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 […]
Tag: Stores
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 […]
Posted in, National
AMI Foundation: Red, Processed Meats Safe Components Of Balanced Diet
A new study in today’s Archives of Internal Medicine tries to predict the future risk of death from cancer or cardiovascular disease by relying on notoriously unreliable self-reporting about what was eaten and obtuse methods to apply statistical analysis to the data. That’s according to the American Meat Institute (AMI) Foundation. “This imprecise approach is […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, National
Study: Consumers Will Pay More For A ‘Made In The U.S.A’ Label
New research published in the Journal of International Marketing shows that consumers are willing to pay a premium for products made in countries with favorable reputations. “Our findings show that consumers not only prefer and assign a higher value to branded products from a country of origin with a favorable country image but also are […]
Posted in, Midwest, New Products
Moo & Oink Reintroduces 20 Food Products
Twenty of the most popular Moo & Oink food products were reintroduced to Chicago and Northwest Indiana grocers at the annual Dutch Farms 2012 food show held last month at The Holiday Inn Convention Center in Tinley Park, Ill. The iconic characters Moo & Oink attended the show and made their official debut as the […]
Posted in, Midwest
Valli Produce to Open Fifth Location
Valli Produce International Fresh Market, with four locations in Illinois, will open its fifth store this spring in Rockford. Its current locations include Arlington Heights, Hoffman Estates, Glendale Heights and Loves Park. “We are optimistic about the future,” said Alfredo Presta, one of the three founders of the company. “Our focus is on increasing sales […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Papa Murphy’s Rolls Out Mini Murph Make ‘N’ Bake Pizza Kit
National take ‘n’ bake pizza chain Papa Murphy’s is showing its playful side with the launch of the Mini Murph™ Make ‘N’ Bake Pizza Kit. All of Papa Murphy’s craveable quality, freshness and flavor are now available inside a kid-sized pizza box adorned with “Murph,” the company’s cute, new mini chef. Once opened at home, […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Suppliers
Sara Lee Appoints Volatier to SVP of Coffee, Tea Supply Chain
Sara Lee Corp. has appointed Luc Volatier as SVP of supply chain and operations of its International Coffee and Tea business—effective April 1, 2012. Volatier, 44, will be in charge of all procurement, supply chain and manufacturing operations. He will continue to serve in the same role once the International Coffee and Tea business is […]
Posted in, Marketing News, West
Integrated Cinco De Mayo Program Kicks Off California Avocado Season
With 81 million pounds of avocados forecast to be consumed for Cinco de Mayo festivities, the event is shaping up to move even more fruit than February’s “Big Game.” The California Avocado Commission (CAC) plans to kick off its spring-through-early-fall season with a strong Cinco de Mayo program that integrates consumer advertising, public relations outreach, […]
Posted in, Southeast
Whole Foods Finally Opening In Pembroke Pines, Fla.
It’s been more than a year since the sign went up, but now residents of Pembroke Pines, Fla., are finally going to get a Whole Foods Market, the South Florida Business Journal reports. The Austin, Texas-based natural and organic food retailer is opening a 35,000-s.f. store at the western tip of Cobblestone Plaza, at Pines […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Southeast
Coke Enterprises Chairman’s Total Comp Down
Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Chairman and CEO John F. Brock’s total compensation was down 54 percent in 2011, due in part to a big dip in stock awards, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. The Atlanta-based Coke products distributor and marketer, whose annual profit jumped 20 percent to $749 million in 2011, reported in a proxy filing […]
Posted in, Organic Natural, West
Lundberg Family Farms Marks 75 Years Of Organic Leadership
Richvale, Calif.-based Lundberg Family Farms®, a leading manufacturer of organic rice and rice products, is celebrating its 75th anniversary. The occasion arrives three-quarters of a century after Albert and Frances Lundberg fled the ravages of the Dust Bowl for the fertile soil of the Sacramento Valley. Arriving in Richvale in 1937, armed with lessons learned […]
Posted in, Southeast
Fresh Market Vetting Local Food Products At Open House
Greensboro, N.C.-based The Fresh Market will hold an open house for local vendors to showcase their products from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, March 16, at the O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro. Growers and manufacturers can introduce their “retail-ready products” to The Fresh Market and learn about the company’s process for selecting, promoting and selling local products […]
Posted in, National
Campbell’s To Phase Out Toxic Chemical BPA From Cans
After months of pressure from consumer, public health and concerned parents’ organizations, Campbell’s Soup Co. has announced that it will phase out the use of the toxic chemical bisphenol A (BPA) in its can linings. However, the company has not provided a timeline or identify what alternative can-lining materials it will use. Exposure to BPA, […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Quaker Rolls Out Packaged Oatmeal Cookies
Since creating the Quaker Oat Cake recipe more than 100 years ago, Quaker Oats has long been a key ingredient of oatmeal cookies baked in kitchens across the country. Inspired by the goodness of whole grain oats for more than 130 years, The Quaker Oats Co., a division of PepsiCo, is introducing a new line […]