Foodservice News In Brief… Due in large part to softer same-store sales and customer traffic results, the National Restaurant Association’s Restaurant Performance Index (RPI) declined in May. The RPI stood at 100.6 in May, down 0.9 percent from a level of 101.6 in April. “The RPI continued along a choppy trend line in May, with the […]
Category: Northeast
The Shelby Report of the Northeast covers grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont. Follow the latest store openings, remodels, leadership changes and market news from the region.
Posted in, Beverage News, Center Store, Grocery News, Nonfood Items, Northeast, Sustainability News
MOM’s Organic Market Commits To Solar, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Maryland-based MOM’s Organic Market has begun purchasing all power from a designated solar farm in Kingsville, Maryland. This 1.5-megawatt DC system is projected to output 2,124,000 kilowatts per year. MOM’s will purchase the entire system’s output for the next 20 years. The power generated by the solar farm will account […]
Posted in, Northeast
NACS, NGA Pleased With U.S. Court Rejection of Visa-MasterCard Settlement
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals has overturned the class-action settlement in the case “Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation.” That case led to a proposed settlement valued at $7.25 billion in 2012. The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) and other groups led efforts to oppose the $7.25 billion proposed settlement […]
Posted in, Northeast
New England Coffee Raises More Than $33K For Two Groups, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… New England Coffee, a division of Reily Foods Co., raised $33,150 at its 24th Annual Charity Golf Classic, held May 9 at the Andover Country Club in Andover, Massachusetts. The proceeds will be donated by New England Coffee in equal amounts to Rosie’s Place and VNA Hospice and Palliative Care. The […]
Posted in, Northeast
Topco Associates, IGPS Logistics Launch Total Pallet Management Program, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Topco Associates LLC, a major retail cooperative in the United States, and iGPS Logistics, a plastic pallet pooling service provider in North America, have expanded their business relationship to provide a Total Pallet Management program (TPM) to Topco’s member-owners and customers. The pallet management service involves handling all pallet platforms […]
Posted in, Bakery News, Deli News, Food Service News, Grocery News, Merchandising News, Northeast, Produce News
Study: Hispanic Shoppers Lead U.S. Market In Grocery Shopping Enjoyment & Engagement
Acosta and Univision Communications recently released the fifth edition of The Why? Behind The Buy U.S. Hispanic Shopper Study, which concludes that Hispanic shoppers enjoy the shopping experience and are highly engaged consumers. “Data clearly shows Hispanics are the driving force behind sales growth across many key grocery categories, but the bigger challenge is to […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Grocery News, Industry News, Northeast, Snacks Brands
Maine Governor Threatens To Pull Out Of SNAP
Maine Gov. Paul LePage doesn’t want his state allowing the purchase of candy and sugary drinks with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The governor sent a June 17 letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding that Maine be allowed to forbid using food stamps for certain foods or the state will stop […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Health & Wellness, Northeast, Snacks Brands
Lil’ Drug Store Expands C-Store Distribution To Healthy Snacks
Lil’ Drug Store Products (LDSP) and Calbee North America have formed an exclusive partnership in the convenience channel for Harvest Snaps salty snack line. “We are thrilled to be offering Harvest Snaps to our retailers and wholesalers so they can better meet the needs of convenience store shoppers by offering more nutritious choices,” says Doug […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Executive News, Grocery News, Northeast
Boston Beer Appoints New Chief Marketing Officer, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… The Boston Beer Co., brewer of Samuel Adams beers, named Jonathan Potter chief marketing officer (CMO), overseeing the company’s planning, development and execution of its brand development, marketing and advertising initiatives. He comes to the company from Moet Hennessy USA, where he served as managing director of its Chandon division. Before […]
Posted in, Deli News, Nonfood Items, Northeast
