Summer fun has begun, and what better way to kick off this year’s summer grape season than with a new merchandising program from Sunlight International and JP Dulcich & Sons Grapes? Announcing the new Pretty Lady for the Summer Point-of-Sale materials, available now. Featuring a beautifully illustrated beach scene, and a chic Pretty Lady in […]
Category: West
The Shelby Report of the West covers grocery retailers, wholesalers and suppliers in Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Follow the latest store openings, remodels, leadership changes and market news from the region.
Posted in, New Products, West
Pacific Natural Foods Brings Restaurant Flavors To Soup Pots At Home
Pacific Natural Foods is tapping into global favorites to expand its collection of Soup Starters, with the introduction of Thai Tom Yum and Tortilla soup bases. The Soup Starters line, which launched last year with Vietnamese-style Pho soup base, reflects a growing interest in “speed scratch cooking,” offering shortcuts for making and customizing complex ethnic […]
Posted in, New Products, West
Bear Naked Launches Two Natural Energy Cereals
Natural food company Bear Naked has introduced the addition of two new cereals to its Fit® line of foods focused on providing the energy needed to get-up-and-go-for-it every morning. The new Bear Nake Fit® cereals are available in two flavors, both made with “bearly” processed ingredients you can see and recognize—like whole grain flakes, light […]
Posted inNational, West
Mollie Stone’s Named Outstanding Specialty Retailer by NASFT
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade Inc. (NASFT) has selected Mollie Stone’s Markets as an Outstanding Specialty Food Retailer of 2012. This award recognizes only five retailers nationwide each year for excellence in customer service, product sourcing, merchandising, quality assurance and a passion for presenting top-quality food. “Mollie Stone’s shows true commitment to […]
Posted in, Beverage News, West
Southern California McDonald’s Introduces New Flavors
Two new summer flavors are now available at Southern California McDonald’s® restaurants: the Spicy Chicken McBites and McCafe Chocolate Chip Frappe. Like January’s limited time Chicken McBites, the new Spicy Chicken McBites are crispy, poppable pieces of juicy white chicken breast, seasoned to create heat and flavor that builds with every bite. Spicy Chicken McBites […]
Posted in, Center Store, West
Unified CEO: It’s Probably Time To ‘Redefine’ Center Store
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer While perimeter store sales have seen a substantial uptick in recent years, perhaps taking away from purchases consumers would normally make in the center store, Al Plamann says the center store category shouldn’t be dismissed as a disappearing one. Rather, he notes, the definition of center store simply needs updating. Plamann, […]
Posted in, Southwest, West
Natural Grocers By Vitamin Cottage Files For IPO
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc. on Monday filed to raise as much as $115 million through an initial public offering, the Denver Business Journal reports. The Lakewood, Colo.-based company’s prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission said it envisions trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NGVC.” The family-owned company, […]
Posted in, West
James Beard Market Deal Approved for Portland
The James Beard Public Market in Portland, Ore., is just weeks away from closing an agreement to secure a site at the Morrison Bridge, the Portland Business Journal reports. The Multnomah County Commission voted 4-0 last week to approve the $10.4 million sale of a three-acre parking lot on the west side of the Morrison […]
Posted in, Perishables, West
Fresh & Easy’s ‘Kitchen To Go’ Caters to Busy Customers
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has launched its new “Kitchen To Go” products, including more than 150 chef-created appetizers, side dishes and entrees, including meal bowls. The “Kitchen To Go” items, ready to heat and serve, are made for one or two people. Fresh & Easy’s chefs came up with meals based on seasonal flavors. […]
Posted in, West
Calif. Cantaloupe Board Prepares for New Food Safety Program
Since the unanimous approval for the state’s first mandatory food safety program under a commodity board structure, the California Cantaloupe Advisory Board held its first meeting June 6. During the meeting, members discussed how to begin immediately taking steps to comply with government audits, voting to adopt specific food safety guidance for California cantaloupes. In […]
Posted in, New Products, West
Munchkin Products Help Parents Instill Healthy Eating Habits
In recognition of Eat Your Vegetables Day on June 17, California-based Munchkin, designer and manufacturer of infant and toddler products, has introduced the Balanced Meal Toddler Plate and Balanced Meal Reusable Placemat, designed to help parents educate children about healthy eating habits at an early age. These functional feeding tools offer easy-to-use, visual guidelines for […]
Posted in, West
Andronico’s Invests in Butcher Certification
Andronico’s Community Markets has been busy over the last several months setting the stage for a new era as part of its indelible 83-year history. Besides the multi-million dollar investment for store renovations and repairs, the management team at the San Francisco company also is focused on investing in its people. All of the company’s […]
Posted in, West
Californians Get the Chance to Vote on GMO Labeling
The California Secretary of State’s office has said that the Right to Know initiative to label genetically engineered foods will be on the state’s November ballot. The initiative would be the first law in the United States requiring labeling of a wide range of genetically engineered foods. The initiative requires labeling of genetically modified organisms […]
Posted in, West
Save Mart Names Brett Wing As VP Of FoodMaxx
Modesto, Calif.-based Save Mart Supermarkets has welcomed Brett Wing as its new VP of FoodMaxx operations. Wing comes from Cub Foods/Supervalu in Hudson, Wis., and brings 35 years of grocery store and senior management experience. In 1987, he joined Cub Foods/Supervalu and held various positions, including VP of marketing, corporate director of produce, corporate director […]
Posted in, New Products, West
Kashi Introduces Soft-Baked Squares
To help moms make smart food choices for their kids, Kashi has introduced new Kashi® Soft-Baked Squares. Available in Chocolate and Almond varieties, the Soft-Baked Squares combine unexpected real food ingredients, such as sweet potatoes and beans, with Kashi’s signature blend of 7 Whole Grains to offer great taste and nutrition in a unique snack […]
Posted in, West
Haggen Announces Five-Year Partnership with Charlie’s Produce
Haggen, the Northwest’s largest independent grocer, has signed a five-year partnership with Charlie’s Produce, a full-service produce company based in Seattle, Wash. The partnership extends an existing 20-year relationship that has helped Haggen strengthen its dedication to providing customers the freshest produce in the region. The partnership comes following Haggen’s successful launch of its Northwest […]
Posted in, West
Colorful Harvest Hosts Strawberry Guitar Auction For ‘Lifting Lives’
Colorful Harvest, one of the fastest growing produce companies on the West Coast, is holding an online auction of a Musical Harvest strawberry guitar to benefit the Academy of Country Music’s (ACM) charity Lifting Lives®. The custom built guitar was signed by award-winning country artists at the recent ACM Awards show in Las Vegas, including […]
Posted in, New Products, West
Mann Packing Adds ‘New and Improved’ Sweet Potato Products
Fresh-cut sweet potato sales are lagging behind the spike seen in frozen sweet potato sales, so Mann Packing conducted consumer research to find out how the situation could be remedied. The consumers surveyed told Mann they eat sweet potatoes at home and in restaurants, but they weren’t aware that fresh-cut sweet potatoes existed, were preservative […]
Posted in, West
Contract Talks Continue at Grocery Store Chains
Labor contract talks between union leadership and Raley’s continue with a mediator, and Save Mart Supermarkets has extended it contract with the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
Posted in, New Products, West
Fresh & Easy Introduces New ‘Ready To Cook’ Product Line
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has launched a new range of more than 50 pre-seasoned, ready-to-cook items in stores just in time for the summer grilling season. The “Ready to Cook” line includes beef, pork, chicken, fish and vegetable options all pre-marinated or pre-seasoned and ready to go straight in the skillet, microwave or on […]