New Channels News In Brief… According to the National Retail Federation’s annual Easter Spending Survey, spending for the holiday is expected to reach $17.3 billion. Those celebrating plan to spend an average of $146 per person, according to the survey. That’s the highest level in the 13 years the survey has been conducted and up […]
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, Home Page Latest News, Northeast
Ahold, Delhaize Shareholders Approve Proposed Merger
Ahold shareholders on Monday overwhelmingly approved the company’s proposal to merge with Delhaize Group, parent of the Food Lion and Hannaford grocery chains in the U.S. Ahold shareholders voted at a meeting in Amsterdam. The meeting was attended by 129 shareholders, representing approximately 869 million shares. In a separate meeting in Brussels on Monday, Delhaize […]
Posted in, Northeast
Gov. Baker Touts Foodservice Trade During NEFS Keynote
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker stopped by the New England Food Show (NEFS) on Monday at the Boston Convention Center and praised the foodservice industry for its creativity, diversity and flexibility to adapt to many challenges. Long-term friend Joe Piantedosi Jr. of Piantedosi Baking Co. personally invited Baker to the show. Baker was called a friend of […]
Posted in, Northeast
CVS Steps Up Anti-Tobacco Drive
CVS Health has rolled out its “Be The First” Campaign, a five-year $50 million initiative that the company says will help deliver “the nation’s first tobacco-free generation.” The initiative by the drugstore chain, which stopped selling tobacco products in September 2014, is directed at youth and young adults who use tobacco or who are at risk […]
Posted in, Northeast
America’s Food Basket Plans Expansion
America’s Food Basket (AFB) of Lake Success, New York, plans to expand in the Northeast. AFB is a 46-member cooperative that supports and unifies independent retail stores operating in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. AFB CEO Dan Cabassa says the the company leverages the size of its purchases and merchandising operations to […]
Posted in, Northeast
NECSEMA’s First Convention Begins Wednesday
Jerry Weiner, recently retired veteran foodservice expert from Rutter’s, will be the keynote speaker at the first New England Convenience Store & Energy Marketers Association (NECSEMA) convention, set to begin at 9 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the DCU Center in Worcester, Massachusetts. Weiner will share his experiences from more than 40 years in the foodservice […]
Posted in, Northeast
Federal Menu Labeling Regulations Delayed Again
The FDA is delaying the Dec. 1 date for enforcement of the government’s menu-labeling regulations. The agency issued a statement March 9 indicating federal menu-labeling requirements will not be enforced until one year after the FDA publishes its final guidance on the rule. The rule will require restaurants and similar retail food establishments with 20 […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Northeast
General Mills Doubling Organic Acreage Sourcing
General Mills plans to accelerate its commitment to more than double the organic acreage from which it sources ingredients. The company now expects to meet its goal of 250,000 acres by 2019. The Minneapolis-based company says the increased acreage is directly linked to its goals to grow net sales from its natural and organic products. […]
Posted in, Northeast
RIFDA Trade Day Is March 16, And More…
Grocery News In Brief… The Rhode Island Food Dealers Association (RIFDA) will host its Annual Trade Day from 4-8 p.m. Wednesday, March 16, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, located at 801 Greenwich Avenue in Warwick. The Rhode Island Best Bagger competition kicks off the event, followed by a networking cocktail reception. This year’s dinner program […]
Posted in, Northeast
Gregg’s Restaurants & Pubs Selected As NRA Restaurant Neighbor Award Winner, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Gregg’s Restaurants & Pubs of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, has been selected as one of three to receive the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation 2016 Restaurant Neighbor Award. For the past 20 years, the company has worked with nonprofit groups to support families, the homeless, the forgotten and the elderly. Through an annual event called the […]
Posted in, Northeast
Whole Foods Plans Large-Scale Solar Project, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Whole Foods Market is working with national solar providers NRG and SolarCity to increase the number of rooftop solar units on the company’s U.S. stores. The company aims to install up to 100 additional solar rooftop units on its stores. “This program showcases an exciting step in Whole Foods Market’s […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Northeast
New England Food Show Kicks Off Sunday At Boston Convention Center
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker and musician Joey Kramer will serve as keynote speakers at the New England Food Show (NEFS), sponsored in part by the Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA), which begins Sunday, March 13. Kramer will kick off the show at 12:30 p.m. Sunday. Kramer, drummer for Aerosmith, launched his own 100 percent USDA Organic […]
Posted in, Northeast
GMO Labeling Bill Passes Massachusetts Legislative Committee
A bill that would give shoppers clear labels for foods containing GMOs cleared the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources & Agriculture on March 4. The Genetic Engineering Transparency Food Labeling Act would require clear labeling of food products that contain genetically engineered ingredients, or GMOs. Similar laws have recently passed in Connecticut, Maine and […]
Posted in, Northeast
Mars Named To Fortune’s Best Companies To Work For List, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… For the fourth year in a row Mars has been named to the Fortune Magazine’s list of the “100 Best Companies to Work For”… NOCO Express has completed renovations at its store at 6724 Williams Road, at the corner of Niagara Falls Boulevard, in Niagara Falls. The remodel includes the […]
Posted in, Northeast
Franchise Expansion Planned For Wahlburgers
Wahlburgers of Hingham, Massachusetts, founded by Chef Paul Wahlberg with celebrity brothers Mark and Donnie, has announced franchise deals with five new franchise groups to open more than 30 stores in several major metro markets in Massachusetts, California, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, North Carolina and South Carolina. Seven restaurants currently are open, with three more slated […]
Posted in, Northeast
Wegmans Moves Up On Fortune List, And More…
Grocery News In Brief… Wegmans is once again on Fortune Magazine’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” list. This year, the grocer moves up from seventh to fourth place on the list. The family-owned supermarket chain, marking its 100th anniversary in 2016, has appeared on the Fortune list for 19 consecutive years and is one […]
Posted in, Northeast
Anheuser-Busch Partners With Ibotta To Offer Cash Back On Beer Purchases, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… Ibotta, a mobile shopping app that pays consumers cash back on their everyday purchases, has partnered with Anheuser-Busch to offer beer shoppers cash-back rebates on Anheuser-Busch products through the Ibotta app. The partnership, which runs through February 2018, will provide Ibotta shoppers over 21 years old with special offers on […]
Posted in, Northeast
All Ahold USA Stores Offer 100 Percent Sustainably Sourced Seafood, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Ahold USA said March 3 that all seafood sold from the service counters at its retail divisions of Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover and Giant Carlisle are now 100 percent sustainably and responsibly sourced. In addition, 100 percent of Ahold USA’s Nature’s […]
Posted in, Northeast
Several Ahold Banners Roll Out Nature’s Promise ‘Free From’ Products
Several Ahold USA banners, including Stop & Shop, Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Basket, have introduced Nature’s Promise “Free from” products. Nature’s Products were first introduced in 2004. As part of a brand refresh, Nature’s Promise natural products are now clearly labeled “Free from” to help customers make healthy choices. “Customers continue to ask […]
Posted in, Northeast
US Foods Acquiring Cara Donna Provision Co.
US Foods is acquiring Cara Donna Provision Co., a wholesale distributor of food and food-related products to restaurants and foodservice customers throughout New England. The transaction is expected to close March 4. Family owned for three generations, Cara Donna serves approximately 1,300 customers in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut. The Cara Donna […]