The votes are in, and Peach-Mango and Raspberry Lemonade have been selected as the next two Dum Dums flavors. Dum Dums asked its Facebook fans to choose the next two flavors in a tournament style competition. In July and early August, fans were asked to vote for their favorite mash-up or combo flavor with the […]
Category: National
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Leading Retailers Form ‘MCX’ To Deliver Mobile Wallet
A group of the nation’s leading merchants has formed Merchant Customer Exchange (MCX), a new company dedicated to offering consumers a versatile mobile-commerce experience that will combine the convenience of paying at the register with customizable offers. Development of MCX’s mobile application is under way. The initial focus centers on offering merchants a mobile-commerce solution […]
Posted in, National, Northeast
Weis Markets’ Exec Garisto Passes Away at Age 45
Bruno Garisto, 45, of Lewisburg, Pa., who served as Weis Markets’ VP of center store merchandising and sales, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Aug. 10. Garisto was devoted to his son, Nick, 15, and his daughter Katie, 12, and most especially Carolyn, his wife of 16 years. Garisto and his family were and are active […]
Posted in, C-Store News, National
NAM Signs Circle K Stores to In-Store Network
News America Marketing (NAM), the premier publisher of coupons in the U.S. and Canada, producing more than 165 billion coupons annually, has announced that Circle K convenience stores, one of the largest convenience store chains in North America with 3,050 U.S. locations, will be joining its expansive in-store marketing network—effective immediately. The agreement marks an […]
Posted in, National, West
Nassif Named National Chair on Romney’s Farmers and Ranchers Coalition
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney announced his Farmers and Ranchers for Romney coalition Wednesday, naming Tom Nassif, president and CEO of Western Growers, one of six national chairs of the coalition. “I’m honored to have so many farmers and ranchers standing with my campaign,” Mitt Romney said. “They are the backbone of America and play a […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Johnsonville Recalls Turkey Sausage with Cheddar Cheese
Johnsonville Sausage is recalling select 13.5-oz. vacuum packages of Johnsonville “Turkey Sausage with Cheddar Cheese” with a “Best By” date of “08/20/2012 2” and the establishment number “EST. P-34224.” Approximately 48,907 pounds of product is being recalled, as it could contain foreign material, pieces of gloves. There have been no reports of injury and no […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Heineken Adds Strongbow Cider To Upscale Portfolio
Heineken USA will add Strongbow cider to its portfolio beginning Jan. 1, 2013. Heineken N.V. is the global leader in cider with nearly 25 percent market share and products available in 20 markets. The Strongbow brand will further complement the leading upscale beer company’s already diverse product portfolio, which includes Heineken, Dos Equis, Newcastle, Amstel […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Feature, National, Whole Foods
Coalitions, Cooperation, Congress Are Key in Battle Against ORC
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Shoplifting and Organized Retail Crime (ORC) are two very different crimes. A person may steal bread to feed a hungry family. A coordinated group steals items that can be turned into cash that typically funds other criminal activity. If there has been an increase in ORC arrests, it is because retailers […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
Kroger Pharmacies To Offer Health Kiosks At Locations Nationwide
The first step to improving health and wellness is to know where you stand today. To help customers “know their numbers”, The Kroger Co. Family of Pharmacies plans to place self-use health screening kiosks at all 1,950 locations nationwide. The Kroger HealthCenter kiosks, provided by Stayhealthy Inc., a California-based wellness solutions company, provide customers with […]
Posted in, National
NGA Announces Gala Entertainment For 2013 Convention
The National Grocers Association (NGA) is bringing the chart-topping group Human Nature to its stage for the Chairman’s Gala at the 2013 NGA Show. Human Nature is Australia’s leading pop vocal group and one of the preeminent vocal harmony groups in the world, with millions of albums sold worldwide. Human Nature recently kicked off its […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Jamba Debuts Ready-to-Blend Greek Yogurt Superfruit Smoothies
