Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway Inc. has extended its corporate social responsibility (CSR) commitment with an industry-leading program that directly involves and rewards employees and shoppers. The company unveiled its “Heart of Safeway Pledge” as a personal call-to-action to take simple, every day steps—such as using energy-conserving light bulbs, taking a 15-minute walk three times a week […]
Category: National
Posted in, Midwest, National
Minnesota’s Own Joins Grocers, Vendors And Others To Fight Hunger
The Minnesota Grocers Association (MGA) is encouraging consumers to help their neighbors who are struggling with hunger by going to the grocery store and to “check hunger off” their lists by participating in Minnesota’s Own during the month of October. All food and monetary contributions collected in-store will go to community food banks and shelves […]
Posted in, National
NGA Commends First Year Of Debit Card Reform
Today marks the first anniversary of the implementation of the Federal Reserve rules issued under the Durbin Amendment, which reduced debit card swipe fees. The National Grocers Association (NGA) applauds the reforms as a good first step in providing consumers and merchants’ relief from excessive swipe fees. “NGA members fought hard for the debit swipe […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
McCormick Appoints Tapiero To Board Of Directors
McCormick & Co. Inc. has appointed Jacques Tapiero, SVP and president of emerging markets for Eli Lilly and Co., to the board of directors of McCormick. Tapiero has led Lilly’s emerging markets business unit since 2009 and brings more than 25 years of international business experience from the innovation-driven pharmaceutical company based in Indianapolis, Ind. […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
NGA Appoints Lowes Foods’ Steve Hall To Board Of Directors
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has appointed Steve Hall, president of Lowes Foods in Hickory, N.C., to serve on the NGA Board of Directors. The announcement was made during a board meeting at NGA’s Fall Conference in Minneapolis last week. “We are pleased to welcome Steve to NGA’s board of directors. His extensive background, expertise […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Southeast
Mountain Dew, Lil Wayne Open New Orleans Skatepark
Mountain Dew and Grammy Award winning recording artist Lil Wayne hosted a VIP ceremony Wednesday to officially cut the ribbon on a new skatepark in New Orleans’ Ninth Ward district, a key component of the partnership known as the DEWeezy project that was announced in March 2012. “We’re very excited to be a part of […]
Posted in, National
Deloitte Forecasts 3.5 To 4 Percent Increase In Holiday Sales
The economy’s health and the presidential election take center stage among consumers this fall but, with holiday shoppers waiting in the wings, retailers should expect a modest increase in 2012 holiday sales, Deloitte forecasts. “Economic headwinds nagging consumers this fall include stubbornly high gasoline prices that continue to creep up and soft housing and job […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
Organic Varieties Added To Ready Pac Bistro Bowl Salad Line
Ready Pac Foods Inc. has introduced four new organic varieties to its Ready Pac Bistro Bowl Salad line. The three new single-serve Ready Pac Bistro Organic Bowl Salads include three vegetarian items, Orange Ginger Tofu, Zesty Harvest Grains, and Honey Mustard Spinach. Ready Pac Bistro Bowl Salad’s original product line includes 11 different recipes that […]
Posted in, National, Northeast
New Jersey Grocery Veteran Joseph Saker Passes Away At 83
The New Jersey grocery industry lost an icon last weekend with the passing of 83-year-old Joseph J. Saker, one of the founding members of the New Jersey Food Council and the first NJFC chairman of the board. A complete obituary can be found here. NJFC President Linda M. Doherty says: “Mr. Saker was viewed by […]
Posted in, National
Sunlight Unveils New Box Packaging For Harvest Hobgoblin Grapes
Sunlight International has Halloween all wrapped up with its new box packaging, which holds the company’s stand-up colander bags filled with fresh Harvest Hobgoblin grapes grown by JP Dulcich and Sons. Offered to retailers during this grape season, the decorative yet practical cartons will enhance the Harvest Hobgoblin fall promotion in stores, according to Sunlight […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Franklin Foods Launches Industry’s First Greek Cream Cheese
Franklin Foods has launched the industry’s first Greek Cream Cheese. Made with a combination of premium cream cheese and Greek Yogurt, Green Mountain Farms Greek Cream Cheese is produced with farm fresh milk and cream in Enosburg Falls, Vt., and satisfies consumer demand for foods that provide just the right balance of good nutrition and […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Kroger Introduces Simple Truth, Simple Truth Organic Brands
The Kroger Co. family of stores has announced the nationwide availability of its new Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic brands. Simple Truth and Simple Truth Organic products are free from 101 artificial preservatives and ingredients that some customers have said they do not want in their foods. Simple Truth Organic products are certified organic […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
GMDC Wraps Up 2012 Health Beauty Wellness Conference
During the 2012 Global Market Development Center (GMDC) Health Beauty Wellness Conference, which wrapped up earlier today in San Antonio, Texas, attendees participated in three business sessions designed to feature in-depth insights, reveal growth content, and consumer trends for the HBW market. One of the business session was “The Path to Purchase” presented by Mark […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Nature Made Introduces Three New Products
Nature Made is introducing of three new product lines: VitaMelts, Full Strength Minis and Adult Gummies. These products, according to a news release, offer consumers vitamins that are smaller, tastier and easier to take. • VitaMelts: With Nature Made’s new delivery form, VitaMelts, there is no tablet or softgel to swallow. Instead, VitaMelts melt in […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
New Poll Reveals A Quarter Of Grocery Shoppers Admit To Stealing
It’s an activity that millions of Americans do every day—visiting the grocery store. But what happens once inside? The results of a new poll released by SodaHead.com reveal some interesting facts about shopping behaviors. One reason that prices may be rising is that consumers are “helping themselves” to items in the store as 25 percent […]
Posted in, National
Del Monte Unveils Fresh Avocado Pulp 4 Pack
Del Monte is now offering 100% Fresh Hass Avocado Pulp in a convenient 4 pack of 2-oz. cups. The new value-added Hass avocado product is available for national distribution. As fresh avocado consumption continues to increase, consumers are beginning to demand the fruit in an assortment of formats and on menus nationwide, according to a […]
Posted in, National
NGA Kicks Off 30th Anniversary At Fall Conference
The National Grocers Association (NGA) launched the beginning of a year-long celebration at a special reception Sept. 20 at its fall conference in Minneapolis, Minn., to mark the 30th anniversary of the founding of the association, which resulted from a merger between the National Association of Retail Grocers of the United States (NARGUS) and the […]
Posted in, National
WGA Awards Scholarships To Gerland’s, AFS Employees
Employees from Gerland’s of Houston, Texas, and Associated Food Stores of Salt Lake City, Utah, were awarded the Mary Macey Scholarship for 2012 by the Women Grocers of America (WGA). The awards, which are worth up to $1,500 per year for those who are pursuing a career in the independent grocery industry, are aimed at […]
Posted in, National, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
‘Popcorn’ Verdict Worth $7.27M
A Centennial, Colo., man was awarded $7.27 million in damages earlier this week from a federal jury in Denver, which decided his lung disease was caused by the chemicals in microwave popcorn and that the manufacturer should have warned him, the Denver Business Journal reports. Wayne Watson is the first consumer to win an award […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
NGA Presents Spirit Of America Award To Minn. Congressman
Congressman John Kline (R-Minn.) has been presented with the Spirit of America Award by the National Grocers Association (NGA). The award is one of NGA’s top honors with more than 550 recipients over the past 30 years since NGA’s founding. It was presented to Kline this morning during a board of directors meeting at NGA’s […]