San Bernardino, Calif.-based Stater Bros. will open its newest and most modern supermarket in Hesperia on Wednesday, Aug. 1. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held in the parking lot at 8 a.m., and the new Stater Bros. Hesperia supermarket will open for business at 8:30 a.m. After Wednesday, the new Supermarket will be open […]
Tag: West
Posted in, West
Nestlé USA Appoints Hannah Coan New VP Of Corporate, Brand Affairs
Nestlé USA has named Hannah Coan its new VP of corporate and brand affairs. Coan’s appointment follows the retirement of Laurie MacDonald who joined Nestlé in 1985 working in the nutritional products division before joining corporate and brand affairs. Coan most recently was SVP of Waggener Edstrom Public Relations, where she led communications for Microsoft’s […]
Posted in, West
California Communities Get Year-Round Access To Healthy Foods
Thousands of families across California will soon have easier access to essential foods for a healthy life as the result of grants awarded by The California FreshWorks Fund (CFWF), administered by NCB Capital Impact. The $105,100 in grants are designed to create new access to healthy foods, and are awarded to: The Community Development Foundation […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National
16-oz. Cold Activated Hiball Energy Can Line Available At Whole Foods
Hiball Inc. has announced the distribution of its newly reformulated and repackaged line of energy drinks to more than 250 Whole Foods Market stores throughout the U.S. Now sold in 16-oz. cold activated cans, Hiball’s line of Organic Sparkling Energy Drinks and Sparkling Energy Waters began rolling out into Whole Foods Market’s stores mid-June, featuring […]
Posted inNational, West
Mollie Stone’s Named Outstanding Specialty Retailer by NASFT
The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade Inc. (NASFT) has selected Mollie Stone’s Markets as an Outstanding Specialty Food Retailer of 2012. This award recognizes only five retailers nationwide each year for excellence in customer service, product sourcing, merchandising, quality assurance and a passion for presenting top-quality food. “Mollie Stone’s shows true commitment to […]
Posted in, Beverage News, West
Southern California McDonald’s Introduces New Flavors
Two new summer flavors are now available at Southern California McDonald’s® restaurants: the Spicy Chicken McBites and McCafe Chocolate Chip Frappe. Like January’s limited time Chicken McBites, the new Spicy Chicken McBites are crispy, poppable pieces of juicy white chicken breast, seasoned to create heat and flavor that builds with every bite. Spicy Chicken McBites […]
Posted in, Center Store, West
Unified CEO: It’s Probably Time To ‘Redefine’ Center Store
by Kristen Cloud/staff writer While perimeter store sales have seen a substantial uptick in recent years, perhaps taking away from purchases consumers would normally make in the center store, Al Plamann says the center store category shouldn’t be dismissed as a disappearing one. Rather, he notes, the definition of center store simply needs updating. Plamann, […]
Posted in, Southwest, West
Natural Grocers By Vitamin Cottage Files For IPO
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage Inc. on Monday filed to raise as much as $115 million through an initial public offering, the Denver Business Journal reports. The Lakewood, Colo.-based company’s prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission said it envisions trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “NGVC.” The family-owned company, […]
Posted in, West
James Beard Market Deal Approved for Portland
The James Beard Public Market in Portland, Ore., is just weeks away from closing an agreement to secure a site at the Morrison Bridge, the Portland Business Journal reports. The Multnomah County Commission voted 4-0 last week to approve the $10.4 million sale of a three-acre parking lot on the west side of the Morrison […]
Posted in, West
Californians Get the Chance to Vote on GMO Labeling
The California Secretary of State’s office has said that the Right to Know initiative to label genetically engineered foods will be on the state’s November ballot. The initiative would be the first law in the United States requiring labeling of a wide range of genetically engineered foods. The initiative requires labeling of genetically modified organisms […]
Posted in, West
Save Mart Names Brett Wing As VP Of FoodMaxx
Modesto, Calif.-based Save Mart Supermarkets has welcomed Brett Wing as its new VP of FoodMaxx operations. Wing comes from Cub Foods/Supervalu in Hudson, Wis., and brings 35 years of grocery store and senior management experience. In 1987, he joined Cub Foods/Supervalu and held various positions, including VP of marketing, corporate director of produce, corporate director […]
Posted in, West
Haggen Announces Five-Year Partnership with Charlie’s Produce
Haggen, the Northwest’s largest independent grocer, has signed a five-year partnership with Charlie’s Produce, a full-service produce company based in Seattle, Wash. The partnership extends an existing 20-year relationship that has helped Haggen strengthen its dedication to providing customers the freshest produce in the region. The partnership comes following Haggen’s successful launch of its Northwest […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Wonderful Almonds Now Available
The countdown to summer is on with many consumers looking for healthy ways to get swimsuit-ready, without sacrificing good taste and nutrition. Snack seekers need to look no further than another Wonderful option in the produce section: Wonderful Almonds. These nutrient-dense, California-grown nuts are available in three varieties—Roasted & Salted, Roasted No Salt and Natural […]
Posted in, West
Colorful Harvest Hosts Strawberry Guitar Auction For ‘Lifting Lives’
Colorful Harvest, one of the fastest growing produce companies on the West Coast, is holding an online auction of a Musical Harvest strawberry guitar to benefit the Academy of Country Music’s (ACM) charity Lifting Lives®. The custom built guitar was signed by award-winning country artists at the recent ACM Awards show in Las Vegas, including […]
Posted in, Southwest
Sprouts, Sunflower Complete Merger; New Phoenix Stores Planned
Sprouts Farmers Market and Sunflower Farmers Market have completed their proposed merger, and three new Arizona stores are planned. The Phoenix Business Journal reports that plans call for opening a new store in Ahwatukee in September and another in Phoenix and Flagstaff in early 2013. Each store will hire about 80 people. While company officials […]
Posted in, National
Whole Foods Market Names New Regional Presidents
Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods Market has named Scott Allshouse, Omar Gaye and Rob Twyman as regional presidents following the promotion of David Lannon and Kenneth Meyer to EVPs of operations. Allshouse fills Meyer’s former role as president of the company’s Mid-Atlantic region. He moves from his position as president of the South region. Allshouse began […]
Posted in, West
Dave Histed Wins Safeway Culinary Kitchens’ Next Chef Competition
After a three-month nationwide search, a People’s Choice vote, three regional cook-off events and one final cook-off event, Safeway has found its next chef. Dave Histed has won the “Search for Our Next Chef” competition, a first-of-its-kind opportunity in which chefs from across the country competed for a full-time position with the Safeway Culinary Kitchens […]
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, 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, 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 […]