Americans have a sweet tooth and proclaim chocolate candies as their favorite indulgence, according to the just released 2012 Harris Poll EquiTrend (EQ) study, an annual study of brand equity, conducted by Harris Interactive. In the perennial battle of the brands, Hershey’s Kisses is the top ranked chocolate candy brand for the fifth time in […]
Tag: management
Posted in, Midwest, National
Kroger Completes Big Debt Deal
The Kroger Co. struggled to sell $850 million in a two-part debt deal Tuesday, Dow Jones Newswires reports. Cincinnati, Ohio-based Kroger sold $500 million of 10-year bonds and $350 million of 30-year bonds. The company had aimed to sell between $800 million and $1 billion, hoping for a yield of 5 percent on the 30-year […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Chiquita Exiting Avocado Business
Chiquita Brands International Inc. is apparently pulling out of avocado sales. The Charlotte Business Journal reports that the company plans to exit the avocado business over the next few months to concentrate strategic resources on the core categories of bananas, salads and apples. Chiquita’s banana sales, at $2 billion, amounted to 64 percent of sales […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Southeast
Albertsons Pulling Out Of Florida; Keeping Pinellas Stores
Albertsons is mostly pulling out of Florida, closing all but four stores and shuttering a distribution center in Plant City, the Tampa Bay Business Journal reports. Three stores in Sarasota and Manatee counties will close. Stores in Clearwater and Largo will remain open. Albertsons, based in Boise, Idaho, has struggled to remain profitable during the […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, New Products
Consumers Help Alexia Foods, Tyler Florence ‘Reinvent A Classic’
For the second year in a row, Alexia Foods, a line of premium all-natural side dishes, and celebrity chef Tyler Florence invited consumers nationwide to have their culinary opinions heard by voting for the next great French fry flavor in the brand’s “Reinvent a Classic” campaign. The winning fry flavor, Bruschetta Waffle Fries, created by […]
Posted in, National
Kimberly-Clark Senior Exec Jan Spencer Announces Retirement
Kimberly-Clark has announced that Jan Spencer, SVP of continuous improvement, sourcing and sustainability, will retire after a 34-year career with Kimberly-Clark. Spencer’s retirement will become effective July 1. Spencer leaves Kimberly-Clark following a distinguished career that saw him serve in a number of senior leadership positions. Most recently, Spencer spearheaded Kimberly-Clark’s continuous improvement efforts, which […]
Posted in, Southeast
Bud’s Best Cookies Names Al Cason President
Al Cason has been named president of Bud’s Best Cookies, the Birmingham Business Journal reports. Cason has served as the Birmingham, Ala.-based company’s VP in charge of sales and marketing since 1998. He began his career at the company in 1998. His father is Bud Cason, owner and founder of Bud’s Best. The elder Cason […]
Posted in, National
General Mills Releases 2012 Global Responsibility Report
General Mills has released its 2012 Global Responsibility Report, detailing the company’s progress in the areas of health, communities and environment. The 2012 report can be viewed or downloaded at GeneralMills.com. “Our approach to global responsibility is straightforward,” said Ken Powell, chairman and CEO of General Mills. “It’s all about living our values. When a […]
Posted in, Organic Natural, West
Safeway, Go Green Initiative Partner For Earth Day Contest
Pleasanton, Calif.-based Safeway Inc. is partnering with the Go Green Initiative to launch the first Go Green Glogster Earth Day contest. Students will be asked to investigate the sustainability of the food, water or energy system in their community, and express their findings through videos, podcasts, blogs, music and photos compiled in a “Glog” (see […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Southwest
FMI’s Upcoming Private Brands Summit : Think Like A Customer
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) will feature the 2012 Private Brands Summit, taking place alongside “FMI2012: The Food Retail Show” in Dallas, Texas, in May. The Summit will provide greater communication and collaboration amongst trading partners in order to promote the growth of private brands. “This year’s Private Brands Summit goes beyond creating ‘me too’ […]
Posted in, West
Los Angeles Votes ‘Yes’ To Bag Ban
The Los Angeles City Council moved forward Wednesday with a plan to end the use of paper and plastic bags at supermarket checkout lines over the course of a year, the Los Angeles Times reports. The ordinance will force shoppers to bring more environmental bags with them to shop. The council still needs to draft […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
China Surpasses U.S. As World’s Biggest Grocery Market
The onward march of the Chinese consumer continues, with China overtaking the U.S. as the biggest grocery market in the world in 2011, according to new research out of the United Kingdom. CNBC.com reports that the Chinese grocery sector was worth $970 billion at the end of 2011, while the U.S. market came in at […]
Posted in, West
Schiff Nutrition Acquires Airborne Inc.
