Sunsweet Growers Inc., the nation’s leading marketer of prunes, specialty dried fruit products and fruit juices, has appointed company President Dane Lance to the additional post of CEO. Arthur Driscoll II, CEO since 2004, has retired after a distinguished tenure with Sunsweet, during which time the company achieved record-setting revenue and grower-member crop returns. “Art’s […]
Category: National
Posted in, National
SNAP, WIC Benefits Continue During Government Shutdown—For Now
A number of state grocery associations are reporting that there has been confusion over the contingency plans for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and WIC during the government shutdown. There will be no change in the SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) benefits for October, though the future of issuances for November and beyond are […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National, West
Wash. Teamsters Pledge Support To Grocery Workers Should Strike Occur
The Joint Council of Teamsters No. 28, which represents more than 50,000 members across Washington, Alaska and Northern Idaho, says it will honor a grocery worker strike if one occurs. The strike could potentially affect the 2,600 members of Teamsters Local 38 in Everett, Wash., and the nearly 27,000 members of United Food and Commercial […]
Posted in, National
Store Brand Sales Now Surpass $110B
With store brands now surpassing $110 billion in sales, the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA) reported that shoppers are reaching for a retailer’s brand for one out of every four products they buy at the supermarket. Mid-year market share was 23.3 percent in supermarkets. Across all channels, private label recorded sales gains of 4.6 percent […]
Posted in, National, New Products
CB Old Country Store To Launch Licensed Products At Retail
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. plans to launch CB Old Country Store licensed products, made available through a licensing agreement with John Morrell Food Group, a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods. Products will begin shipping this week. The CB Old Country Store brand products include maple and smoked bacon, spiral ham and four types of […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Pronto Sparkling Coffee Hits Stores
12NtM (Noon to Midnight) Sparkling Beverages, producer of sparkling beverages crafted by chefs, has created Pronto, a sparkling coffee beverage. Pronto is based on premium Arabica coffee beans from Columbia with dashes of chicory and pineapple for smoothness, and an all-natural combination of more than 60 ingredients. The 187ml single-serve Pronto joins the already available […]
Posted in, Executive News, Independent Store News, National
NGA Appoints New Board Members
At its fall meeting in Chicago, the National Grocers Association’s (NGA) board of directors approved appointments to fill four unexpired terms recently left vacant. New board members include: Christine Curtis, SVP and account management, C&S Wholesale Grocers At Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers, Curtis is responsible for new business development, account management, independent retail services […]
Posted in, National
Frieda’s Specialty Lemon Bags Named PMA Impact Award Finalist
Frieda’s Specialty Lemon Bags for 1 lb. Seedless Lemons and Meyer Lemons were selected as a finalist in the 2013 PMA Impact Award, which recognizes excellence in packaging, in September. The bags are among 30 finalists selected from a total of 86 entries this year. The PMA Impact Award recognizes trendsetters that create and deliver […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
Walmart Rolls Out Great Value LED Lightbulbs For Less Than $10
Walmart has launched a Great Value line of LED lightbulbs for less than $10 in all of its U.S. stores, with the goal of making LED lightbulbs more accessible and affordable for consumers. The new line will be available exclusively at Walmart stores nationwide and Walmart.com. The energy-efficient LED, or light-emitting diode, technology provides the […]
Posted in, National
Study: Consumer Confidence In Food Safety Declines
Consumer confidence in the safety of foods and beverages sold in the U.S. has dropped over the past five years. according to Multi-sponsor Surveys’ study of “Clean Food & Beverage Labels.” In the survey conducted in May/June among a national sample of 2,100 adults, one in six express a “great deal” of confidence in food […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
The Hershey Co. Promotes Dark Chocolate As The New Dessert
A recent study by The Hartman Group on U.S. eating habits reveals that the percentage of Americans savoring dessert after dinner has increased 5 percent since 2009, and 78 percent of treats enjoyed after dinner include chocolates. At the same time, there has been a resurgence in consumers purchasing trade-up and premium dark chocolate since […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Consumers Buying More Specialty Food, Survey Says
Consumers are choosing specialty foods over conventional foods at record levels, according to new research from the Specialty Food Association. Close to 75 percent of U.S. consumers report making specialty food purchases this year, a major increase since the economic downturn of 2009 when only 46 percent reported that they bought these high-quality products. Consumers […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Caribou’s Amy’s Blend Brings Warmth To CancerCare
Caribou Coffee has kicked off its 18th annual Caribou Coffee Amy’s Blend program, which pays tribute to the company’s original roastmaster, Amy Erickson. Erickson lost her battle with breast cancer in 1995; the company hopes to address the common needs of those impacted by the disease with this year’s merchandise collection and social campaign. The […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Queso Dip Yellow Added To Gordo’s Cheese Dip Line
Kachwa Foods is launching Queso Dip Yellow to it’s No. 1-selling brand Gordo’s Cheese Dip line up. Made with 100 percent real cheese and wholesome ingredients, Gordo’s Queso Dip brings “The Real Taste of Old Mexico” home in six flavors—Original, Mild, Hot, Cheese ‘n Salsa, Chipotle and the newest variety, Queso Dip-Yellow. Gordo’s Cheese Dip […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Better4U Foods Introduces Gluten-Free Personal Pizzas
The Better4U Foods brand is introducing gluten-free consumers to the new personal version of its frozen Multigrain Gluten Free Pizzas. The Better4U gluten-free personal pizzas have a suggested retail price of $5.99-$6.99. Better4U Foods will offer a personal sized 7-inch version of each of the brand’s full sized Multigrain Gluten Free Pizzas. Now available in […]
Posted in, National
FMI, United Fresh Forge Three-Year Commitment For Chicago Trade Events
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and United Fresh Produce Association have announced a three-year agreement to co-locate the organizations’ respective trade shows: United Fresh 2014 and FMI Connect, the Global Food Retail Experience. Registration opens today for the June 10-13, 2014, events in Chicago. “Our partnership with United Fresh brings a vine-ripe vibrancy and fresh-picked […]
Posted in, C-Store News, National
Joe Sheetz Steps Into CEO Role At Sheetz
Joe S. Sheetz, EVP of finance and store development, will officially step into the role of president and CEO for Sheetz Inc. on Tuesday. Current chief executive Stan Sheetz leaves the presidency after 18 years and will stay active in the role of chairman. “I am honored to be entrusted with the leadership of my […]
Posted in, National, West
Co-Sales Expands Fresh Division
Co-Sales and Cashman-Edwards Inc. have merged their businesses and Andrew B. Cashman and his staff will join the Co-Sales management team to expand the company’s produce/fresh division in the Intermountain region. As Co-Sales’ new director of produce, Cashman will combine his 23-year-old produce company with Co-Sales. “Cashman-Edwards Inc. and its principals are very excited for […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Crunchmaster Rolls Out Popped Edamame Veggie Chips
Crunchmaster, America’s No. 1-selling brand of gluten-free crackers, has launched a new line of Popped Edamame Chips , available now nationwide. The Popped Edamame Chips are available in two flavors—Sea Salt and Wasabi Soy—made with a blend of California rice and real edamame (edible soy beans). Popped Edamame Chips from Crunchmaster are made with simple, […]
Posted in, National
DCI-Artform Boosts Grocery Sector Biz With Six New Hires
DCI-Artform, a leading global player in the shopper marketing and retail product merchandising business, says it has hired top talent to bring shopper-centric solutions to grocers, other store formats and consumer product manufacturers. Leading a new approach to front-end merchandising (FEM): • Lisa Murphy, senior sales executive (California), has had success in big-box and specialty […]