One week after the Greater Phoenix Economic Council (GPEC) launched the California 50 program, the organization is expanding the program—which aims to fly 50 Golden State CEOs to the Phoenix metro region for an opportunity to tour and explore the market—to 100 California-based CEOs due to high demand. “The response to the California 50 program […]
Tag: financial
Posted in, National, Store News
Whole Foods Posts Best Earnings In Company’s History
Whole Foods Market reported last week a fourth quarter profit of $112.7 million and revenue of $2.9 billion compared with a $75.4 million profit and revenue of $2.3 billion during the same quarter last year. The Austin Business Journal reports that the Austin, Texas-based natural grocer also posted a $465.5 million profit on revenue of […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
New Kraft Foods Group Reports 3Q Net Revenue Increase
Newly independent Kraft Foods Group Inc. has reported strong third quarter 2012 results with top- and bottom-line growth fueled by new products, increased investments in advertising and consumer spending, and significant productivity gains. “Our third quarter results demonstrate the power of our brands, our people and our innovation,” said Tony Vernon, CEO of Kraft. “We […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Premium Private Label Groceries Trump Frugal Fatigue
Private label food and beverage dollar sales topped $98 billion in 2011 to account for 17.6 percent of total food and beverage retail sales, according to “Private Label Food and Beverages in the U.S.,” a just-released report from market research firm Packaged Facts. Dollar sales rose 6 percent over the 2010 level. In grocery aisles, […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
Healthcare Reform Ranks Top Political Concern For Independent Grocers
Independent grocers express a great level of concern over the financial impact of the changes to healthcare insurance mandated by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). Ranking eight political issues from one (most important) to eight (least important), the impact of healthcare reform ranks first by a wide margin, according to the 2012 […]
Posted in, National, Northeast
Industry Headed For Perfect Storm With Proposed Minimum Wage Increase
by Linda Doherty/president, New Jersey Food Council Special to The Shelby Report The New Jersey State Senate is moving forward to seek passage of SCR-1, which proposes to amend the New Jersey Constitution to increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to $8.25 per hour and with adjustments for inflation based on the consumer price index […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Safeway Q3 Profit Boosted By $49M From Genuardi’s Sale
Safeway Inc. finished selling 16 Genuardi’s stores for $80.4 million, and the $49 million of that left after taxes kept the company’s third quarter profit above that of the same quarter a year ago, the San Francisco Business Times reports. Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway earned $157 million on sales of $10.049 billion in the quarter ended […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Southeast
Food Lion Is Presenting Sponsor For N.C.’s Holiday Caravan Parade
Food Lion has agreed to be the presenting sponsor of the Holiday Caravan Parade through 2014. The Holiday Caravan Christmas Parade draws up to 100,000 people to the main streets of Spencer and Salisbury, N.C., each year. The 2012 edition will be held on Nov. 21. “We are excited to have Food Lion’s commitment to […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Walmart, Amex Roll Out New Prepaid Card
Walmart and American Express have launched Bluebird, an alternative to debit and checking accounts designed to help consumers better manage and control their every day finances. Bluebird has been developed for the tens of millions of Americans who are looking for advanced capabilities such as deposits by smartphone and mobile bill pay, fee transparency, and […]
Posted in, National
NGA Commends First Year Of Debit Card Reform
Today marks the first anniversary of the implementation of the Federal Reserve rules issued under the Durbin Amendment, which reduced debit card swipe fees. The National Grocers Association (NGA) applauds the reforms as a good first step in providing consumers and merchants’ relief from excessive swipe fees. “NGA members fought hard for the debit swipe […]
Posted in, National
WGA Awards Scholarships To Gerland’s, AFS Employees
Employees from Gerland’s of Houston, Texas, and Associated Food Stores of Salt Lake City, Utah, were awarded the Mary Macey Scholarship for 2012 by the Women Grocers of America (WGA). The awards, which are worth up to $1,500 per year for those who are pursuing a career in the independent grocery industry, are aimed at […]
Posted in, National, Southwest, The Kroger Co.
‘Popcorn’ Verdict Worth $7.27M
A Centennial, Colo., man was awarded $7.27 million in damages earlier this week from a federal jury in Denver, which decided his lung disease was caused by the chemicals in microwave popcorn and that the manufacturer should have warned him, the Denver Business Journal reports. Wayne Watson is the first consumer to win an award […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Dole To Sell Worldwide Packaged Foods, Asia Fresh Produce Businesses
Dole Food Co. Inc. has signed a definitive agreement with ITOCHU Corp. for the sale of Dole’s worldwide packaged foods and Asia fresh produce businesses for $1.685 billion in cash. This proposed transaction results from Dole’s previously announced strategic business review process, and is subject to Dole stockholder approval and customary regulatory approvals in multiple […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
New Study Shows U.S. Consumers Willing To Share Personal Data
A new landscape is emerging in the U.S.: it is no longer a question of consumers’ willingness to share data but one of establishing a fair value exchange. This finding is highlighted in “Sexy Little Numbers,” a new book by Dimitri Maex, managing director of OgilvyOne New York, the digital direct arm of Ogilvy & […]
Posted in, National
Report: ‘Deal Junkies’ Hurt Store Profits
The strategy retailers have employed during the tight economy to lure cash-strapped shoppers into stores has bred a group of deal junkies who won’t shop unless they see 70 percent off signs or yellow clearance stickers, reports The Associated Press. The group is a thorn in the side of retailers due to the now-required discounts […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Study Reveals Independent Grocers’ Compensation Benchmarks
The National Grocers Association (NGA) and FMS have released the first edition of an in-depth, comprehensive study that compares a range of financial benchmarks at independent supermarkets across the country. The 2012 Compensation and Benefits Study offers insight as it analyzes independent grocers’ finances pertaining to healthcare plans, benefits, retirement plans and pay increases (categorized […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Farm Bill Now Coalition Plans To Fight For New Farm Bill
With Congress on August recess until Sept. 10 and the Farm Bill left unfinished, members of the agricultural community have formed a coalition, Farm Bill Now. As of Aug. 23, the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance has joined 39 of the nation’s foremost agricultural organizations to rally the public to urge Congress to pass a […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Northeast
White House Chef Sam Kass Joins Save-A-Lot For Food Bank Donation
White House Assistant Chef and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthy Food Initiatives Sam Kass joined Save-A-Lot, one of the nation’s leading hard-discount, limited-assortment grocery chains, on Aug. 16 to donate $2,500 and 55,000 school supplies to the Capital Area Food Bank as part of Save-A-Lot’s 2012 Fuel Your Family Road Trip program. The donation will […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Midwest
All-Star Speakers to Highlight LEAD Marketing Conference
Executives from Coca-Cola, Bozzuto’s, and Barilla America will highlight the agenda of all-star speakers at the 4th annual LEAD Marketing Conference, to be held Oct. 1-3 at the Westin O’Hare in Chicago. Special educational workshops on retail technology and marketing will be held just prior to the start of the conference. LEAD, hosted by the […]
Posted in, Beverage News, C-Store News, Southeast
7-Eleven Acquires 76 W. Va. Locations from Prima Marketing
7-Eleven Inc. has closed a deal to acquire 74 operating convenience stores and two land parcels from Prima Marketing LLC, a 7-Eleven licensee with stores in West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky. The bulk of the stores being purchased are in West Virginia. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The acquisition includes all Prima […]