api(+), a leader in retail architecture and design based in Tampa, Fla., has unveiled its prototype design for Walmart To Go. The concept is Walmart’s first small format convenience store and is now open in Bentonville, Ark. Unlike traditional convenience stores, Walmart To Go offers a mix of traditional grocery items and fresh prepared foods […]
Tag: Grocery
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest
Roundy’s Selling 18 Rainbow Stores To Supervalu-Led Consortium
Supervalu Inc., the owner of Cub Foods, along with four Twin Cities-based independent grocery retailers have each entered into a definitive agreement with Roundy’s to acquire certain Rainbow Foods grocery stores for approximately $65 million, plus inventory. In total, the consortium agreed to acquire 18 Rainbow grocery stores, including 13 Rainbow pharmacies and three Rainbow […]
Posted in, National, Store News
Whole Foods Announces Store Openings And Moves
Whole Foods Market this week announced several store openings and moves. The Austin, Texas-based grocer has signed a lease for a new store in Richmond, Va., plans to relocate a North Wales, Pa., store and has announced openings in New Jersey and Indiana. Richmond, Va. The approximately 40,000-s.f. store will be located on Broad Street […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, West
Kroger’s First Fleet Of Liquid Natural Gas Trucks In Oregon Making Debut
The Kroger Co. will be the first in Oregon to deploy a fleet of heavy-duty trucks that run on Liquid Natural Gas (LNG). The 40 trucks will replace 40 diesel trucks currently in use and are expected to start making store deliveries in the Portland metropolitan area by the end of this year. The use […]
Posted in, Industry News, Southeast
Red White And Food To Lead Tennessee Wine Referendum Campaign
Red White and Food—a coalition launched by the Tennessee Grocers & Convenience Store Association in support of wine sales in retail food stores—will become an independent nonprofit organization that will lead the statewide wine referendum campaign. By becoming a 501(c)(6) organization, Red White and Food will be able to support eligible communities in local petition […]
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Ingles Reports Higher Sales, Income For 2Q And First Half Of FY 2014
Ingles Markets reported Friday higher sales and net income for the three and six months ended March 29, 2014, as compared with the three and six months ended March 30, 2013. Second quarter net sales rose $27.1 million to $947.8 million and net income increased 29.2 percent to $10.5 million, compared with net income of $8.1 million […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Survey: One-Third Of U.S. Shoppers Will Pay 10 Percent Premium For Local Food
The second annual A.T. Kearney survey of U.S. shoppers’ local food buying habits finds that local food is fast becoming a necessity for attracting and retaining grocery customers. Comparing survey results to the 2013 survey, an increased number of shoppers indicate that local foods are an important factor in what they buy and where they […]
Posted in, Industry News, National
Study: America’s Household Brands Losing Ground
U.S. consumers are pushing their shopping carts past many of America’s national brands and feel little regret in doing so, according to Deloitte’s American Pantry Study of more than 375 brands across 30 product categories. Seven in 10 shoppers (71 percent) say they’re spending less on food, beverage and household goods, but don’t feel like […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Stater Bros. And LifeStream Partner For May Blood Drive
Stater Bros. is partnering with LifeStream Blood Bank in an ongoing effort to boost local, life-saving blood reserves. Each month, Stater Bros. hosts blood drives at selected supermarkets. This month, blood drives will be held at the following Stater Bros. Supermarket locations: • 2-7 p.m. May 9, 2995 Iowa Ave., Riverside; • 11 a.m.-4 p.m. […]
Posted in, Southeast, Store News
Publix Sales Jump In First Quarter
Publix’s sales for the first quarter of 2014 were $7.8 billion, a 4.1 percent increase from last year’s $7.5 billion. It is estimated that sales for the first quarter of 2014 were negatively impacted by 1.3 percent due to the Easter holiday being in the second quarter, the Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer says. In 2013, the […]
Posted in, Store News, West
WinCo Foods Opening Distribution Center In Phoenix, Ariz., On May 14
