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 […]
Tag: Stores
Posted in, National, New Products
Oscar Mayer First To Offer Complete Line Of Meats With No Artificial Components
Oscar Mayer has a new line of meats called Selects that has no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors. Oscar Mayer is the first brand to offer this choice across a complete line of meat products that includes hot dogs, bacon and cold cuts. In 2012, 50 percent of new Oscar Mayer products will have no […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National
Nutrisystem Expands Into Retail With New Product Line At Kroger
Nutrisystem Inc., a leading provider of weight management products and services, has announced the May introduction of the Nutrisystem® Everyday(TM) product line at Kroger, the nation’s largest traditional grocery retailer. Nutrisystem Everyday products provide real balanced nutrition and are available in bars, smoothies, bakery and breakfast items. Each product is nutritionally balanced delivering low fat […]
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, Marketing News, National
Athenos Unveils New Phase Of Popular Yiayia Ad Campaign
Athenos, a leading line of authentic Greek-style foods including feta cheese, hummus and pita chips, is unveiling a new phase of its popular advertising campaign featuring Yiayia, the brand’s opinionated yet relatable Greek grandmother persona. After the success of last year’s campaign, which saw a double-digit increase in sales while on air, Yiayia returns in […]
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, Equipment & Technology, National
Shopko Partners with Wishabi to Launch Digital Circular
Shopko Stores Operating Co. LLC in partnership with Wishabi has launched its new digital circular. Accessible at www.shopko.com, the digital circular immediately highlights Shopko’s weekly deals. Wishabi’s patent-pending technology allows consumers to quickly discover the best deals, get reviews and ratings and shop directly though the digital circular across all their favorite devices. Using discount […]
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, Northeast
Ahold USA Makes Leadership Appointments
Ahold USA has promoted Mark McGowan to the role of EVP of supply chain for Carlisle, Pa.-based Ahold and appointed Joe Kelley as president of its Stop & Shop New England division. Both leadership appointments become effective May 21. With more than 21 years of experience with Stop & Shop, McGowan will focus on leading […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, National
Budweiser Bottle Gets Red, White And Blue Makeover For Summer
For the first time in many years, the iconic Budweiser bottle will see a major makeover—special red, white and blue packaging for a limited window this summer. The new design comes in advance of a summer initiative in which the brand will contribute a portion of all sales from May 20-July 7 to help raise […]
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, Industry News, West
Judge Fines Kroger For Inaccurate Labeling, Prices
A California judge has ordered the Kroger Co. and its Ralphs division to pay a civil judgment of nearly $300,000 involving the sales of frozen dairy dessert products and inaccurate unit pricing, the Los Angeles Times reports. California state inspectors, in response to a consumer complaint in 2009, found several flavors of Ralphs and Kroger […]
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, National, New Products
Vanilla Truffles Added To Lindor Line
Swiss chocolatier Lindt celebrated National Truffles Day on May 2 with the introduction of Lindor Vanilla to its line of Lindor truffles. The Vanilla truffles have a vanilla white chocolate center covered with a white chocolate shell infused with real vanilla. Lindor Vanilla was developed and produced at Lindt’s U.S. headquarters in Stratham, N.H. “White […]
Posted in, West
Raley’s May Be Facing a Strike; Save Mart Sets May 9 Deadline
Raley’s denied a contract extension with United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 5 and Local 8-Golden State on May 1, effectively ending negotiations that had been going on since last summer. The contract for 60,000 union supermarket workers in Northern and Central California actually expired last October. The contract covered Raley’s/Nob Hill, Safeway/Vons and […]
Posted in, National
Whole Foods Greens-Up Cleaning Aisle
Just one year after launching its Eco-Scale rating system, more than 90 percent of the household cleaning products sales at Whole Foods Market pass its green cleaning test. With its exclusive tiered rating system, Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods requires something the U.S. government doesn’t—full disclosure of ingredients on all household cleaning product labels. According to […]
Posted in, National, New Products
HumanKind Water Wins Walmart’s ‘Get On The Shelf’ Contest
Walmart has announced the final winners of its Get on the Shelf contest, HumanKind Water, PlateTopper and SnapIt Eyeglass Repair Kit. More than 4,000 inventors, entrepreneurs and small businesses from across the country entered the contest with video submissions for products ranging from household wares and children’s toys to organic food and green items. More […]