For only the fourth time in the company’s 82-year history, Hy-Vee Inc. has a new chairman and CEO. Today, Hy-Vee’s board of directors elected Randy Edeker, 49, to succeed Ric Jurgens, whose retirement on June 1 caps a 43-year career with the West Des Moines, Iowa-based supermarket chain. Edeker most recently served as president and […]
Tag: sales
Posted in, Midwest
General Mills Cutting 850 Jobs
General Mills said today that it is eliminating 850 jobs worldwide in an effort to cut costs. Golden Valley, Minn.-based General Mills said in a news release the move would cost $109 million, with most of that being recorded in the fourth quarter, which ends May 27. General Mills said the move is “designed to […]
Posted in, Northeast
Kings Debuting Enhanced Livingston, N.J., Store On Wednesday
Kings Food Markets will host the grand reopening of its Livingston, N.J., store at noon Wednesday, May 23. The Livingston location is the second of the upscale chain’s 24 stores to undergo renovations as part of a company-wide brand and website relaunch. The initiative kicked off in February in an effort to meet the ever-changing […]
Posted in, Southeast
Publix Promotes Gino DiGrazia to VP of Finance
Lakeland, Fla.-based Publix Super Markets Inc. has promoted Gino DiGrazia to VP of finance. In addition to his current responsibilities for business analysis and reporting (BAR), DiGrazia assumes many of the responsibilities previously held by Kelly Underhill, director of tax and treasury, who retired from Publix on March 30, after 22 years of dedicated service. […]
Posted in, Northeast
Atlantic City Finally Gets Full-Service Grocery Store As Save-A-Lot Opens
Save-A-Lot, one of the nation’s leading hard discount, limited assortment grocery chains and a wholly owned subsidiary of Supervalu, will open its first Atlantic City, N..J., store today, May 17—becoming the first full-service grocery store within a 21-mile radius of the city. A grand opening ceremony for the store, located at 1501 Atlantic Ave., was […]
Posted in, Beverage News, West
FreshWorks Pledges $125M Loan Fund To Bring Fresh Food To Neighborhoods
The California FreshWorks Fund has announced that a coalition of grocers, banks and other entities are collaborating on a $125 million loan pool effort to get more fresh food made available in low-income neighborhoods. The Sacramento Business Journal reports that the fund will offer grocers access to alternative financing options as well as incentives to […]
Posted in, National
Kroger Receives Black Pearl Award For Food Safety
The Kroger Co. is the 2012 recipient of the prestigious Black Pearl Award for advancing food safety and quality. The International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) names one company annually for its efforts to advance food safety and quality through consumer programs, employee relations, educational activities, adherence to standards, and support of the goals and […]
Posted in, Midwest
Nash Finch Buying Omaha’s No Frills Supermarkets
Nash Finch Co., Minneapolis-based food distributor, announced today that U Save Foods Inc., a Nash Finch wholly owned subsidiary, has entered into an agreement to purchase the No Frills Supermarkets. Fourteen stores are located in Nebraska, 12 of which are in the Greater Omaha market; four stores are located in western Iowa. No Frills is […]
Posted in, Midwest, National
Kroger CEO Bags 66 Percent Pay Increase for 2011
Kroger Co. CEO David Dillon was paid $8.9 million in 2011, a 66 percent markup over what the Cincinnati-based grocer paid him the previous year, the Associated Press reports. Dillon’s pay improved along with Kroger’s bottom line. His cash performance bonus increased from $808,020 to $2.7 million, and Dillon also was paid a $619,000 long-term […]
Posted in, National
Bankruptcy Judge Denies Hostess’ Motion to Reject Teamster Contracts
In a victory for Hostess workers, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Robert Drain issued an oral decision Monday evening denying Hostess Brands Inc.’s motion to reject all Teamster labor contracts, meaning that all contracts with Teamster local unions remain in effect. “We told our Hostess members all along that we would vigorously oppose the imposition of unjust […]
Posted in, Southeast
