Artisan bread brand La Brea Bakery has introduced Petite Crisp Cookies, a new retail line of fully baked mini cookies made with premium ingredients and available in three flavors. La Brea Bakery’s Petite Crisp Cookies use natural ingredients like butter, high-quality flour and spices that embody the artisan tradition that includes no artificial colors, flavors […]
Tag: California
Posted in, Executive News, West
Smart & Final Names Hong Chief Marketing Officer
Smart & Final, the warehouse grocery store that counts households, businesses and community groups among its customers, has appointed Eleanor Hong SVP and chief marketing officer (CMO). Reporting to Dave Hirz, president and CEO, Hong will develop and oversee strategic marketing programs at Smart & Final designed to enhance the brand and build sales in […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, West
Essentia Water Releases Its Expo West Event Schedule
Essentia Water has released its schedule of events for its booth No. 5209 at the Natural Products Expo West, March 6-9, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, Calif. • Friday, March 7: Stop the Swish 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Trampoline athlete Jerry “Iron Man” Fleming, an AIRobics instructor at Sky High Sports in Costa Mesa, […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Completion Of Arden Deal May Lead To Gelson’s Expansion
Arden Group, parent of Gelson’s Markets, an operator of 17 full-service specialty grocery stores in Southern California, has completed its previously announced acquisition by TPG, a leading global private investment firm. The merger agreement was approved by the company’s board of directors in December. Under the terms of the agreement, Arden Group’s shareholders will receive […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Safeway Confirms Talks About Possible Sale Of Company
Safeway said Wednesday afternoon that it is in discussions concerning a possible sale of the company. “Although the discussions are ongoing, the company has not reached an agreement on a transaction, and there can be no assurance that these discussions will lead to an agreement or a completed transaction,” the company said during a fourth […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Northgate González Wins Unified’s Ben Schwartz Visionary Award
Anaheim, Calif.-based Northgate González Markets, which operates 38 supermarkets in Southern California, was the recipient of the 2014 “Ben Schwartz Retail Grocery Visionary Award” from Unified Grocers at a special awards dinner Tuesday at Tamayo Restaurant in Los Angeles. This is the ninth year that Unified has presented the award to an outstanding independent retailer. […]
Posted in, National, West
Former Vons President Davila Passes Away
Mr. William S. “Bill” Davila, former president of Vons and past president of the Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC), died Feb. 14 after suffering with Alzheimer’s for several years. He was 82. Mr. Davila began his career with Vons Grocery Co. in 1950 and became president in the mid-1980s. He retired from Vons in […]
Posted in, Albertsons, New Products, West
Ehrmann Mixim Greek Yogurt Hits Stores In Six Flavor Combos
Ehrmann is rolling out Mixim, the only Greek yogurt with a triple-dip of flavorful fun, according to the Irvine, Calif.-based company. Packaged in a heart-shaped container, each serving of plain Mixim Greek yogurt is paired with two topping combinations to let consumers create their own taste sensations. Mixim is now available at retail locations in […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Kroger Acquires YOU Technology
The Kroger Co. has purchased the assets of YOU Technology Brand Services, the Silicon Valley-based leader in digital coupons and promotions. Founded in 2008, YOU Tech’s retailer-centric, cloud-based platform bridges the gap between online engagement and in-store purchases, creating a measurable way for many of the world’s largest retailers and brands to drive consumer purchase […]
Posted in, National, West
Unified’s SMART Shows Feature Technology, Marketing Programs For Independents
Unified Grocers, the largest wholesale grocery distributor in the western U.S., held the first of three regional SMART (Sales, Marketing And Retail Technology) Shows last week in Norwalk, Calif. The shows were created exclusively for the wholesaler’s independent retail customers. The new, day-long event showcased the latest in technology and cutting-edge marketing programs that are […]