Butler Home Products Buys Clean Ones Glove Co., And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Butler Home Products in Hudson, Massachusetts, has purchased Clean Ones Corp., a Portland, Oregon-based household glove company with more than 30 years in the market and nearly 2 billion gloves sold each year. Butler Home Products is a consumer cleaning company, selling cleaning tools (the company’s largest business segment), lint […]
Posted in, Northeast
Big Y Leader Named One Of FMI’s Top Store Managers
The Food Marketing Institute, at its FMI Connect event in Chicago June 20-23, honored Piotr Soja, manager of the Northampton, Massachusetts, Big Y store, as a top store manager. Soja was named the top store manager in the Class B (50-100 stores) category. In presenting the award, FMI said, “For Piotr Soja, going the extra […]
Posted in, Northeast
US Foods Launches New Sustainable Product Line
US Foods recently introduced its “Serve Good” line featuring a wide range of products, including cage-free eggs, organic bread, non-GMO oils and sustainable seafood. “The demand for sustainable options when dining out continues to grow,” said Stacie Sopinka, VP of product development and innovation for US Foods. “In fact, nearly 70 percent of diners say […]
Posted in, Northeast
U.S. Senate GMO Bill Advances But July 1 Deadline Looms, And More…
Grocery News In Brief… The U.S. Senate moved towards a bipartisan agreement on nationwide labeling on food products containing genetically modified organisms GMO on June 23. The agreement received praise from the Food Marketing Institute and the Grocery Manufacturers Association but needs full support of the U.S. Senate, House of Representatives and President Barack Obama. […]
Posted in, Northeast
Sunoco Completes Acquisition of New York-Based C-Store, And More…
C-Store News In Brief… Sunoco LP has completed the purchase of the retail convenience store business serving the Upstate New York market from Valentine Stores Inc. This acquisition includes 18 company-operated locations, which sell approximately 20 million gallons of fuel annually, and one standalone Tim Horton’s restaurant. As part of the transaction, Sunoco’s subsidiary acquired […]
Posted in, Northeast
Equipment Groups Raise Funds For Boston Rescue Mission, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… The Northeast chapters of Foodservice Consultants Society International (FCSI) and Manufacturers Agents for Foodservice Industry (MAFSI) recently celebrated their 43rd annual golf outing and reception by raising money for the Boston Rescue Mission. The charitable event, held at Andover Country Club in Andover, Massachusetts, welcomed 134 participants and raised $16,550 for […]
Posted in, Northeast
Hannaford Opens New Concept Store In Bedford, New Hampshire
Hannaford Supermarkets unveiled its largest new concept supermarket in New Hampshire with a grand opening celebration June 18 in Bedford, New Hampshire. Eric Blom, Hannaford spokesperson said the 68,000-s.f. Bedford Hannaford Supermarket & Pharmacy represents a new design concept for the grocer, providing additional conveniences and products while maintaining the everyday low prices available at […]
Posted in, Northeast
NACS Toolkit Helps C-Stores Grow Better-For-You Sales
The National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS) has published a new online toolkit for retailers that shares eight low-cost and proven examples of how convenience store operators can successfully grow their healthy offer and increase sales of better-for-you items. Through the NACS refresh initiative, the new online “Ideas That Work To Grow Better For You […]
Posted in, Northeast
CVS Pharmacy Expands Healthy Food Initiative
CVS Pharmacy plans to expand its assortment of healthier foods and beverages to more than 2,900 stores nationwide. Throughout the year, 100 stores each week are being enhanced with a selection of national and niche better-for-you brands that make healthier eating on the go more convenient and affordable. “Since becoming the first and only national […]
Posted in, Northeast
Development Plans Continue On New Brooklyn Wegmans, And More…
Grocery News In Brief… Building plans continue for New York City’s first Wegmans Food Market, set to open at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in 2017. Wegmans will initially hire 450 people, including 150 people in full-time positions. It is projected that the number of full-time positions may grow to as many as 250, with as […]
Posted in, Northeast
Philadelphia Enacts Soda Tax
The Philadelphia City Council last week approved a 1.5-cents-per-ounce tax on sugar-sweetened and diet beverages by a 13-4 vote, making Philadelphia the first major U.S. city to enact such a tax. The city plans to start collecting the tax on Jan. 1, 2017. According to the Pennsylvania Food Merchants Association (PFMA) and the National Association […]