Diet Coke Frost, briefly sold as a Slurpee beverage at 7-Eleven stores, has been canned. USA Today reports that, just one month after rolling out the Diet Coke Frost Cherry Slurpee, the frozen concoction has been removed from 7-Eleven stores nationally. Coca-Cola and 7-Eleven reportedly said in a joint statement to the newspaper that the […]
Category: National
Posted in, Grocery News, National
Nut-based, Sweet Spreads Category Predicted To Increase 65 Percent By 2018
With an influx of new products in recent years, including industry game-changer Nutella, the $3.9 billion nut-based and sweet spread category grew 34 percent from 2008-13. While many nut-based and sweet spreads already have high household penetration rates and have become pantry staples, new research from Mintel reveals there is still room for growth, especially […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Wisconsin Claims Top Awards Total At World Cheese Contest
Wisconsin cheesemakers dominated the competition at the recent World Championship Cheese Contest, winning 106 awards—about 39 percent—of the total 273 awards given, including 38 Best of Class, 34 second place and 34 third place awards. Wisconsin’s accomplishment represented five times the number of awards as those won by the closest competitor, Switzerland with 21. Switzerland […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National, Store News
Safeway Ends ‘Go-Shop’ Period As Albertson’s Deal Moves Forward
Safeway Inc. said this morning that the 21-day “go-shop” period that was part of the terms of the definitive merger agreement, under which AB Acquisition LLC agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Safeway, has expired. AB Acquisition owns both Albertson’s LLC and New Albertson’s Inc. Under the agreement, Safeway and its representatives were permitted […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Pioneer Growers Launches Two New Packaged Sweet Corn Products
In preparation for the upcoming corn season, Pioneer Growers is launching two new packaged sweet corn products: a tray package with eight ears of corn sold in a 10-count case instead of the 12-count industry standard and a grab-and-go microwavable bag package. Both products feature the Green Giant brand. “We developed the 10-count case […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Sunsweet Introduces Amaz!ng Prune Light Juice
Sunsweet, a leading marketer of prunes, dried fruits and fruit juices, is launching a new, lighter version of its prune juice. Set to hit shelves this spring, Amaz!ng Prune Light juice boasts a light flavor and provides a good source of fiber with 100 calories and 8g of sugar per serving. “Almost one in four […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National
DPS, KAB Continue To Provide Grants To Increase Recycling In Public Parks
Public parks will be getting cleaner in communities across the country thanks to a significant grant made possible by Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) in collaboration with Keep America Beautiful (KAB). Twenty-six local and county governments in 19 states will receive durable, permanent recycling bins as part of the Dr Pepper Snapple Group/Keep America Beautiful […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Guiding Stars Awarded U.S. Patent For Its Food Nutrition Database System
Guiding Stars, the nation’s leading independent nutrition guidance program, has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,626,796 for its food nutrition database and operating system that is used to score and present nutrition information for food products. It marks the second U.S. patent issued to protect the Guiding Stars system, which helps consumers identify more nutritious […]
Posted in, National
Marketing & Merch Conference After United Fresh Show To Focus On Brand Differentiation
Brand strategist Al Ries will keynote this year’s United Fresh Retail Produce Marketing & Merchandising Conference, June 12-13, immediately following United Fresh 2014 in Chicago. “Whether Marketing 101 is the only marketing course you’ve ever taken, or you have your MBA in marketing from an elite university, you’ve studied Al Ries and the impact he […]
Posted in, National
Study: Consumers Sill Want Transparency From Food Industry
Nearly two out of three consumers (65 percent) want to know more about where their food comes from, according to a new followup white paper, “Emerging Faith in Food Production,” by Sullivan Higdon & Sink (SHS) FoodThink. The white paper explains how Americans continue to ask questions about where their food comes from and what […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Costco, Sprouts Top Consumer Reports’ Grocer Ratings
When it comes to supermarkets, biggest isn’t always best. In Consumer Reports’ latest survey, Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Costco and Sprouts earned the highest scores overall among 55 of the nation’s major grocery stores; Walmart, America’s largest grocer, landed at the bottom of the ratings, based on a survey of 27,208 subscribers. The report, which […]
Posted in, National
Mastronardi Produce Dubbed One Of Canada’s Best Managed Companies
Mastronardi Produce has been selected as one of Canada’s Best Managed Companies for the fifth consecutive year. This national award is sponsored by Deloitte, CIBC, National Post, Queen’s School of Business and MacKay CEO Forums. “We would like to congratulate Mastronardi Produce and its entire workforce. Achieving Canada’s highest level of Canadian business excellence takes […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Lay’s Rolls Out Kettle Cooked Lattice Cut Potato
Lay’s Kettle Cooked, one of the many brands from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, is introducing a new chip style just in time for spring. Lay’s Kettle Cooked Lattice Cut potato chips are now available nationwide in two flavors: Aged Cheddar and Black Pepper, and Roasted Garlic and Sea Salt. New Lattice Cut Kettle Cooked potato chips […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Family Dollar Names Hancock SVP Of Supply Chain
Family Dollar Stores has appointed Brian D. Hancock as SVP of supply chain. Hancock will report to Howard R. Levine, chairman and CEO. “Since we opened our first store in 1959, our focus has been on providing our customers with great value and convenience. In today’s competitive retail environment, building an efficient, end-to-end supply chain […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Ritz Bacon Flavored Crackers Available Now
Ritz Crackers has joined forces with the savory flavor of bacon to create Ritz Bacon flavored Crackers. On shelves now, Ritz Bacon flavored Crackers combine the classic taste of Ritz, black pepper seasoning and the flavor of bacon. “Ritz recognized America’s love for the taste of bacon and wanted to help take bacon flavor to […]
Posted in, National
Mexico Publishes Final Rule To Allow Cross-Border Potato Trade
The U.S. fresh potato trade with Mexico has been expanded, with shipments expected to begin by June. “The U.S. potato industry and our partners at USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) are pleased to learn the Mexican government has issued its final rule designed to achieve the bilateral goal of expanding […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
NGA Expresses Concerns With Chairman Camp’s Tax Reform Proposal
On behalf of the National Grocers Association (NGA), Peter J. Larkin, NGA president and CEO, sent a letter to House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) outlining concerns with Camp’s draft proposal to overhaul the nation’s tax code. Specifically, NGA addressed the negative impacts that the exclusion of non-manufacturing S-corporations from a lower […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
AWG Reports Record Sales And Earnings
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG), the nation’s second largest cooperative food wholesaler, has reported consolidated net sales of $8.38 billion, up 6.8 percent over the prior year, marking the first time the company has exceeded the $8 billion mark. Same-store sales were up nearly 2 percent over the prior year. Operating income was a record $201 […]
Posted in, National
Court Invalidates New Rules On Vidalia Sweet Onion Ship Date
Judge Cynthia D. Wright of the Atlanta Judicial Circuit of the Superior Court of Fulton County ruled Wednesday in favor of Bland Farms’ challenge of the legality of the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s mandatory uniform start date for the shipping of Vidalia Sweet Onions. As a result of the ruling, Bland Farms and other licensed […]