The National Grocers Association (NGA) recently presented U.S. Sens. Roy Blunt of Missouri, John Boozman of Arkansas and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky with its Champion of Independent Grocers Award. The award is given to lawmakers who have worked to advance pro-growth policies and workable solutions for independent grocers and wholesalers. “Together, independent, community-focused retailers and […]
Tag: Grocery
Posted in, Grocery News, National, Organic Natural
Consumers Snacking More On Specialty Food
Specialty food consumers are spending more of their food dollars on specialty food this year, and the all-powerful Millennial generation is gravitating toward specialty food for snacks and on-the-goal meals, according to new research from the Specialty Food Association. Overall, specialty food shoppers say they are spending one in four of their food dollars on […]
Posted in, West
CGAEF, Cal Poly State Partner To Bolster Grocery Workforce
In a historic partnership to strengthen California’s future grocery industry workforce, the California Grocers Association Educational Foundation (CGAEF) has committed to provide scholarships, internship stipends and professional development opportunities to Cal Poly’s Agribusiness Food Retail Management Program (CPAFRM) for the 2015-16 academic year. “By partnering with California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), we can provide […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Industry News, National, Store News
Expert Harold Lloyd: Walgreens, Not Walmart, Is The Competition
Supermarket expert Harold Lloyd doesn’t understand why grocers are so worried about Walmart. Rather, he says successful convenience stores like Sheetz and Wawa, as well as drugstore chain Walgreens, are the retailers that grocers should be concerned about—mainly because they’re easy to shop. They excel at what Lloyd refers to as “Flow and Focus.” This […]
Posted in, National
Dorer To Succeed Knauss At Helm Of Clorox Co.
Benno Dorer will become CEO of The Clorox Co. on Nov. 20, succeeding CEO Donald R. “Don” Knauss, who will afterward fill the newly created position of executive chairman. Knauss, 63, has served as chairman and CEO of the Oakland, Calif.-based company since October 2006, holding overall responsibility for directing the company’s worldwide business, which […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Grocery Industry Innovator Russ Raybould Of Nebraska Dies At Age 92
Longtime Lincoln, Neb.-based grocer Russ Raybould died Saturday, Sept. 13, at age 92. Mr. Raybould was known nationally as a leader in the independent grocery business. The company he founded, B&R Stores, now operates six Russ’s Market stores in Lincoln and one in Hastings. In 1984, Raybould launched the price-conscious Super Saver brand. Today there […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
New Online Marketplace Launched To Advance Retail Industry Innovation
The Center for Advancing Retail & Technology (CART) and the National Grocers Association (NGA) today unveiled a new online platform for the supermarket industry. The CART marketplace at advancingretail.org is designed to help the supermarket sector keep pace with technology innovation that is rapidly transforming the way people shop. “Retailers and brand manufacturers are experiencing […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Traina Foods Debuts Sriracha Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup
Traina Foods, a leading seller of premium sun dried fruits, is rolling out new Sriracha Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup, an addition to the award-winning Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup that debuted in 2012. “Our California Sun Dried Tomato Ketchup truly celebrates the tomato,” said Willie Traina, CEO of Patterson, Calif.-based Traina Foods. “And now we are […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Corporate Store News, National, Whole Foods
Kroger’s 2Q ID Sales Up 4.8 Percent
The Kroger Co. on Thursday reported net earnings of $347 million, or $0.70 per diluted share, and identical supermarket sales growth, without fuel, of 4.8 percent in the second quarter of fiscal year 2014. Net earnings in the same period last year were $317 million, or $0.60 per diluted share. It marks the Cincinnati-based grocer’s 43rd […]
Posted in, Store News, West
New San Jose Whole Foods To Feature Grocer’s First In-Store Brewery In Calif.