WinCo Foods will begin shipping from its newest distribution center at 7502 W. Durango St. in Phoenix, Ariz., on Wednesday, May 14. The center, which includes more than 900,000 s.f. of warehouse space under one roof, will initially service 19 WinCo Foods stores located in Arizona, Southern Nevada and Southern California. The facility will open […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Bellisio Foods Rolls Out Chili’s Licensed Single- And Multi-Serve Entrées
Bellisio Foods, a leading frozen foods manufacturer, is introducing new flavors to the frozen food category through its partnership with Chili’s Grill & Bar—launching a new line of licensed frozen meals under the Chili’s brand name. These Chili’s-inspired, southwestern-style dishes, available at major retailers this summer, offer a variety of meal options, according to Bellisio. […]
Posted in, National
Grocers Gather On Capitol Hill To Advocate On Industry Issues
More than 200 grocery retailers, wholesalers and food industry state association executives from across the nation convened in Washington, D.C., this week for the annual “Day in Washington” supermarket industry fly-in. Members of the National Grocers Association (NGA), Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and the Food Industry Association Executives (FIAE) participated in more than 210 meetings […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Farm Rich Introduces Smokehouse BBQ
Farm Rich is debuting Farm Rich Smokehouse BBQ, launching in time for National Barbecue Month, which kicks off today. The Smokehouse BBQ meals have no artificial ingredients and contain high-quality pork, beef and chicken. The five varieties include: • Pulled Pork BBQ—hand-pulled pork in a sweet and spicy sauce; • Pulled Beef Brisket—hand-pulled beef in […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
New Seasons Expands Local Food Entrepreneurs Program
Portland, Ore.-based New Seasons Market has expanded Local Finds, its program that encourages small local crafters, food artisans and growers to partner with the grocer to bring their products to market. Through the Local Finds program, vendors get tailored help with everything from packaging to FDA approvals and product marketing. The program builds on New […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Natural Grocers Debuts Clackamas, Ore., Store
Natural Grocers opened its seventh Oregon store Tuesday in Clackamas. The store is located at 11424 SE 82nd Ave. “Oregonians are very attuned to healthy living, and Natural Grocers is honored to expand its nutritional offerings with this store opening in Clackamas,” said Kemper Isely, co-president of Colorado-based Natural Grocers. Isely says Natural Grocers changes […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Al Fresco All Natural Launches New Freezer-To-Grill Products
Al Fresco All Natural is rolling out Gourmet Chicken Grillers, uncooked frozen chicken burgers. The new Grillers contain half the fat of a traditional beef patty and are the first offering from Al Fresco’s new line of freezer products, according to the Massachusetts-based company. Gourmet Chicken Grillers go directly from the freezer to the grill […]
Posted in, National
Mastronardi Produce Introduces Eco Flavor Bowl Packaging
Mastronardi Produce is rolling out its all-new packaging system: the Eco Flavor Bowl, a unique pack that uses top-seal technology to lock in fresh Sunset flavor. The bowl is made from recycled materials and is 100 percent recyclable. “A lot of research goes into our packaging designs,” said Giuseppe Rubino, director of packaging at Mastronardi […]
Posted in, National, Perishables
Harris Teeter First Retailer In U.S. To Meet USDA Certified Very Tender Guidelines For Beef
Harris Teeter is the first retailer in the country to offer U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Certified Very Tender beef. Harris Teeter is now labeling its Reserve Angus beef brand with the USDA Certified Very Tender label in its stores. The new certification guarantees consumers the highest quality tender eating experience, according to the Kroger-owned […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, National, Store News, Whole Foods
Grocery Among Industries With Highest Average Forgiveness Ratings
Based on a study of 10,000 U.S. consumers, H-E-B and USAA tied for the top spot in the 2014 Temkin Forgiveness Ratings, which rates 268 companies across 19 industries. In fact, grocery chains are among the industries with the highest average ratings. “Forgiveness is an asset that companies earn from their customers,” says Bruce Temkin, […]