Standard & Poor’s (S&P) downgraded Kroger Co.’s stock Monday from “hold” to “sell,” citing rising price competition, the Los Angeles Business Journal reports. The move follows an upgrade by Citigroup on Friday, from “neutral” to “buy,” citing higher pharmacy sales and market share gains. S&P lowered its target price from $25 to $21, while Citi […]
Tag: Stores
Posted in, National, Perishables
Chicken Prices Expected to Rise
A shortage of poultry will drive up chicken prices for consumers, according to the recently released USDA Agricultural Projections to 2021 report and featured in the February issue of Food Nutrition & Science. The USDA predicts a decline in this year’s poultry supply will drive up prices, however, the report suggests it’s temporary, and in […]
Posted in, National
AFFI’s Frozen Food Convention Matches Attendance Record
The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) 2012 Frozen Food Convention in San Diego, Calif., has matched the convention’s all-time attendance record set two years ago. More than 1,400 members of the frozen food industry gathered at the Manchester Grand Hyatt earlier this week. AFFI-CON delegates gathered to attend educational sessions, network at social events and […]
Posted in, National
Procter & Gamble Cutting 5,700 Jobs
Procter & Gamble (P&G) will cut 5,700 jobs by the end of fiscal 2013 as part of a $10 billion effort to reduce costs. CEO Bob McDonald told analysts today, Feb. 24, at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York conference that the cuts will come from non-manufacturing positions, Cincinnati’s Business Courier reports. The reduction […]
Posted in, West
Almonds Certified With Signature ‘Heart-Check’ Mark
The American Heart Association (AHA) has certified almonds with its signature Heart-Check mark to signify that they are a heart-healthy food. This symbol is the most consumer-trusted nutrition icon appearing on packaged foods—in fact, one study found that more than half of shoppers use the mark as a deciding factor when choosing to purchase a […]
Posted in, Executive News, National
The Pantry Discloses CEO Hatchell’s Compensation Package
Dennis Hatchell, the newly-appointed chief executive of convenience store operator The Pantry Inc., has been offered a base salary of $750,000, plus stock options worth nearly $436,000 and a $46,100 sign-on bonus when he begins his work with the company on March 5, according to company filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Hatchell’s […]
Posted in, Marketing News, Midwest, Southeast
Chiquita Replaces CFO, Posts $16M Loss In 4Q
Chiquita Brands International Inc., which is moving its headquarters to Charlotte, N.C., from Cincinnati, Ohio, says Brian Kocher will replace Michael Sims as the company’s CFO. The Charlotte Business Journal reports that Sims is leaving Chiquita this month to become CFO of AdvancePierre, a Cincinnati-based producer of cooked protein and sandwich products. Chiquita is promoting […]
Posted in, Southeast
GFIA Unveils New Logo
The Georgia Food Industry Association (GFIA) turns 100 years old this year and, in honor of its century of service, has unveiled a new logo. Learn more about the GFIA at www.gfia.org.
