Ahold has signed an agreement to settle a class-action lawsuit pending in the U.S. District Court in Connecticut regarding pricing practices of the company’s former subsidiary, U.S. Foodservice, from 1998-2005. Under the term sheet that was signed this week, Ahold has agreed to make a payment of $297 million into a settlement fund in return […]
Tag: business
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Earth Fare Signs Lease For Atlanta Store
Earth Fare, the North Carolina-based organic and natural foods grocer, has signed a lease for a 24,782-s.f. store as part of the second phase of Emory Point in Atlanta. “We’re very excited about Earth Fare anchoring the second phase of Emory Point,” said Larry Gellerstedt, president and CEO of Cousins Properties, which, along with Gables […]
Posted in, National, West
Unified Grocers Hosting Annual Expo In Long Beach Next Month
Unified Grocers is hosting its largest-ever annual expo for the company’s members, customers and vendor community at the Long Beach Convention Center on June 18–19. Unified President and CEO Bob Ling recently celebrated his first anniversary leading the company. He and other members of the wholesaler’s senior team will be on hand. Unified says this […]
Posted in, Store News, West
Stater Bros. To Participate In Moment Of Remembrance On Memorial Day
On Memorial Day next week, all 167 Stater Bros. Supermarkets will participate in the “National Moment of Remembrance.” At 3 p.m. Monday, May 26, every Stater Bros. store manager will make an announcement asking all the customers and employees who are inside the supermarket at that time to pause for 60 seconds to honor those Americans […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Trader Joe’s Is Consumers’ Favorite Grocer, Publix And Aldi Also Top Rankings
Trader Joe’s continues to deliver a grocery experience that leaves shoppers wanting more, according to a study by Market Force Information of more than 6,200 consumers. The study found that Trader Joe’s is North America’s favorite grocery retailer based on satisfaction. Publix and Aldi were ranked second and third. All three were lauded for their […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Michigan Grocers Association Endorses Incumbent For Governor
The Michigan Grocers Association (MGA) has endorsed Gov. Rick Snyder in his 2014 re-election bid, marking only the second time MGA has endorsed a gubernatorial candidate. “Rick Snyder ran for governor four years ago with an ambitious plan to reinvent Michigan’s economy,” says MGA President and CEO Linda M. Gobler. “We began to see positive […]
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Food Lion Unveils New ‘Easy, Fresh And Affordable’ Strategy
Food Lion on Wednesday unveiled its new chain-wide strategy: “Easy, Fresh and Affordable…You Can Count on Food Lion Every Day!” The Delhaize-owned company, based in Salisbury, N.C., says the announcement launches a multi-year initiative to make shopping easier for Food Lion customers at its more than 1,100 stores, while keeping the low prices customers expect. “Today, […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Initiative Urges Consumers To Take Fresh Look At Frozen Foods
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) has launched a national effort to encourage consumers to take a fresh look at frozen foods through the “Frozen. How Fresh Stays Fresh.“ category education and promotion initiative. Leading American frozen food makers have come together to launch this first-of-a kind national dialogue to inform and remind consumers that […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Southeast
Ben & Jerry’s Annual Scoop Truck Tour Arrives in Tampa
Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Truck kicked off its annual month-long tour in Tampa on Monday, giving away free scoops to loyal fans. The truck will be scooping its newest line of flavor innovations: Ben & Jerry’s Cores. Additionally, this year, Ben & Jerry’s very own storyteller, Regan Cleminson, is joining the truck crew, giving ice […]
Posted in, Midwest, Store News
Buehler’s Expands Rewards For Fuel Program
Buehler’s customers at seven locations (Brunswick, Wadsworth, Portage Lakes, Canton, Delaware and two Medina stores) will have a choice to redeem their earned loyalty points: redeem for fuel or redeem for food. Buehler’s says it is the only grocer in Ohio to give customers a choice on how they redeem their Buehler’s Rewards electronically. The […]
Posted in, National
Hillshire Brands To Buy Pinnacle Foods In $6.6B Deal
