The Kroger Co. has reported its 45th consecutive quarter of positive identical supermarket sales growth, excluding fuel—as the grocer reported its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014 results on Thursday. The company reported fourth quarter identical supermarket sales growth, without fuel, of 6.0 percent. “2014 was an outstanding year by all measures,” said Kroger Chairman […]
Tag: Grocery
Posted in, West
Yummy.com Launches New Mobile-Friendly Website
Yummy.com, a leading multi-channel grocery retailer that has offered on-demand delivery since 2002, has launched a new mobile-friendly website to enhance the customer experience. In addition to becoming more intuitive and simpler, Yummy.com says the new site will reduce the time it takes to place an order. “We already know that our service is much […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National, Store News
Save-A-Lot’s Newest Stores Focus On Fresh
Over the past month, Supervalu’s hard-discount grocery banner, Save-A-Lot, has opened 13 new stores across eight states—its latest last week in Rockford, Illinois. The banner’s newest stores, according to company officials, focus on fresh, with a “commitment to bring “fresh produce, dairy and meats” to their communities. The new stores are a combination of corporate-owned […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Northeast
Weis Markets’ Sales Up, But Net Income Down In 4Q And 2014
Weis Markets on Tuesday reported that its fourth quarter sales increased 4.0 percent to $713.8 million while its comparable store sales increased 3.5 percent. During the 13-week period ending Dec. 27, the Sunbury, Pennsylvania-based company’s earnings per share totaled $0.51 compared to $0.59 for the same period in 2013. The company’s fourth quarter net income […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Southwest
Texas Tea Available At Sprouts Beginning This Month
Texas Tea says it will continue major expansion outside of its home state of Texas this month with distribution in all Sprouts locations. Late March is the target date when four flavors of all-natural Texas Tea will be available for sale nationwide at all Sprouts Farmers Market stores. “We are looking forward to our launch […]
Posted in, National, The Independent Perspective
GMA’s Foley Joins Government Relations Team At NGA
The National Grocers Association (NGA) has hired Matthew Foley as its senior manager of government relations. “Matt joins us with government and industry affairs experience and has a strong understanding of food policy and member relations,” said Greg Ferrara, NGA’s VP of public affairs. “NGA is pleased to strengthen our government relations team and further […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Piggly Wiggly In Kewaskum, Wisconsin, Completes Expansion And Remodel
Geidel’s Piggly Wiggly in Kewaskum, Wisconsin, will host a grand reopening celebration Wednesday, March 11. The store at 940 Fond du Lac Avenue recently completed a 9,000-s.f. addition, bringing the store to 36,000 s.f. Additionally, the store’s interior was renovated. Locally operated by fifth-generation owner Mike Geidel, the Kewaskum Piggly Wiggly store expanded every department […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, National, Whole Foods
Publix, Aldi And H-E-B Earn Top Customer Experience Ratings
Based on a study of 10,000 U.S. consumers, Publix, Aldi and H-E-B earned the highest scores in the 2015 Temkin Experience Ratings that ranks 293 companies across 20 industries. Joining those firms in the top 12 spots are Chick-fil-A, PetSmart, Amazon.com, Trader Joe’s, USAA, credit unions, Papa John’s, Walgreens and Hannaford. While supermarket chains, fast […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Southeast
Publix Sees Sales And Earnings Increases In 4Q, 2014
Publix’s sales for the fourth quarter of 2014 were $7.9 billion, a 6.9 percent increase from the previous year’s $7.4 billion. Comparable-store sales for the fourth quarter increased 6.4 percent. Net earnings for the fourth quarter were $453.3 million, compared to $422.0 million in 2013, an increase of 7.4 percent. Earnings per share for the […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Executive News, National
Kroger Reveals Human Resources Succession Plan
The Kroger Co. on Friday announced its succession plan for the company’s SVP of human resources position, as Kathleen Barclay, 59, plans to retire from the role in the fall. Timothy Massa, 48, Kroger’s group VP of human resources and labor relations, will succeed Barclay in leading these functions after her retirement. Barclay joined Kroger […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Midwest, National
