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 […]
Category: National
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 […]
Posted in, C-Store News, National
7-Eleven Rolls Out Pizza And Wing Deals
7-Eleven Inc. is offering hot large Pepperoni and Triple Cheese pizzas from $5.55 each and a large Deluxe Meat pizza for $6.99 in time for the Big Game on Sunday. Customers who purchase a 2L bottle of any brand of soft drink can save another dollar, lowering the prices of the pizzas to $4.55 and […]
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Samuel Adams Releases Rebel IPA Nationwide
After countless test batches in Samuel Adams’ Boston-based nanobrewery, the brewers say they are ready to share Samuel Adams Rebel IPA with drinkers across the country. Rebel IPA is a West Coast-style IPA brewed to maximize the aromatics and flavors of five of the brewers’ favorite American hops from the Pacific Northwest, according to Samuel […]
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Ocean Mist Farms Celebrates 90th Anniversary
Ocean Mist Farms will celebrate a 90-year legacy of growing artichokes and premium fresh vegetables with activities planned throughout the year ahead. The fourth-generation grower-owned business was founded by Italian immigrants in 1924 who started the business by growing artichokes and Brussels sprouts along the Pacific Ocean’s Monterey Bay in Castroville, Calif. Today the company farms […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Kroger Completes Merger With Harris Teeter
The Kroger Co. and Harris Teeter Supermarkets Inc. completed their merger on Tuesday. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Harris Teeter shareholders will receive $49.38 per share of Harris Teeter common stock. The deal is valued at approximately $2.5 billion. “We are pleased that our merger is complete and look forward to bringing together […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Industry News, National
Domestic Beer Falling Flat As Americans Tackle Bold Flavors, Healthier Options
As Americans stock their refrigerators in advance of the Super Bowl, it would appear that the contents in the cooler may not align with what is traditionally one of the big game’s biggest advertising spenders: domestic beer. According to new research from Mintel, some 22 percent of Americans say they are drinking less domestic beer […]