Best known for playing the role of unconventional hero and fan favorite Edgar Stiles on Fox’s Emmy Award-winning show “24” and FBI Agent Skip Lipari in HBO’s “The Sopranos,” Louis Lombardi is going back to his Italian roots by launching his own gourmet Italian food line, Lombardi’s. The line, which will make its debut the […]
Category: National
Posted in, Executive News, National
Wenning Announces Retirement From NGA
Tom Wenning, EVP and general counsel for the National Grocers Association (NGA), has announced his retirement, effective in December. “It has been a real honor and privilege to be a legislative, regulatory and legal advocate on behalf of independent retail grocers and wholesalers for the last 40 years before Congress, presidential administrations, regulatory agencies and […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
Sprout Foods Debuts Line Of Organic Snacks For Kids
Sprout Foods, which offers chef-inspired, wholesome and certified organic foods for children, has launched Sprout Smash Organic Kids Snack Pouches, its first-ever line of food for school-aged kids. These new organic pureed snacks, ideal for kids pre-school through elementary school, come in easy-to-squeeze pouches and feature wholesome ingredients. the Duluth, Ga.-based company says. The Sprout […]
Posted in, National
Dole Agrees To Be Taken Private
Company valued at $1.2B based on offer Dole Food Co. Inc. has agreed to be taken private by 90-year-old Chairman and CEO David Murdock after he raised his offer to $13.50 per share, Reuters reports. Murdock, who is Dole’s largest shareholder with a stake of about 40 percent, made an offer in June to buy […]
Posted in, National, Southeast
Alabama Grocers Honor Rep. DeMarco For ‘Buy Alabama’s Best’ Advocacy
Alabama House Rep. Paul DeMarco (District 46) received the Alabama Grocers Association (AGA) Spirit of Alabama Award at the Alabama Grocers Association Annual Convention in Sandestin, Fla., in July. AGA President Ellie Smotherman Taylor presented the honor to DeMarco for his “support in promoting positive and effective legislation for the food industry and for his […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Pinnacle Foods To Acquire Wish-Bone Salad Dressings
Pinnacle Foods has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Wish-Bone salad dressings business from Unilever PLC for $580 million, in a transaction that is expected to be immediately accretive to Pinnacle. The acquisition, which is subject to customary closing conditions, is expected to be completed in the late third quarter or early fourth quarter […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National
Valley Fruit & Produce Hires Director Of Marketing
Jin Ju Wilder has been named Valley Fruit & Produce’s director of marketing. This is a new position for the company. Wilder brings 20 years of produce industry experience to the planning, development and implementation of Valley’s marketing strategies, external and internal communications and public relations activities, according to Carrie La Londe, CFO at Valley. […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Survey: Aldi Is Low-Price Grocery Leader For Third Consecutive Year
Discount grocer Aldi was recognized as the nation’s low-price grocery leader for the third year in a row, according to a recent consumer survey conducted by Market Force Information Inc., a leading customer intelligence solutions company. When asked to rank the top grocers offering low prices, consumers ranked Aldi ahead of competitors such as Walmart, […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Grocery News, National
Eight O’Clock Coffee Unveils New Look, Contemporary Varieties
Eight O’Clock Coffee is refreshing its brand this summer with modern red packaging, new varieties and new consumer communication to be featured on air, online and on the runway, America’s No. 1 whole bean brand is kicking off the revamp with four new ground coffee varieties, including African Plains, Caramel Macchiato, Dark Chocolate Cherry (seasonal) […]
Posted in, National, West
Unified Posts $11.3M Loss In 3Q
Unified Grocers Inc., the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the western U.S., has reported an $11.3 million net loss for the company’s third fiscal quarter; that’s compared to earnings of $1.2 million for the same period in 2012, according to the Los Angeles-based cooperative. Losses before patronage dividends and income taxes were $14.6 million for […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Barilla Introducing Gluten Free Pasta Line
The gluten-free industry is expected to reach $8 billion in 2013 as more people begin to adopt a gluten-free lifestyle. Pasta is one of the foods that is missed most amongst people who are living gluten-free, and yet the options for enjoying a gluten-free pasta meal fall short, with limited brands and varieties available on […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Tribe Hummus Gets Packaging Makeover, Adds New Flavors
Tribe Mediterranean Foods says it’s on a mission to spice up the hummus shelf. As consumers are increasingly looking for convenient, healthier snack foods, hummus has enjoyed double-digit growth over the past few years. However, despite its growing popularity, Tribe believes that the hummus shelf could benefit from a little more fun and pizzazz. After […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
J.C. Penney Taps Former Kraft Exec To Lead Marketing Efforts
Former Kraft Foods Group executive Debra Berman has joined J.C. Penney Co. Inc., where she will lead the retailer’s marketing efforts. As the company’s SVP of marketing, Berman will be responsible for leading J.C. Penney’s marketing efforts with a focus on revitalizing the jcpenney brand, building its brand architecture and communicating the brand promise. Berman […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
The Original SoupMan Arrives At Nearly 500 Walmart Stores
Soupman Inc., parent company of soup brand The Original SoupMan, says the SoupMan product is now available at nearly 500 Walmart stores. The brand’s soups, which are already sold in more than 4,000 supermarkets nationwide, include classic Lobster Bisque, Chicken Noodle, Lentil and Tomato Bisque soups. The soups are sold in Tetra Pak cartons—a packaging […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Duracell Introduces Quantum Alkaline Battery
Duracell has launched Duracell Quantum, the world’s most advanced alkaline battery, according to the company. Duracell says Quantum is the company’s biggest innovation since CopperTop. With its Hi-Density Core and proprietary PowerCheck power indicator, the red and copper Duracell Quantum has been engineered to deliver the performance consumers demand, the company says. “Duracell Quantum was […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Company Develops Proprietary Process To Bolster Stonefruit Category
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 […]
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 […]