The fourth annual “Temkin Experience Ratings” reveals grocery and fast food chains dominate the top spots among evaluation of 268 companies across 19 industries. Based on a study of 10,000 U.S consumers, H-E-B, Trader Joe’s, Chick-fil-A, and Publix earned the highest scores in the 2014 Temkin Experience Ratings, ranking 268 companies across 19 industries. Joining […]
Category: National
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
AirFlo Introduces Merchandising Display For Bananas
Carlson AirFlo has launched the AirFlo Banana Display, which the Minnesota-based company says provides both a strategic location display and focal-point function for displaying bananas. Benefits, according to Carlson AirFlo, include: • Increase sales by providing more access, appeal and excitement; • Reduce shrink simply by hanging the fruit from its crown, resembling growth in […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Kroger Created More Than 7K New Jobs Last Year
The Kroger Co. says its total active workforce grew by more than 7,000 during fiscal year 2013. Approximately 90 percent of the new jobs were in the company’s supermarket divisions. “Our associates have the extraordinary opportunity to make a difference for the more than eight million customers who visit our stores each day,” said Katy Barclay, […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Self Magazine Gets Into Frozen Foods Business
Self magazine is introducing Self Healthy Kitchen, a new line of frozen meals that feature ingredients from the magazine’s best-selling “Drop 10 Diet” books and weight loss programs. These ingredients are designed to help the body burn fat, lose weight and lower risk for disease. Self, a Conde Nast brand, worked with Chef Calvin Harris, […]
Posted in, National
Consumer Expectations That Are Reshaping Retail
While retailers have historically used the “multichannel” approach to reach consumers, the rapidly growing focus on the consumer and integrated, customer-focused technology has paved way for a “Total Retail” experience, according to a new report by PwC titled, “Achieving Total Retail: Consumer Expectations Driving the Next Retail Business Model.” Based on a survey of more […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Smartfood Introduces Delight Popcorn As Reduced-Fat Option
The Smartfood brand is rolling out Smartfood Delight popcorn, a brand of reduced-fat popcorn available in Sea Salt and White Cheddar flavors. At 35 calories per cup, Smartfood Delight popcorn is a product of PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division. “Consumers are becoming increasingly more aware of their snacking choices, which is why we created Smartfood Delight popcorn, […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Quirch Foods Launches Chiquita Frozen Foods
Quirch Foods, one of the largest distributors of food products in the southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean, now has a licensing agreement with Chiquita Brands to sell Chiquita frozen Maduros (Ripe Plantains), Tostones (Green Plantains), Yuca (Cassava) and Fruit Pulp (for juice and smoothies). These Chiquita frozen foods are made with 100 percent natural ingredients […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Diet Coke Debuts Diet Coke Frost, First Frozen Offering In Brand’s History
Diet Coke is introducing a new product, Diet Coke Frost. A low-calorie frozen carbonated beverage, this is the first frozen offering in the brand’s 31-year history. Diet Coke Frost includes natural cherry flavorings. Each serving has 30 calories and 12g of carbs. Diet Coke Frost Cherry as a Slurpee will be available exclusively at 7-Eleven locations […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
IGA Donates $290K To Wounded Warrior Project
IGA has donated $290,000 to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) as a result of the third annual IGA exclusive brand national marketing initiative that ran in participating IGA stores from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend of 2013. During the promotional period last year, IGA donated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Healthy Snackers, Niche Marketers Set Tone For Crackers Category
The U.S. market for crackers exceeded $7 billion in 2013 and growth drivers in crackers are fundamentally the same as those sparking growth in the markets for healthy-ingredient snacks and salty snacks. Chief among these drivers is the fact that Americans continue to shift toward eating several small meals a day and snacking between meals, […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
American Frozen Food Institute Elects New Board Leadership
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has elected three officers and nine members to the AFFI board of directors. The elections took place at the AFFI annual meeting and keynote breakfast Monday, held in conjunction with the 2014 AFFI Frozen Food Convention in San Diego, Calif. The newly-elected AFFI officers are: Dave Yanda of Lakeside […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Oscar Mayer Brand Introduces P3 Portable Protein Pack
The Oscar Mayer brand is introducing P3 Portable Protein Pack, packs of meat, cheese and nuts, designed for active consumers looking for a snack to help keep them going throughout the day. Supported by a major national marketing effort, P3 Portable Protein Pack is poised to become a major force in the growing $19 billion […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Jack’s Link’s To Buy Unilever Meat Snack Business
Jack Link’s plans to purchase Unilever’s meat snacks business, primarily sold under the BiFi brand (Germany, Benelux, Austria and Switzerland) and the Peperami brand (U.K. and Ireland). The sale is expected to close by the end of March. Terms of the deal, announced Friday, were not disclosed. The transaction, subject to customary closing conditions, also […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, National, Store News, Whole Foods
Who Leads, And Lags, In Customer Satisfaction?
Customer satisfaction improved for a third consecutive year for retail, according to a report released by the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). The retail sector overall gained 1.7 percent to an ACSI benchmark of 77.9, boosted by higher customer satisfaction with specialty retail stores, supermarkets, drug stores and gasoline service stations. A fourth traditional retail […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Coca-Cola CFO Set To Retire, Successor Announced
The Coca-Cola Co.’s EVP and CFO, Gary P. Fayard, will retire in May after 20 years of service with the Atlanta-based company. Kathy N. Waller, 55, will succeed Fayard in the role of CFO. Fayard, 62, joined Coca-Cola in 1994 as VP and controller. He was promoted in 1999 to SVP and CFO. In 2003, […]
Posted in, National
SpartanNash, Daymon Worldwide To Collaborate For Store Brand Project
SpartanNash and Daymon Worldwide will collaborate to create and merchandise a variety of private brand products across multiple categories. The products will be sold through SpartanNash’s 172 retail stores and more than 1,900 independent retailers under such brand names as Our Family, Spartan, Spartan Fresh Selections, Nash Brothers Trading Co., TopCare and other brands in […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
General Mills, Kroger Support NASCAR Driver With No. 3 Cheerios Box
In conjunction with the 56th running of the Daytona 500 and to further showcase its long-standing partnership with NASCAR, General Mills has teamed up with The Kroger Co. to produce a limited-edition Cheerios box to commemorate the return of the No. 3 to NASCAR’s premier series with NASCAR champion Austin Dillon at the wheel. Beginning […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Safeway Confirms Talks About Possible Sale Of Company
Safeway said Wednesday afternoon that it is in discussions concerning a possible sale of the company. “Although the discussions are ongoing, the company has not reached an agreement on a transaction, and there can be no assurance that these discussions will lead to an agreement or a completed transaction,” the company said during a fourth […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Doritos Adds Fiery Habanero Flavor To Dinamita Line
Doritos, one of the flagship brands from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, has added a new flavor to its Dinamita rolled tortilla chip line: Doritos Dinamita Fiery Habanero. Available nationwide beginning this month, new Doritos Dinamita Fiery Habanero chips combine the spice of habanero peppers with hints of chili and red peppers in a rolled tortilla chip. […]
Posted in, National
Health Concerns, Convenience Demands Shape Breakfast Baked Goods Market
Breakfast is regarded as the most important meal of the day, and for food retailers and marketers this widespread emphasis on the morning meal will spur the packaged breakfast baked goods market—which includes bagels, donuts, croissants and English muffins—to sales of $5 billion in 2017, according to “Packaged Breakfast Baked Goods: U.S. Market Trends,” a […]