Hostess Brands Inc. is getting ready to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, its second such filing, sources told The Wall Street Journal. Privately held Hostess has about $860 million in debt and has been squeezed by high labor costs and rising ingredient prices, the sources said. The Irving, Texas-based company, previously called Interstate Bakeries Corp., […]
Tag: management
Posted in, Southeast
Winn-Dixie CEO Says Company Will Defend Against Suit
Winn Dixie Stores Inc. Chairman, President and CEO Peter Lynch sent out written communications to company employees updating them and answering questions about the pending sale to Bi-Lo and addressed publicly a lawsuit filed by shareholders against the sale, reports the Jacksonville Business Journal. The recently released information is part of Winn-Dixie’s merger resource center […]
Posted in, West
Mrs. Fields Famous Brands Names Board to Drive Global Growth
Salt Lake City-Utah-based Mrs. Fields Famous Brands, a franchisor of Mrs. Fields and TCBY, has appointed new board of directors. Led by incumbent Chairman Bruce Pettet, the board now includes: • Robert S. Morrison, the former chairman, president and CEO of The Quaker Oats Co., and an operating partner of Z Capital Partners, one of […]
Posted in, Northeast
Rajkovich is New Communications Manager at United Fresh
Shelby Rajkovich is United Fresh Produce Association’s new communications manager. Rajkovich will support United’s communications goals to keep members updated with the latest industry news, further the association’s news media outreach and assist in the development and implementation of strategic communications programs to support industry priorities. “We’re excited to have Shelby join United’s communications team,” […]
Posted in, Center Store, Northeast
Alexander Appointed President of Campbell North America
Camden, N.J.-based Campbell Soup Co. has appointed Mark Alexander as president—Campbell North America. Alexander, 47, will lead the division of the company that includes Campbell’s North America soup, sauces and beverages business, Campbell Canada, and Campbell’s North America foodservice business, which collectively account for approximately $4.6 billion in annual revenue. His appointment is effective Jan. […]
Posted in, National
N.G.A. Issues Statement on Recess Appointments to NLRB
President Obama announced earlier this week the recess appointments of Richard Griffin, Sharon Block and Terence Flynn to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). Peter Larkin, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association, issued the following statement in response to the appointments: “N.G.A. is very concerned that the president’s recess appointments will result in […]
Posted in, Midwest
Shopko Stores, Pamida Merge
Two of the nation’s leading Midwest-based general merchandise retail chains, Shopko stores and Pamida, will merge to create one of the largest U.S. retailers focused on serving smaller and rural communities, according to a news release. The combined entity will have nearly 350 locations in 22 states and plans for new store growth in the […]
Posted in, Southeast
Piggly Wiggly Fined for Child Labor Violations
More than a dozen Piggly Wiggly stores in Alabama and Mississippi are facing fines for what the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division calls “significant violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act’s child labor and wage provision.” The following is a news release from the division: The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Northeast
Pepsi Reported to be Considering 4,000 Job Cuts
PepsiCo is mulling 4,000 job cuts and eliminating its 401(k) match as a way to help earnings, reports the New York Post, citing sources close to the situation. The Memphis Business Journal says the job cuts would total just more than 1 percent of Purchase, N.Y.-based Pepsi’s 300,000 workers globally. The beverage company offers both […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Center Store, West
Melton Promoted to Winemaker at Clos Du Val Winery
John Clews, COO and head winemaker at Clos Du Val Winery, has promoted Kristy Melton from assistant winemaker to winemaker at the Napa Valley winery. Melton, who was hired by the winery in 2010 to assist John in ongoing the enological modernization of Clos Du Val winemaking techniques and wine style, is expected to bring […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, Marketing News, Southeast, West
Revionics Signs Grocer for Price Optimization Software
Roseville, Calif.’s Revionics Inc. has signed K-VA-T Food Stores to use its price optimization software, reports the Sacramento Business Journal. K-VA-T Food Stores is based Abingdon, Va. It operates 104 grocery stores, with 76 pharmacies and 71 gas stations under the Food City, Super Dollar, and Gas ‘N Go brands in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee. […]
Posted in, Marketing News, West
Pollock Fishery Certified Sustainable; Crab Will Be Next
Bering Sea crab will be the next Alaska fishery to win certification for sustainability, according to United Nations guidelines, helping to increase market access for Seattle-based seafood producers, reports the Puget Sound Business Journal. In December, the $1.1 billion pollock fishery won the same United Nations sustainability certification, following salmon, halibut and black cod, which […]
Posted in, National
Rutherford Promoted at KCBS
KCBS Sales and Marketing has promoted John Rutherford to president, effective Jan. 1 “Over the two-and-a-half-year period that John has been with the company, he has made significant contributions to the growth of our organization,” said CEO Lynn Sarsgard. “I am sure that, in his new role as president, John will take us to new […]
Posted in, Southeast, Suppliers
Cal-Maine Foods Names Holladay VP and General Counsel
Jackson, Miss.-based Cal-Maine Foods Inc. has appointed Robert L. Holladay Jr. VP and general counsel. Prior to joining Cal-Maine, Holladay most recently advised the company as an outside attorney with YoungWilliams P.A. in Jackson, Miss., where he concentrated his practice in corporate, securities and general business law. He has experience advising companies of all sizes […]
Posted in, National
Hy-Vee CEO Ric Jurgens Announces Plans to Retire
Hy-Vee Chairman and CEO Ric Jurgens announced to stockholders at Hy-Vee’s annual meeting on Dec. 14 that he plans to retire from the West Des Moines, Iowa-based company effective June 1. Jurgens, 62, has been Hy-Vee’s top officer since 2006. A 42-year veteran of the company, he began his career as a part-time employee in […]
Posted in, National, West
Looking Back: Bradshaw Still Dispensing Wisdom at 98
[gn_note color=”#66cc66″] This interview originally ran in the March 2008 edition of The Shelby Report of the West. Douglas B. “Buzz” Bradshaw, the well-known Western food broker, died Nov. 7 at his home in Ketchum, Idaho, just two months before celebrating his 102nd birthday. In memory here is one of our favorite articles of the […]
Posted in, National
Kraft Foods Names Leaders of Future Independent Companies
In the next step toward launching two public companies, the Kraft Foods Inc. Board of Directors has made the appointments of the chairmen and CEOs of the future global snacks and North American grocery companies. As previously announced, the company expects to complete the spin-off by the end of 2012. When the new companies launch: […]
Posted in, National
Ocean Mist Farms Completes First Leadership Development Program
Ocean Mist Farms celebrated the completion of its inaugural leadership development program with a graduation ceremony on Nov. 19 for Class I participants of the program designed to develop the company’s emerging leaders from within. Conceptualized, designed and implemented over several years, the leadership development program included curriculum about topics such as self-awareness, organizational behavior, […]
Posted in, Southeast
Winn-Dixie Continues on ‘Transformational’ Path
by Terrie Ellerbee/associate editor Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. continues on its path of “transformational remodels,” and the strategy is working, said Peter Lynch, president, CEO and chairman of the Jacksonville, Fla.-based supermarket chain. Sales at remodeled stores are up and they are helping build brand equity. Net sales for the first quarter of the company’s fiscal […]
Posted in, National
United Fresh 2012 to Shine Light on Retail Stars
The United Fresh Foundation, through the Center for Leadership Excellence, is now accepting nominations for the 2012 United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Awards Program. Established in 2005 by founding sponsor Ready Pac Foods, Inc., the program will honor 25 outstanding retail produce managers at the United Fresh 2012 convention and expo, May 1-3, in Dallas. […]