Walmart Stores Inc. finally has acknowledged the planned Walmart Neighborhood Market in Granite Bay, Calif.,that everyone else has long been talking about, reports the Sacramento Business Journal. In fact, this is the first Walmart Neighborhood Market in California that the giant retailer has announced. The nation’s largest retailer has 150 locations of its groceries-only format […]
Tag: Grocery
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
Top Five Forecasted Diet Trends for 2012
Looking for the hot new diet trends to follow in 2012? Who better to ask for help than the nation’s top nutrition experts? In a survey by Pollock Communications, a full-service public relations agency with long-standing relationships in the food and wellness industry, responses from more than 200 registered dieticians (RDs) in its network were […]
Posted in, Midwest
Kroger Workers in Mid-Michigan Ratify New Contract
Michigan Kroger workers represented by the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 951 have voted to approve a new three-year contract by a vote of 84 percent “yes” to 16 percent “no.” “The proposal had the full recommendation of the bargaining committee as it preserved members’ health benefits and pension, and provided top-rate wage […]
Posted in, Midwest, National, New Products
Kraft Debuting 70 Products for New Year
Kraft Foods Inc. knows its consumers well and is feeding their hunger for bold flavors, easy meal solutions and better-for-you offerings with more than 70 new product innovations, according to a company news release. “Americans are having more interactive experiences with food and want the opportunity to do some of the cooking themselves,” says Barry […]
Posted in, West
Seattle Plastic Bag Ban One Step Closer to Reality
The Seattle City Council voted unanimously Monday for a broad band on plastic shopping bags for businesses ranging from farmers markets to department stores. The bill would require stores to charge a 5-cent fee to shoppers if they want paper bags to hold their purchases. The bill now goes to Mayor Mike McGinn for his […]
Posted in, Southeast
Former Laurel Grocery Co. Chairman Dies
George Washington “G.W.” Griffin, 85, died Monday, Dec. 19, from complications of pneumonia. He was the past chairman of Kentucky-based Laurel Grocery Co. Born Feb. 28, 1926, in East Bernstadt, Ky., Griffin attended the Kentucky Military Institute, Wake Forest University and graduated from the University of Kentucky, where he was a member of the Kappa […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
NCGA To Celebrate ‘International Year of Cooperatives’
With the United Nations declaring 2012 the “International Year of Cooperatives,” the National Cooperative Grocers Association (NCGA) will officially kick off its year of celebrations with a “virtual” premiere of an online video series hosted by Kevin Gillespie, co-owner and executive chef at the Woodfire Grill Restaurant in Atlanta and sixth season finalist of the […]
Posted in, Grocery News, National
Kraft Foods’ Limited Edition Holiday Treats Available
Northfield, Ill.-based Kraft Foods, the world’s largest chocolate maker and biscuit baker, is making the holidays around the world even sweeter this year with seasonal biscuits and chocolates, in addition to annual favorites. “People around the world eagerly await the special chocolates, cookies, crackers and other products we make only for the Christmas and New […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Kroger To Merge Four Pension Funds
In a move expected to reduce Kroger Co.’s annual pension contribution expense and secure pension benefits for more than 65,000 employees, the Cincinnati-based grocer will merge four of the UFCW/multi-employer pension funds into a new fund Jan. 1, according to the Los Angeles Business Journal. Kroger expects to contribute about $650 million to the new […]
Posted in, National, West
WFIA Recognizes Grocery Industry’s 2011 Standouts
The Washington Food Industry Association (WFIA) recently honored its annual grocery industry award winners. The WFIA awards were voted on by the association’s full membership, then presented by President Jan Gee on behalf of the Washington state grocery industry to three top leaders in the following categories: Grocer of the Year, Kevin Stormans of Stormans […]
Posted in, Southeast
Winn-Dixie Foundation Donates $1.4M to Southeast Charities
