Latest News From Retail

Ahold Delhaize creates Ahold Delhaize USA
Ahold Delhaize creates Ahold Delhaize USA

Zaandam, the Netherlands-based Ahold Delhaize has formed a new parent company for Stop & Shop, Food Lion, Giant, Hannaford, Giant/Martin’s and Peapod.

<p>Potatoes and onions at Local Foods' store in Chicago.&nbsp;</p>
Chicago food hub starts with local, expands

Produce retailers recognize the value of food grown close to home, and they have expanded their local offerings.

Stemilt, Peirone Produce name Apple Cup winners
Stemilt, Peirone Produce name Apple Cup winners

Sponsor Stemilt Growers Inc. and Peirone Produce and its partner retailers in the Northwest ran an Apple Cup competition to increase apple sales in October.

Packer 25 Takeaways – Rules for Selling to Retailers
Packer 25 Takeaways – Rules for Selling to Retailers

Staff writer Ashley Nickle recaps some advice from Jeff Oberman with United Fresh.

Houweling’s hires sales veteran for Western U.S., Canada
Houweling’s hires sales veteran for Western U.S., Canada

Todd Plaxton has joined greenhouse grower Houweling’s Group as account manager, servicing retail customer accounts in the Western U.S. and Canada.

<p>Lychee clamshell</p>
Chinese New Year boosts lychee demand

Frieda’s Specialty Produce, Los Alamitos, is promoting South African lychees for the holidays and winter months.

Sunset, You Make Me Hungry
Sunset, You Make Me Hungry

Mastronardi Produce, through its Sunset brand, is releasing four “You Make Me Pasta” value-added meal kits at retailers nationwide.

Oneonta’s Juici takes off
Oneonta’s Juici takes off

Oneonta Starr Ranch Growers' Juici apple is enjoying brisk holiday demand in more than 3,000 stores, and the company expects to add another 740 retail carriers in January.

Ethnic produce popularity continues to rise
Ethnic produce popularity continues to rise

As the population of international cultures increases throughout the U.S., so does the knowledge and appreciation of their unique produce.

Holiday demand expected strong for navels
Holiday demand expected strong for navels

A shorter crop of California navel oranges was bringing higher prices compared with year-ago levels and expectations of firm pricing through the holiday season.

Kroger keeps focus on experience, price
Kroger keeps focus on experience, price

Kroger continues to emphasis customer experience and competitive prices as it navigates an increasingly diverse grocery landscape.

Sunset offers Flavor Bowl tomato snack tray
Sunset offers Flavor Bowl tomato snack tray

Kingsville, Ontario-based Sunset is offering its Flavor Bowl football-shaped container filled with 1 pound of snacking tomatoes.

Allan Bros. Fruit delivers apples on #GivingTuesday
Allan Bros. Fruit delivers apples on #GivingTuesday

A homeless shelter, a culinary program for at-risk youth, an elementary school class, a radio station and an individual received Jazz and Envy apples as part of the #GivingTuesday campaign by Allan Bros. Fruit.

Value-added offerings boost potato sales
Value-added offerings boost potato sales

Convenience continues to drive the value-added category in potato sales, marketers say.

Growers expect good season for Kiku crop
Growers expect good season for Kiku crop

Growers have larger volumes of Kiku this season and anticipate continued positive response from consumers.

Organic berry company launches
Organic berry company launches

Berry People, a new organic berry distributor in Hollister, Calif., made its first shipments earlier this month.

Amelia Freidline
Pay attention for inspiration

“Where DO you come up with your merchandising ideas?”

Have yourself a merry, merry mango!
Have yourself a merry, merry mango!

More consumers are going tropical in the fall and winter, with the National Mango Board reporting the fruit has seen a 50% rise in sales during that time in the past three years.

Independent retailers giving up market share
Independent retailers giving up market share

Chain stores are grabbing more share of the retail food market, but a new U.S. Department of Agriculture economic study says independent grocers still play an important role in the economy.

Whole Foods CEO to speak at Southern Exposure
Whole Foods CEO to speak at Southern Exposure

Whole Foods co-founder John Mackey will be presenting the keynote speech at the Southeast Produce Council’s 2018 Southern Exposure event.

Summer holidays see avocado dollar sales jump
Summer holidays see avocado dollar sales jump

Avocado unit sales dropped and dollar sales soared during the weeks leading up to Father’s Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day this year.

Whole Foods names exec to help lead integration with Amazon
Whole Foods names exec to help lead integration with Amazon

Whole Foods Market has promoted Christina Minardi to executive vice president of operations, and she will be among those leading the integration with Amazon.

Bee Sweet promoting heirloom navels
Bee Sweet promoting heirloom navels

Heirloom navels are available again from Fowler, Calif.-based Bee Sweet Citrus.

Loblaw inks deal for analytics
Loblaw inks deal for analytics

Canadian retailer Loblaw Cos. Ltd. has signed a multi-year agreement with analytics company Precima.

Fresh drives consumer trips to supermarkets

Fresh foods, including fresh produce, play a big role in driving consumers to supermarkets.

