For The United Family, 2016 marks a historic year, as United Supermarkets celebrates the store’s 100th anniversary. What began as United Cash Store in Sayre, Oklahoma, in 1916 has grown into a multi-banner, Texas-based grocery chain with 66 stores in 36 communities. Today, The United Family operates United Supermarkets, Market Street, Albertsons Market and Amigos […]
Tag: business
Walmart To Close 269 Stores, Mostly Express Units
Walmart on Jan. 15 announced plans to close 269 stores globally; 154 of them are in the U.S., including the company’s 102 smallest format stores, Walmart Express, which had been in pilot since 2011. Walmart instead will focus on strengthening Supercenters, optimizing Neighborhood Markets, growing the e-commerce business and expanding pickup services for customers. Also […]
Dole And NEPC Donate $5K To Greater Boston Food Bank, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… The New England Produce Council (NEPC) and Dole have donated $5,000 to the Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB). NEPC hosted a dinner meeting at the GBFB on Jan. 12 with Dole as the dinner sponsor. Anthony Sattler, NEPC president, and Neil Kessler, Northeast manager for Dole, presented a check to Catherine D’Amato, president/CEO […]
GE Move To Boost Restaurants In Boston Seaport District, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… General Electric, in a major economic benefit to Boston and its restaurants, has selected Boston’s Seaport District for its corporate headquarters location. Employees will move to a temporary location in Boston starting this summer, with a full move completed in several steps by 2018. In Boston, GE will have about 800 […]
New Foodtown Opens In Queens, N.Y., And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… Allegiance Retail Services’ newest member, Fahmi Shehadeh, recently hosted a grand opening for the Foodtown of Howard Beach in Queens, New York. The store offers above and underground parking for shoppers, a high-quality butcher shop, a store-prepared sushi department, a vast daily selection of hot and cold prepared foods, plus a […]
Supervalu Takes Next Step to Spin Off Save-A-Lot Business
After announcing over the summer that it was exploring a separation of its Save-A-Lot business, Supervalu said Thursday that it had filed an initial Form 10 Registration Statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the possible spinoff of Save-A-Lot into a separate, publicly traded company. With the filing of the Form […]
As Lottery Jackpot Soars, Players Throw Superstitions Aside
No one won the approximately half-a-billion-dollar Powerball jackpot Wednesday, so lottery players across the nation already are rushing to buy their tickets for the next drawing on Saturday. The estimated jackpot: $800 million—the largest jackpot of any lottery game in U.S. history. The lotto fever has sparked Massachusetts-based convenience and coffee retailer Cumberland Farms to […]
Giant Food Stores To Acquire Nell’s Shurfine In Carlisle From C&S
Giant Food Stores has entered into an agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers to acquire the Nell’s Shurfine Market at 951 Walnut Bottom Road in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The acquisition, expected to be completed by the beginning of March, will mark the second Giant location in Carlisle. The 51,800-s.f. store plans to close temporarily Feb. 28 for […]
Fast Food Chains Compete In Value Meals, And More…
Foodservice News In Brief… Burger King and Pizza Hut are the latest fast food chains to unveil meal deals. Burger King has unveiled a new, five-item meal for $4. The fast-food chain is competing to catch up with McDonald’s McPick 2 and Wendy’s 4 for $4 deals. Burger King’s promotion provides small fries, a small drink, […]
NMSU Researchers Work To Increase Produce Sales In Grocery Stores
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor New Mexico State University College of Business marketing professors Collin Payne and Mihai Niculescu have been looking for ways to encourage shoppers to spend more of their food dollars on fresh produce. They are co-directors of NMSU’s Consumer Behavior Laboratory, which is equipped with eye-tracking software, a virtual grocery store and […]
OTA Study Shows Near 60 Percent Upswing In Domestic Organic Exports
Since 2009, the U.S. has entered into international accords with Canada, the European Union and major Asian trade partners to promote the trade of organic products. A new report released by the Organic Trade Association shows these trade understandings have significantly boosted overseas business for U.S. organic. According to the OTA, these accords were found to […]
Valeant Announces Walgreens Pact And New Distribution To Independent Pharmacies, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Valeant Pharmaceuticals International has new fulfillment agreements with Walgreens and has indicated it intends to extend this distribution model to additional participating independent retail pharmacies. Valeant also plans to reduce dermatological and ophthalmological products by 10 percent. The reduced pricing will apply to the wholesale list prices of these products […]
Proposed SNAP Requirements For Retailers Expected In Early 2016
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) says that a proposed rule with new eligibility standards for retailers in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly referred to as food stamps, is expected to be released in the first quarter of 2016. The rule will implement provisions of the 2014 Farm Bill, which require retailers […]
Supplier Spotlight: ‘Not The Wise Of Yesteryear’
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer Jolie Weber has been leading Wise Foods since June, but the CPG veteran has been with the Atlanta-based company for nearly 12 years—holding executive leadership roles in areas ranging from marketing to finance. “I have always been in the consumer packaged goods industry,” Weber says. “My first job out of college […]
California’s Minimum Wage Increases On Jan. 1
The Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) is reminding California’s employers and workers that, effective Jan. 1, the state’s minimum wage will increase to $10 per hour. “This increase in the minimum wage is California’s second increase in 16 months. Those earning minimum wage will now have a bit more to take home every paycheck,” said […]
Gala Fresh Farms Banner Joins Key Food Stores
The Gala Fresh Farms banner has joined Key Food Stores Co-op, a chain of primarily independently owned and corporate grocery stores, in the tri-state area. Key Food announced the grand opening of its first Gala Fresh location at 2485 Grand Avenue in Baldwin, New York, on Dec. 18. “The Gala Fresh banner is a very welcome […]
Gulf Oil Officially Sold To ArcLight Capital Partners’ Affiliate
ArcLight Capital Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm focused on energy infrastructure investments, has officially purchased Gulf Oil from Cumberland Farms. The purchase was conducted through Chelsea Petroleum Products Holdings, an affiliate of ArcLight. The purchase was informally announced several months ago but was delayed until federal review. Gulf will maintain its headquarters in Massachusetts […]
Booming Twin Cities Market Attracts New Players As Existing Operators Expand
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor There is a lot of water in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, and there appears to be something in it. Minnesota, and specifically the Twin Cities, is drawing in grocery retailers and enticing existing operators to expand. “It’s an exciting time for Minnesotans because the choice in the marketplace really does […]
Study: Associates Are The Trump Card In Nurturing Supermarket Loyalty
The Retail Feedback Group (RFG), a provider of actionable stakeholder feedback, has released its 2015 U.S. Supermarket Experience Study. The research, now in its eighth year, found that supermarkets continue to generate high satisfaction among their shoppers, scoring an average of 4.44 on a 5-point scale, where 5 is highest. Shoppers who felt like a […]
Hain Celestial Expands Offerings With Orchard House Foods Buy
Hain Celestial Group of Lake Success, New York, an organic and natural products company with operations in North America, Europe and India, has acquired Orchard House Foods of the United Kingdom, a producer of prepared fruit, juices, fruit desserts and ingredients. Orchard House supplies leading retailers, on-the-go food outlets, foodservice providers and manufacturers in the […]