Hillshire Brands has entered into a definitive agreement to purchase Pinnacle Foods Inc. in a $4.3 billion transaction to include cash and Hillshire common stock. The deal, including debt, is valued at $6.6 billion, according to reports. Under the terms of the agreement, Hillshire will acquire all outstanding shares of Pinnacle Foods. Pinnacle stockholders will […]
Posted in, National, West
Unified’s Sales, Earnings Improve
Unified Grocers this week announced improved sales and earnings for the 26 and 13 weeks ended March 29, the company’s second quarter of fiscal 2014. For the 26-week period, the Los Angeles-based distributor reported gross billings of $1.898 billion, compared to gross billings of $1.838 billion for the 26 weeks ended March 30, 2013, a […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Northeast
Weis Markets 1Q Sales Increase, But Net Income Down 26.6 Percent
Weis Markets reported its first quarter results this week. During the 13-week period ending March 29, the company’s sales increased 0.6 percent to $687.1 million while its comparable store sales were down 1.3 percent compared to the same period a year ago. During the same period, the company generated earnings per share of $0.55 compared […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Roundy’s Selling 18 Rainbow Stores To Supervalu-Led Consortium
Supervalu Inc., the owner of Cub Foods, along with four Twin Cities-based independent grocery retailers have each entered into a definitive agreement with Roundy’s to acquire certain Rainbow Foods grocery stores for approximately $65 million, plus inventory. In total, the consortium agreed to acquire 18 Rainbow grocery stores, including 13 Rainbow pharmacies and three Rainbow […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Steinhafel Out As Target CEO
Target said today that, following “extensive discussions,” President and CEO Gregg Steinhafel is departing the Minneapolis-based retailer, effective immediately. Steinhafel also is no longer chairman of Target’s board of directors. The announcement follows a data breach late last year that compromised millions of customers’ personal information. Target says that “now is the right time for […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Study: America’s Household Brands Losing Ground
U.S. consumers are pushing their shopping carts past many of America’s national brands and feel little regret in doing so, according to Deloitte’s American Pantry Study of more than 375 brands across 30 product categories. Seven in 10 shoppers (71 percent) say they’re spending less on food, beverage and household goods, but don’t feel like […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Nat Geo, Live Prepared Launching Branded Line Of Emergency Preparedness Products
National Geographic, one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, has partnered with Live Prepared, a division of Blue Chip Group and a leader in emergency preparedness, to launch a comprehensive line of high-quality preparedness products for natural disasters and unexpected events. The National Geographic collection of preparedness products by Live Prepared will […]
Posted in, Store News, West
WinCo Foods Opening Distribution Center In Phoenix, Ariz., On May 14
WinCo Foods will begin shipping from its newest distribution center at 7502 W. Durango St. in Phoenix, Ariz., on Wednesday, May 14. The center, which includes more than 900,000 s.f. of warehouse space under one roof, will initially service 19 WinCo Foods stores located in Arizona, Southern Nevada and Southern California. The facility will open […]
Posted in, National
Grocers Gather On Capitol Hill To Advocate On Industry Issues
More than 200 grocery retailers, wholesalers and food industry state association executives from across the nation convened in Washington, D.C., this week for the annual “Day in Washington” supermarket industry fly-in. Members of the National Grocers Association (NGA), Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the Food Industry Association Executives (FIAE) participated in more than 210 meetings […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, National, Store News, Whole Foods
Grocery Among Industries With Highest Average Forgiveness Ratings
Based on a study of 10,000 U.S. consumers, H-E-B and USAA tied for the top spot in the 2014 Temkin Forgiveness Ratings, which rates 268 companies across 19 industries. In fact, grocery chains are among the industries with the highest average ratings. “Forgiveness is an asset that companies earn from their customers,” says Bruce Temkin, […]