Convenience Store News In Brief… Boston Mayor Martin Walsh has joined public health officials, advocates and local youth to announce that Boston is taking steps to raise the age to buy all tobacco and nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, to 21. In addition to raising the age to buy tobacco and nicotine products to 21, proposed […]
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, Northeast
McDonald’s Revamps Value Meal, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… McDonald’s has redone its value menu in an attempt to bring back consumers. The redesigned discount menu will debut on Jan. 4, 2016. The new McPick 2 menu will offer only four choices: small French fries, mozzarella sticks, McChicken sandwich and the McDouble sandwich. Customers can order two of those […]
Posted in, Northeast
Mass. Firm Develops Genetically Enhanced Salmon, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… AquaBounty Technologies, a biotechnology company of Maynard, Massachusetts, that is focused on enhancing productivity in aquaculture, says the FDA has approved the company’s new animal drug application for the production, sale and consumption of its AquAdvantage Salmon, an Atlantic salmon that has been genetically enhanced to reach market size in […]
Posted in, Northeast
Ahold And Delhaize Add To Exec Team As Merger Proceeds
Ahold and Delhaize Group this week revealed the executive committee of Ahold Delhaize, effective upon completion of the proposed merger of the two companies. The future executive committee will be comprised of the management board members as announced in June and will be supplemented by the following four members, who will report directly to Ahold […]
Posted in, Northeast
Lower Gas Prices Could Fuel Black Friday Shopping Plans
Nearly half (42 percent) of all regular Black Friday shoppers expect to shop more this holiday season as a result of lower gas prices, according to the results of a new consumer survey released by the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS). Shoppers also expect to have plenty of company in stores over the holiday […]
Posted in, Northeast
Shipments Of Sugar Substitutes To Foodservice Outlets Increases
Sugar is now the top item consumers are trying to avoid in their diets and is neck-and-neck with calories as the top item they look for on nutrition facts labels, according to The NPD Group, a national research and information company. In a report released this week, NPD concluded more sugar-free, unsweetened or reduced-sugar products […]
Posted in, Northeast
State AGs Advocate For Chip And PIN Technology
Nine state attorneys general from Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and the District of Columbia are urging the largest credit card issuers to move to full chip and PIN technology as soon as possible. The AGs say that doing so would be in the best interest of consumers, who are […]
Posted in, Northeast
7- Eleven Aims For 100 Vet Franchisees By End Of 2016, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… 7-Eleven wants to provide more franchise opportunities to qualified men and women who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. The retailer has set a goal of recruiting 100 veterans and providing $2 million in discounts by the end of 2016. 7-Eleven’s program offers discounted franchise fees to retired or […]
Posted in, Northeast
SABMiller’s Stake In MillerCoors Will Be Sold To Pave Way For AB InBev Merger
Anheuser-Busch InBev formally has agreed to buy SABMiller for $107.7 billion. Under the terms of the purchase agreement, Molson Coors will acquire SABMiller’s 50 percent voting interest and 58 percent economic interest in MillerCoors. After completion of the transaction, MillerCoors will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Molson Coors. Molson Coors will acquire full ownership of the […]
Posted in, Northeast
Boston Considers Letter Grades For Restaurant Food Safety Practices
Boston’s Inspectional Services Department is considering issuing a letter grade in rating a restaurant’s food safety practices in 2016. A letter grade of A, B, C, etc. would either be posted online or displayed in a storefront window resembling the programs used in New York and Los Angeles. Ratings would be assigned to all of the city’s […]
Posted in, Northeast
FDA Authorizes Marketing Of New Tobacco Products, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… The FDA, for the first time, has authorized the marketing of new tobacco products through the premarket tobacco application pathway. This action permits the tobacco products to be sold in the U.S., but does not mean that they are safe or “FDA approved.” Manufacturers must demonstrate to the agency, among […]
Posted in, Northeast
Mass. Legislative Panel Advances $15 Wage For Fast Food Workers, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… A Massachusetts legislative committee (Labor and Workforce Development) has endorsed a bill establishing a $15-per-hour minimum wage for fast food and big-box store workers. The vote came Nov. 10, the same day fast food workers rallied in favor of higher wages with a march to the State House. The bill […]
Posted in, Northeast
FDA Seeks Public Comment On Natural Food Claim, And More…
New Channels News in Brief… The FDA is requesting comments on use of the term “natural” on food labeling. The FDA is taking this action in part because it received three citizen petitions asking that the agency define the term “natural” for use in food labeling and one citizen petition asking that the agency prohibit […]
Posted in, Northeast
Peapod, Barilla Come Together To Launch Pasta Meal Kits In NYC
Peapod by Stop & Shop has teamed up with Barilla to produce Peapod Meal Kits available for delivery right to New Yorkers’ doors. The kits contain pre-measured ingredients to make dinnertime creations in under 30 minutes. The kits are priced at $15.99-$23.99 and serve four to six people. The Peapod Meal Kits require little prep—all vegetables […]
Posted in, Northeast
NRA Promotes Cyber Security Awareness For Restaurants
The National Restaurant Association (NRA) has released “Cybersecurity 101: A Toolkit For Restaurant Operators.” The free guide, available at Restaurant.org/Cybersecurity, is available for restaurant operators interested in learning the basics of how to implement an enterprise-wide cyber security program to protect their restaurants from data breaches. “The digital age is transforming the way restaurants do business. Innovations […]
Posted in, Northeast
BrightFarms Closes On New Financing, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… BrightFarms, a New York-based farming company, has received $13.65 million in new financing from investors as it develops commercial scale greenhouse facilities across the East Coast and Midwest. The greenhouses offer consistent, high-quality produce year round. All of its greenhouses use substantially less water, less land and shipping fuel than conventional […]
Posted in, Northeast
Some Ricker C-Stores Serve As Domestic Violence Safe Havens, And More…
Convenience Store News In Brief… At some Ricker convenience stores in Indiana, the market serves as safe havens for domestic violence victims in need of help. If someone feels they’re in danger from domestic violence, they can go to one of six Ricker’s convenience store locations, where employees are trained to call either 9-1-1 or […]
Posted in, Northeast
Gordon Food Service To Open Store In Buffalo, And More…
Food Service News In Brief… Gordon Food Service plans to open a 40,000-s.f. store in Buffalo, New York, in 2016, serving customers including restaurants, food truck operators and supermarkets… Billy Costa and Jenny Johnson will host the Dining Playbook Gala from 7-11 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Castle at the Park Plaza to support the […]
Posted in, Northeast
Target Looks For Partnerships For Fresh Food, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Target Corp. has its eyes on partnering with companies to provide more consistent fresh food to its stores. “There is an opportunity to use some partners who may be able to do things a little bit better,” said John Mulligan, COO of Target. Target needs to change its system to […]
Posted in, Northeast
NACS Endorses Menu Labeling Bill, Which Moves To Full House Committee
The House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee has voted to pass the Common Sense Nutrition Disclosure Act of 2015, and the measure now moves to the full House Energy and Commerce Committee. The legislation would make menu labeling compliance possible for convenience store owners and result in consumers obtaining more nutrition information and a greater amount […]