A new Kroger Marketplace on Mall Boulevard in Florence Square in Savannah opened today, marking the largest Kroger store in Georgia and the Southeast. The more than 125,000-s.f. store brings 267 new jobs to the community and offers shoppers more than 97,000 s.f. of merchandise. It is the first Marketplace store in Savannah. Prior to […]
Tag: Grocery
Posted in, National, Perspectives
The Year Of The Pet
2014 may be the Year of the Horse in the Chinese calendar, and while horses can be considered pets, I’m pronouncing 2014 the Year of the Pet. In 2012, there were an estimated 157,141,000 dogs, cats, birds and horses in the U.S. So why do I think 2014 should be the Year of the Pet? […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Southwest
Format Agility Helps Brookshire Brothers Meet Community Needs
Brookshire Brothers expanded its supermarket count by five and convenience operations by six stores over the last year. Jerry Johnson, president and CEO, uses the word “vibrant” to describe the state of the Lufkin-based company, and 2014 looks promising as well. Projects include rebuilding an Apple Springs facility destroyed last year and incorporating a North […]
Posted in, Center Store, National
Progresso Recipe Starters Now In Pouches
Progresso Recipe Starters are now available in pouches. The product previously came in a can. “Available in five flavorful varieties, Recipe Starters thick sauce provides a rich and concentrated, robust flavor,” said Stefan Miller, associate marketing manager for Progresso. “Each of the flavors can be used as a starter to create a variety of tasty […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
Nut-based, Sweet Spreads Category Predicted To Increase 65 Percent By 2018
With an influx of new products in recent years, including industry game-changer Nutella, the $3.9 billion nut-based and sweet spread category grew 34 percent from 2008-13. While many nut-based and sweet spreads already have high household penetration rates and have become pantry staples, new research from Mintel reveals there is still room for growth, especially […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Gelson’s Debuts La Cañada Flintridge, Calif., Store
Gelson’s opened its newest supermarket Thursday in La Cañada Flintridge, Calif. The store, at 635 Foothill Blvd., marks the Southern California grocer’s 18th location. Features include: • A spacious service deli, featuring Wolfgang Puck Express (freshly made pizzas, sandwiches, salads); chef-prepared gourmet salads; on-site sushi chef; smoker for tri-tip and brisket sandwiches with “melt-in-your mouth” […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Wisconsin Claims Top Awards Total At World Cheese Contest
Wisconsin cheesemakers dominated the competition at the recent World Championship Cheese Contest, winning 106 awards—about 39 percent—of the total 273 awards given, including 38 Best of Class, 34 second place and 34 third place awards. Wisconsin’s accomplishment represented five times the number of awards as those won by the closest competitor, Switzerland with 21. Switzerland […]
Posted in, Albertsons, National, Store News
Safeway Ends ‘Go-Shop’ Period As Albertson’s Deal Moves Forward
Safeway Inc. said this morning that the 21-day “go-shop” period that was part of the terms of the definitive merger agreement, under which AB Acquisition LLC agreed to acquire all outstanding shares of Safeway, has expired. AB Acquisition owns both Albertson’s LLC and New Albertson’s Inc. Under the agreement, Safeway and its representatives were permitted […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Pioneer Growers Launches Two New Packaged Sweet Corn Products
In preparation for the upcoming corn season, Pioneer Growers is launching two new packaged sweet corn products: a tray package with eight ears of corn sold in a 10-count case instead of the 12-count industry standard and a grab-and-go microwavable bag package. Both products feature the Green Giant brand. “We developed the 10-count case […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
Sunsweet Introduces Amaz!ng Prune Light Juice
Sunsweet, a leading marketer of prunes, dried fruits and fruit juices, is launching a new, lighter version of its prune juice. Set to hit shelves this spring, Amaz!ng Prune Light juice boasts a light flavor and provides a good source of fiber with 100 calories and 8g of sugar per serving. “Almost one in four […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National
DPS, KAB Continue To Provide Grants To Increase Recycling In Public Parks
Public parks will be getting cleaner in communities across the country thanks to a significant grant made possible by Dr Pepper Snapple Group (DPS) in collaboration with Keep America Beautiful (KAB). Twenty-six local and county governments in 19 states will receive durable, permanent recycling bins as part of the Dr Pepper Snapple Group/Keep America Beautiful […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Guiding Stars Awarded U.S. Patent For Its Food Nutrition Database System
Guiding Stars, the nation’s leading independent nutrition guidance program, has been awarded U.S. Patent No. 8,626,796 for its food nutrition database and operating system that is used to score and present nutrition information for food products. It marks the second U.S. patent issued to protect the Guiding Stars system, which helps consumers identify more nutritious […]
Posted in, National
Marketing & Merch Conference After United Fresh Show To Focus On Brand Differentiation
Brand strategist Al Ries will keynote this year’s United Fresh Retail Produce Marketing & Merchandising Conference, June 12-13, immediately following United Fresh 2014 in Chicago. “Whether Marketing 101 is the only marketing course you’ve ever taken, or you have your MBA in marketing from an elite university, you’ve studied Al Ries and the impact he […]
Posted in, National
Study: Consumers Sill Want Transparency From Food Industry
Nearly two out of three consumers (65 percent) want to know more about where their food comes from, according to a new followup white paper, “Emerging Faith in Food Production,” by Sullivan Higdon & Sink (SHS) FoodThink. The white paper explains how Americans continue to ask questions about where their food comes from and what […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Costco, Sprouts Top Consumer Reports’ Grocer Ratings
When it comes to supermarkets, biggest isn’t always best. In Consumer Reports’ latest survey, Wegmans, Trader Joe’s, Publix, Costco and Sprouts earned the highest scores overall among 55 of the nation’s major grocery stores; Walmart, America’s largest grocer, landed at the bottom of the ratings, based on a survey of 27,208 subscribers. The report, which […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Lay’s Rolls Out Kettle Cooked Lattice Cut Potato
Lay’s Kettle Cooked, one of the many brands from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division, is introducing a new chip style just in time for spring. Lay’s Kettle Cooked Lattice Cut potato chips are now available nationwide in two flavors: Aged Cheddar and Black Pepper, and Roasted Garlic and Sea Salt. New Lattice Cut Kettle Cooked potato chips […]
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Lowes Foods Now Accepting Direct Sales From Produce Farmers
When you shop for meat and vegetables at Lowes Foods, there’s a good chance the label will tell you if it came from a local farmer, according to the Triangle Business Journal. A new program allows Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Lowes Foods to buy fresh produce and meats directly from more than 100 small farms in North […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Ritz Bacon Flavored Crackers Available Now
Ritz Crackers has joined forces with the savory flavor of bacon to create Ritz Bacon flavored Crackers. On shelves now, Ritz Bacon flavored Crackers combine the classic taste of Ritz, black pepper seasoning and the flavor of bacon. “Ritz recognized America’s love for the taste of bacon and wanted to help take bacon flavor to […]
Posted in, National
Mexico Publishes Final Rule To Allow Cross-Border Potato Trade
The U.S. fresh potato trade with Mexico has been expanded, with shipments expected to begin by June. “The U.S. potato industry and our partners at USDA and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) are pleased to learn the Mexican government has issued its final rule designed to achieve the bilateral goal of expanding […]
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Trader Joe’s Debuts First Tampa, Fla., Store
Trader Joe’s hosted a grand opening celebration of its Tampa, Fla., store on Friday—the company’s first store in the area. The 12,500-s.f. South Tampa store is located at 3808 West Swann Ave. and managed by Aimee Pawelek, who comes from Trader Joe’s in Knoxville, Tenn. She has been with the company for six years. The […]