Posted in, National
Stars Celebrate ‘Pure Goodness’ With Wonderful Halos, Feeding America
Actress Jennie Garth and TV personality and actor Mario Lopez have officially kicked off a partnership between Wonderful Halos mandarins and Feeding America. Wonderful Halos—the sweet, easy-to-peel and seedless mandarins—is taking its Pure Goodness message to schools across America by providing nutritious food to children through the Feeding America BackPack program. Lopez, host of “Extra” […]
Posted in, Executive News, West
Unified Names Bergmann, Murphy To New Leadership Roles
Unified Grocers’ board of directors announced two EVP appointments on Tuesday. Leon Bergmann was named EVP of sales and procurement, and Dan Murphy was named EVP of fresh programs and manufacturing. Bergmann has served as SVP of sales since joining Unified in December 2012. In addition to responsibility for sales and service functions across all […]
Posted in, Store News, West
Stater Bros. Helps Salvation Army Raise $528K For Red Kettle Campaign
Stater Bros. helped The Salvation Army raise more than $528,000 this past holiday season. During the months of November and December, all 167 Stater Bros. supermarket locations in Southern California hosted the iconic Salvation Army bell-ringers at their stores. “I always tell my employees to do the right thing for the right reason,” said Jack […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Ocean Mist Farms Celebrates 90th Anniversary
Ocean Mist Farms will celebrate a 90-year legacy of growing artichokes and premium fresh vegetables with activities planned throughout the year ahead. The fourth-generation grower-owned business was founded by Italian immigrants in 1924 who started the business by growing artichokes and Brussels sprouts along the Pacific Ocean’s Monterey Bay in Castroville, Calif. Today the company farms […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, National
V8, ‘Wheel Of Fortune’ Team Up For On-Air And Online Promotion
The V8 and “Wheel of Fortune” brands are coming together for the first time to bring viewers an on-air and online promotion. Key elements of the V8 integrated promotion include the broadcast of “Wheel of Fortune’s” “Always Great! Wheel & V8 Week,” a V8 viewer sweepstakes, co-branding on www.wheeloffortune.com, including a themed online game and […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Maxim Marketing Sues ConAgra, Trader Joe’s $60M For Interfering With Pretzel Biz
Maxim Marketing Corp. on Wednesday filed suit against ConAgra and Trader Joe’s in Los Angeles County Superior Court for breach of contract, intentional interference with contractual relations and violation of California antitrust law. “The lawsuit alleges that the actions of Trader Joe’s and ConAgra breach a number of their obligations to Maxim and also violated […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Top 2014 Specialty Food Trends Unveiled
The specialty food industry is once again leading the charge in new trends and flavors, all on display at the Winter Fancy Food Show, which wrapped up Monday in California. A panel of trendspotters named chocolate teas, seaweed chips and truffle ketchup as just a few of the products that were all part of a […]
Posted in, Executive News, West
Stater Bros. Promotes Ciraulo To VP Of Meat Division
John Ciraulo has been promoted to VP of the Meat Division at Stater Bros. Markets. Ciraulo will replace Kevin Schubert, who will retire in March after more than 39 years of service. Ciraulo has been a member of the Stater Bros. family for more than 28 years and has progressed through a range of both […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Store News, West
Save Mart Names Store Manager Of The Year
Save Mart, S-Mart Foods, Lucky, Maxx Value Foods and FoodMaxx stores have honored George Bettencourt, manager of Save Mart in Ceres, Calif., with the Nicholas J. Tocco Store Manager of the Year Award. This is the 20th year of the company’s award. “George Bettencourt is a top-rate store manager. He has demonstrated a continuous commitment […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
La Huerta Establishes New Firm La Huerta USA To Allow Retailers To Deal Direct
The Arteaga-Niepmann family, owners of La Huerta in Aguascalientes, Mexico, has established La Huerta USA, a sales and marketing company with offices in The Woodlands, Texas, and Irvine, Calif. The firm will be responsible for managing sales, marketing and the La Huerta brand, which features a variety of all-natural fresh and frozen vegetables, as well […]