The U.S. convenience store count increased to 151,282 stores as of Dec. 31, 2013, a 1.4 percent increase (2,062 stores) from the year prior, according to the 2014 NACS/Nielsen Convenience Industry Store Count. The link between fuels and convenience retailing continues to grow. Overall, 83.7 percent of convenience stores (126,658 total) sell motor fuels, a […]
Category: National
Posted in, National, Perishables
Number Of Meat-Eaters Still Up, Though Americans Have Cut Back On Red Meat
As January continues, many consumers continue to forge ahead with healthy eating habits as part of New Year resolutions. Indeed, despite prevalent health trends encouraging consumers to eat less red meat, and 90 percent of consumers eating some kind of red meat at least once a month, new research from Mintel reveals some 39 percent […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Maxim Marketing Sues ConAgra, Trader Joe’s $60M For Interfering With Pretzel Biz
Maxim Marketing Corp. on Wednesday filed suit against ConAgra and Trader Joe’s in Los Angeles County Superior Court for breach of contract, intentional interference with contractual relations and violation of California antitrust law. “The lawsuit alleges that the actions of Trader Joe’s and ConAgra breach a number of their obligations to Maxim and also violated […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Oikos Unites Stamos With Former Full House Co-Stars For Big Game
Dannon Oikos says it’s bringing former “Full House” stars John Stamos, Bob Saget and Dave Coulier together in America’s living rooms to show just how entertaining a better-for-you snack can be. After making its mark as the first yogurt brand to advertise in the big game in 2012, Dannon Oikos returns for the second time […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Whole Foods Debuting ‘Dark Rye’ TV Series Tonight On Pivot
Whole Foods Market and Pivot, Participant Media’s TV network targeting Millennials, is launching a television series called “Dark Rye.” The first episode, hosted by Kirk Lombard, a Bay Area fisherman and forager, airs at 9:30 p.m. (ET) tonight. Dark Rye was created as an online magazine by Whole Foods Market in 2012. The publication, through […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
IGA Recognizes Five Star Retailers
A number of IGA retailers in the U.S. have achieved IGA Five Star status, the highest level of recognition possible based on the alliance’s rigorous standards. The Five Star assessment program aligns a series of in-store appraisals, IGA Coca-Cola Institute training and online customer feedback to provide a unique “brand-building” tool available only to IGA […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board Launches Mac And Cheese Site
The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board has launched a new website dedicated to All Things Mac and Cheese. All Things Mac and Cheese includes more than 100 recipes that range from simple stovetop variations to creative gourmet options. Home cooks can find recipes for a range of any add-in ingredient they have on hand, whether it’s seasonal […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
Logic Captures No. 2 Dollar Share Spot Within E-Cig Industry
Logic Technology, makers of premium electronic cigarettes, has released the the results of the latest unit share report from Nielsen’s C-Track Database and Wells Fargo Securities LLC, indicating Logic has claimed the No. 2 spot for dollar share in convenience stores nationwide, and strengthened its No. 2 position for electronic cigarettes in unit share. Logic […]
Posted in, C-Store News, National
Hunt Brothers Debuts Limited-Time-Offer Pizza
Hunt Brothers Pizza is introducing a limited-time-offer pizza just in time for the Big Game. The specialty pizza, Italian Meats, includes Hunt Brothers Pizza’s original rising fresh crust, topped with a signature sauce and layered with slices of Italian-style ham, salami, big pepperoni and 100 percent mozzarella cheese. This also is the first time that […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Top 2014 Specialty Food Trends Unveiled
The specialty food industry is once again leading the charge in new trends and flavors, all on display at the Winter Fancy Food Show, which wrapped up Monday in California. A panel of trendspotters named chocolate teas, seaweed chips and truffle ketchup as just a few of the products that were all part of a […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Yoplait Challenges Chobani In Greek Yogurt ‘Taste-Off’
Taste is king, and yogurt lovers from across the country have spoken: Yoplait Greek blueberry comes out on top over Chobani blueberry, according to Yoplait. Yoplait says it put taste to a head-to-head national taste test, revealing that nearly two out of three consumers (65 percent) prefer the taste of Yoplait Greek blueberry over the […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Nutrition-Focused Social Platform Provides Healthy Food Guidance, Cost Savings
In partnership with Guiding Stars and Wellness Layers, Premera Blue Cross has launched Serve it Up!, a free nutrition-focused social platform that helps people make healthier food choices at home and in the grocery store by “serving up” the most nutritious options first. The platform offers tools to build and share healthy shopping lists and […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Perishables
Dunkin’ Donuts, WhiteWave To Introduce Dunkin’ Coffee Creamers At Grocery
Dunkin’ Donuts and WhiteWave Foods have announced a licensing agreement to introduce Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee Creamers at grocery outlets nationwide. Available in the refrigerated dairy section of select grocery outlets and club stores, Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee Creamers are made with real milk and cream as a companion for coffee. WhiteWave Foods, a leader in coffee […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Pastry Smart Introduces Jack Crisps Brand
Pastry Smart LLC has debuted Jack Crisps, an all-natural cracker cheese crisp. “Our focus is to provide retailers with unique and all-natural specialty items that add value on the shelf and increase customer satisfaction,” said Mark Ainsworth, Pastry Smart founder and CEO. “We are excited to introduce Jack Crisps, nationwide, as a new brand with […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Kroger, Harris Teeter Deal To Close Sooner Than Expected
The Federal Trade Commission has granted early approval regarding The Kroger Co.’s acquisition of Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. The deal, valued at about $2.5 billion, is expected to close by the end of January. The original close date was scheduled for early February. Kroger and Harris Teeter in July announced the definitive merger agreement, which […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
GMA Responds To Couric’s ‘Fed Up’ Film
The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) is responding to “Fed Up,” the documentary film that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah, on Sunday. The film is produced and narrated by Katie Couric and explores the childhood obesity epidemic and its apparent causes. “Our companies have been trusted by generations of families to […]
Posted in, National
Digital Tools, Social Media Insights, Latest Consumer Trends To Highlight 2014 NGA Show
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has posted its 2014 NGA Show agenda and featured speakers online. The 2014 NGA Show will be held Feb. 9-12 at the Mirage in Las Vegas. Fellow retailers and wholesalers will conduct more than half of the 100 scheduled presentations, while nearly 40 retailers are participating in panel discussions. “The […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Experts To Present A View Into The Beef Consumer Mindset
What will be the biggest drivers of beef purchases in 2014? How are consumers deciding what to pick at the meat case and on the menu? And how will market conditions, supply and pricing all play out to meet consumer demands? On Feb. 4, as part of the 2014 Cattle Industry Annual Convention & NCBA Trade […]
Posted in, National, Store News
New Research Provides Insight Into Shopper Behavior In Supermarkets
Supermarket operators may soon have a way to monitor how and where customers shop their stores, using aggregated data from the shoppers’ own smartphones. That’s the major takeaway from a test of the concept in two supermarkets last year undertaken by the Center for Advancing Retail & Technology (CART) and the National Grocers Association (NGA). […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Better Bean Co. Receives B Corp Certification
The Better Bean Co., the pioneer of refrigerated “rethought” beans, has become a Certified Benefit Corporation (B Corp). The designation is awarded to companies that use the power of business to solve social and environmental problems and meet higher standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. “From the beginning, we were committed to using […]