McCormick & Co. Inc. has appointed Lawrence Kurzius to the role of president of global consumer and chief administrative officer, effective July 1. In this role, Kurzius will have the responsibility for McCormick’s consumer business globally as well as several of the company’s corporate functions including IT, supply chain, R&D and quality assurance. Kurzius also […]
Tag: retail
Posted in, National, New Products
TGI Fridays Introduces Two New Baked Snacks To Retail
Inventure Foods Inc. is introducing two baked snacks under its licensed partnership with TGI Fridays. Extreme Heat Crunchy Fries and Jalapeno Poppers Snack Sticks add substantial spice to a line of snacks inspired by the bar and casual dining restaurant menu. Both snacks will begin to appear in stores and vending machines nationwide this summer. […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, New Products
AriZona Beverages, Shaquille O’Neal Team Up For Cream Soda Line
AriZona Beverages and Shaquille O’Neal are entering new territory with an all-natural line of cream sodas. The partnership was announced via social media on Twitter and Facebook by Shaquille O’Neal and AriZona Beverages to their combined audiences totaling nearly 14 million followers. AriZona Beverages is known for its big cans and big value, so a […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
Louisiana Companies Donate Food, Supplies To Oklahoma Tornado Victims
Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M., said Friday that Louisiana companies are donating a significant amount of food and supplies to a food bank in Moore, Okla., following the devastating tornado there. “It is a humbling experience when you need help,” said Strain.”What makes this country great is the generosity that […]
Posted in, National
Georgia Peach Growers Expect Outstanding Season
Sweet Georgia Peaches are arriving at grocery stores for the season. This year’s crop is expected to not only be delicious, but also, abundant. This season’s peak months are expected to be in June and July and continue through mid-August. “It’s going to be a great year for Georgia Peaches,” says Will McGehee of the […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Mondelez International Signs Global ‘Mobile Only’ Media Deal With Google
Mondelez International Inc., maker of chocolate, biscuits, gum and candy, has signed a global strategic agreement with Google. The deal will focus on mobile search, mobile display and mobile websites. This “mobile only” media deal is part of Mondelez International’s commitment to invest 10 percent of its global marketing budget in mobile activations across the […]
Posted in, Midwest, Store News
Hy-Vee Partners With NBA Star Harrison Barnes To Promote Health, Fitness
Hy-Vee Inc. has teamed up with Iowa native and NBA rookie sensation Harrison Barnes to encourage kids throughout the Midwest to improve their health and fitness. Barnes, who started this past season for the Golden State Warriors, will make appearances in Hy-Vee stores and at events such as the Hy-Vee Triathlon and Hy-Vee IronKids youth […]
Posted in, National
‘What Women Want’ Survey Reveals Group Boasts $7 Trillion Purchasing Power
American women are striving to have it all, and they’re turning to flexible workplaces, personal connections, technology-free zones, discounts and coupons to help them find much sought-after balance in family, finances and career. According to a survey released this week by Ginger Consulting, a branding and custom research firm based in Minneapolis, women surveyed said […]
Posted in, National
KeHE Distributors To Host Holiday Show In Chicago Next Month
KeHE Distributors’ annual Holiday Show at McCormick Place in Chicago will be held June 10-11. The two-day event will bring together thousands of retailers and suppliers in the natural, specialty and fresh product categories to showcase holiday products and also year-round on “hot and trend” products. “Both our retail and supplier partners rely on our […]
Posted in, Executive News, West
Klug Joins Popchips’ Sales Team
Longtime Coca-Cola executive Todd Klug recently made the move to Popchips, where he joins the company’s national sales team with a focus on retail customers in the western U.S. Klug transitions to the snack company with more than 20 years in the beverage business within the Coca-Cola system. Popchips, which boasts an all-natural “never baked, […]
Posted in, National, Suppliers
Kellogg Reaches $4M Settlement In Mini-Wheats Litigation
A $4 million settlement has been reached in a class-action lawsuit over Kellogg’s Frosted Mini-Wheats branded cereals. The following statement is being issued by Blood Hurst & O’Reardon LLP regarding the settlement: “Consumers alleged in the lawsuit that Kellogg’s Mini-Wheats cereal was falsely advertised to improve kids’ attentiveness, memory and other cognitive functions to a […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Cracker Jack Launching Two New Flavors, Modernized Prizes And More
In celebration of its 120th anniversary, the Cracker Jack brand from PepsiCo’s Frito-Lay division is introducing new flavors, more peanuts and modern prizes. “After 120 years, we knew it was the right time for the Cracker Jack brand to modernize to really suit the changing snacking preferences among our biggest fans—while still remaining true to […]
Posted in, National
ROFDA Conference Starts With Retailer Focus
J. H. “Jay” Campbell Jr., president and CEO of Associated Grocers of Baton Rouge and ROFDA chairman, kicked off the Retailer Owned Food Distributors & Associates (ROFDA) Spring Conference earlier this month by reminding attendees what ROFDA is all about: “Our Independent Retail Grocers.” Held May 18-21 at Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort in Amelia, […]
Posted in, National
Sweets And Snacks In A Volatile, Fragmented Market
Confection and snack manufacturers have to be where the shopper is, according to Leon Nicholas, SVP of retail insights at Kantar Retail. During Nicholas’ keynote address at the 2013 Sweets & Snacks Expo at McCormick Place in Chicago this week, he gave attendees some insight into the snack and confection industry’s retailer opportunities and how […]
Posted in, National
More Latino Shoppers Use Mobile As Shopping Tool Than General Shoppers
U.S. smartphone penetration is approximately 57 percent so it’s no surprise that consumers are using their phones to assist with shopping needs. What’s interesting is 16 percent of Hispanic shoppers are using their mobile device to make purchases compared to 12 percent of general market shoppers. This was revealed in the latest issue of “The […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Former Bush White House Counselor Joins Walmart PR Head
Walmart has named Dan Bartlett, 41, its new EVP of corporate affairs, effective in late June. Bartlett most recently was president and CEO of the U.S. arm of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a global business advisory firm serving corporations, nonprofits and associations in 52 countries. Prior to that, he was a senior counselor to President George W. […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Minnesota Ups Cigarette Tax $1.60 Per Pack
The Minnesota Legislature this week approved a tax bill that will increase the cigarette tax by $1.60 per pack and also increase the tax on other tobacco products. The state projects that the tax increase will raise $434 million in new revenue over the next two years (fiscal years 2014-15). With Minnesota’s increase to $2.83 […]
Posted in, National
Food Retail Survey Anticipates Amplified Audit Function Over Five Years
Supermarket audit departments and audit budgets will witness resource expansions congruent to the expanding roles within information technology, retail operations and supply chain departments, according to the Food Retailing and Wholesaling Internal Audit Study published by the Food Marketing Institute (FMI). Forty-two percent of companies expect to grow the size of the internal audit function […]
Posted in, Independent Store News, Southeast
Rouses Partners With Royal Family Farms To Offer Fresh Miss. Goat, Lamb
The selection in the meat case at Rouses Markets just got bigger and even more local, thanks to a new and exclusive partnership between family-owned Rouses and family-owned Royal Family Farms of Crystal Springs, Miss., to retail goat and lamb. “I love the idea of two local family companies working together,” says Donny Rouse, Rouses’ […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
Snack Food Association Appoints Dempsey CEO
The Snack Food Association (SFA) has named Tom Dempsey, former president of UTZ Quality Foods, as its CEO, effective July 1. Jim McCarthy, SFA’s president and CEO since 1999, will continue as president with a focus of enhancing SFA’s presence in federal, state and international arenas. Dempsey’s focus will be to help increase SFA’s value […]