New Woot Froot line offers fresh pre-packaged peaches and nectarines Fresh Fruit Cuts is introducing Woot Froot, a line of processed fresh peaches and nectarines that will be available through October. “Woot Froot pairs the great taste of fresh nectarines and peaches—one of America’s top 10 fruits—with the ease and convenience of fresh cut and […]
Category: National
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Suppliers
Post Holdings To Buy Premier Nutrition Corp. For $180M
Post Holdings Inc., a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded ready-to-eat cereals, has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Premier Nutrition Corp. (PNC). PNC is a growing marketer and distributor of premium protein beverages and foods under its Premier Protein brand and nutritional supplements under its Joint Juice brand. This acquisition provides Post a […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National
Report: Change In Industry Provides Marketing Opportunity For Grocers
The retail market for foods and beverages is undergoing some of its greatest changes since supermarkets came to the fore in the 1940s and ‘50s, according to “The Future of Food Retailing: Shopper Insights and Market Opportunities,” a new report from market research firm Packaged Facts. According to David Sprinkle, research director for Packaged Facts, […]
Posted in, National
Chile’s Citrus Industry Ups Marketing Efforts To Boost U.S. Sales
Sweet, fresh navel oranges, clementines and mandarins from Chile are turning summertime into citrus time, with supplies of these fruits increasingly available nationwide. Chile is one of the world’s largest producers of fresh fruit, and with citrus available now through November, the Chilean Citrus Committee, with the support of ProChile (Chile’s promotional bureau), is redoubling […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Cathy Green Burns Named PMA President
The Produce Marketing Association (PMA) has appointed Cathy Green Burns as president, effective Dec. 1. The appointment, PMA says, is part of the organization’s continuing restructure of the senior leadership team. In this new role, Green Burns will focus initially on leading board and staff team development as well as lending her insight to business […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Sales Up 12 Percent At Whole Foods For 3Q, Store Growth Outlined
Whole Foods Market this week posted positive numbers for the company’s third quarter ending July 7. The Austin, Texas-based grocery chain reported that sales increased 12 percent to $3.1 billion. Comparable store sales increased 7.5 percent, and identical store sales, excluding four relocations and one expansion, increased 7.2 percent. Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and […]
Posted in, National
Frieda’s Helps Produce Wholesalers Stock Up For School Snacking
Summer is nearly over, and parents will soon be shopping for healthy yet exciting lunch and snack options for their kids to take to school. Frieda’s Inc. says it is the go-to source for kid’s favorite fruits and vegetables. Some of the popular back-to-school items are Asian Pears, Baby Red Bananas, Medjool Dates, Mandarinquats, Baby Apples and […]
Posted in, Midwest, National, Supply Chain News
Penske Logistics To Serve Kroger’s Indiana DC Business
Penske Logistics has won the contract to operate and manage Kroger’s 600,000 s.f. refrigerated food distribution facility located in West Shelbyville, Ind. Penske officially began operating the facility July 21. Penske Logistics has hired the 816 existing workers at the facility, including those represented by Teamsters Local 135. “We’re excited to have earned this new […]
Posted in, National
Trends, Innovative Categories Become Highlight of KeHE Holiday Show
KeHE’s 2013 Holiday Show, held as always at Chicago’s McCormick Place, had the largest number of retailer attendees in the show’s history. The private, two-day industry trade show brought together thousands of retailers and suppliers in the natural, specialty and fresh product categories. Suppliers showcased on-trend products for the holidays, as well as year-round “gotta-have” […]
Posted in, National
NGA: Corporate-Only Tax Reform Is A Non-Starter
President Obama released on Tuesday a proposal that attempts to simplify the tax code for American businesses by reforming only corporate tax rates. Though the National Grocers Association (NGA) says efforts to lower the top corporate tax rate from the highest in the world at 35 percent to 28 percent is a step in the […]
Posted in, National
NACS: ‘We Fundamentally Won On All Counts’ In Swipe Fee Decision
The U.S. District Court ruled today in favor of merchants in a challenge to debit card interchange rules set by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. The decision blasts the board for not following the law as passed by Congress, saying that it failed to set fees that are “reasonable and proportional […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
White Paper: Organic, Local And Natural Go Mainstream
Research detailed in a new white paper, “A Fresh Look at Organic and Local,” all but confirms that the organic, local and natural food trends are no longer niche markets. The latest from Sullivan Higdon & Sink (SHS) FoodThink offers food marketers an in-depth look into understanding and connecting with the growing percentage of shoppers […]
Posted in, National
Alco Stores To Be Acquired By Argonne Capital Group
Alco Stores Inc., a general merchandise retailer specializing in providing a superior selection of essential products for everyday life in small-town America, and Argonne Capital Group LLC, a private investment firm based in Atlanta, have entered into a definitive merger agreement. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Argonne will acquire all of the outstanding […]
Posted in, National
GloriAnn Farms Again Supporting Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund
GloriAnn Farms and its partner Five Crowns Marketing have announced their “Support Our Troops” promotion for the second year. For every retail case of corn sold in August, GloriAnn Farms will make a donation to the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund, which contributes to the families of military personnel lost or injured in duty. “We are […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Safeway Pleased With 2Q Results
Safeway Inc. President and CEO Robert Edwards says the company is pleased with its second quarter 2013 results, which it reported last week. “We are pleased with the significant milestones we achieved this quarter. The substantial cash proceeds we expect to receive from the sale of our Canadian operations combined with the completion of the […]
Posted in, National
Grossman: ‘Women Must Hold Companies Accountable’ For Change
HSN Inc. CEO Mindy Grossman told executives at the Network of Executive Women’s (NEW) Executive Leaders Forum on Wednesday that women “can lean in for the next 30 years and it will not be enough unless we hold boards and CEOs accountable.” Referring to Sheryl Sandberg’s book, “Lean In,” Grossman said, “As senior executives, I […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Suppliers
Sunsweet Receives PepsiCo’s Hot Fill Co-Packer Of The Year Award
PepsiCo has named Sunsweet Growers Inc. as Hot Fill Co-Packer of the Year for exhibiting superior achievements in quality and overall effectiveness across PepsiCo’s beverage supply chain. This marks the third time Sunsweet has been recognized as Co-Packer of the Year. The two previous awards were for the Yuba City, Calif., facility in 2007 and Fleetwood, […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Coke’s Kent: Women Are Critical To Business Success
When women are put in leadership roles, “brands get better and morale gets better,” Muhtar Kent, chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Co., told 300 senior executives at the Network of Executive Women (NEW) Executive Leadership Forum in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Gender equality—especially in sales and marketing organizations—is “a huge enabler to repeat success,” […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Cesar Adds New Flavors To Savory Delights Line
Cesar has added two new flavors to its Savory Delights entrée collection for dogs: Angus Beef and Pork Tenderloin. The Angus Beef flavor is topped with bacon and cheese in meaty juices, while the Pork Tenderloin flavor includes roasted potatoes and green beans in meaty juices “At Cesar, we always look for ways to create […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Executive News, National
Ocean Spray Appoints Global Chief Marketing Officer
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., a grower-owned cooperative, has appointed Thano Chaltas to the newly created role of global chief marketing officer. Chaltas will be responsible for global brand development and will be part of the cooperative leadership team. He will report directly to Ken Romanzi, SVP and COO of Ocean Spray Brands. “As the world’s […]