Hugo Tottino of Ocean Mist Farms, a fourth-generation family-owned produce grower, passed away Nov. 6. He was 91 years old. Known for his warm and welcoming spirit, Ocean Mist says Mr. Tottino greeted employees every day one-by-one. “His hard work ethic and loyalty to his family and employees motivated countless long-tenured Ocean Mist Farms employees,” […]
Tag: West
Posted inProduce News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, West
Frieda’s Specialty Produce Offers ‘Trending’ Stokes Purple Sweet Potatoes
As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, Frieda’s Specialty Produce is encouraging retailers to draw shoppers in to their produce departments with a sweet potato display featuring “Instagram-famous” Stokes Purple sweet potatoes. “Our retail partners say the best time of year to promote Stokes Purple sweet potatoes is the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving,” said Alex Jackson […]
Posted inFood Service News, Bakery News, Deli News, Grocery News, Grocery Store Layout, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Produce News, Shelby Content, Shelby Signature Content, Store News, West
Letting The Food Speak For Itself: Bristol Farms’ New-Concept Mulholland Store
Bristol Farms’ new prototype store will open Nov. 11. The 25,000-s.f. store on Mulholland Drive in Woodland Hills, California, located in a space formerly owned by Haggen, is the first major design departure for Bristol Farms in its 35-year history and is “a store that we’ve been dreaming up for a decade,” Kacie Davis, owner […]
Posted inExecutive News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Store News, West
Bob Mariano Joins Gelson’s Board Of Directors
Supermarket executive Bob Mariano has joined the board of directors of Southern California supermarket chain Gelson’s Markets. “Bob Mariano is a legend in the supermarket industry, especially in the Midwest where he has made an indelible impact with the chain of stores that carry his name. We are thrilled he has agreed to join our board of directors, bringing […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Store News, West
Vallarta Supermarkets Campaign Raises $203K For Mexico, Puerto Rico
Responding to natural disasters that devastated Mexico and Puerto Rico, Vallarta Supermarkets raised a total of $202,939 during a recent customer outreach campaign to benefit the many people who were impacted or displaced. Vallarta Supermarkets initiated the campaign with a donation of $25,000 by The Gonzalez Family Foundation. The entire amount raised by Vallarta Supermarkets and […]
Posted inEquipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Store News, West
Superior Grocers Offering Same-Day Delivery With Instacart
Superior Grocers, an independent supermarket chain with 45 Southern California stores, and Instacart are partnering to bring same-day delivery to select Los Angeles and Orange County locations. According to Superior Grocers, it will be the first Hispanic retailer in Southern California to offer same-day delivery service through Instacart. Superior Grocers’ customers can now visit www.instacart.com/superior-grocers […]
Posted inDeli News, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Store News, West
Kent’s Market Opens 5th Store In Plain City, Utah
Kent’s Market is now serving Plain City. The Utah-owned grocery store celebrated the opening of its newest store at 3673 West 2600 North with a ribbon cutting ceremony Oct. 28, when it treated guests to product samples, giveaways and deals. At nearly 51,000 s.f., Kent’s Market in Plain City offers a scratch bakery, a service […]
Posted inMeat/Seafood/Poultry, Grocery News, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Organic Natural, Store News, Suppliers, West
Raley’s Partners With American Homestead To Offer GMO-Free Pork
Raley’s has entered into a new partnership across all its stores with American Homestead Pork, a group of family farms, for a program that will offer several varieties of fresh pork, all non-GMO and antibiotic-free. American Homestead is a group of thirty-five family farms in Iowa. Its animals are never given antibiotics or growth promotants, […]
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Nunes Co. Breaks Ground On California Farm Labor Housing
After years of planning, shovels went in the ground this month on a four-acre parcel in Salinas, California, known as the Boronda neighborhood, for the second farmworker housing complex in the region. Avila Construction of Monterey, California, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony to honor the Hibino, Nunes and Rodriguez families for “recognizing the need for beautiful, […]
Posted inEquipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Store News, West
Harmons Partners With Unata For New E-Commerce Program
Harmons, a family-owned and locally operated grocery chain based in Utah, has teamed up with Unata, a provider of 1-to-1 digital solutions for grocers, to develop a new e-commerce and online list-building experience for patrons. Harmons’ new online program will allow customers in select markets to visit harmonsgrocery.com and build personalized grocery lists and pick up items […]