Salt Lake City, Utah-based Schiff Nutrition International Inc. has acquired Airborne Inc., a leading provider of immune support products for $150 million in cash, subject to certain adjustments. “Schiff is focused on building premium brands and leading innovation,” said Tarang Amin, president and CEO. “We are excited about the Airborne acquisition, which fits well with […]
Posted in, National
Vanilla Cream Puffs Recalled Due To Mislabeled Milk Allergen
Hudsonville, Mich.-based Creme Curls Bakery Inc. has initiated an immediate nationwide recall of 19.4-oz. cartons of Simply Enjoy Vanilla cream puffs distributed by Foodhold U.S.A. LLC and 13.2-oz. cartons of Vanilla Cream Puffs distributed by Creme Curls Bakery because the product contains sodium caseinate that is listed on the label, but does not identify the […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Roundy’s Appoints Retail Veteran Josefowicz To Board
On March 29, Milwaukee-based Roundy’s Inc. announced the election of Gregory P. Josefowicz to its board of directors. Josefowicz brings to the board more than 30 years of executive leadership in the retail industry, including significant experience in food retail. As a former president and CEO for two large retail companies, and as an active […]
Posted in, Northeast
Workers Reach Tentative Agreement With Giant, Safeway
Giant and Safeway workers in the Washington, D.C., and Baltimore metropolitan areas represented by United Food & Commercial Workers (UFCW) Locals 400 and 27 have reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with their employers, the parties announced March 29. Giant Food of Landover, Md., says the tentative agreement covers approximately 17,000 of its […]
Posted in, Southwest, West
WinCo Foods Debuting First Arizona Stores On Sunday
Boise, Idaho-based WinCo Foods will open three new discount supermarkets at 9 a.m. Sunday, April 1. Two of the stores mark the first entry for WinCo Foods into the Arizona market with locations at 330 W. Bell Rd. in Phoenix and 5850 W. Bell Rd. in Glendale. Each Arizona store is more than 90,000 s.f. […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Northeast
New Jersey’s Doherty Receives FMI Association Executive Award
Linda M. Doherty, president and CEO of the New Jersey Food Council (NJFC), received the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Donald H. MacManus Association Executive Award on March 28 in recognition of her outstanding leadership and accomplishments in the food distribution industry. The award was presented at FMI’s Day in Washington. “Linda works diligently to represent […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Midwest
Meijer Moves Into Dairy Production With ‘Purple Cow Creamery’
Meijer, the Grand Rapids, Mich.-based retailer, has acquired the plant operations at Bareman’s Dairy, a family-owned company based in Holland, Mich. Meijer’s move into dairy production also will include a more than $8 million investment to expand the Bareman’s dairy plant in Holland. “This is an exciting day for our company,” said Co-Chairman and CEO […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Southeast
Food Lion’s Brand Strategy Unveiled in Stores in Three States
On March 28 Food Lion launched its new brand strategy in 268 stores in Virginia, West Virginia and North Carolina. The changes focus on lower prices on thousands of products, quality store brands, produce and a better overall shopping experience. These markets are the first stores in 2012 to unveil the new strategy, which Food […]