Little Debbie snacks, maker Oatmeal Creme Pies, Swiss Rolls, Honey Buns and Cosmic Brownies, is launching a new product: Little Debbie Cosmic Cupcakes. The chocolate cakes are filled with creme and topped with chocolaty frosting and candy-coated chocolate chips. “Little Debbie Cosmic Cupcakes are light years ahead of anything else on the market today,” said […]
Category: National
Posted in, National, New Products
Minute Maid Rolls Out Liquid Water Enhancer With Real Fruit Juice
The Coca-Cola Co. is introducing Minute Maid Drops, made with real fruit juice and available in four flavors: Lemonade, Fruit Punch, Mango Tropical and Raspberry Lemonade. Each bottle makes approximately 28 servings and can be resealed until the next use. “Adding Minute Maid Drops to our diverse portfolio of juices and juice drinks demonstrates our […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Mondelez International To Invest $130M In U.S. Biscuit Manufacturing Network
Mondelez International plans to invest more than $130 million in new biscuit manufacturing technology and capabilities in its current U.S. network. The investment will focus on bakeries in Fair Lawn, N.J., and Richmond, Va., supporting priority cookie and cracker brands and product platforms. To enable this investment, the company says it will consolidate its current […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Minnesota Grocers Recognizes 2014 Legislator Of The Year
The Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) presented its 2014 MGA Legislator of the Year Award to Sen. Gary Dahms (R-Redwood Falls) at its annual legislative dinner in St. Paul on Jan. 28. Each year, the MGA acknowledges a lawmaker who demonstrates outstanding commitment to the retail food industry. This year’s honor went to Dahms for his work […]
Posted in, National
Stars Celebrate ‘Pure Goodness’ With Wonderful Halos, Feeding America
Actress Jennie Garth and TV personality and actor Mario Lopez have officially kicked off a partnership between Wonderful Halos mandarins and Feeding America. Wonderful Halos—the sweet, easy-to-peel and seedless mandarins—is taking its Pure Goodness message to schools across America by providing nutritious food to children through the Feeding America BackPack program. Lopez, host of “Extra” […]
Posted in, National
Congress Reaches Agreement On Farm Bill
The long-awaited Farm Bill has been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the Senate casting the final approval—in a 68-32 vote on Tuesday—before the nearly $1 trillion bill goes to the president’s desk. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law. The bill has compromises throughout, including changes […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Suppliers
Anheuser-Busch Acquiring Blue Point Brewing Co.
Anheuser-Busch has agreed to purchase Blue Point Brewing Co., one of the nation’s top craft brewers with more than 40 beers and sales concentrated along the East Coast, in a move that will bring additional resources to Blue Point’s operations, allowing it to meet growing consumer demand for its award-winning brands. Terms of the agreement […]
Posted in, National, Store News
CVS To Stop Selling Tobacco Products At All Locations
CVS Caremark will stop selling cigarettes and other tobacco products at its more than 7,600 CVS/pharmacy stores across the U.S. by Oct. 1, making CVS/pharmacy the first national pharmacy chain to take this step in support of the health and well-being of its patients and customers, according to the Rhode Island-based company. “Ending the sale […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Mrs. Freshley’s Introduces Cinnamon Coffee Cakes
Mrs. Freshley’s, an award-winning brand of snack cakes and pastries from Flowers Foods, is expanding its product portfolio with new Cinnamon Coffee Cakes. The cinnamon-flavored cakes are available across the nation, starting Feb. 3. Joining an extensive line of snack cakes and pastries, Mrs. Freshley’s Cinnamon Coffee Cakes are available in 3.4-oz. two-count, single-serve packs and can be found in supermarkets, convenience stores and vending […]
Posted in, National
Farm Bill Passes In Senate; Off To President
The long-awaited Farm Bill has been passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the Senate casting the final approval—in a 68-32 vote today—before the nearly $1 trillion bill goes to the president’s desk. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law. For more on the deals of the bill, […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Trend Report: America’s Love Of Sweet Baked Snacks, Desserts Spurs Market
