents Day Of Giving
The National Grocers Association (NGA), the trade association representing the independent supermarket industry, NGA Research and Education Foundation and Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) recognized June 21 as the “Independents Day of Giving” to help fight hunger and raise community awareness with more than 1,600 independent grocers across the country participating. Shoppers are […]
Topco Associates Adds Two Executives To Board
Topco Associates has added Emile Breaux, president and CEO of Associated Grocers-Baton Rouge, and Dave Staples, president and CEO of SpartanNash Co., to its board of directors. “We are fortunate to have these two strong leaders on Topco’s board. I am confident that their strategic insight, industry knowledge and deep commitment will help Topco advance […]
Grocers Growing Social Media Usage
Although 87 percent of supermarket shoppers say that they regularly follow one or more social media sites, just 25 percent indicate they are friends with or connected to their primary grocery store. Those stats are from our previous article featuring the Retail Feedback Group’s “U.S. Supermarket Shopper Digital Update.” Interaction Marketing’s report, “Social Media: Invest […]
Moe’s Southwest Grill Partners With Kellogg’s On Frozen Breakfast Bowls
Fast-casual restaurant chain Moe’s Southwest Grill is bringing Moe’s Breakfast Bowls to the frozen food section of grocery stores nationwide with help from Kellogg Co. Moe’s Breakfast Bowls, inspired by the chain’s burrito and bowl varieties, each contain a minimum of 12g of protein and include items like meats raised without hormones and no artificial […]
Foodservice Packaging Opportunities Abound In C-Store, Grocery Sectors
A new survey by the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI) revealed strong industry growth and sales in 2016 and expected volume growth and profit expansion in 2017. “This year’s State of the Industry Survey forecasts a promising outlook for the foodservice packaging industry and our members,” said FPI President Lynn Dyer. Compiled from FPI’s annual State of […]
Food Markets For Converted Flexible Packaging To Reach $15.5 Billion
Food markets for converted flexible packaging accounted for 71 percent of total demand in 2016 and are expected to rise to $15.5 billion in 2021. Ongoing product introductions and trends favoring smaller package sizes will fuel opportunities as will the need for enhanced shelf life and package resealability. These and other trends are presented in […]
Harry Blazer: Reflections On The Proposed Whole Foods Purchase By Amazon
Harry Blazer founded Harry’s Farmers Market in the Atlanta area in 1987, opening in Alpharetta. Two others later opened in metro counties Cobb and Gwinnett. Whole Food Market purchased the three Harry’s megastores in October 2001 as well as a distribution center, commissary kitchen, bakehouse and office facilities. Today, Blazer is a consultant ([email protected]). Here […]
Nestlé May Sell Its U.S. Confectionery Business
Nestlé is exploring strategic options for its U.S. confectionery business, including a potential sale. The review covers the U.S. market only and is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Nestlé’s U.S. confectionery business had sales of more than $900 million in 2016. It primarily includes chocolate brands like Butterfinger, BabyRuth, 100Grand, SkinnyCow, Raisinets, Chunky, OhHenry! and SnoCaps, […]
Kroger’s First Quarter ID Sales Down
The Kroger Co. on Thursday reported net earnings of $303 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, and identical supermarket sales growth, without fuel, of -0.2 percent in the first quarter of 2017. The company’s record 52 consecutive quarters of positive identical supermarket sales, excluding fuel, ended in the fourth quarter of 2016, which ended Jan. 28. […]
Tyson Foods Employee Among Those Shot At Congressional Baseball Event
A Tyson Foods employee is among those who were shot Wednesday morning in Alexandria, Virginia, during a practice for the GOP congressional baseball team. Matt Mika, director-government relations for Tyson’s Washington, D.C., office, has worked for the Springdale, Arkansas-based company for more than six years. “He was taken to a local hospital and is currently […]
Witynski Promoted To President Of Dollar Tree Banner
Discount variety store chain Dollar Tree Inc. has promoted Michael A. Witynski to president and COO of its Dollar Tree banner. Witynski, 54, will be responsible for merchandising and marketing as well as store operations for more than 6,200 Dollar Tree bannered stores in the U.S. A company veteran, Witynski has served as COO since […]
