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 […]
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, 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 […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, West
New Loyalty Program Begins At C&K Market
C&K Market Inc., operating 62 stores in Oregon and California under the banners Ray’s Food Place, Shop Smart, and C&K Market, has signed with Accelitec Inc., to launch a Customer Relationship Management platform. The launch of this new platform is an exciting step forward for the family owned and privately held Brookings,Ore.-based company, according to […]
Posted in, West
Dave Histed Wins Safeway Culinary Kitchens’ Next Chef Competition
After a three-month nationwide search, a People’s Choice vote, three regional cook-off events and one final cook-off event, Safeway has found its next chef. Dave Histed has won the “Search for Our Next Chef” competition, a first-of-its-kind opportunity in which chefs from across the country competed for a full-time position with the Safeway Culinary Kitchens […]
Posted in, Beverage News, West
FreshWorks Pledges $125M Loan Fund To Bring Fresh Food To Neighborhoods
The California FreshWorks Fund has announced that a coalition of grocers, banks and other entities are collaborating on a $125 million loan pool effort to get more fresh food made available in low-income neighborhoods. The Sacramento Business Journal reports that the fund will offer grocers access to alternative financing options as well as incentives to […]
Posted in, California Perspective, West
Proposed Bills Would Make Grocers Public Health Educators
Lawmakers continue to struggle with priorities as California’s unprecedented “top two” June primary election approaches and lawmakers face voters in newly drawn districts. Uncertainty about political futures has created an odd climate in Sacramento, with more than 2,000 bills introduced in 2012—many of which are rumored to be destined for the trash heap as soon […]
Posted in, West
WAFC Announces 2012-13 Officer Lineup
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has announced the 2012-13 officers and board of directors elected at the 91st Annual WAFC Convention on April 24 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Ariz. WAFC Officers 2012-13 • President and Chairman: Oscar Gonzalez, co-president and COO of Northgate Markets, Anaheim, Calif. • Vice President: […]
Posted in, Beverage News, New Products, West
POM Wonderful Rolls Out New, Smaller Bottle
POM Wonderful, the world’s leading pomegranate grower and trusted juice brand, will now offer its 100 percent Pomegranate Juice in a conveniently sized 8-oz. bottle, which will be available in the produce section of grocery stores nationwide. The portable 8-oz. bottle is ideal for any lifestyle, offering a single serving of 100 percent pomegranate juice […]
Posted in, National, West
Former Hostess CEO Takes The Helm At Diamond Foods
San Francisco-based Diamond Foods has appointed food and beverage industry veteran Brian J. Driscoll as president and CEO, effective May 8. Driscoll, who will join the Diamond board of directors, replaces Rick G. Wolford, a director who has served as interim CEO since Feb. 7 while the company conducted a nationwide search for a permanent […]
Posted in, Industry News, West
Judge Fines Kroger For Inaccurate Labeling, Prices
A California judge has ordered the Kroger Co. and its Ralphs division to pay a civil judgment of nearly $300,000 involving the sales of frozen dairy dessert products and inaccurate unit pricing, the Los Angeles Times reports. California state inspectors, in response to a consumer complaint in 2009, found several flavors of Ralphs and Kroger […]
Posted in, West
Raley’s May Be Facing a Strike; Save Mart Sets May 9 Deadline
Raley’s denied a contract extension with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 5 and Local 8-Golden State on May 1, effectively ending negotiations that had been going on since last summer. The contract for 60,000 union supermarket workers in Northern and Central California actually expired last October. The contract covered Raley’s/Nob Hill, Safeway/Vons and […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Midwest, New Products, Southwest, West
New Functional Brews Set To Roll Out For Bean & Body Coffee
Good just got better with the introduction of three new flavors from Bean & Body Coffee, an ultra-premium RTD functional coffee blend. The flavors joining the current line-up are Vegan, Horchata and Coconut. “We are really excited about the new flavors and what they will bring to the category,” said Erin Kelly, VP of marketing […]