Three years ago, Greek yogurt sales represented just 3 percent of overall yogurt category sales. Today, nearly one-third of all U.S. yogurt sales are Greek varieties, and analysts suggest that the category will grow 120 percent over the next five years. Jamba® “At Home” Smoothies expands the concept by combining non-fat Greek yogurt with on-trend […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Lysol Introduces Line Of Hydrogen Peroxide Products
Lysol® has launched Power & Free™, a revolutionary line of household products that harnesses the versatility of hydrogen peroxide to deliver a more powerful clean (on soils like soap scum and tough grease) than bleach. Each of the four Lysol Power & Free cleaning products release thousands of micro-bubbles that penetrate deep to remove tough […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Odwalla Releases New Quartet Of Food Bars
Odwalla is releasing its first new bars of 2012 with four new wholesome options. Each of the new flavors was developed with a specific snack or meal occasion in mind—Apple Toffee Pistachio and Chocolate Almond Coconut are perfect for wholesome indulgence, while Orange Cranberry and Lemon Ginger are ideal food bars with mornings in mind, […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Aaron Gilbert Crowned Ohio’s Best Bagger
Aaron Gilbert of Bryan, Ohio, claimed Ohio’s Best Bagger title at the 2012 Ohio Best Bagger Contest on Wednesday. Grocery baggers from five Ohio companies participated in the contest held at Rays Supermarket in Lima. Rays Supermarket is owned by Chief Super Market Inc., a family-owned supermarket chain in Northwest Ohio. Gilbert was one of […]
Posted in, C-Store News, National
Thorntons Joins List Of Merchants Opposing Settlement With Visa, MasterCard
Thorntons Inc. is opposing the proposed settlement of longstanding antitrust litigation between retailers and the credit card industry. The proposed settlement, announced on July 13, does not make meaningful changes to the broken credit card swipe fee market and it broadly restricts merchants’ rights to challenge the card industry’s anticompetitive practices in the future, according […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Rita’s Italian Ice Introduces Secret Flavor Ice
Rita’s Italian Ice, the nation’s largest Italian Ice concept with more than 625 outlets in 19 states, has introduced Secret Flavor Ice and a Secret Flavor Facebook Sweepstakes in outlets across the U.S. Guests can sample the new Secret Flavor Ice and enter their guess on Rita’s Facebook page, and on Thursday, Aug. 23, the […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Campbell Completes Acquisition of Bolthouse Farms
Campbell Soup Co. has announced that it has completed the acquisition of Bolthouse Farms from a fund managed by Madison Dearborn Partners LLC, a private equity firm, for $1.55 billion in cash. Campbell funded the acquisition through a combination of short- and long-term borrowings. Headquartered in Bakersfield, Calif., Bolthouse is a vertically integrated food and […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Marketing Challenges Increase As Income Divide Grows
Colin Stewart, SVP at AMG Strategic Advisors, gave attendees at the Federated Foods 2012 Summer Buying Show in Chicago a look at Acosta Sales & Marketing’s new spring edition of its “Why? Behind the Buy” study. Published twice yearly, the study explores shopper trends, what shoppers think about private brands and the economy, how gas […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National, Southwest
Hostess Offers ‘Lunch Notes’ On New Website
With summer vacation season wrapping up and families getting back to their daily routines, Hostess® is inviting fans to visit the new home of the tasty treats—HostessCakes.com—to help turn their “every day” lunch into a small celebration with Hostess Lunch Notes. The new Hostess Lunch Notes are a fun, easy way to brighten the day […]
Posted in, National
How To Wash Cantaloupes And Other Melons
by Mary Lou Chapman/president of the Rocky Mountain Food Industry Association Special to The Shelby Report All fresh produce should be washed well before eating. Last year’s extremely unfortunate cantaloupe incident reminds us that not all customers follow this advice. Grocers can play a role in helping consumers feel confident that they can purchase melons, […]