American craft beer brewer Churchkey Can Co. is bringing back a package long associated with Americana with the launch of Churchkey’s handcrafted Pilsner-style beer in a three-piece, flat-top steel can from Ball Corp. “It’s about the joy of drinking good beer—from the people you drink it with to where you drink it—and with this unique […]
Tag: financial
Posted in, National, West
Tomato Company Ex-Chief Pleads Guilty In SK Foods Schemes
Tomato company baron Frederick Scott Salyer on Friday pleaded guilty in federal court in Sacramento to racketeering and an anti-trust offense in connection to his company SK Foods, which engaged in a pattern of bribes and kickbacks with customers, reports the Sacramento Business Journal. Salyer, 56, of Pebble Beach, Calif., must forfeit $3.25 million dollars […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Starbucks Enters Energy Category With ‘Refreshers’ Beverages
Seattle-based Starbucks Coffee Co. plans for a global entry into the energy category with Starbucks Refreshers™ beverages—making Starbucks the first to bring green coffee extract innovation to customers on a global scale. Starbucks Refreshers beverages are a breakthrough innovation that deliver thirst-quenching refreshment from real fruit juice and a boost of natural energy from a […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Kraft Foods Changing Its Name
The name “Kraft Foods” has been around for decades, but the maker of all sorts of cereals, snacks and other well-known food products says it’s time to go in another direction, starting with a name change, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Pending shareholder approval, Kraft Foods will become Mondelez International. The company, which is splitting into […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Marketing News, National, Whole Foods
Report: Sam’s Club, Aldi, Publix, H-E-B Have Most Loyal Customers
A new research report published by Temkin Group, “2012 Temkin Loyalty Ratings,” indicates that only seven companies—four of which are grocery retailers—earned “very strong” loyalty ratings: Sam’s Club, Aldi, USAA, Publix, credit unions, Amazon.com, and H-E-B. At the other end of the spectrum, 37 companies earned “very weak” loyalty ratings. The research examines consumer loyalty […]
Posted in, West
Safeway Plans For $1B Stock Buyback
Safeway Inc. has added $1 billion to its stock buyback program, which had just $400 million left in it as of Feb. 22, reports the San Francisco Business Times. Safeway bought 43.3 million of its own shares in October, November and December 2011. The Pleasanton, Calif.-based company had about 297 million shares of common stock […]
Posted in, Southeast
TreeHouse Foods To Acquire Naturally Fresh
TreeHouse Foods Inc. announced today, March 20, that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of Naturally Fresh Inc., a privately owned Atlanta-based maker of refrigerated dressings, sauces, marinades, dips and specialty items in a wide array of packaging sizes. The products manufactured by the Naturally Fresh Inc. […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Americans Open To Purchasing Wine From Various Countries
While wine drinking is not linked as closely to American dining and culture as it is with that of some European nations, most Americans buy and drink wine—only 38 percent say they never buy a bottle of wine. And, nearly half of U.S. adults over age 21 say they drink wine several times per month […]
Posted in, Midwest, New Products
Best Chicago Meat Acquires Glenmark Brand, Introduces New Product Line
In December 2011, Best Chicago Meat Co. LLC acquired the Glenmark® brand on the occasion of the brand’s 40th anniversary. Originally owned by OSI, the Glenmark burger was first developed in the early 1970s. “The ownership of the brand makes our company the leading frozen burger producer in the Midwest, and we’re really proud of […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Equipment & Technology, Southeast
CHEP USA to Open U.S. Headquarters in Atlanta
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has announced that CHEP USA, an industry leader in pallet and container pooling solutions and a part of Brambles Limited, will relocate its headquarters to Atlanta. The company plans to bring 173 jobs to the new facility over the next five years. “Georgia has many natural benefits and other strategic resources […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Marketing News, National, Suppliers
Packaging & The Environment: Shoppers Say, ‘Please Help Me!’
In the most recent research conducted by Perception Research Services, shoppers demonstrate that they are interested in choosing environmentally friendly packaging. Significantly more shoppers say they would like to choose environmentally friendly packaging compared to 2010 (36 percent vs. 28 percent), with fully half still willing to pay more (despite the economy). This is especially […]
Posted in, Midwest
AWG Achieves Record Sales And Earnings
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) reported record net sales of $7.77 billion on a consolidated basis, and distributed a record $163.8 million in year-end patronage at its annual shareholders meeting on Sunday, March 18. AWG’s sales were up 7.2 percent, an increase of $520 million over the previous year. AWG’s year-end patronage rebate amounted to 2.71 […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
Grocer Testifies About Impact Of Healthcare Reform On Independents
National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) member John W. Leevers, president of Leevers Supermarkets of Franktown, Colo., testified today before a congressional subcommittee on the potential adverse consequences of the Affordable Care Act, which will require small businesses to provide employees with health insurance by 2014 or pay financial penalties. “Unless significant changes are made to the […]
Posted in, Midwest, Store News
Tide Detergent Becomes New Black Market Currency
Law enforcement officials across the country are battling a new—and wholly bizarre—crime wave: theft of Tide laundry detergent. The retail price of the product—roughly $10 to $20 a bottle—and its ongoing popularity in households is making it a growing target for thieves who swipe it from store shelves and resell it at a discount on […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, National
Study: Consumers Will Pay More For A ‘Made In The U.S.A’ Label
New research published in the Journal of International Marketing shows that consumers are willing to pay a premium for products made in countries with favorable reputations. “Our findings show that consumers not only prefer and assign a higher value to branded products from a country of origin with a favorable country image but also are […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Suppliers
Sara Lee Appoints Volatier to SVP of Coffee, Tea Supply Chain
Sara Lee Corp. has appointed Luc Volatier as SVP of supply chain and operations of its International Coffee and Tea business—effective April 1, 2012. Volatier, 44, will be in charge of all procurement, supply chain and manufacturing operations. He will continue to serve in the same role once the International Coffee and Tea business is […]
Posted in, Marketing News, West
Integrated Cinco De Mayo Program Kicks Off California Avocado Season
With 81 million pounds of avocados forecast to be consumed for Cinco de Mayo festivities, the event is shaping up to move even more fruit than February’s “Big Game.” The California Avocado Commission (CAC) plans to kick off its spring-through-early-fall season with a strong Cinco de Mayo program that integrates consumer advertising, public relations outreach, […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Southeast
Coke Enterprises Chairman’s Total Comp Down
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Chairman and CEO John F. Brock’s total compensation was down 54 percent in 2011, due in part to a big dip in stock awards, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. The Atlanta-based Coke products distributor and marketer, whose annual profit jumped 20 percent to $749 million in 2011, reported in a proxy filing […]
Posted in, National
Campbell’s To Phase Out Toxic Chemical BPA From Cans
After months of pressure from consumer, public health and concerned parents’ organizations, Campbell’s Soup Co. has announced that it will phase out the use of the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in its can linings. However, the company has not provided a timeline or identify what alternative can-lining materials it will use. Exposure to BPA, […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, West
Bumble Bee Foods Unveils 2012 BeeWell for Life Program
San Diego-based Bumble Bee Foods has unveiled an upgrade to this year’s BeeWell for Life®, the leading North American seafood brand’s signature interactive health and wellness program. BeeWell for Life(TM) is designed to help consumers lead a more healthful lifestyle using the dedicated resource website www.BeeWellForLife.com. The program offers consumers the chance to earn points […]