Supermarket News

Topco Gears Up for Nutrition-Label Rollout

Jun 20, 2008, By ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

DALLAS — Five hundred retail members of buying cooperative Topco Associates will implement a test of a new nutrition rating system in September, with a full-scale rollout to the cooperative’s 5,000 members scheduled for next spring, a former executive vice president of Topco said here this week at the inaugural Healthy Foods International Exposition and Conference....

Vail Named President, COO at Sweetbay

Jun 20, 2008

TAMPA, Fla. — Sweetbay Supermarkets here said it has promoted Mike Vail to president and chief operating officer, filling the retailer’s top spot left vacant when Shelley Broader departed to join craft retailer Michaels Stores earlier this month....

Indianapolis Kroger Workers OK New Deal

Jun 20, 2008

CINCINNATI — Union workers at 60 Kroger stores in and around Indianapolis voted to ratify a new four-year contract, Kroger here said yesterday....

Integrated Approach Can Drive Natural and Organic Sales

Jun 20, 2008, By JULIE GALLAGHER

DALLAS — The natural and organic markets are mature enough to warrant an integrated merchandising approach, Denis Ring, president and founder of Bode International, told retailer attendees here yesterday at the Healthy Foods International Exposition and Conference....

Schnuck Markets Selects Workforce Management System

Jun 20, 2008

ST. LOUIS — Schnuck Markets here has selected RedPrairie’s Workforce Management solution, including time and attendance, accruals, forecasting and optimized scheduling, for all of its 103 stores across the Midwest, Milwaukee-based RedPrairie announced yesterday....

D&W to Select New Bag Design

Jun 19, 2008

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — D&W Fresh Markets is in the final stages of selecting a new design for its reusable shopping bags....

South African Chain Promotes via Text Messages

Jun 19, 2008

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — Fruit & Veg City here, which operates over 100 stores, has selected Clickatell, Redwood City, Calif., to communicate store announcements and sales promotions to customers via text messages on their mobile phones....

LOHAS Shoppers Holding Retailers Accountable

Jun 19, 2008, By JULIE GALLAGHER

DALLAS — Retailers interested in courting shoppers who fall into the lucrative LOHAS (Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability) consumer segment must adopt a holistic approach when branding themselves as a sustainable grocer....

Floods Spur Commodity Volatility

Jun 19, 2008

NEW YORK — Flooding in the Midwest can be expected to cause near-term price volatility in corn and soybeans, but it will be several weeks before the true impact of the heavy rainfall on crop production can be predicted, one analyst said yesterday in a conference call....