Posted inShelby Signature Content, Executive News, Home Page Latest News, West
Smart & Final’s Scott And Kelly Drew ‘Putting Life Back Together’ After Fire
by Alissa Marchat/web editor It’s been a devastating month for many California residents. Fires in both Northern and Southern California have claimed dozens of lives and thousands of buildings, among them the home of Smart & Final EVP of Operations Scott Drew and his wife Kelly. Scott’s name is likely a familiar one to many […]
Posted in, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, Store News, West
Stater Bros. Opening 30th Orange County Store Oct. 25
Stater Bros. will host a grand opening for its new Tustin, California, store at 15150 Kensington Park Drive on Wednesday, Oct. 25. This will be the 30th Stater Bros. supermarket in Orange County and second supermarket to serve Tustin residents. Local residents are promised a “conveniently located, full-service shopping experience along with Stater Bros.’ exceptional customer […]
Posted in, Corporate Store News, Food Service News, Home Page Latest News, Store News, West
Whole Foods Opening Relocated Park City, Utah, Store Oct. 18
Whole Foods Market officially opens its newly relocated Park City, Utah, store on Wed., Oct. 18 at 9 a.m., with music, food and surprises for guests. The 43,000-s.f. store, opening at 6598 N. Landmark Drive, brings a “culinary destination for food lovers of all stripes and will feature an expansive offering of organic, specialty, and […]
Posted inEquipment & Technology, Home Page Latest News, Industry News, Online Grocery Technology, Supply Chain News, West
San Francisco Startup Offers ‘Farm-To-Fridge’ Delivery In An Hour
Farmstead is an “AI-powered digital micro-grocer” that wants to reinvent the supermarket model with technology that sources and delivers local food from “farm-to-fridge in 60 minutes.” The company officially launched in the San Francisco Bay Area this month. Founded 12 months ago, Farmstead has completed more than 15,000 deliveries to thousands of Bay Area customers, and […]
Posted inSpecialty, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Industry News, West
Central Co-op Returns More Than Half Its Revenue To Local Economy
In celebration of National Co-op Month, Seattle-based Central Co-op has released the results of an economic impact report conducted by Civic Economics, a financial analysis agency, showing the cooperative returns more than 52 percent of its revenue back to the local economy. By comparison, the average U.S. cooperative grocery recirculates 36 percent of its revenue […]
Posted inExecutive News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, Merchandising News, West
Kroger Atlanta Division Director Promoted To Smith’s Merchandising VP
Kroger has promoted Deana Collins to VP of merchandising for the grocer’s Smith’s division. Collins most recently served as director of regional operations in Kroger’s Atlanta division. At Smith’s, she will oversee merchandising efforts the division’s 138 stores in seven western states. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, Smith’s employs 18,000 associates. “Throughout the years, Deana […]
Posted inPackaging News, Home Page Latest News, New Products, Organic Natural, Perishables, Produce News, West
Sous Vide Organic Vegetables: A New Ready-To-Eat Option
Las Vegas, Nevada-based Straight From The Root is bringing the French style of sous vide cooking to American kitchens with USDA organic, cut and fully cooked vegetables. Straight From The Root’s sous vide cooking method involves submerging a BPA-free, vacuum-sealed bag of cut, organic vegetables in heated water to cook them completely. The bags are then […]
Posted inDeli News, Corporate Store News, Home Page Latest News, West
Ralphs Unveils Meal Kits At Select Stores, Plans Larger Rollout
Ralphs Grocery Co. is introducing pre-measured and prepared meal kits, called Prep+Pared, in its stores. The meal kits are available now in 25 Ralphs locations across Southern California, and by early 2018, shoppers will be able to purchase Prep+ Pared meal kits at more than 100 Ralphs locations. “The meals are fresh-made, chef-inspired, restaurant-quality, easily […]
Posted inPackaging News
Vericool Expanding Reach Of Recyclable, Compostable Cold Chain Packaging
Livermore, California-based Vericool, developer of Vericoolers—high-performing, sustainable cold chain packaging that the company says performs as well as Styrofoam—has closed $5 million in funding. The round was led by packaging investor and innovator BillerudKorsnäs AB’s investment company BillerudKorsnäs Venture AB. The latest round of funding will be used for capacity expansion to meet increasing demand […]
Posted inSpecialty, Home Page Latest News, Independent Store News, Organic Natural, Produce News, West
Honey Bee Produce Co. Opens First Store In Draper, Utah
Specialty grocer Honey Bee Produce Co. has debuted in Draper, Utah. A small-format store, Honey Bee says it is the first store of its kind in Utah, catering to shoppers looking for “the freshest produce, specialty items and Utah products.” Its grand opening was held Sept. 13, highlighted by a produce slicing demonstration from a “produce […]