Supermarket News

Michigan Could Pioneer Twice-Monthly Food Stamps

Mar 14, 2008, By MARK HAMSTRA

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan could become the first state to switch to a twice-a-month food-stamp program after the state Senate yesterday passed a bill authorizing the change. ...

Services Held for Murdered Redner’s VP

Mar 14, 2008

SPRING TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Services were held here yesterday for Gary W. Redner, a vice president at his family’s supermarket chain who police said was killed at his home in Lower Heidelburg Township, Pa., either Saturday night or Sunday morning. ...

Timelines for New Produce Traceability Standards Under Discussion

Mar 14, 2008, By MICHAEL GARRY

NEWARK, Del. — The next meeting of the Produce Traceability Initiative, slated for April 11 in Boston, will focus on establishing a timeline for a series of milestones for recording traceability data on produce shipments, said Gary Fleming, vice president, industry technology and standards, Produce Marketing Association here. ...

Wal-Mart Canada Extends Hours for Easter

Mar 14, 2008

MISSISSAUGUA, Ontario — Wal-Mart Canada here said it would extend hours in 175 stores, or nearly 60% of its locations, to meet demand created by the early Easter holiday. ...

Chicken Production Could Be Cut 3% by Summer, Analysts Say

Mar 14, 2008

NEW YORK — The announcement by Pilgrim’s Pride this week that it would close a North Carolina production facility along with six distribution centers is likely the first of many similar moves that will be made by poultry processors this year, as producers attempt to curtail supply to improve industry fundamentals....

Safeway Sees Fewer Promotions, More ‘Everyday Value’

Mar 13, 2008, By ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

NEW YORK — While Safeway will continue to offer promotional pricing, “over the next two years we will be less promotional and provide better everyday value, which is what our cost reduction and process improvement programs are designed to accomplish,” Steve Burd, chairman, president and chief executive officer of the Pleasanton, Calif.-based chain, said yesterday at the Bank of America Consumer Conference here....

Supervalu: No Plans to Divest Supply Chain — Yet

Mar 13, 2008, By ELLIOT ZWIEBACH

NEW YORK — Supervalu is not considering divesting either its retail or distribution business or in any way separating them, but it might consider the possibility if one business compromised the growth or value of the other, Jeff Noddle, chairman and chief executive officer, told the Bank of America Consumer Conference here yesterday....