Whether it’s out of convenience, an effort to save money or a necessity to get just the thing you’re looking for, online shopping has become a staple for many. And it’s moved beyond just perusing for clothes and electronics; Americans also are searching for sustenance. In fact, 31 percent of Americans purchased food products online […]
Category: National
Perdue Foods’ Plan Puts The Focus Back On Animal Care
Perdue Foods Chairman Jim Perdue said Monday that the company is refocusing on animal care with a four-part plan that also will strengthen relationships with farmers, build trust with multiple stakeholder groups and create an animal care culture for continued improvement. Titled “2016 and Beyond: Next Generation of Perdue Commitments to Animal Care,” the plan […]
Whole Foods, Nielsen To Create Customized Product Hierarchy
Whole Foods Market has selected Nielsen as its primary U.S. analytics provider for point-of-sale data, consumer insights and industry metrics. The companies are collaborating on a customized natural and organic product hierarchy that will provide a comprehensive view of Whole Foods Market’s product categories, including ingredient-level attributes. In addition to allowing the company and its […]
Millennials Weigh In On What Makes Food Brands Authentic
Watershed Communications has released findings from two national ethnographic studies examining the media habits of millennial food and beverage consumers. The “Media Habits of Millennials” (see infographic below) study investigated whether social media and influencer marketing have eclipsed the impact of traditional editorial coverage. The “What Matters to Millennials” (infographic below) study set out to […]
Five Companies Honored For Innovation At United Fresh 2016
Five Produce Innovation Award winners were recognized June 22 at United Fresh 2016, which was co-located with the Food Marketing Institute’s FMI Connect in Chicago. This year’s honorees were selected by show attendees from a total of 49 contestants in five categories: Best New Food Safety Solution; Best New Fruit Product; Best New Packaging; Best […]
7-Eleven Names Winner Of Second Operation: Take Command Franchise Contest
7-Eleven Inc. has named U.S. Marine Corps veteran Jean Cetoute of Richlands, North Carolina, as the 2016 winner of a 7-Eleven convenience store in its second “Operation: Take Command” franchise competition. As the winner, Cetoute will receive a waiver of the franchise fee, valued at up to $190,000, to franchise any 7-Eleven store available in […]
General Mills Names Company Veteran Harmening President And COO
General Mills has appointed Jeffrey L. Harmening president and COO, effective July 1. Harmening will be responsible for all company operations, including U.S. retail, international, the convenience store and foodservice segments, sales and channel development, as well as global supply chain, and innovation, technology and quality functions. Harmening will continue to report to chairman and […]
Senate Leaders Reach Agreement On National GMO Labeling
One week before Vermont’s mandatory GMO (genetically modified organism) labeling law is scheduled to go into effect, Senate legislators have reached a bipartisan agreement on a national labeling standard spearheaded by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). While this deal still requires packaged foods containing GMOs to be labeled, […]
FMI’s Sarasin On FMI Connect: ‘We’re Committed To Boldness And Agility’
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin offered the following statement today on the trajectory of FMI Connect, which was held this week in Chicago: “The competitive landscape of food retail is undergoing an unprecedented time of change, which substantiates the need for a venue that allows the entire industry to do […]
United Fresh Names McEntire VP, Food Safety And Technology
United Fresh Produce Association has named Jennifer McEntire, Ph.D., as its new VP, food safety and technology. She succeeds Dr. David Gombas, who retired from the association June 1 after 11 years leading its food safety program. “I’m absolutely thrilled that Dr. McEntire is joining our team to begin a new era in food safety […]
FMI Report: Fresh Produce Growth Driven By Mega Trends
Fresh produce is in demand. At $61 billion in annual sales, fresh produce is big, growing (+4 percent) and lucrative, with a grocery basket with fresh produce averaging nearly $30 more than one without. The consumer trends in Food Marketing Institute’s (FMI) second annual Power of Produce report substantiate the growth opportunities for fresh produce […]
FMI’s New Power Of Fresh Prepared/Deli Study To Be Released This Fall
As the number of meals prepared away from home grows and consumers seek new methods of convenience, the supermarket industry will continue to identify improved ways to track consumer dynamics, convenience and household trends that have had a profound impact on meal preparation and shopping behaviors regarding fresh prepared foods. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) […]
FMI’s Sarasin: It’s Time To Expand Our Shopper Vocabulary
“It’s a brave new world of grocery shoppers with nearly everyone getting in on the act of shopping for food,” said Food Marketing Institute (FMI) President and CEO Leslie G. Sarasin. Sarasin shared insights on the impact the shifting shopper paradigm is having on the purchasing behavior of more than half of U.S. shoppers on […]
Five Ways To Maximize Banana Sales
With bananas at the top of most supermarkets’ register rings, it pays for distributors and produce managers to keep their banana inventories and displays in top-notch form. “The banana category is historically the largest retail produce category. Since bananas are available year-round, an effective prominent display draws customers into your produce department,” said Kevin Frye, […]
CFSAF Calls On Senate To Find GMO Labeling Agreement
Four leaders from America’s agricultural and food industries stressed the urgent need for an agreement on a national GMO labeling standard as Democrat and Republican Senate leaders work to find a bipartisan compromise. “This is the most important issue currently facing America’s food producing community and one that could do significant harm to our nation’s […]
Consumers Respond To Apple Pay Messaging With More Payments
USA Technologies Inc. (USAT), a payment technology provider of cashless and mobile transactions in self-serve retail, released results of a study testing whether targeted point-of-sale advertising of Apple Pay acceptance would increase usage of mobile payments by consumers. According to early results, USAT believes that smartphone users shown digital advertising at point-of-sale through its ePort […]
Pillsbury Introduces Girl Scout Cookie Flavored Baking Mixes
Pillsbury is launching its new licensing relationship with Girl Scouts of the USA by bringing two of America’s favorite Girl Scout Cookie flavors to the kitchen with new Pillsbury Girl Scouts Thin Mints and Caramel & Coconut Flavored Baking Mixes. “We are very pleased about our licensing relationship with Girl Scouts of the USA, as […]
Western Family’s Oregon HQ To Close With Topco Deal
On June 13, Western Family Foods Inc. and Topco Associates LLC reached an agreement that authorizes Topco to source three of Western Family’s brands that are sold through independent grocery retailers across the U.S. The brands are Western Family, Shurfine and Natural Directions. According to a statement from Western Family, “Under this arrangement, Topco will […]
More Than Half Of U.S. Households Purchase Fresh Mushrooms
The Mushroom Council recently released a study analyzing the latest mushroom shopper purchase trends. The Fresh Mushroom Fast Facts study provides key insights into the shopping behaviors that are driving fresh mushroom category growth. According to the study, more than half of U.S. households purchased mushrooms in 2015. Nearly four out of five purchasing households […]
NCA’s Whiteside: Sweets & Snacks Expo Booming
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) once again saw record attendance at its Sweets & Snacks Expo, held May 24-26 at McCormick Place in Chicago. According to the organization, the Expo drew in more than 17,000 industry professionals from more than 90 countries. The expo hosted more than 750 companies exhibiting their products across nearly four […]
