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, […]
Category: National
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 today said it has withdrawn its proposal to acquire The Hillshire Brands Co. Pilgrim’s says its decision to withdraw follows today’s announcement by Tyson Foods to raise its bid to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. […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
NFRA Names New Member Communications Coordinator
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has appointed Natalie Markle to the newly created position of member communications coordinator. Markle is responsible for marketing member resources and events, developing and maintaining an online and social media presence for members and engaging members in NFRA’s PR and promotion efforts. In 2013, NFRA partnered with […]
Posted in, National
Tyson Wants Hillshire, Deal Contingent Upon Termination Of Pinnacle Merger
Just more than two weeks after Hillshire Brands announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Pinnacle Foods Inc. in a $6.6 billion deal, Tyson Foods said Thursday that it hopes to buy Hillshire in a $50-per-share cash transaction valued at $6.8 billion. Springdale, Ark.-based Tyson says its proposal represents a “superior […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Survey: Majority Of Consumers Believe Total Data Privacy No Longer Exists
The vast majority (80 percent) of consumers age 20-40 in the U.S. and the U.K. believe total privacy in the digital world is a thing of the past, and nearly half (49 percent) said they would not object to having their buying behavior tracked if it would result in relevant offers from brands and suppliers, […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Former Winn-Dixie CEO Peter Lynch Joins RPAI’s Board Of Directors
Peter L. Lynch, former chairman, president and CEO of Winn-Dixie Stores Inc., has been elected to Retail Properties of America Inc.’s board of directors. Lynch was CEO of Winn-Dixie from 2004-2006 and chairman of the board of directors, president and CEO from 2006-March 2012. Winn-Dixie Stores Inc., now owned by Bi-Lo Holdings, is a NASDAQ-listed […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
PMA Launches Redesigned Website
In response to member feedback and as part of its new strategic plan implementation, Produce Marketing Association (PMA) unveiled its redesigned website at pma.com today. With a fresh new design, new structure, a fully functioning search feature and mobile-ready access, the website is part of the association’s ongoing efforts to bring a complete portfolio of […]