The 2012 National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) Consumer Panel Report has been released, containing more than 75 shopping attributes to help independent grocers grow their businesses. The wide-ranging national consumer study, conducted by SupermarketGuru.com for N.G.A., and sponsored by Valassis, digs deep to show differences in the demographics and lifestyles of grocery consumers. As in the […]
Category: National
Posted in, National
Supervalu Eliminating 800 Jobs
Supervalu Inc. plans to eliminate 800 jobs in the U.S., the company announced Feb. 7. Most of the reductions will take place by the close of the company’s fiscal year on Feb. 25. Cuts include both current positions as well as open jobs that will not be filled, the company said. The moves are part […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, National
Coca-Cola Profit Down 27 Percent On Charges
The Atlanta-based beverage giant, Coco-Cola, reported that its profit for 2011 was hurt by restructuring charges and other charges. It also reported a program to save $550 to $650 million by the end of 2015 and reinvest that savings into systemwide brand building initiatives and to mitigate potential incremental near-term commodity costs as necessary, the […]
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CRA: Sugar Industry’s Strategy to Pose as ‘Safer’ Sweetener
In a bid to revive litigation claims that a federal judge had dismissed, the refined sugar industry’s latest maneuver actually underlines its true objective: to confuse American consumers by suggesting that cane and beet sugar is healthier than sugar made from corn—at least according to the Corn Refiners Association (CRA). “The refined sugar industry’s latest […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
EPA Recognizes Ahold USA for Leading Green Power Purchasers
Ahold USA appears for the first time on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of the largest green power purchases. The company ranks No. 7 on the EPA’s Top 20 Retail list and No. 30 on the National Top 50 list. Ahold USA is purchasing more than 149 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power […]
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Study: Food Safety is Tops for Manufacturers, Consumers
In a new global study from UL (Underwriters Laboratories), a leader in advancing safety, food manufacturers identified product safety as a top business priority, but the majority of consumers believe food manufacturers can do even better to earn their confidence. The new study, “Navigating the Product Mindset,” explores the connections and contradictions between perceptions of […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Nestlé Debuts Seasonal Items For Creative Gift-Giving
With Valentine’s Day around the corner, Nestlé’s seasonal treats are making it easy to let friends, colleagues and family know they are loved. Nestlé’s line of Valentine’s Day sweets spotlights favorite varieties from Nestlé Butterfinger, Nestlé Crunch, and Wonka—each one featuring a Valentine’s twist. Wonka, the No. 1 branded sugar manufacturer for Valentine’s Day, has […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Stouffer’s Hopes To ‘Put the Two Back in Tuesdays’
Nestle Prepared Foods Co. says it is committed to helping couples reconnect over dinner with the launch of Stouffer’s Sautes for Two “Put the Two Back in Tuesdays” program, a nationwide campaign to make an ordinary evening extraordinary for couples. For the next six weeks, Stouffer’s is challenging couples to make their Tuesdays extraordinary with […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National
Mary J Blige Joins Belvedere Vodka, (RED) To Help Save Lives
Award-winning, multi-platinum singer Mary J Blige will be performing at a private pre-Grammy event on Thursday, Feb. 9, to celebrate the partnership of Belvedere, the world’s first super premium vodka, and (RED). The exclusive performance will be followed by a private party at Bardot, Los Angeles, to help raise awareness around HIV/AIDS and emphasize the […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Mobeam Raises $6.4M For Mobile Coupons
Mobeam Inc., a San Francisco technology platform for delivering coupons to mobile phones, has beamed a $6.4 million Series A round of venture capital on board from investors, reports the San Francisco Business Times. The company, founded in April 2010, has added new investor DFJ Athena, a Korea-focused venture fund affiliated with Draper Fisher Jurvetson, […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Walmart Unveils ‘Great For You’ Icon
A year after pledging to develop a front-of-pack label that would give its customers an easier way to identify healthier food, Walmart Stores Inc. has unveiled the “Great For You” icon. The icon, part of the company’s healthier food initiative, is an effort to implement a transparent, summary icon for its private label brand products […]
Posted in, National, New Products
‘The Biggest Loser’ Plans To Win Big With Fruits, Vegetables
“The Biggest Loser” brand will debut this fall in produce departments nationwide, thanks to a multi-year licensing agreement between Giraffe Interactive and NBCUniversal Television Consumer Products Group. The goal of the agreement is to create promotional programs that leverage the power of The Biggest Loser as a lifestyle brand to promote the increased sale of […]
Posted in, National, Perishables, Suppliers
Michael Foods Recalls Hard-Cooked Eggs Packed in Brine
Michael Foods Inc. is voluntarily recalling specific lot dates of hard-cooked eggs in brine sold in 10- and 25-lb. pails for institutional use that were produced at its Wakefield, Neb., facility because the product has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled eggs were purchased by food distributors and manufacturers located in […]
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Food Groups Urge Administration to Reject New Food Taxes
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) and a coalition of more than 30 food groups urged senior administration leaders to develop a fiscal year 2013 budget request that fully funds U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) food safety programs without saddling consumers and food makers with burdensome new taxes or fees. “Food safety is the […]
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FMI Presents More Awards at Midwinter Executive Conference
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) presented awards for excellence in public affairs and industry relations at its Midwinter Executive Conference in Orlando on Jan. 31. Art Potash Art Potash, CEO of Potash Markets, received FMI’s Glen P. Woodard Jr. Award for his outstanding contributions on behalf of the food industry in government and public affairs. […]
Posted in, From My Point of View, National
A New Beginning, 2012
I, for one, am going to pray for Barack Obama because the Bible admonishes us to pray for our leaders, but I’m also going to pray that God will give us a new God-loving, God-fearing leader in November. I am going to try to avoid using such words as “everyone,” “never,” “always,” “all” and “absolutely” […]
Posted in, National, Southeast, Suppliers
Smithfield Completes 100th Donation in Hungry Homes Tour
Virginia-based Smithfield has completed its 100th donation on its Helping Hungry Homes® tour—totaling more than 14 million servings of protein donated to local food banks across the country. “We’ve traveled from Miami, Florida, to Anchorage, Alaska, bringing hard-to-source protein to wonderful food assistance organizations and have just made our 100th tour donation,” said Dennis Pittman, […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Healthy Choice Brings Back Progressive Coupon Offer
Healthy Choice®, a brand of ConAgra Foods Inc., is bringing back its Progressive Coupon Offer on its Facebook page, allowing fans to determine how much the frozen meal coupon ultimately will be worth. The campaign, in which the value of the coupon increases as the number of people who “like” the page and reserve a […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Select 55 Introduces New 35- and 32-Calorie Packages
Select 55 now is introducing smaller-sized cans and bottles. Available at retailers nationwide, Select 55 “Little Lights” include sleek 8-oz., 35-calorie cans available in 12 packs; and 7-oz., 32-calorie clear glass bottles available in 6 packs. Select 55 offers a clean, crisp taste with fewer calories for adult beer drinkers. The new smaller-size cans and […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Multi Grain Cheerios Peanut Butter Hits Shelves
General Mills has added to its popular Cheerios line with new Multi Grain Cheerios® Peanut Butter cereal. The first line extension of the Multi Grain Cheerios brand has five whole grains and 110 calories per serving. In addition, it provides 16g of whole grain per serving (at least 48 grams recommended daily). “We wanted to […]