ConAgra Foods has unveiled what it calls “restructuring plans” in order “to improve profitability, advance its growth agenda and unlock shareholder value.” ConAgra says it expects to realize at least $300 million of efficiency benefits within the next three years through a combination of reductions in SG&A and enhancements to trade spend processes and tools. […]
Tag: jobs
Posted in, Independent Store News, Store News, West
New Seasons Market Raising Its Starting Wage To $12 In 2016
New Seasons Market of Portland, Oregon, will increase its starting wage from $10 to $12 per hour in January. The announcement comes as the grocery chain voices its support for a statewide increase to Oregon’s minimum wage in 2016. New Seasons, with more than 3,300 employees, is the largest local employer to step forward in […]
Posted in, Northeast
National Restaurant Association Marks Hispanic Heritage Month
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the National Restaurant Association (NRA) is recognizing the significant contributions Hispanic people make to the restaurant industry, the economy and individual communities. During Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15), NRA is recognizing Hispanic leaders through a series of videos, profiles and social media and digital content, all housed on the […]
Posted in, Northeast
Whole Foods Market Responds To 1,500 Layoff Notices
Whole Foods Market plans to eliminate 1,500 positions as part of a commitment to invest in technology and to lower product prices in the store. In a company statement, Whole Foods said, “As part of its ongoing commitment to lower prices for its customers and invest in technology upgrades while improving its cost structure, Whole […]
Posted in, Northeast
Roche Bros. To Close Sudbury Farms Store In Randolph, Massachusetts
Roche Bros.’ lease terms for its Sudbury Farms store in Randolph, Massachusetts, have expired and the company has decided to close the location in January. All associates at the store will be offered positions at other Roche Bros. stores. The store has served the community for 32 years. The company will continue to offer RocheBros.com […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, West
NorCal Chains Reach Tentative Agreements With Union
UFCW 8-Golden State has reached tentative contract agreements with both Safeway and Vons in California markets, the union announced Sept. 23. The tentative agreements were signed with Safeway stores in Northern and Central California and Vons in Fresno. The four-year agreement with Safeway “protects and enhances” the wages, benefits and workplace standards for about 9,000 […]
Posted in, Northeast
New York Gov. Cuomo Pushes For $15 Minimum Wage
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, joined by U.S. VP Joe Biden, rallied Sept. 10 for fair pay for New York’s workers and announced a push to make New York the first state in the nation to adopt a $15 per hour minimum wage. This announcement came on the same day that New York Acting State Labor […]
Posted in, Northeast
Mass. AG To Decide If Employee Scheduling Bill Goes To Ballot
A ballot initiative petition—“Fair Scheduling Initiative”—has been filed in Massachusetts that would require any fast food restaurant or retail store making changes, cancellations, additions or reductions to the schedule of an employee within 14 days of a scheduled shift to pay no less than one additional hour and no more than four additional hours in […]
Posted in, Northeast
A&P Laying Off Thousands Of N.J. Workers On Thanksgiving Day, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… The A&P supermarket chain has filed layoff notices for 3,781 employees at 45 of its New Jersey stores. The layoffs are effective Nov. 26, Thanksgiving Day. Earlier, A&P filed 867 layoff notices in July with an effective date of Sept. 19 for eight New Jersey locations. In all, the number of […]
Posted in, Northeast
NLRB Staffing Agency Decision Could Impact Restaurants
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has issued a decision in the Browning-Ferris Industries (BFI) case, holding that BFI is considered a “joint employer” with a temporary staffing agency that supplied employees to BFI. According to the National Restaurant Association (NRA), the decision has broad implications for multiple industries, including restaurants. The NLRB, through a 3-2 vote, […]
Posted in, Northeast
Chipotle Planning Massive Hiring Event On Sept. 9
Chipotle Mexican Grill announced its first-ever National Career Day, taking place on Wednesday, Sept. 9, with the goal of hiring 4,000 new employees. The hiring event is expected to expand Chipotle’s 59,000-member workforce by nearly 7 percent. “The economy has been thawing, more restaurants are opening and there are fewer job applicants than there were […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, West
Ridley’s Moving Into Raley’s Winnemucca, Nevada, Store
When Raley’s closes its supermarket in Winnemucca, Nevada, on Sept. 1, it shouldn’t be too long before a new food retailer sets up shop. Ridley’s Family Markets reportedly plans to move into the store, located in the Valley View Shopping Center at 1125 W. Winnemucca Boulevard. The grocery chain also is trying to incorporate the current […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Midwest, Store News
Lunds & Byerlys Bagger Crowned Minnesota’s Best
Lauren Gillson of Lunds & Byerlys in St. Cloud has won the Minnesota Grocers Association’s (MGA) 27th annual statewide best bagger contest, held at the Mall of America on Aug. 15. Gillson took home $500, a trophy and will travel to Las Vegas to represent Minnesota at the National Grocers Association’s best bagger championship in […]
Posted in, Northeast
Hannaford Institutes New Worker Protection Standards At Two DCs
The U.S Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has credited Hannaford for setting new worker protection measures after the company was cited by OSHA for failing to keep two distribution centers free from hazards that can cause disorders of the muscular and skeletal systems. After inspections in 2013 and 2014, OSHA cited Hannaford for […]
Posted in, Northeast
Sheetz Closes State College Unit As New Concept Store Is On The Way
Sheetz closed its State College, Pennsylvania, store Aug. 19. Store associates from this location have been retained and relocated to one of the other four existing stores in the State College area. A new concept store will open this fall in downtown State College. “While the decision to close a store is never easy, we […]
Posted in, Northeast
Hearing Postponed On A&P Union Dispute, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… A bankruptcy court hearing originally scheduled for the week of Aug. 17 between A&P officials and union leaders was put on hold as both sides asked for more time. A&P filed an emergency motion seeking relief from “bumping” obligations in its contract and A&P is seeking to limit its severance obligations […]
Posted in, Midwest, Suppliers
Velvet Ice Cream Expanding Ohio Plant
On the heels of significant expansion into Kentucky and other markets, Utica, Ohio-based Velvet Ice Cream says it is about to embark on the largest capital improvement in the company’s 101-year history. Velvet will break ground this month on a 21,000-s.f. facility expansion, with an estimated cost of more than $3 million. The move will […]
Posted in, Northeast
A&P Seeks Judge’s OK To Set Aside Two Union Provisions For Store Sale
After a negotiation impasse with union groups representing workers, A&P has asked a bankruptcy court judge to set aside two major union provisions. The company, which has filed for Chapter 11, wants to eliminate bumping rights and adjust or cut the amount and timing of severance pay in order to attract future buyers of its […]
Posted in, Northeast
Court Approves A&P Store Auction, Grants Permission To Close 25 Stores
A judge has given approval for A&P to proceed with auctions for 118 stores and approval for the chain to close 25 stores. Acme Markets (76 stores), Stop & Shop (25 stores) and Key Food (17) have been identified as “stalking horse” bidders for those units with a bid deadline of Sept. 11. If no better […]
Posted in, Northeast
Chick-fil-A’s Largest Restaurant Coming To NYC In October
Atlanta-based Chick-fil-A has a grand opening date set and a local franchise owner for its first full free-standing restaurant in New York City. The restaurant, located at the corner of West 37th Street and 6th Avenue in the city’s Garment District in Lower Manhattan, is set to open Oct. 3 and will be the largest for […]