Publix Saves Two Billion Paper and Plastic Bags
Since 2007, Publix Super Markets has led initiatives to reduce the use of paper and plastic grocery bags used at checkout. The Lakeland, Fla.-based company has emphasized the importance of sustainability by training front service clerks and cashiers to increase the number of items per bag, implementing bag reduction goals for each store, holding communication […]
Posted in, Midwest
Mark Coborn Announces Retirement
Mark Coborn, an EVP and board member with the grocery retail company that bears his family name, has announced his retirement. The St. Cloud Times reports that Coborn is stepping down from his executive role in the next few weeks but will continue to serve on the board of directors for Coborn’s Inc. “It has […]
Posted in, Midwest
Supervalu Closing Ohio Distribution Center
Supervalu announced today that it would close its Xenia, Ohio, distribution center by October. The shutter will cost 120 people their jobs. The Ohio center will consolidate into a larger center based in Fort Wayne, Ind. “Supervalu regularly reviews its business operations and made the decision to consolidate these distribution centers to improve operating efficiency […]
Posted in, National
Hostess Warns Its 18K U.S. Employees Of Potential Layoffs
Hostess Brands Inc. has sent notices of potential layoff, under the federal WARN act, to all 18,000 employees across the U.S. Irving, Texas-based Hostess, maker of the iconic Twinkie and Wonder Bread, currently is under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. “The notices were sent to alert employees that a sale or wind down of the company […]
Posted in, West
WAFC Announces 2012-13 Officer Lineup
The Western Association of Food Chains (WAFC) has announced the 2012-13 officers and board of directors elected at the 91st Annual WAFC Convention on April 24 at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge in Phoenix, Ariz. WAFC Officers 2012-13 • President and Chairman: Oscar Gonzalez, co-president and COO of Northgate Markets, Anaheim, Calif. • Vice President: […]
Posted in, Southeast
Delhaize America, Food Lion Re-open Dunn, N.C., Distribution Center
Salisbury, N.C.-based Delhaize America and Food Lion have re-opened their distribution center in Dunn, N.C. The facility was severely damaged on April 16, 2011, by a tornado, and the company recently completed construction and expansion activities at the center. “The re-opening of this facility is extremely important to our company’s distribution and transportation network, and […]
Posted in, National, West
Former Hostess CEO Takes The Helm At Diamond Foods
San Francisco-based Diamond Foods has appointed food and beverage industry veteran Brian J. Driscoll as president and CEO, effective May 8. Driscoll, who will join the Diamond board of directors, replaces Rick G. Wolford, a director who has served as interim CEO since Feb. 7 while the company conducted a nationwide search for a permanent […]
Posted in, National, Southeast
Dollar General Expanding Grocery ‘Market’ Format
Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based Dollar General is hoping to grasp a larger share of the grocery business. A Wall Street Journal story describes the retailer’s experiment to expand its Dollar General Market store concept, which offers fresh food and refrigerated products. The company plans to open 40 Market stores within the next year. A typical Dollar General […]
Posted in, Midwest, West
Apio Acquires Green Bean Processor
Fresh-cut vegetable producer Apio Inc. has acquired GreenLine Foods Inc. from The Riverside Co., a global private equity firm. Perrysburg, Ohio-based GreenLine Foods is a leading processor and marketer of value-added, fresh-cut green beans in North America, according to Apio, which is based in Guadalupe, Calif. “U.S. consumer demand for the convenience of fresh-cut green […]
Posted in, Southeast
Kroger Again a Sponsor of Fiesta Atlanta
Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer, will again support Fiesta Atlanta in 2012. The 6th annual Fiesta Atlanta will take place at Centennial Olympic Park on Sunday, May 6. Kroger continues to promote and serve the growing Latino community. Its display area at the festival will include a “Kroger Isle,” featuring an interactive area […]