Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, will expand its reach further by making its coupons available on CheckPoints, an app that gives shoppers access to discounts and savings right when and where they need them. Valpak will offer its savings to mobile consumers via CheckPoints with national brand partners such as Procter […]
Category: National
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
@WalmartLabs Acquires Mobile App Company Small Society
@WalmartLabs, a division of Walmart Stores, has acquired the Small Society team. “We will continue to build great mobile apps, but now we will focus all of our attention on a single company—the largest one in the world,” said Raven Zachary, president of Small Society. Walmart has made a number of targeted acquisitions in the […]
Posted in, National
71.4M lbs. of Hass Avocados to be Consumed During Big Game
Football fans are anticipated to consume an estimated 71.4 million lbs. of Hass avocados during Big Game gatherings this year, according to the Hass Avocado Board (HAB). That’s enough to cover Indianapolis’ Lucas Oil Stadium® (which will be hosting the Big Game on Feb. 5) end zone-to-end zone in more than 27.5 ft. of avocados. […]
Posted in, National
N.G.A. Issues Statement on Recess Appointments to NLRB
President Obama announced earlier this week the recess appointments of Richard Griffin, Sharon Block and Terence Flynn to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Peter Larkin, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association, issued the following statement in response to the appointments: “N.G.A. is very concerned that the president’s recess appointments will result in […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
Beanitos Gets Investment Boost
Beanitos brand bean chips has announced a substantial investment by 2x Consumer Products Growth Partners, and managing partners Sharon Kieffer and Andy Whitman joined the company’s board of directors. In addition, Sweet Leaf Tea founder and former CEO Clayton Christopher has invested in Beanitos Inc. and joined the board. Terms of the investments were not […]
Posted in, National
Dole Challenges Americans to ‘Go Bananas’ in 2012
Dole is out to make it socially acceptable to go bananas every day. Undeterred that close to 90 percent of U.S. households already purchase bananas regularly—one of the highest penetrations of any supermarket item—the produce giant is challenging all Americans to make bananas part of their daily routine in 2012. The year-long initiative is consistent […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Ghirardelli Introduces New Line of Gourmet Milk Chocolate
San Francisco-based Ghirardelli has introduced a new line of milk chocolate—Ghirardelli Gourmet Milk. The line includes Gourmet Milk Creamy Devotion™ with 32 percent cacao chocolate; Gourmet Milk Sea Salt Escape™ with sea salt and roasted almonds; and Gourmet Milk Coconut Rendezvous™, which features toasted coconut flakes. The Gourmet Milk line of products is available in […]
Posted in, Feature, National
When Disaster Strikes, Social Media Connects With Your Customers
by Rick Rusch, Thought-TechSpecial to The Shelby Report Social media is an integral part of every day life for millions of people. For many, social media has become indispensable. Social media channels are no longer only sources of entertainment and interaction. Increasingly, social media has become a critical channel for communication. As a result, businesses […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Center Store, National, West
flipflop wines Adds Six New Varietals to Offerings
Livermore, Calif.-based flipflop wines has extended its wine line with six new varietals. The varietals, which include Malbec, Sauvignon Blanc, Sweet Red, Bubbly Chardonnay, Bubbly Moscato and Bubbly Pinot Grigio, will be available in stores starting this month. In addition, flipflop will launch several of its existing varietals in the 1.5-liter size in several states […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Rachael Ray, Ziploc Brand Bring ‘Fresh Outlook’ to Mealtime
According to the Ziploc® Fresh Eating Survey, 81 percent of Americans said they were looking for more ways to incorporate fresh ingredients into their family’s meals, yet only 46 percent of Americans responded that they eat foods containing fruits and vegetables every day. Ziploc Brand, a leader in food and home storage solutions, and best-selling […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Northeast
Pepsi Reported to be Considering 4,000 Job Cuts
PepsiCo is mulling 4,000 job cuts and eliminating its 401(k) match as a way to help earnings, reports the New York Post, citing sources close to the situation. The Memphis Business Journal says the job cuts would total just more than 1 percent of Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi’s 300,000 workers globally. The beverage company offers both […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
Applegate Praises FDA for Action on Antibiotics in Food Animal Production
“The Food and Drug Administration did the right thing in limiting the use of cephalosporins in food animal production, and I urge them to keep moving forward so that we can save antibiotics and avert a public health crisis,” said Stephen McDonnell, founder and CEO of New Jersey-based Applegate, a producer of natural and organic […]
Posted in, National
Rutherford Promoted at KCBS
KCBS Sales and Marketing has promoted John Rutherford to president, effective Jan. 1 “Over the two-and-a-half-year period that John has been with the company, he has made significant contributions to the growth of our organization,” said CEO Lynn Sarsgard. “I am sure that, in his new role as president, John will take us to new […]
Posted in, National
Deadline Looms in Lawsuit Against Diamond Foods
Hagens Berman, a Seattle-based investor-rights class-action law firm, reminded investors Tuesday, Jan. 3, that only a couple of days remain before the Jan. 6 lead plaintiff deadline in a securities class action filed against Diamond Foods. Investors who purchased shares between Dec. 9, 2010, and Nov. 4, 2011 (the “class period”), with losses exceeding $500,000 […]
Posted in, National
Dollar General to Open 625 New Stores in 2012
Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based Dollar General Corp. plans to open 625 new stores and create more than 6,000 new jobs in 2012, reports the Nashville Business Journal. The new stores will open in the 38 states where the retailer operates, plus California and Massachusetts. The chain currently operates 9,800 stores. As of 1:10 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, […]
Posted in, Beverage News, C-Store News, Center Store, Marketing News, National, Southeast
Bebida Cited in Report Forecasting Growth for Relaxation Drinks
Statesville, N.C.-based Bebida Beverage Co., a developer, manufacturer and marketer of relaxation and energy drinks, anticipates a growing marketplace in 2012 for its relaxation drink products, including Koma Unwind and the upcoming Relax 5. “Bebida Beverage Co. is perfectly positioned to meet the growing demand for relaxation drinks, which is forecast to increase in 2012 […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Center Store, National, Perishables
Aldi: Fit & Active line good for health, budget
New Year’s resolutions come and go, so start 2012 with easy and realistic habits that are smart for your health and wallet. Discount grocer Aldi offers shoppers a variety of health- and budget-conscious products under its exclusive Fit & Active line to make it easy and affordable to stay on track this year. “Our Fit […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Special K Marks Today as National Weigh-in Day
A recent survey by the Kellogg Co.’s Special K® brand indicates that weight loss is often top-of-mind at the beginning of the New Year, with 67 percent of women saying it is the ideal time to begin a weight-loss plan. Now, in an effort to change the way women think and talk about weight loss, […]
Posted in, Center Store, National, New Products, West
Seattle Chocolates Introduces New Bars for Valentine’s Day
Seattle Chocolates is introducing Red Hot and Pink Bubbly, two new chocolate bars wrapped to appeal to him and to her—just in time for Valentine’s Day. Jean Thompson, Seattle Chocolates owner and CEO, says, “We had such a terrific response to our Summer Love bar flavors, customers asked for more. Valentine’s Day seemed the perfect […]
Posted in, Beverage News, C-Store News, Center Store, National, Organic Natural, Suppliers
Bioenergy takes ingredient to new food, beverage applications
Since 2008, the sales of ribose as an energy supplement increased by more than 85 percent. This, in conjunction with $9 billion sales of functional energy drinks in 2011, suggests that demand has never been higher for ingredients with a variety of applications in functional food and beverage industries. Enter Bioenergy Ribose—a superior energy ingredient. […]