Latest News From Retail

JOH, Billerica, Mass., has promoted Kathy Sullivan to senior vice president of its Specialty and Alternate Channel.

Former National Football League player Hines Ward will be the keynote speaker at The Fresh Produce & Floral Council’s Expo.

Envy is stepping out in style again.

When it comes to snacks, Wonderful Citrus wants parents to know Halos “checks all the boxes:” healthy, convenient and prep-free.

Chiquita Brands International, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., has a new dedicated container service from Central America to Europe.

Mission Produce Inc., Oxnard, Calif., is expanding its sales staff, creating a business development sector, hiring senior director of sales and increasing its foodservice division.

World Waters LLC, Denver, is recalling 12 packs of WTRMLN WTR cold-pressed watermelon juice because of possible presence of soft plastic pieces in the bottles.

Chiquita Brands International, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., has a new dedicated container service from Central America to Europe.

Salad dressing company Litehouse Inc., Sandpoint, Idaho, has promoted Kelly Prior to president.

Our story today goes back a few years when fully-staffed salad bars were beginning to emerge in some of our company’s produce departments.

Ashley Nickle, retail editor of The Packer, recaps two of the big stories of the week — the end of the tomato suspension agreement and the status of strawberry supplies leading up to Valentine's Day.

Demand is high for Florida strawberries as Valentine's Day approaches and rain hampers production in California.

Lori Raya, the division president for Albertsons who led the post-merger transition with Safeway, is the new chief merchandising and marketing officer for SpartanNash.

Earthbound Farm surveyed more than 500 shoppers to learn about who is buying organic food, and the company found the organic shopper profile has shifted toward the mainstream.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — For retailers interested in promoting organic pears, now is the time.

Kroger will soon be offering Home Chef meal kits in 500 more stores.

BERLIN – With close to 80,000 visitors, Fruit Logistica is a nightmare when it comes to finding a taxi at the end of the day.

Giant Heirloom Market is coming to three more Philadelphia neighborhoods — University City, Northern Liberties and Queen Village.

Earthbound Farm surveyed more than 500 shoppers to learn about who is buying organic food, and the company found the organic shopper profile has shifted toward the mainstream.

Morning Kiss Organic, part of Arrowfarms, Chelsea, Mass., is promoting potatoes with a social media contest and prize drawing during February — Potato Lover’s Month.

Ambrosia Gold. Kiku. Kanzi. Smitten. Jazz. Envy. Pacific Rose.

The Internet is chock-full of people who spew everything and anything about our industry.

Hy-Vee has launched a pilot program that lets shoppers buy products approaching their “best before” date at a significant discount.

Hy-Vee has launched a new campaign to feed hungry kids, and the announcement of the program came in a Super Bowl ad featuring Oprah Winfrey.

H-E-B featured its private brand products, including guacamole and queso, in a commercial that ran in more than a dozen Texas markets during the Super Bowl.

Many people watch the Super Bowl for the commercials as much as the game, and I imagine marketers in particular observe with interest the ads that companies pay millions to air.

Hy-Vee has launched a pilot program that lets shoppers buy products approaching their “best before” date at a significant discount.

HOLLYWOOD, FLA. — The new contemporary “look and feel” of Wholesum was on display at The Packer’s Global Organic Produce Expo.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — While the polar vortex prevented some from making the trip to the Global Organic Produce Expo, those who were able to come were pleased with south Florida weather and the show.

Ocean Mist Farms is kicking off the Coachella, Calif., season with Peace, Love & Artichokes.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — While the polar vortex prevented some from making the trip to the Global Organic Produce Expo, those who were able to come were pleased with south Florida weather and the show.

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — Consumers who have taken organic produce to its elevated importance today won’t be the same consumers who will take it to the next level.

You sit down to negotiate with your trading partner, perhaps to finalize a new annual contract or maybe just a weekly ad opportunity, and you think to yourself, “I’m as prepared as I’m ever going to be.”

Branded apples have disrupted core variety sales, and given retailers another tier of apples promote, along with core variety organic apples.

Branded apples have disrupted core variety sales, and given retailers another tier of apples promote, along with core variety organic apples.

Gala apple sales and volume showed a sharp uptick in December compared with year-ago sales, according Stemilt Growers.

Aldi continues to make a positive impression on shoppers as it remodels stores and adds to its assortment, according to a new report from Retail Feedback Group.

Newsweek ranked Publix, ShopRite and Trader Joe’s as best among supermarkets for customer service.

Dallas-based firm DMA Solutions has released its trends projections for 2019, with sustainability, convenience and specialty diets among them.

Starting Feb. 12, shoppers in and around Lancaster, Pa., can order online from Giant Food Stores and then pick up their groceries at a new e-commerce hub.

Jeff Pennington has joined Billerica, Mass.-based JOH as an account manager in the Great Lakes division.

Packaging company StePac, Tefen, Israel, has changed its Xtend films so they’re compatible with automated bulk and retail packing lines.

Norfolk, Va.-based Military Produce Group LLC, has been awarded a 24-month contract with the Defense Commissary Agency to supply fresh produce to commissaries in the Eastern U.S.

Registration for the fifth annual Viva Fresh Open golf tournament is now available.

Whole Foods Market has recalled baby spinach in eight states,  in response to a similar action by the New York grower-shipper who supplied the spinach.

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Fresh Produce & Floral Council will continue to focus on its four-year-old Apprentice Program and possibly expand its educational platform to include more experienced industry members.

With space, a retailer can fill the shelves with any arrangement of product, do it in a way that slows down the customer, catches their eye, and sparks a sale.

Jac. Vandenberg Inc., Yonkers, N.Y., is recalling cartons of Chilean peaches, nectarines and plums shipped to retailers in 18 states for Listeria monocytogenes concerns.

Veg-Fresh Farms, Corona, Calif., has hired Jeff Kelly in a new position at the company, vice president of sales, and has added two others in the sales department.

Jac. Vandenberg Inc., Yonkers, N.Y., is recalling cartons of Chilean peaches, nectarines and plums shipped to retailers in 18 states for Listeria monocytogenes concerns.