You probably read your grocery industry news online this morning, and now you're prepared for anything the day brings. Tomorrow morning you'll check again.
That's so 2009.
In an industry-leading move, SN has just launched real-time posting of news on its website, supermarketnews.com. Now you'll have the opportunity to check back multiple times a day for the latest developments, along with background and insightful reporting from our veteran editorial staff. We'll also update existing stories during the day if developments warrant. SN will continue to email its daily e-newsletter with story links each morning, but that will no longer end the day's online news activity. (You can sign up for this email free at https://www.pubservice.com/snnewslettersignup.aspx.)
“What?” you say. “Who needs more information coming over the Internet?”
Well, in our view, having knowledge of news in real time, while it's actionable, makes a difference.
Let's examine a recent day to see how this ongoing news flow works. On Friday, Jan. 8, we sent out our morning e-newsletter as usual, which linked to new items. But new developments soon followed. At 12:03 p.m. we posted a story about a private-label promotion at Super 1 Foods. A few moments later we reported on Tops filing a bid for Penn Traffic. At 12:35 p.m. we added an item about the agriculture secretary appointing a Giant Foods executive to a dairy advisory committee. At 3:17 p.m. we uploaded our story about Albertsons LLC closing 11 stores and selling a Florida distribution center. As the afternoon progressed, additional items were added, including news about an executive departure at Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market and a high-level appointment at Supervalu.
This faster pace also enables us to post stories from industry events more quickly. On Jan. 11, for example, SN's site presented three stories from the National Retail Federation Convention in New York — about Marsh Supermarkets, Supervalu and Dunnhumby — that were written by our editorial staff just a short time earlier.
Every so often a news story is so significant that it warrants a breaking news alert to our e-newsletter subscribers. SN was the first news outlet to inform them of a number of recent developments, including Mike Jackson's reversal of his decision to take the helm of National Grocers Association; Giant-Carlisle's agreement to acquire Ukrop's Super Markets; and a California investment company's acquisition of a 25% ownership stake in A&P.
Meanwhile, while on SN's site, you can also take the Quick Poll, view photo galleries, and examine industry rankings and profiles, among other things. And we'd be grateful for any feedback you have. There are comment boxes under each story, and you can view the latest reader comments on the home page.
We invite you to check back with us many times a day for the latest news — on your desktop, laptop or mobile device.
That's so 2010.
Respond to SN's Viewpoints online at supermarketnews.com