Posted in, Center Store, National
Malt-O-Meal Co. Changes Corporate Name To MOM Brands
Malt-O-Meal® Co. has introduced its new MOM Brands™ corporate name and identity in a move to better showcase its growing house of brands to retailers and consumers, and to better reflect the company that it is today, according to a news release. With the introduction of the MOM Brands corporate name, the company will reinforce […]
Posted in, Midwest, Southeast, Suppliers
Glory Foods, South’s Farmers Bring Collard Greens To Table
Newton, Ga., may seem out of the way to many, but local farmer Cornelius Key and other members of the burgeoning Flint River Cooperative are helping plant it on the map as the birthplace of Glory Foods’ collard greens. Key is one of several African American growers to join the cooperative this year through work […]
Posted in, Marketing News, West
P&G Pledges Support to Women Athletes at Sports Conference
On the occasion of the fifth annual Women in Sports Conference, Procter & Gamble (P&G) demonstrated its commitment to women athletes by announcing its strong support of female competitors, who will make up one half of the company’s sponsored athletes in the upcoming London 2012 Olympic Games. In 2010, P&G and the International Olympic Committee […]
Posted in, Equipment & Technology, National
Buxton Names Woods Chief Customer Officer
Former Dr Pepper executive Curt Woods joined Buxton in early 2012 as chief customer officer, initially leading “all customer-facing teams” for the Fort Worth, Texas-based company that provides customer analytics for the retail industry. Woods was formerly SVP of Dr Pepper Snapple, with responsibility for more than $4.7 billion in sales for brands such as […]
Posted in, West
Save Mart Supermarkets Again Earns Waste Reduction Award
The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) has once again named Save Mart Supermarkets as one of the winners of the 2011 Waste Reduction Award in recognition for green business practices. Every year California businesses and nonprofits are encouraged to showcase their voluntary waste reduction, recycling and resource conservation efforts by applying for recognition in […]
Posted in, Southwest
Trader Joe’s Adds Two More Houston Sites
Trader Joe’s is adding two more Houston, Texas, area sites to its shopping list for store locations, according information on the Texas Comptroller’s website. The grocery store chain has received sales tax permits to open stores at 1440 S. Voss and 2922 S. Shepherd. The new locations will join a store under development in The […]
Posted in, Market Profile, Southeast, The Kroger Co.
2012 Georgia Profile: SNAP Changes, Sunday Alcohol Sales Mark Georgia’s Year in Grocery Biz
[gn_note color=”#6666ff”]The 2012 Georgia Profile originally ran in the January 2012 edition of The Shelby Report of the Southeast. Due to reader requests we will be posting our Profiles from each edition of The Shelby Report. The profile will be published on theshelbyreport.com one month after it has run in print.[/gn_note] by Katie B. Davis/staff […]
Posted in, Beverage News, Marketing News, National
MillerCoors Profits Up 32.5 Percent
MillerCoors LLC recorded a 32.5 percent increase in profits for the fourth quarter on growing market share for its Coors Light brand and ongoing cost savings related to the merger of Miller Brewing and Coors Brewing, reports the Denver Business Journal. SABMiller plc of London and Molson Coors Brewing Co. of Denver, Colo., the co-owners […]
Posted in, National, New Products
Karoun Dairies Rolls Out Greek Style Yogurt With Honey
Creating a healthy, energizing breakfast is easy and rewarding with Karoun’s new Greek Style Yogurt with Honey. With 100 percent pure, all-natural honey and rBST growth-hormone-free Greek style yogurt, the health benefits are numerous. Rich in both naturally occurring glucose and fructose, the added honey will give both immediate and extended energy to get through […]
Posted in, National
Kraft Foods Announces Executive Transition
Kraft Foods’ Marc S. Firestone, 52, EVP of corporate and legal affairs, and general counsel, will leave the company in April to rejoin Philip Morris International (PMI) in Lausanne, Switzerland. Firestone previously worked at PMI before coming to Kraft Foods in 2003. Gerhard “Gerd” W. Pleuhs, 55, will succeed Firestone. Pleuhs currently serves as SVP […]
Posted in, Southwest
H-E-B Opens New Central Market Convenience Format
The Dallas News reports that H-E-B has opened a new mini Central Market in Dallas, Texas. The News says it looks “as if someone took the CM concept and squeezed it up and in: You’ll see most of the products found at the larger stores, but tighter stocks stacked high—a narrower trough of sweet potatoes, […]
Posted in, Beverage News, National, Organic Natural
Organic Food Sales Hit High in 2011
For the first time in four years since undertaking its annual Organic Product Survey, TABS Group (www.TABSGroup.com) found a significant increase in American consumers reporting they purchased organic products and a jump in overall sales. Specifically, the percentage of all consumers saying they purchased organics rose from 39.8 percent in January 2011 to 41.8 percent […]