Walmart has launched Goodies Co., a monthly food subscription service for consumers to savor foods and discover new items. For $7 a month, including tax and shipping, subscribers receive a gift box at their doorstep filled with five to eight hand-picked taster samples ranging from healthy and organic to artisan and ethnic. The new Goodies […]
Category: National
Posted in, National, New Products
First Culinary Tablet Made For The Kitchen Launches In The U.S.
French digital company Unowhy has announced the U.S. launch of “La tablette QOOQ,” the first interactive touch-screen tablet made especially for the kitchen. Already a sensation in France, the QOOQ culinary tablet transforms the process of at-home cooking through highly interactive content from leading chefs, helping to simplify meal preparation for culinary experts and novices […]
Posted in, National
Poultry Industry Continues To Improve Worker Safety Record
The incidence of nonfatal occupational injuries and illnesses in the poultry sector, which includes slaughter and processing, continues to decline, according to the 2011 Injury and Illness Report recently released by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The total recordable poultry processing illness and injury rate for 2011 was 5.8 cases per […]
Posted in, National
Wegman, Smucker To Receive 2013 GMA Achievement Awards
Daniel Wegman, CEO of Wegmans Food Markets, and Timothy Smucker, chairman of the board of The J.M. Smucker Co., have each been selected to receive 2013 Grocery Manufacturers Association Hall of Achievement Awards at the GMA Chairman’s Lecture on Jan. 19 in Arizona. The Hall of Achievement Award represents the highest honor given by the […]
Posted in, National, Northeast
Smithfield, UFCW Donate 1M-Plus Servings Of Protein To Sandy Relief
Smithfield, in partnership with the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union, will be donating a total of more than one million servings of protein to food banks in the Northeast tri-state area affected by Hurricane Sandy. As part of the Smithfield and UFCW Feeding the Hungry initiative, seven Smithfield trucks, each carrying more than […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Whole Foods Posts Best Earnings In Company’s History
Whole Foods Market reported last week a fourth quarter profit of $112.7 million and revenue of $2.9 billion compared with a $75.4 million profit and revenue of $2.3 billion during the same quarter last year. The Austin Business Journal reports that the Austin, Texas-based natural grocer also posted a $465.5 million profit on revenue of […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Blue Bell Introduces Gingerbread House Ice Cream
Blue Bell is introducing Gingerbread House Ice Cream, a creamy cinnamon ice cream with flavorful gingerbread pieces, festive red and green sprinkles and miniature marshmallows—all surrounded by a vanilla icing swirl. “Building a gingerbread house and placing it as a holiday centerpiece is a yearly activity for many,” said Carl Breed, Blue Bell director of […]
Posted in, National, Southeast
Alabama Grocers Raise $30K At Golf Tourney For Education Foundation
The Alabama Grocers Education Foundation held its 20th annual fall golf outing Oct. 22 at Pine Tree Country Club in Birmingham, Ala. The tournament included two flights and raised more than $30,000 for the Alabama Grocers Education Foundation, which funds scholarships to employees and children of employees of Alabama Grocers Association member companies. To date […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
NFRA To Enhance Consumer Marketing Efforts In 2013
The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) has hired PR firm Edelman to help enhance NFRA’s existing marketing campaigns and recharge efforts around promoting frozen and refrigerated dairy foods. Efforts will officially kick off in January 2013 with a focus on expanding NFRA’s annual March Frozen Food Month promotion. Enhanced efforts will include “influencer […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
New Kraft Foods Group Reports 3Q Net Revenue Increase
Newly independent Kraft Foods Group Inc. has reported strong third quarter 2012 results with top- and bottom-line growth fueled by new products, increased investments in advertising and consumer spending, and significant productivity gains. “Our third quarter results demonstrate the power of our brands, our people and our innovation,” said Tony Vernon, CEO of Kraft. “We […]
Posted in, National, West
Prop 37 Defeated: California Voters Say No To GMO Labeling Proposal