A new 35,000-s.f. Whole Foods Market store will open Dec. 10 at 777 The Alameda (at Stockton) in San Jose, Calif. This is the second Whole Foods Market location in San Jose, and the 42nd in Northern California. The store will bring an estimated 150 new jobs to San Jose and feature the Austin, Texas-based […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Southwest
Whole Foods Market Among First Merchants To Integrate With Apple Pay
Whole Foods Market is among the first retailers participating in Apple Pay, described as “an easy, secure and private way” to make purchases from an iPhone. With Apple Pay, instead of using an actual credit or debit card number, a unique device account number is assigned, encrypted and securely stored in a dedicated chip in […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, National
Independent Grocers Hold Ground In Tough Fiscal Year 2013
The National Grocers Association (NGA) and FMS Solutions have released the results of their joint 2014 Independent Grocers Financial Survey, covering fiscal year 2013. Independents’ financial performance much mirrored the nation’s economy, which showed modest growth and both ups and downs in consumer, financial and market performance indicators. Some retailers managed to grow sales, margins […]
Posted in, National, Organic Natural
General Mills To Acquire Annie’s For $820M
General Mills has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Annie’s, a leading U.S. producer of branded organic and natural food products with net sales of $204 million in its latest fiscal year, completed March 2014. The transaction is valued at approximately $820 million. Annie’s will join General Mills’ U.S. natural and organic products portfolio, […]
Posted in, Grocery News, Northeast
Rosati Ice Goes To School
To prevent the natural downturns an Italian ice company experiences in the colder months, Philadelphia’s Rosati Ice took its products to school. Rich Trotter, president of the 102-year-old company, said, “Typically the water ice business makes money in the summer and loses money in the winter, and if the summer is better than the winter, […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Whole Foods, Instacart Partner For One-Hour Delivery Across 15 Cities
Whole Foods Market and one-hour grocery delivery service Instacart have formed a new partnership that enables customers to have Whole Foods Market products delivered in as little as one hour. Customers will soon also have the convenient option to place orders via Instacart and pick up their order at a local participating Whole Foods Market […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southwest
Reasor’s Closing 71st And Garnett Store In Tulsa
Tahlequah, Okla.-based Reasor’s plans to permanently close its 71st and Garnett store, at 11214 E. 71st in Tulsa, within the next couple of months. Reasor’s intends to transfer all of the current 71st and Garnett employees to other Reasor’s locations. “As we continue to grow, we continually evaluate and re-evaluate our progress in every store and every […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, National
Kroger Family Of Stores Hiring 20K Employees
The Kroger Co. is hiring to fill an estimated 20,000 permanent positions in its supermarket divisions. “Kroger’s growth trajectory creates more job opportunities for current and future employees,” said Katy Barclay, Kroger’s SVP of human resources. “Right now in our stores across the country we have openings for bright, hard-working associates who are passionate about […]
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Wine In Retail Food Stores Referendum Heads To Nov. Ballot In 80 Tenn. Municipalities
Registered voters in 80 Tennessee municipalities will have the opportunity to vote Nov. 4 in referendums to allow the sale of wine in retail food stores, the Red White and Food campaign said Tuesday. “This is a tremendous accomplishment for the state’s retail food stores and for their customers who want to be able to […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Blue Bell Introduces Malt Shoppe Ice Cream
Blue Bell has put its own spin on the old-fashioned chocolate malt with its new Malt Shoppe Ice Cream, a chocolate malt ice cream loaded with milk chocolate-covered malted milk balls. “There was a time when the whole family hopped in the car and went out for burgers, fries and malts,” said Paul Kruse, Blue […]
Posted in, National, West
Calif. Assembly Passes Bill Moving State Closer To Uniform Plastic Bag Ban
The Yes on SB 270 Coalition hailed the California Assembly’s historic approval Thursday of Senate Bill 270, moving California one step closer to a landmark law banning single-use plastic carryout bags statewide. SB 270 is supported by dozens of groups representing a spectrum of sectors, including environment, organized labor, business organizations, grocers, retailers, poverty rights […]