Americans’ love of sweets has propelled dollar sales of packaged sweet baked snacks and desserts by a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.5 percent since 2008 to reach $13 billion in 2012. “Packaged Sweet Baked Snacks and Desserts: U.S. Market Trends,” a report by market research publisher Packaged Facts, projects retail sales in the […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
Stonyfield Rolls Out New Flavors, Enhances Greek Yogurt Line
Stonyfield has introduced two new flavors—Black Cherry and Cafe Latte—and is making its line of organic Greek yogurt with a creamier texture and enhanced flavor. Stonyfield Greek is made without the use of pesticides, GMOs, artificial hormones and antibiotics. “Greek yogurt makes an excellent snack with its high protein content and moderate calorie count, and […]
Posted in, C-Store News, National
NACS: Gas Customers Evolve In How They Shop For Price
Price remains the dominant reason why consumers buy gas at a particular location, but how consumers shop for that price is shifting, according to the results of a new consumer survey released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Two-thirds of consumers (66 percent) say that price is the most important factor in determining […]
Posted in, National
C.H. Robinson Expands Welch’s Grape Distribution Globally
C.H. Robinson, one of the world’s largest produce and logistics companies, continues to expand Welch’s Fresh Grapes globally. To mark the occasion, Welch’s Fresh Grapes and other produce offerings will be showcased at the C.H. Robinson booth during the Fruit Logistica show in Berlin, Germany, Feb. 5-7. Through expanded distribution, C.H. Robinson, the exclusive marketer […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
Natural Grocers Posts Sales Increase For Fiscal ’14 1Q
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage has posted positive results for its fiscal 2014 first quarter ended Dec. 31. Net sales increased $24.8 million, or 25.8 percent, over the same period in fiscal year 2013 to $120.6 million—due to a $14.6 million increase in sales from new stores and a $10.2 million, or 10.6 percent, increase […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Grocery News, National
GoodBelly Offers Free Probiotic Drinks To Sickened Cruise Passengers
GoodBelly, a line of probiotic juice drinks designed to boost daily digestive health, is responding after passengers aboard the Royal Caribbean Explorer of the Seas cruise ship were struck with an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness, presumably due to norovirus. With hundreds of passengers and their tummies signaling SOS to “Save Our Stomachs,” GoodBelly says it […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Equipment & Technology, National, Whole Foods
Amazon Plans Retail Store Checkout System
Amazon.com is working on a checkout system for brick-and-mortar retail stores that includes using the company’s Kindle tablet device, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal. The Wall Street Journal reports Amazon would give retailers Kindles and credit-card readers for checking out customers, and could offer retailers other services, such as data analysis and website […]
Posted in, National, New Products
New Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups Now Available Nationwide
Just in time for the Big Game on Sunday, Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups is making its nationwide debut, adding a dose of Butterfinger to the classic chocolate and peanut butter cup. Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups is available now at major retailers nationwide. Showing how “the cup just got crunchy,” Butterfinger Peanut Butter Cups feature a […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Nathan’s Famous Grows Snack Line
Inventure Foods has expanded its licensed Nathan’s Famous snack food line with the addition of Bacon & Cheddar Crunchy Crinkle Fries. The new flavor is currently available in vending, convenience and grocery stores nationwide in 1.125-, 2.0- and 3.5-oz. bags with a suggested retail price of $1.00-$2.49 per package. Bacon & Cheddar Crunchy Crinkle Fries […]
Posted in, National, New Products
EVOL Foods Introduces New Products To Frozen Entree Category
EVOL Foods, Boulder-based maker of new-age frozen meals, burritos and snacks, is launching two new product lines: MultiServe Skillet Meals and Lean & Fit single-serve meals. These new products further round out EVOL’s growing product portfolio while still remaining committed to providing convenient, clean food made with real ingredients that taste great, according to the […]