The National Retail Federation has raised its holiday sales forecast, saying it now expects holiday sales to increase 3.8 percent this season to a record $469.1 billion. The NRF had previously forecast on Oct. 6 that holiday sales would increase just 2.8 percent, according to the San Francisco Business Times. The increase would come after […]
Category: National
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Kroger To Merge Four Pension Funds
In a move expected to reduce Kroger Co.’s annual pension contribution expense and secure pension benefits for more than 65,000 employees, the Cincinnati-based grocer will merge four of the UFCW/multi-employer pension funds into a new fund Jan. 1, according to the Los Angeles Business Journal. Kroger expects to contribute about $650 million to the new […]
Posted in, National
Report: MyPlate Icon a Sharp Contrast to What’s Actually on Our Plates
The nutritionally-balanced quadrants of the USDA’s MyPlate, the graphic interpretation of the new federal dietary guidelines that depicts a healthful daily diet, looks very different than what’s actually on the plates of most Americans, according to The NPD Group, a market research company. NPD’s food and beverage market research finds that, for the average consumer, […]
Posted in, National, West
WFIA Recognizes Grocery Industry’s 2011 Standouts
The Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA) recently honored its annual grocery industry award winners. The WFIA awards were voted on by the association’s full membership, then presented by President Jan Gee on behalf of the Washington state grocery industry to three top leaders in the following categories: Grocer of the Year, Kevin Stormans of Stormans […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Seajoy introduces new retail ready line of premium shrimp
The Seajoy Group, a vertically integrated farm-raised shrimp producer in Latin America, has introduced its new branded Seajoy® retail ready line of premium Pacific white shrimp. The new line, which includes both all-natural and organic shrimp, comes in 1-, 2- and 5-lb. resealable bags. Seajoy Pacific white shrimp are prized for their size, clean taste […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Kraft Research Details the Company’s Effects On Climate
Kraft Foods shared results on Dec. 14 of a pioneering survey that measured its impact on climate change, land and water use. The multi-year foot printing project — in partnership with Quantis Inc. and reviewed and analyzed by World Wildlife Fund and notable academics at the University of Minnesota’s Institute on the Environment — goes […]
Posted in, National
Hy-Vee CEO Ric Jurgens Announces Plans to Retire
Hy-Vee Chairman and CEO Ric Jurgens announced to stockholders at Hy-Vee’s annual meeting on Dec. 14 that he plans to retire from the West Des Moines, Iowa-based company effective June 1. Jurgens, 62, has been Hy-Vee’s top officer since 2006. A 42-year veteran of the company, he began his career as a part-time employee in […]
Posted in, National, New Products
The Spice Hunter Adds New Vegetarian Soups
The Spice Hunter® Inc., a C.F. Sauer company, has added Minestrone; Spring Onion; and Green Chile & White Bean, to its vegetarian line. The Spice Hunter Quick & All Natural™ Soups offer healthy ingredients in an easy-to-use, “just add water” container. The Spice Hunter 100% all natural soups contain 0g of trans-fat and no MSG. […]
Posted in, National
Cuties California Clementines and Mandarins Go National
Cuties® California Clementines and Mandarins are now available coast to coast and, in support of the national launch, the brand has introduced a $20 million national television and print advertising campaign. “We know how much parents love sharing Cuties Clementines with their kids on the West Coast and we are excited to now offer this […]
Posted in, National, West
Looking Back: Bradshaw Still Dispensing Wisdom at 98
[gn_note color=”#66cc66″] This interview originally ran in the March 2008 edition of The Shelby Report of the West. Douglas B. “Buzz” Bradshaw, the well-known Western food broker, died Nov. 7 at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, just two months before celebrating his 102nd birthday. In memory here is one of our favorite articles of the […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
‘The Why? Behind the Buy’ Results Released
Acosta Sales & Marketing, a full-service sales and marketing agency in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, has released its fall 2011 “The Why? Behind the Buy™” report with results from a nationwide survey that collects data on grocery shopper habits heading into the winter months. Shopper trends in the current survey include: Shoppers taking […]
Posted in, National
The Coca-Cola Co. Joins RED to Help Eliminate AIDS
The Coca-Cola Co. has entered into a multi-year partnership with RED to raise awareness and money for the global fund’s efforts to virtually eliminate mother-to-child transmission of HIV by 2015. The partnership includes an initial commitment of more than $5 million from The Coca-Cola Co. over the next four years. This commitment will fund marketing […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Pillsbury Crescents, Shazam Partner for New TV Ad Spot
General Mills, via its Pillsbury Crescents brand, is integrating Shazam for TV to reach busy millennial moms instantly in a first-in-ad category campaign. The company is the first packaged foods company to leverage Shazam’s discovery service, The “Holiday Ideas Made Easy” 15-second television spot is airing on national networks through the end of December. In […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Save Mart Supermarkets Selects Vertis Communications
In a move to optimize its marketing investment and outpace its competition, Save Mart Supermarkets has named marketing communications company Vertis Communications as its exclusive provider of advertising inserts printing and logistics. This new contract, a complement to Media Services Vertis currently provides to Save Mart, will enhance the quality and speed-to-market of compelling inserts […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Decorators Wanted, to Compete in IDDBA’s Cake Decorating Challenge
The International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) is seeking cake decorators to compete in its 17th annual Cake Decorating Challenge—a featured event at the annual Dairy-Deli-Bake Seminar and Expo, to be held June 10-12 in New Orleans, La. Three store-level decorators will have the opportunity to create displays that promote their artistic abilities and show off the […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Delhaize Group Plans 450 New Stores in Next Three Years
Brussels, Belgium-based Delhaize Group, an international food retailer, plans to further accelerate store openings in its newer operations and achieve annual revenue growth of 5 to 7 percent within three years. Additional cost savings will be generated and used to invest in the sales building initiatives that will support accelerating growth, according to the company. […]
Posted in, National
Kraft Foods Names Leaders of Future Independent Companies
In the next step toward launching two public companies, the Kraft Foods Inc. Board of Directors has made the appointments of the chairmen and CEOs of the future global snacks and North American grocery companies. As previously announced, the company expects to complete the spin-off by the end of 2012. When the new companies launch: […]
Posted in, National
Dollar Stores Now Outnumber National Drug Store Chains
As of mid-year 2011, the combined store count of the four major dollar store chains – Dollar General, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and 99 Cents Only – has surpassed that of the three biggest national drug store chains – Walgreens, CVS and Rite Aid, according to a new study released by Colliers International. The white […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Hy-Vee Food Stores Deploys aisle411 Mobile App
Mobile retail navigation service aisle411, which helps shoppers find what they are looking for in-store, has been deployed in Hy-Vee Food Stores. Shoppers can access the aisle411 in-store shopping platform for Hy-Vee Food Stores within aisle411’s iPhone and Android applications, as well as within the Hy-Vee Foods iPhone application. aisle411’s proprietary platform takes in-store inventory […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Olé Mexican Foods Adds New Items
Olé has introduced new items to its expanding line of Mexican food products. Made with whole grain corn for an authentic Mexican taste, crispy Olé Taco Shells are packed 12 per box. Olé Taco Salad Trays also are made with whole grain corn, packed six per box. They’re the ideal edible bowl for a healthy […]