While wine drinking is not linked as closely to American dining and culture as it is with that of some European nations, most Americans buy and drink wine—only 38 percent say they never buy a bottle of wine. And, nearly half of U.S. adults over age 21 say they drink wine several times per month […]
Tag: Southwest
Posted in, Southeast, Southwest
Brown is Kroger’s New Delta Division President
The Kroger Co. announced today, March 19, the promotion of Tim Brown as president of the company’s Delta division. Kroger’s Delta division is based in Memphis, Tenn., and operates stores in Western Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, Arkansas and Missouri. Brown, 52, has been VP of operations in the company’s division, based in Roanoke, Va., since 2011; […]
Posted in, Beverage News, New Products, Southwest
Doritos Unveils Giant Vending Machine To Debut ‘Jacked’ Chips
The Doritos brand is taking to the streets of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Music Conference and Festivalin Austin, Tex., to debut Doritos JACKED tortilla chips—literally the Doritos brand’s biggest innovation ever. The bold new product line was revealed inside a giant vending machine—standing at nearly six stories tall—at The Doritos JACKED Maxim Party on […]
Posted in, National, Southwest
Grocer Testifies About Impact Of Healthcare Reform On Independents
National Grocers Association (N.G.A.) member John W. Leevers, president of Leevers Supermarkets of Franktown, Colo., testified today before a congressional subcommittee on the potential adverse consequences of the Affordable Care Act, which will require small businesses to provide employees with health insurance by 2014 or pay financial penalties. “Unless significant changes are made to the […]
Posted in, Southwest, West
Sunflower Farmers Market Opening Third Oklahoma Store
Boulder, Colo.-based Sunflower Farmers Market, the full-service natural and organic grocer known for “serious food at silly prices,” will open its third store in the Oklahoma market in the first quarter of 2013. The market will be located at W. Main Street and S. Lahoma Ave. in Norman. “We’re truly looking forward to both our […]
Posted in, National
Groups Join Forces for Big Convention
The American Meat Institute, Food Marketing Institute (FMI), United Fresh Produce Association and National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) are partnering on four shows, to be co-located in Dallas, Texas, on April 30-May 3, with 1,200 exhibitors and 1 million s.f. of the latest food technology and trends on display. The American Meat […]
Posted in, Southeast, Southwest
Fletcher Named SVP at Associated Grocers of Baton Rouge
Associated Grocers Inc. in Baton Rouge, La., has promoted Lewis R. “Randy” Fletcher to SVP of distribution and transportation. Fletcher has been with Associated Grocers since January of 1977, recently completing 35 years of service to the company and its members. Fletcher has worked in various departments at AG Baton Rouge, including distribution, transportation, dry […]
Posted in, Southwest
Trader Joe’s Adds Two More Houston Sites
Trader Joe’s is adding two more Houston, Texas, area sites to its shopping list for store locations, according information on the Texas Comptroller’s website. The grocery store chain has received sales tax permits to open stores at 1440 S. Voss and 2922 S. Shepherd. The new locations will join a store under development in The […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, National
MillerCoors Profits Up 32.5 Percent
MillerCoors LLC recorded a 32.5 percent increase in profits for the fourth quarter on growing market share for its Coors Light brand and ongoing cost savings related to the merger of Miller Brewing and Coors Brewing, reports the Denver Business Journal. SABMiller plc of London and Molson Coors Brewing Co. of Denver, Colo., the co-owners […]
Posted in, Southwest
H-E-B Opens New Central Market Convenience Format
The Dallas News reports that H-E-B has opened a new mini Central Market in Dallas, Texas. The News says it looks “as if someone took the CM concept and squeezed it up and in: You’ll see most of the products found at the larger stores, but tighter stocks stacked high—a narrower trough of sweet potatoes, […]
Posted in, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest
Kroger, Teamsters Ratify Agreements
Kroger Co. associates working at four distribution centers and two dairy manufacturing facilities have ratified new labor agreements with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. The new contract includes a master agreement that outlines healthcare and pension benefits and local supplemental agreements that cover wages for three years. About 1,400 employees of the Cincinnati-based grocery retailer […]
Posted in, Southwest
Texas Supermarket, Red Mango Partner on In-Store Yogurt Shop
United Supermarkets and Red Mango are embarking on a test of a store-in-store concept offering healthy frozen treats to United shoppers. United is slated to open its first Red Mango counter later this month at its Judge Ely Boulevard location in Abilene. Construction begins inside the store today, Feb. 13. This is the first Red […]
Posted in, Southwest
Michael Besancon Retires From Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods Market, a leading organic and natural foods supermarket, has announced that Michael Besancon, senior global VP of purchasing, distribution and communication, will retire from the company after more than 17 years of service. “Having worked in our line of business from soup to nuts, Michael is absolutely one of the most knowledgeable natural […]
Posted in, Southwest
Austin Bag Ban Could Cost Texas 8,800 Jobs, Group Says
An alliance of plastic bag manufacturers estimate that a bag ban in Austin, Texas, could cost the state 8,800 jobs, reports the Austin Business Journal. The Journal reports that the American Progressive Bag Alliance is against the city’s proposed ordinance to tax and ban single-use plastic bags that Mayor Lee Leffingwell has been pushing for. […]
Posted in, Center Store, New Products, Southwest
Hostess Rolls Out New Chocolate Creme Twinkies
Irving, Texas-based Hostess is giving consumers another way to celebrate Valentine’s Day this year with the launch of new Chocolate Creme Twinkies. Following a special limited-edition offering of the treat last spring, the golden cakes’ signature creme filling is getting a chocolate-y makeover just in time for the sweetest holiday of the year—and the flavor […]
Posted in, C-Store News, Southeast, Southwest
7-Eleven Acquires 55 Sam’s Mart Stores in the Carolinas
Slurpee® drinks, Big Bite® hotdogs, Big Gulp® beverages and other convenient services are on their way to Charlotte. Dallas, Texas-based 7-Eleven Inc. has entered into an agreement with Sam’s Mart LLC to acquire 55 Sam’s Mart stores in North and South Carolina and convert them to 7-Eleven® stores this year. The transaction is anticipated to […]
Posted in, Southwest
Arizona Bill Requires ID to Get Food Stamps
Conservatives traditionally don’t like the idea of national identification cards, citing Orwellian “big brother” fears. Those same concerns aren’t always held when it comes to trying to keep illegal immigrants from getting jobs or welfare benefits, reports the Phoenix Business Journal. Some Arizona Republican lawmakers have introduced a new bill in the legislature requiring those […]
Posted in, Southwest
‘Supermarket Chef Showdown’ Set For FMI2012
The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has announced the inaugural FMI Supermarket Chef Showdown™, a unique cook-off competition exclusively for culinary professionals in the food retail industry. The contest is designed to promote the value and culinary expertise present in supermarkets and grocery stores, and FMI predicts the competition will be a premier event for supermarket […]
Posted in, Southwest
FRESH By Brookshire’s Awarded LEED Green Building Certification
The Fresh by Brookshire’s store in Tyler, Texas, has earned LEED® certification in recognition of its energy-saving features, the first grocery store in East Texas to earn the certification. Brookshire’s new concept store achieved LEED status for energy use, lighting, water and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. The […]
Posted in, National
Wegmans, Whole Foods, Publix Make List Of Best Workplaces
Fortune is out with its annual list of the 100 best places to work in the US, and once again a number of retailers made the list—with Wegmans ranked highest in this segment at No. 4 overall. Other retailers on the list include REI (No. 8), Zappos (11), The Container Store (22), Whole Foods (32), […]