Progressive Grocer- Find Supermarket Industry News & Grocery Store News

Despite Kids’ Weight, Little Difference in Family Shopping, Meal Prep Habits

SymphonyIRI Group, Inc. (formerly IRI), and Food Marketing Institute (FMI) have issued research showing that, contrary to conventional wisdom, the attitudes and behaviors of families with one or more overweight or obese children differ little from those whose children are all a healthy weight. More >>

Salemville’s Crazy for the ‘Red, White & Blues’

With the Fourth of July nearly here, DCI Cheese Co. has unfurled “Red, White & Blues,” an all-American sweepstakes giving fans of the DCI brand Salemville’s blue-veined cheeses the chance to win a trip for two to Washington worth $2,500. More >>

6 ‘Very Angry’ Strikers Arrested During Shaw’s Strike Protest

Six Shaw’s strikers were arrested early yesterday after a disturbance arose outside the Supervalu banner’s Methuen, Mass., food distribution center, according to a local report. More >>

Albertsons Activates Solar Power Plants at 3 San Diego-area Stores

Supervalu-owned Albertsons has activated rooftop solar power systems at three Albertsons grocery stores in Carlsbad, Oceanside, and Alpine, Calif., all of which are located in the San Diego area. More >>

Brookshire’s Teams With Kellogg to Renovate Two Youth Sports Fields

Tyler, Texas-based Brookshire Grocery Co. (BGC) and The Kellogg Co. gave two east Texas youth sports facilities $20,000 each in renovations as part of the Frosted Flakes “Earn Your Stripe”s program sponsored by the two companies. More >>

Grocers Helping Fla. Seafood Via Ad Partnership

Publix, Kroger’s Atlanta division and HEB’s Central Market banner in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, have signed on to promote Florida seafood products this month and the next through an advertising partnership with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. More >>

Walmart Wins Final Thumbs-up for Chicago Expansion

Six years of political wrangling ended Wednesday afternoon when the Chicago City Council cleared the way for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. to launch its sweeping plan to bring relief to the “food deserts” in many Chicago neighborhoods. More >>

Supervalu Ups McNiff to President of W. Newell Produce Div.

Supervalu has named a new leader to helm its W. Newell national produce distribution company. More >>

Further Glimpses of the Fancy Food Show; sofi Award Winners Revealed

The 56th Annual Summer Fancy Food Show, held by the National Association for the Specialty Food Trade at New York’s Jacob Javits Center, may have ended yesterday, but the memory of so many stellar gourmet food and beverage products lingers on. More >>

Safeway Names Winners of Annual ‘Art of Dairy’ Contest

Safeway, Inc. and its exclusive Lucerne dairy brand have named Alejandro Pulido of Phoenix the winner of the $30,000 grand prize in the Lucerne The Art of Dairy “Taste of Moo-sic” art contest, in which high school students have the chance to display their artistic talents on an unconventional canvas: a life-sized fiberglass cow. More >>

Peapod Adds Chicago Restaurant Favorites to Delivery Lineup

Internet grocer Peapod has new offerings to add to its Chicago’s Best aisle, which features a group of leading restaurant brand-name products not available in typical supermarkets. More >>

Kmart to Launch Online Grocery Deliveries in Chicago Area

Mygofer.com, Kmart’s online delivery service, will start delivering groceries, prescriptions, electronics and other products around the Chicago area, beginning July 4. More >>

FMI Backs Interchange Swipe Fee Reform on the Radio

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has turned to the airwaves to urge the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to give the nod to legislation including language to regulate interchange swipe fees by banks and credit card companies. More >>

Promotions for Castro-Wright, Simon at Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. vice chairman Eduardo Castro-Wright has been appointed president and CEO of Global.com and Global Sourcing, and Bill Simon has been promoted to president and CEO of Walmart U.S. More >>

PBH Revamps Fruits & Veggies-More Matters Web Site

Produce for Better Health Foundation (PBH) has added new pages and features to its Fruits & Veggies-More Matters consumer web site, www.FruitsandVeggiesMoreMatters.org. More >>

C&S Funding National Anti-hunger Program

C&S Wholesale Grocers is providing funds to expand and improve Feeding America’s national “BackPack” program, which gives weekend food supplies to low-income children who might otherwise go hungry. More >>

Kroger’s Loss is Zoo’s Gain in Produce Donation Program

The Kroger Co. has agreed to donate produce to Indiana’s Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo to help defray the zoo’s annual food bill, which can reach $300,000. More >>

Giant Eagle OKs Raises for Union Employees

Giant Eagle Supermarket, Inc. approved two new four-year labor contracts Friday that give store workers and meat cutters at 36 corporate-owned markets a $1.55-an-hour raise over four years, union officials said. More >>

Kroger, USO Raise Funds for Service Members, Families

In a gesture of thanks to the men and women of the armed forces and their families, the Kroger Co. is joining forces with the USO (United Service Organizations) to raise funds for military personnel support programs. More >>

EXCLUSIVE: Fancy Food Show Caters to Every Taste

The National Association for the Specialty Food Trade’s (NASFT) 56th Annual Summer Fancy Food Show, delivered its usual stunning assortment of mostly edible products for the upscale/gourmet consumer More >>

Consumers Will Retain Recession-era Meal-planning Methods: Report

The recent recession appears to have resulted in a more thrifty consumer, according to a new report by market research company The NPD Group that found many respondents of the opinion that their financial situations wouldn’t improve or would even worsen over the next year. More >>

2 Industry Execs Join RILA Board

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) added two retail industry executives to its board of directors at the trade group’s semi-annual meeting last week in Washington. More >>

Ring Bros. Marketplace to Hold Summer Cooking Classes for Kids

Community-based independent Ring Bros. Marketplace will once again offer summer kids’ cooking classes every Wednesday from July 7 through Aug. 25 for children 10 to 14 years old. More >>

A&P Expands Live Better! Wellness Club Offerings

The Live Better! Wellness Club at A&P, SuperFresh, Waldbaum’s and Pathmark stores throughout the Northeast now includes the Fresh&Healthy Rewards program and a special promotion for free prenatal care and children’s vitamins. More >>

Kroger Eyes Growth Opportunities

The Kroger Co.’s CEO, David B. Dillon, said the company is interested in new acquisitions, but not of any struggling competitors. More >>