Green Giant Fresh has added avocados to its line of fresh fruits, vegetables and value-added meal solutions. In association with C.H. Robinson Co. Inc., Green Giant Fresh will start shipping fresh avocados to retailers nationwide in late May. Branded with the Green Giant icon, the new avocado product line will be available year-round through C.H. […]
Category: National
Posted in, Executive News, National
Rose Appointed New President Of Marketing Services At Crossmark
Crossmark, a leading sales and marketing services company, has appointed Jim Rose as president of marketing services. Crossmark CEO Joe Crafton previously led this growth area. As the largest in-store marketing services company in North America, the addition of Rose to the leadership team at Crossmark is a significant move that bolsters the company’s strong […]
Posted in, National, West
WAFC Names 2013-14 Board Leadership
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has named its 2013-2014 officers and board of directors, elected during last month’s 92nd Annual WAFC Convention in Palm Desert, Calif. The 2013-14 officers are: • President and chairman: Steve Junqueiro, Save Mart Supermarkets; • VP: Sue Klug, Unified Grocers; • Secretary: Rick Rayford, Brookshire Grocery Co.; • […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Ready Pac’s President/CEO Retiring, Successor Named
Michael Solomon, president and CEO of Ready Pac Foods Inc., has announced his retirement from Ready Pac. Solomon has been with Ready Pac since 2006 and has been president and CEO since 2008. He has led the company through several years of record performance. “I have decided that now since I have a strong senior […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Dollar General Hiring 10K This Month
Dollar General plans to hire 10,000 new employees in May. The Nashville Business Journal reports that the Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based retailer is hiring for positions within its stores and distribution centers. In addition to regional hiring fairs, the company will hold nationwide store hiring fairs on May 18 in all 40 states with a Dollar General […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National
Coca-Cola Happiness Lounge Showcases POP Materials To Capture Trends
The Coca-Cola Co. brought an extra dose of happiness to the 2013 FMI Future Connect conference in Orlando earlier this week—in the form of the “Happiness Lounge.” Ben Middleton, director of industry communications for Atlanta-based Coca-Cola, told The Shelby Report that the setup allowed the company’s sales personnel to “reinforce some of the major initiatives […]
Posted in, National
Kroger Tops FMI Future Connect Attendance With 200 Associates
The Kroger Co. dominated the Food Marketing Institute’s Future Connect conference when it came to attendance. The Cincinnati-based grocery giant had 230 associates attend the event, held earlier this week in Orlando. Rodney McMullen, Kroger president and COO, told The Shelby Report at the conference that Future Connect allows associates to “get exposure to the […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Kraft Foods Group Reports Revenue Growth In Q1
Kraft Foods Group Inc. has reported solid first quarter 2013 results driven by significant productivity gains and overhead cost savings as well as top-line growth fueled by new products and increased investments in marketing. “We’re off to a solid start,” said Tony Vernon, CEO of Kraft. “Our first quarter results reflect strong returns on our […]
Posted in, National
PepsiCo’s Carey Ignites The Front Line To Drive Results
Though he’s trained in micromanagement, Al Carey, CEO of PepsiCo, says that isn’t how he gets great results from employees. He shared his philosophy with the attendees of the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) 92nd Annual Convention, held last month in Palm Desert, Calif. “I believe the most important person in the entire organization […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Simmons Elected CEO Of McIlhenny Co.
Anthony “Tony” Simmons has been elected CEO of McIlhenny Co., maker of Tabasco brand products. He also will serve as interim chairman of the board until an independent chairman is selected. A great-great-grandson of Edmund McIlhenny, the creator of Tabasco sauce, Simmons is a member of the fifth generation of the McIlhenny family involved in […]
Posted in, National
FMI Appoints 2013 Board Officers
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) this week recommended its 2013-2014 slate of officers at its board of directors meeting, concurrent with its professional development conference, Future Connect. The officers represent a path forward in light of FMI’s strategic planning efforts, which set the course for FMI over the next three to five years, the organization […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Life Is Good, J.M. Smucker Co. Join Forces To Create Coffee Line
Lifestyle brand Life is Good has partnered with The J.M. Smucker Co. to create a new line of Life is Good coffee to retailers throughout North America. Life is Good coffee will be available beginning in late summer. Products will include Light Hearted, a light roast ground coffee; Happy Medium, a medium roast ground coffee; […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
NCA’s Sweets & Snacks Expo Is Sold Out
The National Confectioners Association (NCA) 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo promises to be the largest both in show floor size and exhibitors for the third straight year. In its 17th year and ranking 155 on Trade Show News Network’s top 250 events, the Expo takes place May 21-23 at Chicago’s McCormick Place. More than 14,000 […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
New IGA Program Expected To Increase Store Sales
IGA USA today announced the launch of IGA Performance Insights, a new marketing program that organizes IGA independent retailers as a single marketing entity, leveraging their combined sales volume to increase individual store sales. As part of IGA Performance Insights: Added-value shopper offers (IGA Hometown Proud Offers) are sponsored by a group of the industry’s […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Kettle Brand Adds Maple Bacon And Sweet & Salty Chips
Kettle Brand is expanding its line of kettle-cooked potato chips to include two new creations: Maple Bacon and Sweet & Salty. “Over the past 30 years, we’ve closely tracked trends from around the world, tested thousands of product prototypes and even conducted a national survey on Americans’ taste preferences,” says Carolyn Ottenheimer, Kettle Brand’s chief […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Blue Bell Introduces Italian Cream Cake Ice Cream
The newest flavor from Blue Bell is fabuloso…or maybe delizioso. Blue Bell has combined a popular cake with its ice cream to create Italian Cream Cake Ice Cream. Italian Cream Cake is a vanilla ice cream with pieces of Italian cream cake, shredded coconut, roasted pecans and a smooth cream cheese icing swirl. “We’ve created […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Salt For Life Sea Salt Blend From Nu-Tek Receives 2013 FABI Award
Nu-Tek Food Science’s Salt for Life Sea Salt Blend has been named a recipient of the prestigious 2013 Food & Beverage Innovations Awards (FABI Award), presented by the National Restaurant Association (NRA) Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show. The FABI Award recognizes innovative consumable products that deliver significant benefits to restaurant operators and the food industry. An independent […]
Posted in, National
FMI Announces 2013 Store Manager Award Winners
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) honored four grand prizewinners on April 30 for its 13th annual Store Manager Award presentation at FMI’s professional development conference, Future Connect. Winners were selected among 10 category finalists. They are recognized for their work in store operations, leadership, and community involvement. “The outstanding pool of store manager nominations showcases […]
Posted in, National
FMI Future Connect: Retail Food Industry Outlook: Personal, Digital And Virtual
“Food Retailing 2013: Tomorrow’s Trends Delivered Today,” unveiled by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) today, is an analytical expression of the future of the supermarket experience through the lenses of grocery demand; consumer trends; merchandising and marketing innovation; and technology. Companies providing retail analytics and consumer insights—Booz and Co., Catalina, Crossmark and Nielsen—convened a “think […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National, Southeast
Winn-Dixie Sells Jax Warehouse; Now Leasing It
In a deal completed in early April, Winn-Dixie Properties LLC sold its warehouse property at 15500 W. Beaver St. to an entity owned by New York-based American Realty Capital. The limited warranty deed, recorded in April, shows a property transaction of almost $99.8 million, according to an article in the Financial News & Daily Record […]