Ralphs Grocery Co. will pay more than $1.1 million in civil penalties, costs and restitution to settle allegations that it overcharged customers for deli and other weighted food products, LA. Biz reports. The settlement, approved Thursday by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge, calls for Ralphs to pay $1 million in civil penalties, with $500,000 […]
Category: West
Posted in, Store News, West
Costco Gender Discrimination Class-Action Lawsuit To Proceed
A federal judge has ruled that a long-delayed class-action lawsuit against Issaquah, Wash.-based Costco Wholesale Corp. alleging gender discrimination in the retailer’s promotion and management practices can proceed, the Puget Sound Business Journal reports. In his 86-page decision earlier this week, U.S. District Judge Edward Chen said the plaintiffs’ attorneys could proceed with discovery in […]
Posted in, West
FirstFruits Of Washington Introduces New ‘Sweetie’ Apple Variety
With the start of fall, apples are showing up in the produce aisle in a big way. Sweetie, an intensely sweet and crunchy new apple variety from FirstFruits of Washington, will be making an appearance at retail this month. First planted in New Zealand, Sweetie is now grown in Washington State by Broetje Orchards and […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Market Profile, West
‘Getting Better’: Spirits Up Among Utah Retailers
[gn_note color=”#66cc66″] The 2012 Utah Profile originally ran in the September 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the West. [/gn_note] by Kristen Cloud/staff writer It’s little wonder Utah recently was ranked the most liveable U.S. state of the future, based on a survey of its citizens and community leaders. With The Beehive State’s unemployment […]
Posted in, Organic Natural, West
Organic Alliance Signs $2.2M Produce Supply Contract
Organic Alliance Inc., a California-based global grower and marketer of fresh, organic and Fair Trade fruits and vegetables, has signed an organic produce supply contract—with renewal options—that it expects will generate at least $2.2 million in sales revenue over the next 12 months. This brings to $11.5 million the total value of new supply contracts […]
Posted in, West
Celebrity Chefs To Showcase Calif. Avocado Recipes At Fresh Summit
How do you top an award-winning performance by a celebrity chef at PMA’s Fresh Summit? You bring two celebrity chefs, according to the California Avocado Commission (CAC). The CAC has put together a plan for the Produce Marketing Association (PMA) Fresh Summit, to be held Oct. 26-28 in Anaheim, Calif., designed to deliver an informative […]
Posted in, National, West
CGA Testifies On GMO Labeling
California Grocers Association President Ronald K. Fong testified before a California Legislative Joint Informational Hearing on Thursday, telling legislators that a controversial initiative on the November ballot would create a litigation nightmare for grocery retailers if approved by voters. In testimony before the Senate Committee and the Assembly Committee on Agriculture, Fong said Proposition 37, […]
Posted in, National, West
Tony’s Fine Foods Acquires Food Distributor
West Sacramento-based food distributor Tony’s Fine Foods has acquired Portland-area company Ideal Food Products. The Sacramento Business Journal reports that the terms of the deal were not disclosed, but Tony’s is acquiring the assets of Ideal to begin operations in the Pacific Northwest out of Ideal’s Ridgefield, Wash., facility just north of Portland. The third-generation […]