After a competitive showcase event featuring advanced technology for participating attendees, the Global Market Development Center (GMDC) has unveiled the Top 10 Scanned Showcase Products at this year’s Health Beauty Wellness (HBW) Marketing Conference. The 2014 HBW Conference was held in Orlando, Fla., at the Orlando World Center Marriott, May 29-June 2. The showcase room […]
Category: National
Posted in, National
United Fresh New Product Award Winners Showcase Innovation, Creativity
Attendees of the United Fresh Produce Association’s annual convention and expo in Chicago this week cast their votes throughout the show for fresh produce innovation and recognized this year’s New Product Awards in five categories. More than 40 fresh fruit and vegetable innovations competed in the categories of Best New Food Safety Solution, Best New […]
Posted in, National, Northeast
Michael To Retire From Associated Wholesalers, Company Selling White Rose Subsidiary
Associated Wholesalers (AWI) today said that President and CEO J. Christopher Michael is retiring from the company after 41 years of service. Veteran wholesale executive Matthew Saunders has been named president and CEO of AWI, effective immediately. AWI also said today that its board of directors has decided to pursue a sale of its White […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Private Label Groceries Continue To Grow In Popularity
More shoppers are purchasing private label (store brand) products this year compared to last year, according to a recent study of more than 6,200 consumers by Market Force Information, a worldwide leader in customer intelligence solutions. The study revealed that 98 percent of shoppers purchase private label food or cleaning products at least some of […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Organic Natural
Little Me Tea Receives Non-GMO Project Verification
Big Time Tea has received Non-GMO Project verification for Little Me Tea, the company’s first-to-market, no-sugar-added, certified organic tea and juice boxes. Little Me Tea has never used GMO ingredients in its products, and this third-party verification allows consumers to shop with confidence and retailers to trust that they are carrying a quality product with […]
Posted in, National, Store News
New Report Offers Tips For Grocers As Consumers Demand More Personalization
As consumers continue to demand more from retailers, the grocery industry should adapt and provide targeted shopping experiences tailored to specific consumer needs and changing demographics, according to PwC’s new experience radar report titled “Front of the Line: how grocers can get ahead for the future.” Based on a survey of more than 1,000 shoppers, […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Artisanal Online Grocery Service Plans To Expand Into Five New Markets By Year End
Chicago-based Artizone, an online grocery shopping service offering a curated collection of artisanal foods from local artisans and purveyors delivered to consumers’ doors, plans to expand into five new markets by the end of the year. Currently, Artizone serves customers in Chicago and Dallas. Austin, Texas, the first of the five new markets to launch, […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
FHI Appoints New Executive Leadership Team
Freight Handlers Inc. (FHI), one of the country’s leading providers of warehouse, retail product handling and logistics services, has made some leadership changes. Ryan Wall has been promoted to president and CEO, replacing Chairman and founder Chuck Wall as CEO. In addition, the Fuquay-Varina, N.C.-based company has named Reid Durst COO and Tal Wall CFO. […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
SpartanNash Associates To Spend Tuesday Volunteering For Twin Cities Area Nonprofits
Hundreds of SpartanNash associates located in the company’s Edina, Minn., offices plan to hit the streets Tuesday to assist 14 area nonprofit and community service organizations provide services to those in need. SpartanNash has been hosting this “Helping Hands in the Community” day since 2011 and, to date, associates have volunteered 4,084 hours. This year […]
Posted in, National, Southeast
Laurel Grocery Co. Debuts Employee Health Clinic
Laurel Grocery Co., in partnership with KentuckyOne Health Primary Care, opened a new on-site health clinic today to Laurel Grocery employees and their families. The clinic is located just outside the company’s main warehouse on Highway 192 in London, Ky. The clinic is part of a new health initiative at Laurel Grocery under the name […]
Posted in, National
Pilgrim’s Pride Withdraws Proposal To Acquire Hillshire After Tyson Raises Its Offer
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. today said it has withdrawn its proposal to acquire The Hillshire Brands Co. Pilgrim’s says its decision to withdraw follows today’s announcement by Tyson Foods to raise its bid to acquire Hillshire, from $50 per share to $63 per share in cash. The transaction is valued at approximately $8.55 billion. Tyson’s first […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Publix’s Sarah Watts Wins IDDBA’s Annual Cake Decorating Challenge
The winner of the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association’s (IDDBA) 19th annual Cake Decorating Challenge held earlier this week is Sarah Watts of Publix Super Markets in Gainesville, Fla. The event was held at the Dairy-Deli-Bake 2014 seminar and expo in Denver, Colo., June 1-3. Stephanie Murphree of Harps Food Stores in West Fork, Ark., was the […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
KeHE, FMI Partner To Create Bridge Day Next Week
KeHE Distributors, a leading distributor of natural, specialty, multicultural and fresh products, will host its annual Holiday Show at McCormick Place in Chicago, June 8-9. The two-day event will bring together thousands of retailers and suppliers in the natural, specialty and fresh product categories to showcase holiday products and also year-round “hot and on-trend” products. […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Rudolph Foods’ Singleton Named Chairman Of Snack Food Association
Mark Singleton, VP of sales and marketing for Lima, Ohio-based Rudolph Foods, has accepted the role of chairman of the board of the Snack Food Association from outgoing Chairman Chip Mann, who served in that position since March 2013. Singleton will serve as chairman for the 2014-15 year. Singleton laid out his objectives for the […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Boar’s Head Brand Enters Hummus Category
Boar’s Head Brand, one of the nation’s leading providers of premium delicatessen products, is introducing Boar’s Head Hummus. The new line of gluten-free and all-natural hummus is available nationwide starting this month. Boar’s Head launches the line with four varieties: Traditional, Roasted Red Pepper, Roasted Pine Nut and Roasted Chipotle Pepper Hummus. “With a portfolio […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
Pilgrim’s Pride Ups Bid For Hillshire Brands To $7.7B
Pilgrim’s Pride Corp. confirmed that on Sunday it submitted a revised proposal to acquire The Hillshire Brands Co. for $55 per share in cash in a transaction valued at $7.7 billion. The proposal represents an increase of $1.3 billion vs. Pilgrim’s initial proposal and a 49 percent premium over Hillshire’s share price one day prior […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Litehouse Expands OPA Line
Following what it calls the most successful launch in the brand’s history, Litehouse Foods, a salad dressing, dip, herb and cheese company, is adding to its OPA by Litehouse line of Greek yogurt salad dressings. The three new items pull from global flavor inspirations to add interesting and palate-pleasing flavors to the line of traditional favorites, […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Nestea Revives The ‘Nestea Plunge’ Campaign
Nestea is bringing back the brand’s iconic “Nestea Plunge” with a new 2014 advertising campaign. This updated communication strategy is designed to promote Nestea’s new and improved recipe, featuring more flavor and fewer calories in every bottle, according to the brand. To further support the product relaunch, the brand will offer a “Nestea Plunge Into […]
Posted in, National
Report: GMO Labeling—Confusion At The Shelf
The battle over genetically modified food continues to rage, focused mostly on whether companies should label products that contain GMOs. As The Hartman Group reports, Whole Foods created a sense of urgency about the topic when it decided it would ensure that all GMO products in its stores would be labeled by 2018 to enhance […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Van Holten’s Now Bottling Pickle Juice
Van Holten’s is now bottling pickle juice. Pickleback—Real Pickle Brine is a 32-oz. bottle of dill pickle brine for use as a shot chaser or cocktail mixer. “We are using real honest pickle brine,” said Van Holten’s President Steve Byrnes.“This is the same stuff we’ve been making for over 100 years using our original recipe. […]