Mariano To Address United Fresh 2015 Attendees
Robert A. Mariano, chairman, president and CEO of Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Roundy’s Inc., will address produce retail industry executives at the United Fresh 2015 opening general session on June 9 at McCormick Place in Chicago. Mariano started out in the retail grocery business at the age of 17, working as a part-time deli clerk at Dominick’s […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southwest
Natural Grocers’ First Fayetteville, Arkansas, Store Opening In March
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage will open its first Fayetteville, Arkansas, store March 10 at 4116 N. College Avenue. Natural Grocers says it will provide the Fayetteville community with fresh produce that is only USDA Certified Organic as well as other healthy, affordable natural and organic groceries. The store will feature a mix of national brands […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Fresh Thyme To Open Its First Dayton Area Store In March
The first Fresh Thyme Farmers Market in the Dayton, Ohio, area will celebrate its grand opening March 25 in the Sugarcreek Township community. The store will be located at 4317 Feedwire Road. “We couldn’t be happier about opening a store in the Sugarcreek Township and Centerville communities,” said Fresh Thyme CEO Chris Sherrell. “Our passion […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Independent Store News, Industry News, Midwest
Central Grocers Adopts ReposiTrak Food Safety Platform
Central Grocers has chosen ReposiTrak, provider of compliance management and track-and-trace solutions for food safety exclusively endorsed by the Food Marketing Institute and Retailer Owned Food Distributors and Associates (ROFDA), to manage its food safety-related risk. “The Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) regulations will require us to both manage and store thousands of vendor documents,” […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Executive News, Midwest
Kroger Columbus Division President Macaulay To Retire After 40 Years
Bruce Macaulay will retire as president of Kroger’s Columbus Division in Ohio. Macaulay’s last day will be March 27. Macaulay joined Kroger in 1973 as a part-time clerk. He worked at the Berwick Plaza store in Columbus while studying at The Ohio State University. He later transferred to the store on Refugee Road, the first […]
Posted in, Meat/Seafood/Poultry, National
Power Of Meat Remains Strong At Retail
Meat and poultry products remain among the top choices for shoppers at retail, but the 10th annual “Power of Meat” study published by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and North American Meat Institute (NAMI) highlights several trends in the way consumers are changing their purchasing behavior. These include: • Price per pound remains a top […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Bashas’ Celebrates New Look With Grand Opening Event Beginning Today
Bashas’ is celebrating its newly remodeled grocery store, located at 7586 W. Thunderbird Road (at 75th Avenue) in Peoria, Arizona, beginning today. The store has a new floral department with a variety of flowers and gifts; an expanded selection of products, including more organic and healthy options; a revamped deli and bakery with ice cream by […]
Posted in, Industry News, National, Store News
Survey: Fresh Produce And Prices Matter Most To Supermarket Shoppers
Despite glowing headlines about America’s economic recovery, millions of people struggle with stagnant wages and an increased cost of living. As a result, nearly 60 percent of consumers say finding a deal is important when they’re food shopping, according to the 2015 Annual National Grocers Association (NGA)-SupermarketGuru Consumer Survey. Nearly 1,000 shoppers completed surveys that […]
Posted in, C-Store News, National
AWMA Launches New State Government Affairs Initiative
The American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA) has launched a new initiative to provide members with information and the ability to take action on state governmental developments that affect their businesses and the convenience distribution industry. Anne Holloway, VP of government affairs, says the initiative has two key components: • The appointment of Dirk Smith as […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Ben & Jerry’s Newest Flavor Stars Jimmy Fallon
It’s been a full year since Jimmy Fallon took over the longest running talk show in television history and, to recognize the accomplishment, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield earlier this week served up the aptly named “The Tonight Dough” to the Fallon faithful who were in the audience to […]