The NGA Show concluded in February, but I still find myself thinking about how new technology innovations are changing the fundamental nature of grocery shopping. The impact of consumer-facing technology was a huge topic among show attendees. Several breakout sessions presented fascinating updates on the latest tech ideas that are driving rapid change throughout the […]
Tag: Supermarkets
Wegmans Receives Top Score In ‘Fresh’ Survey
Wegmans, Publix, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods Market and Market Basket received good scores in customer satisfaction ratings for “America’s Best, Freshest Supermarkets,” a survey conducted by Consumer Reports. Supermarkets were rated for overall freshness and quality of produce, meats, poultry, bakery items and store prepared foods as well as staff courtesy and a clean shopping […]
Walmart Asks Suppliers To Redirect Efforts To Cut Prices, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Walmart is asking suppliers to forego their marketing investments with the retailer and instead focus on cutting costs on products so it can better compete against other retailers… President Obama vetoed a measure passed by a Republican-run Congress, which blocked the National Labor Relations Board from streamlining the process for […]
U.S. Commission Files Wheat Price Fixing Charges, And More…
Supermarket News In Brief The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission last week filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court against Kraft Foods Group and Mondelez International charging the manufacturers with “manipulation and attempted manipulation of the prices of cash wheat and wheat futures.” Neither Kraft or Mondelez has yet issued any comment on the […]
Natural Grocers Opening First North Dakota Store, Another In Portland
Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage plans to open its first North Dakota store at 4517 13th Avenue SW in Fargo. An opening date has not been announced. The Denver-based natural and organic chain also will open its ninth Oregon store in Portland, at Barbur Boulevard and Capitol Hill Road. The company also has not announced […]
WGA Thrives At NGA Show
by Aileen Munster/VP of Education & Research, National Grocers Association The Women Grocers of America (WGA) showed off their pride and spirit in a number of different events at this year’s NGA Show. Furthering its mission to develop the next generation of industry leaders, with an emphasis on young women, WGA once again organized its annual […]
KeyMe Places Key Kiosks In Two Stop & Shop Stores
KeyMe of New York has announced an agreement with Ahold USA that will place the company’s new retail kiosks at Super Stop & Shop locations in Dorchester and Malden, Massachusetts. The kiosks will enable customers to safely store a “digital copy” of their keys in the cloud and easily create a spare copy at their local […]
Keurig Announces Pact With Reily Foods Co., And More…
Supermarket News In Brief… Keurig Green Mountain of Waterbury, Vermont, and Reily Foods Co. of New Orleans, Louisiana, parent company to New England Coffee, have announced an exclusive multi-year manufacturing and distribution agreement for New England brand coffee, New Orleans Famous French Market Since 1890 brand coffee and Luzianne brand iced tea pods for Keurig […]
Cambridge, Massachusetts, To Block Plastic Bags In 2016, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… The Cambridge, Massachusetts, City Council voted Monday to ban the use of thin, single-use plastic bags at supermarkets and retailers beginning in March 2016. Cambridge is the largest city in the state to enact such a ban. In addition, businesses will charge a 10-cent fee for plastic bags. Businesses could […]
Oasis Brands Donates 11K Rolls Of Product To IGA Operator
Oasis Brands has donated more than 11,000 rolls of paper products to Houchens Industries Inc., owner of grocery stores like Price Less IGA and Crossroads IGA. The donation will provide much-needed supplies to the Housing Authority of Bowling Green. “We are very fortunate to have great partners and suppliers that share in our commitment to […]
Store Brands Widen Growth Gap vs. National Brands As Sales Hit New Highs In All Outlets
As national brands continue to struggle with lower growth year to year in supermarkets, drug chains and mass merchandisers, store brands sales in all the major retail channels continue their upward trend, setting new records across the board for annual revenue. When 2014 came to a close, store brands had accounted for nearly $3 billion […]
Industry Applauds Introduction Of National Food Labeling Bill
Food industry groups are praising this week’s introduction of a national food labeling bill, known as The Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. The bill, introduced by U.S. Reps. Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas) and G.K. Butterfield (D-North Carolina), establishes a federal standard for food and beverage products made with genetically modified ingredients, or GMOs. It preempts […]
Memorial Service For Save Mart’s Piccinini Is April 11
A memorial service for Mr. Robert “Bob” Piccinini, owner of the Save Mart chain of stores in Northern California, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 11, at CrossPoint Community Church, 1301 12th Street, Modesto. Mr. Piccinini died March 24 at his home in Modesto. He was 73. The Modesto Bee reported that Mr. Piccinini’s health […]
Study: H-E-B, Publix, Trader Joe’s And Hy-Vee Among Most Trusted Companies
Supermarket chains earned the highest level of trust across 20 industries in the 2015 Temkin Trust Ratings. Among the grocers that are most trusted: H-E-B, Publix, Trader Joe’s and Hy-Vee. Costco also ranked in the top 10, though it is considered a retailer—not a supermarket—in the study. Comcast earned the lowest two spots in the […]
Bristol Farms Promotes Caldecott To President And COO
Southern California specialty grocer Bristol Farms has promoted Adam Caldecott, EVP of retail, to president and COO. “In order to further prepare Bristol Farms for the growth and opportunity we anticipate in the coming year and for many more years to come, I am pleased to announce this significant and well deserved promotion of Adam Caldecott,” […]
TryAngle Foods Mourns Loss Of James Gamba
Supermarket News In Brief… Members of the food industry and in particular TryAngle Foods are mourning the loss of James Gamba, 65, of Cranston, Rhode Island, who died March 15 following heart surgery complications. He worked for 28 years for the former Almacs Supermarkets as VP of meat and deli and was IT director for […]
Support For Whole Grain Sampling Day, And More…
New Channels News In Brief… Restaurants, manufacturers, supermarkets, schools and other companies and organizations are invited to participate in Whole Grain Sampling Day on Wednesday, April 1. It’s a day that puts the focus on whole grains and celebrates those that offer these healthy foods to their customers. Organized by Boston-based nonprofit Oldways and The […]
Former Safeway, Smart & Final And Trader Joe’s Execs Join Haggen Pacific SW
In addition to Haggen Pacific Southwest CEO Bill Shaner, SVP of Operations Wendy Oliver and SVP of Marketing Chris Linskey, Haggen now has several other senior executives to help lead the rollout of the Haggen brand in Southern California, Nevada and Arizona. • Rich Winters is VP of fresh foods. He formerly was VP of […]
Coborn’s Inc. Adds Seven To Leadership Team
St. Cloud, Minnesota-based Coborn’s Inc. has hired several new leaders as it builds its growing corporate team. These new hires work across numerous corporate departments in support of store operations, according to the company. Leadership team additions include: • Scott Morris, SVP of center store Morris has 27-plus years of grocery leadership experience, most recently […]
Cheez-It Comes To The Chip Aisle With Crunch’d Product
Cheez-It is making its first-ever appearance in the chip aisle by introducing Cheez-It Crunch’d, its first ever cheesy puff. Crunch’d is offered in two flavors: Cheddar Cheese and Hot & Spicy that includes a Tabasco flavor. “Crunch and a snack made with 100 percent real cheese have always been key to our cheezy devotees, and […]
