One of every three bites of food comes from plants pollinated by honeybees and other pollinators. Yet, major declines in bee populations threaten the availability of many fresh ingredients consumers rely on for their dinner tables. To raise awareness of just how crucial pollinators are to the food system, the University Heights Whole Foods Market […]
Category: National
Posted in, National
NGA, Brick Meets Click Release Digital Check-Up For Grocery
The National Grocers Association (NGA) and Brick Meets Click (BMC) on Wednesday announced the publication of the “NGA/Brick Meets Click Digital Check-Up.” The paper, which analyzes data from an online survey of more than 22,000 grocery customers, includes data on digital shopper readiness and retailer engagement. The results show that grocery shoppers are not just […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Atkins Adds New Entrees To Frozen Meals Line
Atkins Nutritionals Inc., a leader in the weight-management category, is introducing three new entrees to its current line frozen meals. • Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry: Grilled white meat chicken breast, broccoli florets, green beans and red bell peppers in a sesame sauce; • Chicken Marsala : Grilled white meat chicken breast, Portobello mushrooms, green beans and red […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
AFM Donates, Delivers 38K Bottles Of Water For Tornado Relief
After devastating tornadoes destroyed many communities in the Texas and Oklahoma areas, Affiliated Foods Midwest Cooperative has donated to the tornado relief efforts. In addition to Norfolk, Neb.-based Affiliated Foods Midwest, the co-op’s retailer Buy for Less, and Premium Waters all collaboratively donated 38,304 bottles of water to the Red Cross in Oklahoma City to […]
Posted in, National
Blue Bell Exec Killed While Trying To Change Flat Tire
Bill Weiss, public relations manager for Brenham, Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries LP, died last week after a collision on Interstate 10 in Houston, and another company executive was injured. The Houston Business Journal reported last week that Steve James, VP of institutional sales, is at Houston’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and had surgery overnight on June […]
Posted in, National
Frieda’s Offers Grilling Season Suggestions For Produce Department
The grilling season continues with the Fourth of July holiday, and Frieda’s Inc. is sharing some holiday favorites. These colorful suggestions, the Los Alamitos, Calif.-based company says, will make any produce department stand out. “Fourth of July grilling is all about summer traditions like hot dogs and burgers, but consumers are also looking to change […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
Annie’s Debuts Microwavable Mac & Cheese Cup Made With Organic Ingredients
Annie’s is expanding its top-selling line of macaroni and cheese products with the introduction of three Macaroni & Cheese Microwavable Cups, available in Real Aged Cheddar, White Cheddar and Gluten-Free Rice Pasta & Cheddar. One of the first microwavable cups with macaroni and cheese made with high-quality organic and natural ingredients, Annie’s says its latest […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
Affiliated Foods Puts The Spotlight On Foodservice Division
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Affiliated Foods in Amarillo, Texas, would like to see its shareholders—grocery retailers—purchase products for their in-store bakeries/delis and sit-down restaurants from the cooperative. Grocers own the cooperative, so they would in effect be buying from themselves, just as they do when they buy for their retail stores. The cooperative owns a […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Nature Valley Expands Beyond Traditional Granola Bars With New Products
Nature Valley is introducing two new products outside the traditional granola bar category: Nature Valley Soft-Baked Oatmeal Squares and Nature Valley Protein Granola. Nature Valley’s new soft-baked oatmeal product and loose, bagged granola make it easier to enjoy the taste of Nature Valley on the go, the company says. “Consumers have been asking for different […]
Posted in, National
KeHE Reveals New Enterprise Branding
KeHE Distributors LLC has rolled out new branding. The announcement was made by KeHE President and CEO Brandon Barnholt on Monday at KeHE’s annual Holiday Show in Chicago. “This new branding signals an important step in our continuing quest to be the preferred supply chain partner in natural, specialty and fresh retail products,” said Barnholt. […]
Posted in, Beverage News, C-Store News, National
RaceTrac’s Sodapalooza Returns For Summer
Already in full swing in Georgia, Florida and Texas stores, RaceTrac is offering 32-oz. fountain drinks and 16-oz. frozen beverages for $0.69 all summer as part of its Sodapalooza promotion. In addition, all stores are unveiling a new RaceTrac Value Menu, with 12 items offered for either $.99 or $1.99. Items include sunflower seeds, fresh-baked […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Kroger Ratifies Agreement With UFCW Local 700 In Indianapolis
The Kroger Co. Central Division associates working at Kroger stores in the Indianapolis area have ratified a new labor agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 700. “We are pleased to reach an agreement that is good for our associates and provides wage increases, affordable healthcare and a stable pension fund to support […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
Cigarette Prices To Increase; New Tobacco Product Rulings Begin Soon
The nation’s three largest tobacco makers are raising cigarette prices. The Business Journal reports that Reynolds American Inc. subsidiary R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Lorillard Inc. and Philip Morris USA are raising prices for most brands. Reynolds and Lorillard will raise prices by 6 cents a pack or 60 cents a carton for wholesalers and direct […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
McCormick Names Kurzius As President Of Global Consumer, CAO
McCormick & Co. Inc. has appointed Lawrence Kurzius to the role of president of global consumer and chief administrative officer, effective July 1. In this role, Kurzius will have the responsibility for McCormick’s consumer business globally as well as several of the company’s corporate functions including IT, supply chain, R&D and quality assurance. Kurzius also […]
Posted in, National, New Products
TGI Fridays Introduces Two New Baked Snacks To Retail
Inventure Foods Inc. is introducing two baked snacks under its licensed partnership with TGI Fridays. Extreme Heat Crunchy Fries and Jalapeno Poppers Snack Sticks add substantial spice to a line of snacks inspired by the bar and casual dining restaurant menu. Both snacks will begin to appear in stores and vending machines nationwide this summer. […]
Posted in, National, West
Raley’s Hit By Cyber Attack
Raley’s Family of Fine Stores says it recently discovered that a portion of its computer network systems may have been the target of a complex, criminal cyber attack. The company reports that it immediately initiated an investigation to determine whether cyber criminals may have obtained customer credit and debit card information. At this time, the […]
Posted in, National, West
Save Mart’s Q1 Perishable Grocery Donations Top One Million Pounds
Save Mart Supermarkets reports that perishable grocery donations from the chain’s 226 stores topped one million pounds in the first quarter of this year (January-March). The food, which includes bakery, dairy, deli, frozen products and produce items, is collected daily by local area food banks as part of the Fresh Food Rescue program launched in […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, National
Louisville Is Pilot Market For New Bud Light Vented Can
This summer, Louisville, Ky., will pilot market the new 12-oz. Bud Light Vented Can—an innovation featuring a first-of-its-kind, self-contained venting tab that delivers what Anheuser-Busch calls the “smoothest drinking experience in a can.” The integrated tab design gives consumers the freedom to enjoy the superior drinkability of Bud Light in a vented can without the […]
Posted in, National
The Importance Of Connecting Healthy Living With Pharmacy Business
At the JW Marriott in the Hill Country of San Antonio, this year’s site of the 2013 GMDC Health & Wellness @ Retail Conference, Jeff Rehling, principal at Edgewood Consulting Group, told a group of member retailers, suppliers and service companies to pay attention to health and wellness strategies that connect healthy living with pharmacy […]
Posted in, National
Florida Sweet Corn: Slow Start, Record Finish
After a slow start to the spring deal following early March freezes, May ended up being a record month for Florida sweet corn. Shipments for the month are up more than 27 percent from average May volume during the previous two years. There are a number of factors that have contributed to this success. The […]