Peter J. Larkin, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association (NGA), has released the following statement regarding the passage of the Taxpayer Relief Act: “NGA applauds Congress and the president for averting an economic disaster, albeit at the 13th hour, with the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act (House Resolution 8). The bill, […]
Category: National
Posted in, Albertsons, National
Tough Times On Horizon For 2013 Grocery Biz
Stater Bros.’ Jack Brown: Year ahead will be one of the most competitive by Kristen Cloud/staff writer If you thought the past few years were tough for business, just wait until 2013 runs its course—at least according to Jack H. Brown, chairman and CEO of San Bernardino-based Stater Bros. Markets, which operates 167 stores in […]
Posted in, National
Nominations Due Jan. 4 For WGA Woman Of The Year Award
The deadline is Jan. 4 to submit nominations for the 2013 Woman of the Year Award to be presented at the National Grocers Association (NGA) Show, which will be held Feb. 10-13 in Las Vegas. The Women Grocers of America (WGA) board of directors is soliciting nominations for the 2013 Woman of the Year Award. […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
M&M’S Will Return To The Big Game In February
M&M’S Brand will return to the Super Bowl on Feb. 3, 2013, with an all-new 30-second commercial during the first quarter, Mars Chocolate North America has announced. Last year during “The Big Game,” M&M’S introduced the world to the original spokescandy—Ms. Brown—via a hilarious 30-second commercial co-staring fan-favorite spokescandy, Red. The spot scored with critics […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National
Hain Celestial Acquires BluePrint Brand
The Hain Celestial Group Inc., a leading natural and organic products company, has closed on the acquisition of BluePrint brand, a nationally recognized leader in the raw juice category based in New York City. The BluePrint brand generated approximately $20 million in sales in calendar year 2012 and is expected to be accretive to Hain […]
Posted in, National
Festive Facts From Mintel
As the final countdown begins, Mintel gets into the holiday spirit with a variety of festive stats and figures covering food and drink, health, alcohol, shopping, household goods and personal care. Food, spirits and baking habits • More than nine in 10 (91 percent) Americans made some sort of festive-related purchase last year (2011), whether […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Walmart’s Karen Roberts Promoted to EVP, General Counsel
Walmart Stores Inc. has promoted 17-year company veteran Karen Roberts, 42, to EVP and general counsel for the Bentonville, Ark.-based company, reporting to EVP and Corporate Secretary Jeff Gearhart, 48. The appointment is effective Feb. 1, 2013. In her new role, Roberts will manage the legal department, which is responsible for handling all legal matters […]
Posted in, National
Four Promoted At Financial Supermarkets Inc.
Roy Bell, president and CEO of Financial Supermarkets Inc. (FSI), has announced the promotion of four associates within the company: Joseph A. (Beau) Wingate Jr. to the position of EVP, director of sales; Lisa Harper to the position of CFO; Kelly Franklin to the position of controller; and Tina Coleman to the position of SVP-director […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National, West
Smith Brothers Of Demo Deluxe/IMG Pass Away At 66
Brothers James and Jerry Smith, owners and operators of Demo Deluxe/IMG, both recently passed away after battling cancer. A funeral service for the brothers was held Monday in Orange, Calif. James A. Smith died Nov. 21 and Jerry E. Smith died Dec. 6. Both were 66 years old. They were born two minutes apart on […]
Posted in, National, ROFDA Reports, Shelby Content, Special Section
2012 ROFDA Report
Celebrating 50 years of promoting, supporting and servicing the independent retail grocer with the Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates. Read from the leaders of ROFDA on what drives their entrepreneurial spirit and how they lead their organizations to success in the 2012 ROFDA Report. Open publication
Posted in, National
ROFDA Fall Conference Coverage: Campbell Talks Independents And Independence
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Independents and independence have more in common than simply their pronunciations. That was the message Jay Campbell, president and CEO of Associated Grocers of Baton Rouge, shared during ROFDA’s 2012 Fall Conference. “Even though they’re called independent retail grocers, they will be the first to tell you that they are dependent […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
KeVita Launches New Daily Cleanse At Whole Foods
KeVita is mixing its proprietary culture featuring four strains of live probiotics with lemon and cayenne in its newest flavor, KeVita Daily Cleanse. Starting in January, KeVita Daily Cleanse will be available exclusively at Whole Foods Market stores nationwide. KeVita Daily Cleanse is a low-calorie, low-glycemic interpretation of the classic Master Cleanse. Lightly sweetened with […]
Posted in, National, West
Fresh Market, Utah Jazz Partner On Healthy Concessions At Home Games
For the first time, the Utah Jazz and Fresh Market are teaming up to offer healthy options to Jazz fans throughout the 2012-13 NBA season. In conjunction with JazzFit, a Utah Jazz program that encourages fans to achieve a happier, healthier, active lifestyle, Fresh Market will provide a produce stand offering the freshest seasonal fruit […]
Posted in, Feature, National
Diving Into Social Media Can Bring Up Valuable Info
Grocery is a hot topic on social media these days, with an estimated 10 million-plus industry-related digital conversations taking place each year. Grocery-related conversations on Yelp, for instance, grew by 25 percent in just one year’s time. And these conversations aren’t mere mentions. They are “rich, robust and informative” conversations, according to Black Pearl Intelligence, […]
Posted in, Feature, National
Social Media, Mobile Technology Increasingly Driving Shopper Behavior
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Kevin Kirsch, co-owner of Chevy Chase Supermarket in Chevy Chase, Md., understands the importance of technology and social media. In fact, he assumes the younger generation expects his 25,000-s.f. single-store operation to have a website, at the very least. “Then I assume that you figure stores should at least have a […]
Posted in, National
Kroger, Walmart Reported To Be Among Bidders For Hostess
The Kroger Co. and Walmart Stores Inc. are reportedly among the bidders for assets being sold by Hostess Brands Inc., the bankrupt maker of Wonder bread and Twinkies, Bloomberg reports. There are about two dozen bidders, a person familiar with the matter told Bloomberg. The source asked not to be named because the process is […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Phillips Foods Appoints New COO To Lead Global Operations
Phillips Foods has appointed Paul Opitz as COO, effective Jan. 1. Previously the president of Phillips Asia, Opitz has been tasked with leveraging his 50-plus years of seafood production experience to enhance operational efficiencies for the global seafood processor. “Paul is the perfect leader to guide our company to even greater success in the years […]
Posted in, National
FPFC Raises $59K For Charities During Annual Auction
The Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) hosted its annual charity auction and luncheon at the Sheraton Cerritos in Cerritos, Calif., on Wednesday. Actor, singer and entrepreneur Frankie Avalon served as the event’s special guest as well as the celebrity auction host. Lorelei DiSogra, United Fresh, spoke about the great success of the “Let’s Move […]
Posted in, National
Advantage Sales & Marketing To Purchase Action West Group
Advantage Sales & Marketing LLC (ASM) plans to launch a new division focused on retail meat, seafood, deli and bakery clients and customers. The move will be fueled by ASM’s planned acquisition of six companies that currently form a working alliance under the name of Action West Group. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. […]
Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective
Celebrating 30 Years Of Serving Independent Grocers
by Peter J. Larkin/president and CEO, NGA Special to The Shelby Report Three decades ago, a new organization was created to represent the independent sector of the supermarket industry. Today, the National Grocers Association (NGA) remains the only national trade association exclusively focused on representing the independent sector of the food industry. Over the past […]