Hostess Brands Inc. is getting ready to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, its second such filing, sources told The Wall Street Journal. Privately held Hostess has about $860 million in debt and has been squeezed by high labor costs and rising ingredient prices, the sources said. The Irving, Texas-based company, previously called Interstate Bakeries Corp., […]
Tag: economy
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Valpak Coupons Now Available on CheckPoints App
Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, will expand its reach further by making its coupons available on CheckPoints, an app that gives shoppers access to discounts and savings right when and where they need them. Valpak will offer its savings to mobile consumers via CheckPoints with national brand partners such as Procter […]
Posted in, Southeast
Winn-Dixie CEO Says Company Will Defend Against Suit
Winn Dixie Stores Inc. Chairman, President and CEO Peter Lynch sent out written communications to company employees updating them and answering questions about the pending sale to Bi-Lo and addressed publicly a lawsuit filed by shareholders against the sale, reports the Jacksonville Business Journal. The recently released information is part of Winn-Dixie’s merger resource center […]
Posted in, Southeast
Publix Abandoning Curbside Service
In August 2003, Publix Super Markets closed its online grocery and home delivery business, roughly two years after launching the service. In August 2010, Publix came back with a test of a new online service allowing consumers to drive to a store for a pickup at curbside for a $7.99 service fee in addition to […]
Posted in, Northeast
Wegmans: No Price Hike on Seasonal Product List
Against a backdrop of persistent concern about the economy, Wegmans has once again announced a freeze on prices through April 28 for a list of more than 50 products families use most. (Counting all flavors/varieties, the total number of items —SKUs—affected is 223.) This move follows the expiration of a list of 40 items, with […]
Posted in, New Products, West
Fresh & Easy Expands eatwell and Goodness Ranges
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is expanding its eatwell and Goodness ranges with more than 60 new products. “Customers are always seeking more ways to improve their lifestyles and save money,” said John Burry, Fresh & Easy chief customer officer. “Our new eatwell and Goodness products provide customers with healthier eating options that don’t compromise […]
Posted in, National
N.G.A. Issues Statement on Recess Appointments to NLRB
President Obama announced earlier this week the recess appointments of Richard Griffin, Sharon Block and Terence Flynn to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Peter Larkin, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association, issued the following statement in response to the appointments: “N.G.A. is very concerned that the president’s recess appointments will result in […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Northeast
Pepsi Reported to be Considering 4,000 Job Cuts
PepsiCo is mulling 4,000 job cuts and eliminating its 401(k) match as a way to help earnings, reports the New York Post, citing sources close to the situation. The Memphis Business Journal says the job cuts would total just more than 1 percent of Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi’s 300,000 workers globally. The beverage company offers both […]
Posted in, National
Deadline Looms in Lawsuit Against Diamond Foods
Hagens Berman, a Seattle-based investor-rights class-action law firm, reminded investors Tuesday, Jan. 3, that only a couple of days remain before the Jan. 6 lead plaintiff deadline in a securities class action filed against Diamond Foods. Investors who purchased shares between Dec. 9, 2010, and Nov. 4, 2011 (the “class period”), with losses exceeding $500,000 […]
Posted in, Midwest, West
Players Tackle Hunger in San Fran Prior to Kraft Bowl Game
As a warmup for the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl played at AT&T Park on Saturday, football players from the University of Illinois and the Bruins of UCLA served meals to some of San Francisco’s neediest at St. Anthony’s and Glide Memorial on Friday, reports the San Francisco Business Times. “At a time when we see […]
Posted in, Southeast
Kimberly-Clark to Open Southaven, Tenn., Distribution Center
Kimberly-Clark Corp. is planning to open a new distribution center in Southaven, Tenn.—taking yet another large space off the local industrial market, according to local real estate sources. The Dallas-based personal care products company has targeted Airways Distribution Center Building D for the operation, reports the Memphis Business Journal. The 556,600-s.f. building in Southaven was […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
2012 Food Trends Reflective of Economy, Digital Age
What do a plankton-feeding fish from Australia, Curry Powder’s golden ingredient, and explosive corn have in common? They may play a starring role in 2012’s American food trends, according to food and nutrition forecasters at Publicis Consultants USA. “Economic circumstances are prompting more than the usual degree of change in the highly adaptable food and […]
Posted in, National
Retail Trade Group Ups Holiday Sales Forecast, Expects Record Spending
The National Retail Federation has raised its holiday sales forecast, saying it now expects holiday sales to increase 3.8 percent this season to a record $469.1 billion. The NRF had previously forecast on Oct. 6 that holiday sales would increase just 2.8 percent, according to the San Francisco Business Times. The increase would come after […]
Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective
The $1.5 Trillion Question: What Happens Nov. 23?
Come Nov. 23, most grocers will have little on their minds besides serving holiday shoppers and maximizing the end-of-Thanksgiving sales. Meanwhile, in Washington, thoughts of drumsticks and stuffing will have to take a back seat as the primary focus will be on the 12-member deficit reduction commission which must produce at least $1.5 trillion in […]
Posted in, National, Shelby Content
Native American Buying Power
The Selig Center projects that the nation’s Native American buying power will rise from $19.6 billion in 1990, to $40 billion in 2000, to $67.7 billion in 2010, and to $90.37 billion in 2015. Native American buying power in 2010 will be 69 percent greater than in 2000. The 2000-2010 percentage gain is larger than […]
Posted in, National, Shelby Content
The Multicultural Economy
The Selig Center’s estimates and projections of buying power for 1990-2015 show that minorities—African Americans, Asians, Native Americans and Hispanics—wield formidable economic clout. The numbers are impressive. In 2010, the Hispanic market ($1 trillion) is larger than the entire economies (2009 GDP measured in U.S. dollars as reported in the CIA World Factbook) of all […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Midwest
Spartan Stores Retail Sales Up 2.9 Percent
Comp Sales decrease 1.3 percent as Michigan jobless rate rises by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Spartan Stores reported a nearly 3 percent increase in net sales in its retail segment in the second quarter. The increase was attributed to rising retail fuel prices and volume, as well as to rolling out the Yes Rewards loyalty program […]
Posted in, West
Fresh & Easy to Launch ‘Thank You’ Card for Loyal Customers
Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market is rolling out its new Friends of Fresh & Easy “thank you” card to all its stores following a successful trial of the program at seven stores in Bakersfield, Calif. Fresh & Easy had originally planned to trial the card this fall and roll out the program to all stores […]
Posted in, Market Profile, West
Idaho Profile: Hunger, Food Stamp Issues Accompany Down Economy
[gn_note color=”#66cc66″] The 2011 Idaho Profile originally ran in the October 2011 edition of The Shelby Report of the West. Due to reader requests we will be posting our Profiles from each edition of The Shelby Report. The profile will be published on theshelbyreport.com one month after it has run in print. [/gn_note] by Katie […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Northeast
2011 Pennsylvania Profile: Weathers Economy with State Initiatives, Natural Gas
In Pennsylvania, the unemployment is at 7.6 percent, a good bit below the national average of 9.1 percent for July, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics