It seems like just yesterday natural/organic was the hot ticket, but local is quickly becoming a consumer favorite, as locally sourced products are becoming more popular at grocery stores and restaurants alike. According to recent Mintel research, the same is true in the fruit and vegetable industry with more than half (52 percent) of consumers […]
Tag: shopping
Posted in, Southeast
Bob Sasser Joins Board of The Fresh Market
The Fresh Market Board of Directors has elected Bob Sasser, president and CEO of Dollar Tree Stores, as a new board member for the Greensboro, N.C.-based specialty grocery company. Sasser joined Dollar Tree as COO in 1999. He haas been president since 2001 and CEO since 2004. Prior to joining Dollar Tree, Sasser held senior […]
Posted in, Amazon Fresh, Marketing News, National, Whole Foods
Report: Sam’s Club, Aldi, Publix, H-E-B Have Most Loyal Customers
A new research report published by Temkin Group, “2012 Temkin Loyalty Ratings,” indicates that only seven companies—four of which are grocery retailers—earned “very strong” loyalty ratings: Sam’s Club, Aldi, USAA, Publix, credit unions, Amazon.com, and H-E-B. At the other end of the spectrum, 37 companies earned “very weak” loyalty ratings. The research examines consumer loyalty […]
Posted in, West
Safeway Plans For $1B Stock Buyback
Safeway Inc. has added $1 billion to its stock buyback program, which had just $400 million left in it as of Feb. 22, reports the San Francisco Business Times. Safeway bought 43.3 million of its own shares in October, November and December 2011. The Pleasanton, Calif.-based company had about 297 million shares of common stock […]
Posted in, Beverage News, C-Store News, National, Southeast
TravelCenters, Trucking Solutions Sponsor Health Awareness Walk
The entire trucking industry is invited to join TravelCenters of America LLC and Trucking Solutions Group for the third annual MATS Health Awareness Walk. The walk, sponsored by TA and Petro Stopping Centers branded travel centers, together with Trucking Solutions Group, will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, March 23, during the Mid-America Trucking Show […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National, Shelby Content
FMI, GMDC Partner on Health and Wellness Conference
Food Marketing Institute (FMI) and Global Market Development Center (GMDC) plans to partner in offering a comprehensive conference in 2013 focused on health, beauty and wellness. The FMI and GMDC event will take place May 31-June 4, 2013, at the JW Marriott Hill Country in San Antonio, Texas. Food retailers and wholesalers, health and beauty […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Southeast
Tropicana Pure Premium Sending One Family To Fla. Orange Grove
To celebrate its 100 percent Pure Florida orange juice, Tropicana Pure Premium is giving consumers a behind-the-scenes look at the Florida groves where their oranges are grown, and is sending one lucky family to Florida to experience the groves in person. Consumers can visit Tropicana’s Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Tropicana to get an up close and […]
Posted in, Marketing News, National
Americans Open To Purchasing Wine From Various Countries
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 […]
Posted in, Midwest, New Products
Best Chicago Meat Acquires Glenmark Brand, Introduces New Product Line
In December 2011, Best Chicago Meat Co. LLC acquired the Glenmark® brand on the occasion of the brand’s 40th anniversary. Originally owned by OSI, the Glenmark burger was first developed in the early 1970s. “The ownership of the brand makes our company the leading frozen burger producer in the Midwest, and we’re really proud of […]
Posted inMidwest, Beverage News
World Market to Open March 29 in Mount Prospect, Ill.
World Market will open its 13th Illinois location in Prospect on March 29. The specialty retailer’s new store is located in the Randhurst Village Shopping Center at 151 E. Euclid Ave., and will carry a unique and affordable selection of home furniture, home décor, fashion accessories and personal care products, as well as gourmet food […]
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, West
Starbucks Debuts First Juice Store
Four months after acquiring Evolution Fresh Inc., Starbucks Coffee Co. has opened its first Evolution Fresh™ store, debuting the transformation of the brand’s look and feel to better reflect the pure, natural ingredients in each beverage and its strategic expansion and growth. The Bellevue, Wash., store opening and refreshed branding positions Evolution Fresh as a […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Equipment & Technology, Southeast
CHEP USA to Open U.S. Headquarters in Atlanta
Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has announced that CHEP USA, an industry leader in pallet and container pooling solutions and a part of Brambles Limited, will relocate its headquarters to Atlanta. The company plans to bring 173 jobs to the new facility over the next five years. “Georgia has many natural benefits and other strategic resources […]
Posted in, National
National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day Is March 24
There’s “Clean-Up Your Room Day” (May 10), “Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day” (April 18) and even “National Goof-Off Day” (March 22), but “National Chocolate Covered Raisin Day”? Yes, and it will be recognized March 24. While Nestle did not establish the holiday, the company is leading a national celebration in the name of Nestle […]
Posted in, Midwest
AWG Achieves Record Sales And Earnings
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) reported record net sales of $7.77 billion on a consolidated basis, and distributed a record $163.8 million in year-end patronage at its annual shareholders meeting on Sunday, March 18. AWG’s sales were up 7.2 percent, an increase of $520 million over the previous year. AWG’s year-end patronage rebate amounted to 2.71 […]
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, West
California Strawberry Season In Full Swing
California strawberry peak season is officially here, according to the California Strawberry Commission. California strawberries are available year-round; March through August mark the peak season. Eighty-eight percent of the strawberries in the United States are grown in California. They’re grown by more than 500 family farmers. “California strawberry farmers consider food safety their top priority,” […]
Posted in, Albertsons, Corporate Store News, National
Supervalu Expands Sustainable Seafood Program
Building on its current commitment to sustainably source wild-caught seafood, Supervalu Inc., one of the nation’s largest grocery retailers, has announced a significant expansion of the company’s seafood sustainability program. Specifically, Supervalu has entered into a partnership with the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) to implement a new, comprehensive procurement policy to ensure sustainable sourcing of […]
Posted in, Midwest, Store News
Tide Detergent Becomes New Black Market Currency
Law enforcement officials across the country are battling a new—and wholly bizarre—crime wave: theft of Tide laundry detergent. The retail price of the product—roughly $10 to $20 a bottle—and its ongoing popularity in households is making it a growing target for thieves who swipe it from store shelves and resell it at a discount on […]