Food Marketing Institute (FMI) named the best supermarket chef in the country today, along with five category winners who participated in Supermarket Chef Showdown, the food retail industry’s unique competition for culinary talent. Elizabeth Davis, Hy-Vee Inc. was named the Grand Champion of the competition for her Yu Sheng Citrus Salad Platter for Chinese New […]
Category: National
Posted in, National, Store News
Macik Receives FMI Service Award
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) presented Cheryl Macik, director of consumer affairs for Wakefern Food Corp., with its Esther Peterson Consumer Service Award, recognizing her dedication as a shopper advocate and her influence in serving and retaining Wakefern’s customer base across its ShopRite and Price Rite banners. Wakefern President and COO Joe Sheridan described Macik as, “my […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Industry News, National, Southwest
Whole Foods Market No. 3 On List Of America’s Most Reputable Retailers
Whole Foods Market has been named among America’s most reputable companies in the retail industry, according to a list released June 4 by Reputation Institute. The list of America’s top 50 most reputable retail companies is derived from data collected for the 2015 U.S. RepTrak 100 study. “Companies with excellent and strong reputations in the […]
Posted in, National, Women In The News
Deadline Is Approaching For The WGA Mary Macey Scholarship Award
The Women Grocers of America (WGA) and Roger Collins are pleased to assist the NGA Research and Education Foundation in its efforts to recruit and retain the next generation of high-potential leaders. Available scholarships range from $1000 to $1500 for students who intend to pursue a career in the independent sector of the grocery industry. Aligned […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Walmart CEO Tells Associates: ‘You Are Our Heroes’
On June 5 during the company’s annual shareholders meeting, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. President and CEO Doug McMillon challenged the company’s more than 2 million associates to win the future of retail “one customer at a time.” He then shared his strategy to attain that goal: “We’ll save customers money on their everyday needs with an […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National, Store News
Sam’s Club Ups Convenience Of Its Order Pickup Service
As the only warehouse retailer in the U.S. to provide a pickup option, Sam’s Club has added new features to add more convenience and time saving for members. Club Pickup, formerly known as “Click ’n Pull,” allows members to order thousands of items—from paper towels to fresh produce to printer ink—and have them ready for […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, Suppliers
Nestlé USA Removes Artificial Flavors, Cuts Sodium In Pizza And Snacks
Nestlé USA is pledging to improve the ingredient quality and nutritional profile of some of its most popular frozen pizza and snack brands without affecting taste. Nestlé, a leader in the frozen pizza and snacking category, says the improvements will encompass more than 250 products across six brands in the U.S.: DiGiorno, Tombstone, California Pizza […]
Posted in, Center Store, Merchandising News, National
Expert Forecasts Future Of Retail At GMDC’s GM Marketing Conference
During the Global Market Development Center (GMDC) General Merchandise Marketing Conference in Orlando over the weekend, Dan O’Connor, president and CEO of RetailNet Group (RNG), looked ahead through 2020 and discussed the future of the consumer and retail industries, the key drivers of change and the initiatives that leading retailers are investing in today to […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, New Products
DiGiorno Rolls Out Pizzeria! Thin Lineup
DiGiorno is introducing DiGiorno Pizzeria! Thin, a new crafted pizza that the company says will change perceptions about what frozen pizza should be. All four varieties of DiGiorno Pizzeria! Thin start with a crispy, preservative-free crust drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes. Varieties are: • Supreme Speciale: Topped with […]
Posted in, Center Store, Executive News, National
Spear Takes Helm Of GMDC On June 1
The Global Market Development Center (GMDC) will complete its management transition on June 1 during the organization’s annual General Merchandise Conference, May 28-June 1 in Orlando. Industry leader and GMDC CEO Dave McConnell will transfer his role to GMDC President Patrick Spear. McConnell served as GMDC president and CEO for 15 of his 35-year career with […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Dairy News, National, Perishables, West
Idaho Reclaims Status As Nation’s Third-Largest Dairy Producer
