Five years from now, U.S. marketers and retailers will be dealing with a very different consumer. On average, household heads will be older, less likely to be non-Hispanic white and more likely to be women. The average consumer—except for those in multicultural population groups—will be living in a smaller household and will be much more […]
Category: National
Study: There’s Wide Disparity In Food Costs Throughout The Nation
Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap 2015 study finds many low-income communities that are home to a significant number of food-insecure households have higher-than-average food costs. “In other words, many of the people we serve not only struggle to make ends meet, but they are also forced to spend more of their meager dollars to […]
CART Launches Retail Solutions Platform
The Center for Advancing Retail Technology (CART) has rolled out its enterprise platform advancingretail.org, a free service to help retailers and brand manufacturers find, learn about and connect with the best solutions for their business. An estimated 3,000 solutions are represented on the platform, making it the largest collection of retail solutions in the world […]
Industry Supports First National Goal To Reduce Food Waste 50 Percent By 2030
The USDA and EPA have set the first-ever national food waste reduction goal for the U.S., calling for a 50 percent reduction by 2030. As part of the effort, the federal government will lead a new partnership with charitable organizations, faith-based organizations, the private sector and local, state and tribal governments to reduce food loss […]
Dean Foods Names Scozzafava COO
Dean Foods Co. has named Ralph Scozzafava to EVP and COO, effective Oct. 1. He will continue to report directly to CEO Gregg Tanner. In his new role, Scozzafava will continue to oversee the commercial functions of sales, marketing and R&D along with the addition of operations and procurement and logistics. “I’ve really enjoyed the […]
Most Trusted Brands In America Revealed
Reader’s Digest has released the results of the Reader’s Digest Trusted Brand Survey, which makes its debut in the U.S. in the October issue, on newsstands Sept. 15. More than 4,500 Americans across the nation took part in the online survey, which awarded the “Reader’s Digest Most Trusted Brand” title to winners in 40 product […]
Vegetable-Centric: More Than ‘Meats’ The Eye
by Karen Caplan/Special to The Shelby Report Once upon a time, vegetables were served as a side dish or in a side salad. They were something you cooked to go with your meat. I even remember a time when fresh kale was used solely as a garnish! This is no longer the case. For the […]
Food Retail Industry Readies For Implementation Of New Food Safety Rules
The food retail industry is readying for the implementation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s new food safety rules. The Food Marketing Institute (FMI), in fact, is recognizing the FDA’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the nation’s food safety system with the Sept. 10 release of two rules pursuant to the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA): Preventive Controls for Human and Animal […]
Kroger Marks 47th Quarter Of Positive ID Supermarket Sales
The Kroger Co. on Friday reported record results for its fiscal 2015 second quarter, marking the company’s 47th quarter of positive identical supermarket sales growth, excluding fuel. ID sales were up 5.3 percent, without fuel. The Cincinnati-based grocer’s net earnings were $433 million, or $0.44 per diluted share. Net earnings in the same period last […]
FMI Gold Plate Awards Recognize Food Retail Mealtime Programs
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is recognizing food retailer and manufacturer companies that are helping to make mealtime more approachable, accessible and enjoyable for the nation’s grocery shoppers. FMI’s 2015 Gold Plate Awards are part of National Family Meals Month, a national campaign aimed at rallying families back to the table to share one more […]
Side Delights Gourmet Petites Adds To Small Potato Lineup
The Side Delights Gourmet Petites brand has been a standout in the petite fresh potato category since it launched and earned the PMA Impact Award for Excellence in Packaging in 2014. Now, the line is growing with consumer demand and retailer requests, according to the company. Side Delights Gourmet Petites is adding Sweet Fingerlings and […]
IDDBA Details Ways Deli, Bakery Can Embrace Online Technology To Grow Sales
The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) has released its latest original research, “Digital Merchandising for Deli and Bakery.” Developed in conjunction with retail technology consultancy firm Brick Meets Click, the report examines the growing relevance of digital shopper omnichannels and explores ways in-store deli and bakery departments can embrace online technology to attract and retain shoppers […]
Save-A-Lot Opens Several Stores Across U.S.
Save-A-Lot, a leading hard-discount, limited-assortment grocery chain owned by Supervalu, has opened several stores over the last month. The new stores focus on fresh produce, dairy and meats. All stores are open seven days a week. New stores include: • Columbus, Ohio, 1220 South James Road; • Pottstown, Pennsylvania, 201 Shoemaker Road; • Las Vegas, […]
Acosta Unveils Grilling ‘Season’ Insights Ahead Of Labor Day Weekend
This Labor Day, two-thirds of U.S. shopper households are likely to grill outdoors during the long weekend. While the holiday marks the unofficial end to summer, consumers are not putting their grills away just yet, according to a research study from Acosta that reveals new findings about grilling “season.” The findings, from the forthcoming 12th […]
Kroger Names Group VP Of Corporate Affairs
The Kroger Co. on Tuesday appointed Jessica C. Adelman group VP of corporate affairs, effective Nov. 1. She will take over for Lynn Marmer, who recently announced her retirement. “Jessica brings a wealth of public affairs leadership experience and deep knowledge of the food supply chain,” said Rodney McMullen, Kroger’s chairman and CEO. “We look […]
Coffee-Mate Offers Limited Edition Star Wars Flavors, Bottles
Coffee-mate has introduced two limited edition flavors as well as five collectible bottles featuring “Star Wars” characters. Espresso Chocolate Darth Vader is available in a bottle that features the brand’s first-ever black cap and Spiced Latte is available in a Chewbacca bottle. For a limited time, French Vanilla is available in an R2-D2 bottle, hazelnut […]
Ohio Grocers Fall Conference And Foundation Tailgate Set For Sept. 25-26
The Ohio Grocers Association (OGA) Fall Conference and Foundation Tailgate will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25-26. The conference includes panel discussions and industry-specific presentations as well as guest speaker Chris “Beanie” Wells, former Ohio State and Arizona Cardinals running back and current sports analyst for 97.1FM The Fan sports radio. Mark Lauten of […]
Dollar General Net, Same-Store Sales Up For 2Q
Dollar General Corp. on Thursday reported financial results for its fiscal 2015 second quarter (13 weeks) ended July 31. The Goodlettsville, Tennessee-based company’s net income was $282 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, in the 2015 second quarter, compared to net income of $251 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, in the 2014 second quarter. […]
United Fresh Celebrates 20 Years Of Member Advocacy On Capitol Hill
The United Fresh Produce Association in September will mark the 20th anniversary of the United Fresh Washington Conference. Formerly known as the United Fresh Washington Public Policy Conference, the association first formally brought members to Capitol Hill in 1995 to meet with government leaders in an effort to advance produce industry issues. Over the past […]
Consumer Reports’ Tests: Conventional Ground Beef Twice As Likely To Contain Superbugs As Sustainable Beef
In Consumer Reports new tests of ground beef, 18 percent of the beef samples from conventionally-raised cows contained dangerous superbugs resistant to three or more classes of antibiotics used to treat illness in humans compared with just 9 percent of beef from samples that were sustainably produced. Consumer Reports’ investigation comes as food poisonings are […]
