The National Grocers Association (NGA) and FMS Solutions have released the results of their joint 2014 Independent Grocers Financial Survey, covering fiscal year 2013. Independents’ financial performance much mirrored the nation’s economy, which showed modest growth and both ups and downs in consumer, financial and market performance indicators. Some retailers managed to grow sales, margins […]
Category: National
Posted in, Grocery News, National
U.S. Surpasses France As Largest Wine Market
The U.S. topped France as the world’s largest wine market last year as Americans continue to develop a greater appreciation for the libation. According to the Beverage Information and Insights Group’s 2014 Wine Handbook, the wine category increased 1.9 percent to 325.4 million 9-liter cases last year. Production and consumption levels also are at an […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
General Mills To Acquire Annie’s For $820M
General Mills has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Annie’s, a leading U.S. producer of branded organic and natural food products with net sales of $204 million in its latest fiscal year, completed March 2014. The transaction is valued at approximately $820 million. Annie’s will join General Mills’ U.S. natural and organic products portfolio, […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Reed’s New Product Marries Coffee And Kombucha
Reed’s Inc. is adding an organic coffee kombucha to its line of Reed’s Culture Club Kombucha. The new Coffee Kombucha will be showcased at the upcoming Natural Products Expo in Baltimore, Sept. 18-20, and will be introduced to store shelves across the country this fall. “The kombucha culture is traditionally grown in a tea base. […]
Posted in, National
Report: Shoppers Primarily Interact With Brands Via Smartphones, Tablets
Online shopping has reached a mobile tipping point. For the first time ever, according to Branding Brand’s Mobile Commerce Index report, the majority of consumers are visiting retail websites on smartphones and tablets rather than on traditional desktop and laptop computers. In August, mobile devices generated 51 percent of all online retail visits, the majority of […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Whole Foods, Instacart Partner For One-Hour Delivery Across 15 Cities
Whole Foods Market and one-hour grocery delivery service Instacart have formed a new partnership that enables customers to have Whole Foods Market products delivered in as little as one hour. Customers will soon also have the convenient option to place orders via Instacart and pick up their order at a local participating Whole Foods Market […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Kroger Family Of Stores Hiring 20K Employees
The Kroger Co. is hiring to fill an estimated 20,000 permanent positions in its supermarket divisions. “Kroger’s growth trajectory creates more job opportunities for current and future employees,” said Katy Barclay, Kroger’s SVP of human resources. “Right now in our stores across the country we have openings for bright, hard-working associates who are passionate about […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Blue Bell Introduces Malt Shoppe Ice Cream
Blue Bell has put its own spin on the old-fashioned chocolate malt with its new Malt Shoppe Ice Cream, a chocolate malt ice cream loaded with milk chocolate-covered malted milk balls. “There was a time when the whole family hopped in the car and went out for burgers, fries and malts,” said Paul Kruse, Blue […]