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 […]
Category: National
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 […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National, Store News
Trader Joe’s, Publix And Aldi Rank As Consumers’ Favorite Grocery Stores
Trader Joe’s continues to build a loyal following with its diverse grocery selection and friendly service. A study of more than 7,200 consumers by Market Force Information, a worldwide leader in customer intelligence solutions, found that Trader Joe’s is America’s favorite grocery retailer for the third year in a row. Publix ranked a close second, […]
Posted in, Industry News, Marketing News, National, Store News
Survey: Majority Of Shoppers Prefer Discounts On Groceries Over Gas
The results of a nationwide LoyaltyOne survey show that U.S. grocery shoppers have a resounding message for grocery retailers that have been enticing them with fuel rewards for over a decade: Fuel rewards alone aren’t winning their loyalty. Grocery discounts are the new value driver. In a March survey of 1,000 U.S. consumers, 72 percent […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, Suppliers
Interest In Ethnic Foods, Millennials Drive Latest Shelf Score Results
Instantly, the world’s largest audience and insights company, has released its April Shelf Score report, a monthly top 10 list of the newest CPG products ranked by consumer purchase intent. The company’s latest report shows that CPG brands are diversifying their flavor profiles as consumer interest in ethnic foods increases. Products with the highest purchase intent […]
Posted in, National, Store News, Suppliers
Forecast: Next Decade Will Make Or Break Food Industry Companies
Today’s major retail food and food service brands, along with their suppliers, face increasing challenges in recognizing and responding to ever-more-diverse consumers and their rapidly changing expectations. At the same time, companies must remake their businesses to leverage emerging channels and technology platforms. According to “Food Industry Transformation: The Next Decade,” a report from Technomic, […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Executive News, Giant Food, National, Northeast, Women In The News
Ahold USA Continues With Organizational Restructure
Ahold USA on Wednesday provided what it calls “an initial update on the restructuring of its support organization and changes it is making to simplify operations, speed up decision-making and support stores more effectively.” It is part of the restructuring effort that the company announced in March. “With a clear and constant focus on serving […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National, Southwest, Store News
Whole Foods Targeting Millennials With Planned Launch Of New Lower-Price Chain
Whole Foods Market plans to launch a new chain of lower-priced stores for people who can’t otherwise afford to buy its premium and organic food. Fortune.com reports that the Austin, Texas-based company said Wednesday that stores in the new format would offer a “curated” selection and have a simpler design to cater to people who […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, Southeast, Suppliers
TW Garner Discontinues Texas Pete Chili Sauce For Hot Dogs, Hamburgers
TW Garner Food Co., the makers of Texas Pete sauces and affiliated products, has discontinued its Texas Pete Chili Sauce for hot dogs and hamburgers. “Upon careful assessment, TW Garner Food Co. ceased production of the hot dog chili sauce in order to focus resources on the company’s core product offerings and the development of […]