December will be festive at M&M’S World stores as Mars Retail Group has unveiled the new M&M’S World Holiday Village in each of its five M&M’S World locations, as well as online at www.mmsworld.com. The M&M’S World Holiday Village features a variety of seasonal-themed merchandise including dispensers, clothing, ornaments and, of course, holiday-themed M&M’S Brand […]
Category: National
Posted in, C-Store News, National
Foodservice Sales Quickly Becoming C-Stores’ Most Profitable Category
Foodservice is a key area of opportunity for convenience stores. As revenues from gasoline and tobacco products fall, foodservice sales are increasingly becoming convenience stores’ most profitable category. C-store foodservice is an $11 billion industry and the second largest retail host foodservice category behind supermarkets. The c-store segment comprises about 29 percent of retail foodservice […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Boar’s Head Introduces Spiral Sliced Applewood Smoked Boneless Ham
Boar’s Head Brand has launched nationally its new Spiral Sliced Applewood Smoked Boneless Ham, the latest addition to its line of premium quality products perfect for simplified holiday entertaining. Handcrafted using pure, whole muscle pork, this boneless, smoked, extra lean ham comes spiral sliced and fully cooked. Naturally moist and tender, it boasts a subtly […]
Posted in, National, Store News
The Fresh Market Reports Rise In Profits
Greensboro, N.C.-based The Fresh Market is reporting that, in its third fiscal quarter ending Oct. 28, net sales increased 22.1 percent to $321.5 million and comparable store sales increased 5.6 percent, compared to the corresponding 13-week period last year. Net income in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 increased 19.0 percent to $10.9 million, from […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, National, Whole Foods
Report: Cyber Monday Online Shopping Reaches All Time High
Holiday shoppers turned Cyber Monday into the biggest spending day ever with online sales growing 30.3 percent over the same period last year, according to cloud-based analytics findings by IBM. With an increase in online sales across multiple channels, the digital consumer took center stage. Retailers, marketing departments and CMOs delivered a consistent customer experience […]
Posted in, National
ConAgra Foods To Acquire Ralcorp
ConAgra Foods Inc. and Ralcorp Holdings Inc. have announced that the boards of directors of both companies have unanimously approved a definitive agreement under which Omaha, Neb.-based ConAgra Foods will acquire Ralcorp, the largest manufacturer of private label food in the U.S. with headquarters in St. Louis. Under the terms of the agreement, Ralcorp shareholders […]
Posted in, National
Annual Leadership Symposium To Be Held Jan. 16-18 In San Diego
Senior executives from all segments of the global supply chain who want to recharge their batteries for the new year, strengthen leadership capabilities and stretch their thinking beyond business as usual are invited to participate in the 2013 Leadership Symposium on Jan. 16-18 in San Diego, Calif. This annual event is sponsored by Produce Marketing […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Samuel Adams, TCHO Create Holiday Chocolate Box For Craft Beer Lovers
Samuel Adams and San Francisco-based craft chocolate maker TCHO have teamed up to introduce the Samuel Adams Beer Lover’s Chocolate Box. The Brewers at Samuel Adams worked closely with TCHO’s Chief Chocolate Maker Brad Kintzer to design the gift box so that each premium chocolate pairs with a Samuel Adams brew from the Samuel Adams […]
Posted in, National
Black Friday Weekend Sales Hit Record
U.S. consumers spent more than $59 billion over the Black Friday weekend, the Associated Press reports. That sets a record for the post-Thanksgiving start of the holiday shopping season, according National Retail Federation (NRF) numbers. The Sacramento Business Journal reports that U.S. sales were up 13 percent compared to last year. Extended hours and sales […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Hostess Employees Hope Buyer Will Put Them Back To Work
Former employees of Hostess Brands Inc. are now hoping that a buyer will save pieces of the liquidating company and put them back to work, according to the Jacksonville Business Journal. Irving, Texas-based Hostess set a 5 p.m. Nov. 15 deadline for workers involved in a union-organized strike to return to work. The company warned […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Kroger Receives American Cancer Society Corporate Impact Award
The Kroger Co. has been awarded a 2012 Excellence in Philanthropy Award from the American Cancer Society. The honor is given to corporations that have provided $1 million or more to the American Cancer Society during the previous calendar year through a variety of support activities. Kroger is one of 19 companies recognized this year. […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
Rickland Orchards Offers Black Friday Give Away At Toy Retailers
Rickland Orchards Brand, creator of the first to market Greek Yogurt Coated Granola Bar, is enhancing the Black Friday shopping experience for Toys”R”Us and Babies”R”Us consumers across the country on Thanksgiving evening, the company says. Rickland Orchards’ Greek Yogurt Bars will be included in the toy retailers’ complimentary Great Big Goody Bag, which will be […]
Posted in, National
Hostess, Union Mediation Fails; Snack Maker Continues With Closure Plans
Hostess Brands Inc. and the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union (BCTGM) failed to reach an agreement during mediation Tuesday. “Unfortunately, the last minute mediation efforts by Judge (Robert D.) Drain were not successful,” said Teamsters General Secretary-Treasurer Ken Hall. “The case will proceed (Wednesday, Nov. 20) at 11 a.m. with the […]
Posted in, National
Two Grocers Make Annual ‘Nice’ List
Consumer Reports has released its annual “Naughty & Nice” list, and two grocers made the list. Earning “nice” accolades is Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix and Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway. “Fewer supermarkets, it seems, follow the old practice of giving customers the item for free if it scans incorrectly at the checkout,” Consumer Reports says of Publix. “Fewer […]
Posted in, National
Hostess And Bakers Union Enter Mediation Today
Hostess Brands Inc. said Monday evening that it will follow a request from the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to enter a confidential mediation today with the Bakery, Confectionary, Tobacco and Grain Millers Union (BCTGM). The hearing that was scheduled for today to consider Hostess Brands’ motion to wind down […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National
Supervalu Freezes Salaries, Cuts Benefits For Employees
Supervalu Inc. has cut the company 401K match and frozen salaries for thousands of its employees, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal reports. “As we have stated in our last two earnings calls, we need to immediately take costs out of the business in order to fund our growth plans,” said Michael Siemienas, a spokesman for […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
IGA Donates $265K To Wounded Warrior Project
IGA has donated $265,000 to Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) as a result of the second annual IGA Exclusive Brand national marketing initiative that ran in participating IGA stores from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend this year. During the promotional period, IGA donated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of IGA Exclusive […]
Posted in, National, West
Greater Phoenix Expands ‘California 50’ Program
One week after the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) launched the California 50 program, the organization is expanding the program—which aims to fly 50 Golden State CEOs to the Phoenix metro region for an opportunity to tour and explore the market—to 100 California-based CEOs due to high demand. “The response to the California 50 program […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Mignini Named President Of Campbell International
Campbell Soup Co. has named Luca Mignini to SVP and president of Campbell International, reporting to Campbell’s President and CEO Denise Morrison. Mignini, 50, will oversee Campbell’s existing businesses in Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America, and will work to identify opportunities in new markets around the world, including emerging markets. Mignini’s appointment is effective […]
Posted in, National
Ever-Growing Competition Rated Top Concern Among Independents
Competition, the cost of providing healthcare insurance and the economy are the three major worries among independent food retailers, according to the 2012 Independent Grocers Financial Survey, released last month by FMS and the National Grocers Association (NGA). On a scale of 1-10, where 10 is highest, competition averaged 7.9 with supercenters and conventional supermarkets […]