Amelia Freidline
Happy 10th anniversary of ‘Pamela’s Kitchen’

It’s been 10 years since my editor called me up and asked me if I’d be comfortable shooting video of myself reviewing value-added produce in my kitchen.

Ahold Delhaize reorganizes Fresh Formats
Ahold Delhaize reorganizes Fresh Formats

The future of bfresh is likely a small format Stop & Shop. 

<p>Indianapolis Kroger produce display</p>
Indy gets creative to meet customers’ needs

Indianapolis and its surrounding areas continue to evolve in their cultural and ethnic diversity.

Amelia Freidline
It’s fruit basket season

I could simply say, yeah, I’m for fruit baskets. And leave it at that.

Giumarra adds fair trade hard squash
Giumarra adds fair trade hard squash

Giumarra has added Fair Trade organic and conventionally grown hard squash from Mexico to its offerings.

CDC report shows big shortfall in consumption
CDC report shows big shortfall in consumption

New data says women are doing much better than men at consuming fruits and vegetables, but that is still not saying much.

Side Delights promotes Potato Power Bowls
Side Delights promotes Potato Power Bowls

Fresh Solutions Network’s latest recipe challenge for its Side Delights Steamables was Potato Power Bowls.

<p>Casa Sanchez guacamole</p>
Casa Sanchez expands guacamole recall

Casa Sanchez Foods is expanding a recall of Real Gaucamole to include the company’s spicy guacamole.

Albertsons invests in Texas banner
Albertsons invests in Texas banner

Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons Cos. expanded its reach in the Hispanic retail community with an investment in Garland, Texas-based El Rancho Supermercado.

SweeTango cracks top 10 in September sales volume
SweeTango cracks top 10 in September sales volume

SweeTango continues to gain popularity, the only club variety to rank among the top 10 apples at retail in September.

Driscoll’s promotes raspberries, blackberries for holidays
Driscoll’s promotes raspberries, blackberries for holidays

More blackberries and raspberries will be available from Driscoll’s for the holiday season this year.

Raley’s earns Amaize sweet corn kudos
Raley’s earns Amaize sweet corn kudos

Raley’s Fine Family of Stores, Sacramento, Calif., is the 2017 Amaize Sweet Corn Retailer of the Year, thanks to its support for the program and loyal customer following.

Door to Door Organics shutters operations
Door to Door Organics shutters operations

Without notice to customers preparing for their Thanksgiving shopping, Louisville, Colo.-based grocery delivery Door to Door Organics closed operations, effective immediately.

<p>An avocado display at Stop and&nbsp;Shop in Quincy, Mass.</p>
New channels emerging for avocados

As the U.S. retail scene continues to evolve, avocados are turning up in a plethora of new places — from mainstream mass marketers to the internet and beyond.

Branding survey shows advocacy matters
Branding survey shows advocacy matters

Many shoppers will accept or reject a brand based on the causes or practices that brand champions, according to a survey.

Dole launches in-store Star Wars app
Dole launches in-store Star Wars app

Dole Food Co. has launched its first app with the “Unite for a Healthy Galaxy” Star Wars-themed campaign. 

Week in Review Nov. 17
Week in Review Nov. 17

Staff writer Ashley Nickle recaps the top stories of the week of Nov. 13, including Nielsen's take on opportunities for branding produce, big gains in online sales for Wal-Mart and Target, and our coverage of BrandStorm.

Winter sees sales boost for some organic categories
Winter sees sales boost for some organic categories

Organic produce sales heat up as temperatures fall, marketers say.

<p>Apio TimeSavors</p>
Apio launches Eat Smart TimeSavors

Guadalupe, Calif.-based Apio has debuted a new vegetable side kit line, TimeSavors, under the Eat Smart brand.

Wal-Mart reports another huge jump in e-commerce sales
Wal-Mart reports another huge jump in e-commerce sales

Wal-Mart e-commerce sales are up 50% from the third quarter in 2016, helping boost overall sales 4.2% to $123.2 billion.

Produce performing better for Target
Produce performing better for Target

Target reports that its work on food and beverage has paid off, particularly with fruits and vegetables.

<p>sliced Opal apples Farmington Fresh</p>
Sliced Opals carry Farmington Fresh label

Stockton, Calif.-based Farmington Fresh is now the exclusive provider of sliced Opal apples.

<p>Screenshot of Avocados From Mexico's short film, Avocadoland</p>
Avocados From Mexico releases film, plans seasonal promotions

As avocado volume from Mexico increases, Avocados From Mexico has released a short film and scheduled a full lineup of seasonal programs “to engage shoppers and create avocado fans.”

<p>Chilean fruit retail display</p>
Marketers highlight fresh fruit’s winter appeal

Marketers say it’s important for retailers to promote product at retail as “Fresh from Chile” as millennials are driving sales and they are conscious of where their food comes from.

Amazon, Whole Foods lower price — again
Amazon, Whole Foods lower price — again

Just in time for the biggest cooking holiday of the year, Amazon and Whole Foods announced fresh price reductions.