Idaho has surpassed New York State as the nation’s third largest milk producer after California and Wisconsin, generating 13.9 billion pounds of milk in 2014, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s latest report. Idaho’s total dairy revenue in 2014 was up 12.5 percent over 2013 due to investments from companies including Chobani, Glanbia Foods […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Produce News, West
Domex Superfresh Growers Relaunches #EatCherries Summer Social Media Promotion
Domex Superfresh Growers, a global leader in the growing and shipping of fresh apples, pears, cherries and apricots, is expanding on the success of its “Sweeten Up Your Summer” #EatCherries social promotion with the addition of more consumer-focused cherry content that will be made available to retail partners. During the 2014 cherry season Domex Superfresh […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, National, Store News, Whole Foods
Supermarkets Rank ‘Strong’ In Latest Customer Service Ratings
Supermarkets, retailers and banks, as an industry, earned average ratings of “strong” in the 2015 Temkin Customer Service Ratings, while TV service providers and internet service providers earned an average rating of “very weak.” Based on a study of 10,000 U.S. consumers, the ratings examine 278 companies across 20 industries. For the third straight year, […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, New Products, Snacks Brands
This Year’s Candy And Snack Flavors
Thousands of new confectionery and snack items were introduced to the world at the 2015 Sweets & Snacks Expo in Chicago from May 19–21, hosted by the National Confectioners Association. Nearly four acres of chocolate, candy, cookies and savory snacks exhibits featured the hottest new products from 630 companies. New product launches revealed that candy […]
Posted in, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National, Perishables
Food Retail Industry: COOL Violates International Trade Commitments
The World Trade Organization (WTO) issued its “Appellate Body’s Compliance Report of the United States’ Country of Origin Labeling” (COOL) requirements on May 18, and the food industry was quick to respond. According to the report, the U.S.’ mandatory COOL requirements are discriminatory to Canada and Mexico and violate international trade commitments. The report could […]
Posted in, National, West, Women In The News
Frieda’s Karen Caplan To Be Recognized At 2015 Reception Honoring Women In Produce
Karen Caplan, president and CEO of Frieda’s Inc., headquartered in Los Alamitos, California, and the first female chairperson of the United Fresh Board of Directors, will be the honoree and featured speaker at the Reception Honoring Women in Produce on Tuesday, June 9, at United Fresh 2015 in Chicago. Held each year in conjunction with […]
Posted in, Industry News, Marketing News, National
Five Consumer Trends Shaping The Future Of The Food Industry
Stalled sales in the center aisles at grocery stores and sluggish restaurant traffic growth are evidence that U.S. consumers’ eating behaviors are evolving. The growing influence of Hispanics, Millennials going through life stages, aging Boomers, smaller households and the need for fresh and non-processed foods are among the factors driving the shift in what and […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Industry News, National, Store News, Suppliers
FMI Connect 2015 Forges First-Ever Partnership With Italian Trade Agency
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has named Italy as the “host country” for FMI Connect 2015, the food retail industry’s premier event focusing on keeping ahead of the accelerating pace of change in food retail. The annual event, to be held next month in Chicago, draws more than 13,000 food industry professionals, prepares retailers for […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, Suppliers
‘Godfather Of Hot Sauces’ CaJohn Inducted Into Hot Sauce Hall Of Fame
The Hot Sauce Hall of Fame Foundation of New York City announced its inaugural inductees earlier this month at a ceremony in Brooklyn. Among the hot sauce legends inducted were John “CaJohn” Hard of CaJohn’s Fiery Foods of Westerville, Ohio, alongside hot sauce pioneer Edmund McIlhenny, the founder of Tabasco. “It is a real honor […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, New Products, Northeast
Snyder Of Berlin Highlights Hometown With New Sizes, Packaging And Flavors
Snyder of Berlin, a leading snack company that produces chips, cheese snacks, popcorn and more, is debuting a full line of new and revitalized hometown packaging in an array of new sizes for its potato chip line. Just in time for summer, including Memorial Day, Fourth of of July and Labor Day, Snyder of Berlin products […]