Jacksonville, Fla.-based The Winn-Dixie Foundation is investing nearly $1.4 million in neighborhoods across the Southeast through partnerships with 116 nonprofit organizations, providing a range of services critical to helping communities. “Winn-Dixie is at the heart of the neighborhoods we serve,” said Mary Kellmanson, marketing group VP of Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. and president of the Winn-Dixie […]
Posted in, National
Hy-Vee CEO Ric Jurgens Announces Plans to Retire
Hy-Vee Chairman and CEO Ric Jurgens announced to stockholders at Hy-Vee’s annual meeting on Dec. 14 that he plans to retire from the West Des Moines, Iowa-based company effective June 1. Jurgens, 62, has been Hy-Vee’s top officer since 2006. A 42-year veteran of the company, he began his career as a part-time employee in […]
Posted in, National, New Products
The Spice Hunter Adds New Vegetarian Soups
The Spice Hunter® Inc., a C.F. Sauer company, has added Minestrone; Spring Onion; and Green Chile & White Bean, to its vegetarian line. The Spice Hunter Quick & All Natural™ Soups offer healthy ingredients in an easy-to-use, “just add water” container. The Spice Hunter 100% all natural soups contain 0g of trans-fat and no MSG. […]
Posted in, West
Hirz to Take Over as Smart & Final CEO
Los Angeles-based Smart & Final Holdings Corp. announced Dec. 9 that David G. “Dave” Hirz, president and COO, will be named CEO effective Jan. 1. Hirz also will become a member of the company’s board of directors. Smart & Final’s current chairman and CEO, George Golleher, will remain executive chairman of the board and continue […]
Posted in, Midwest
B&R Stores Partners with Local Nonprofits During Holiday Season
Lincoln, Neb.-based B&R Stores is teaming up with Heartland Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Food Bank of Lincoln to make the holiday season brighter. The two organizations benefited from appearances by The Coca-Cola Holiday Caravan at Russ’s Market and Super Saver stores in Lincoln earlier this month. Visitors to the caravan at the Russ’s […]
Posted in, National, West
Looking Back: Bradshaw Still Dispensing Wisdom at 98
[gn_note color=”#66cc66″] This interview originally ran in the March 2008 edition of The Shelby Report of the West. Douglas B. “Buzz” Bradshaw, the well-known Western food broker, died Nov. 7 at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, just two months before celebrating his 102nd birthday. In memory here is one of our favorite articles of the […]
Posted in, Southeast
Nearly Two Dozens BI-LO Stores Saw Redesign in 2011
Mauldin, S.C.-based Bi-Lo has updated 22 of its stores over the past year. The newly-updated stores can be seen throughout the grocery chain’s four-state footprint in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia and Tennessee. Last month alone, BI-LO added five stores to its renovations list. Locations in Statesboro, Ga., two stores in Augusta, Ga., Greenville and […]
Posted in, Northeast
Meijer Hosts Online Gingerbread Creation Contest
Michigan-based Meijer’s online program, called “Gingerbread Bites Back,” invites shoppers to submit their funniest or most off-the-wall submissions for a photo contest of the most original gingerbread creation (person or house); a video project capturing an interesting take on people baking or eating gingerbread; or a contest inviting people to place downloadable gingerbread imagery in […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Delhaize Group Plans 450 New Stores in Next Three Years
Brussels, Belgium-based Delhaize Group, an international food retailer, plans to further accelerate store openings in its newer operations and achieve annual revenue growth of 5 to 7 percent within three years. Additional cost savings will be generated and used to invest in the sales building initiatives that will support accelerating growth, according to the company. […]
Posted in, Southeast
Sweetbay Recognized with EPA ENERGY STAR Certification
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Tampa-Fla.,-based Sweetbay Supermarket with Energy Star certification for continued energy consumption reductions, as well as a strong corporate commitment to promoting superior energy performance. Of the more than 1,570 grocery stores acknowledged by the EPA for earning Energy Star labels for superior energy efficiency, only 170 were […]