Proposition 37, which would have required labeling of genetically modified foods, was soundly defeated Tuesday in California, the San Jose Mercury News reports. The measure trailed 53 percent to 47 percent with nearly 90 percent of the vote counted at 3:30 a.m. (PT) Proposition 37 advocates relied on social media and a strong grass-roots campaign […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Report: Pet Market Increases 15 Percent In Past Five Years
Pets are not only a man’s best friend, they are often looked upon as a four-legged member of the family. As a result, the retail sales of pets and related supplies and services have produced consistent gains from 2007-12, despite a turbulent economy. Mintel’s latest report estimates the pet market is worth more than $49 […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Unified Grocers Establishes Online ‘eShop-Rewards’ Program
Unified Grocers, the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the western United States, is offering independent retailers an exclusive “eShop-Rewards” program that allows consumers to earn points toward a $25 prepaid Visa Rewards card (in addition to their regular credit card points) while shopping online at more than 1,000 of the nation’s top online merchants. Consumers […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Campbell Soup Co. Appoints Senackerib To New CMO Position
Campbell Soup Co. has appointed Michael Senackerib to the newly-created role of CMO, reporting directly to Campbell’s President and CEO Denise Morrison. Senackerib, 47, will lead Campbell’s marketing function, including marketing services, global advertising, design, media, digital marketing and consumer and customer insights. “World-class marketing is critical to Campbell’s success as we seek to drive […]
Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective
Grocers Take Notice: FDA Tobacco Compliance Checks Are On The Rise
by Peter J. Larkin/president and CEO, NGA Special to The Shelby Report The Tobacco Control Act, signed into law by President Obama in June of 2009, gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) explicit power to regulate the manufacturing, marketing and sale of tobacco products. Since then, the retail industry has been subjected to new […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Perishables
Almond Breeze Introduces Single-Serve Packs
There’s a new addition to the grab ‘n’ go cooler—Almond Breeze Almondmilk, now available in 11-oz. single-serve aseptic packs with a convenient, resealable screw-top closure. There are three available flavors, Original, Original Unsweetened and Vanilla Unsweetened. Made from real almonds, Almond Breeze Almondmilk is free of dairy, soy, lactose, cholesterol, peanuts, casein, gluten, eggs, saturated […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, The Independent Perspective
Ezekiel Bread Rolls Out Sprouted Flax Variety
Food for Life’s Ezekiel 4:9 bread is now available with sprouted flax. Like all Food for Life products, Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Flax Bread is 100 percent flourless and free of conditioners, additives, artificial flavors, colors and preservatives. It also is made with filtered water and no added fat and is low-glycemic, diabetic-friendly, pH-balanced and kosher-certified. […]
Posted in, National
Grapple Brand Apples Arriving In Stores
Consumers now can find in grocery stores a twist on the traditional apple that offers a unique experience: Grapple Brand Apples are the only apple on the market that crunches like an apple, and tastes like a grape, according to a company news release. “We started getting calls months ago with people asking when and […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Supervalu Selling Midwest Distribution Center To Meijer
Supervalu Inc. is selling its 580,000-s.f. distribution center in Pleasant Prairie, Wis., to Meijer Inc. Meijer will open its first Wisconsin store in 2014: a 192,000-s.f. at Highway 100 and Loomis Road in Franklin. It also has received approval for three more in the state. It plans to open a 191,000-s.f. store on Port Washington […]
Posted in, National
PMA Fresh Summit: Biopesticides Present A Natural Solution For Growers
Biopesticides are pesticides that come from a natural source, or are derived from microorganisms, plant extracts or fermentation processes or some other natural means of production. Bill Stoneman, executive director of the Biopesticide Industry Alliance (BPIA), spoke with The Shelby Report during the PMA Fresh Summit & Expo in Anaheim, Calif., about his group’s goal. […]