Supermarket News

Associated Food Stores Defines Accountability for Recall Communications

Feb 2, 2010, By MICHAEL GARRY

PHOENIX — Associated Food Stores, a grocery cooperative wholesaler based in Salt Lake City, has established over the past 18 months “direct accountability” for communicating product recall alerts, for both individuals at the wholesaler who send out alerts and individuals at independent retail stores who receive them. ...

Aldi USA Adopts Farmed-Fish Certification Standard

Feb 1, 2010

BATAVIA, Ill. — Aldi USA here has adopted the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s Best Aquaculture Practices certification for farmed seafood. ...

Most Super Bowl Viewers to Watch the Big Game at Home

Feb 1, 2010

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. — Nine out of 10 Americans households will watch this Sunday’s Super Bowl at home or at a friend’s house rather than in a restaurant or bar, according to a Nielsen poll....

Colo. Albertsons Workers Approve Contract

Feb 1, 2010, By JON SPRINGER

DENVER — Albertsons workers in Denver voted to ratify a 52-month contract with the employer, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 here said Monday. ...

Weis Names Three Regional VPs

Feb 1, 2010

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets here on Monday said it had named three new regional vice presidents responsible for overseeing its 164 stores. ...

AFS to Feature Checkout TV in New Stores

Feb 1, 2010

SALT LAKE CITY — Premier Retail Networks, San Francisco, and wholesaler Associated Food Stores here Monday announced a new multi-year agreement to continue the operation of PRN’s Checkout TV Network in Associated Food’s newly acquired Fresh Market stores. ...

Meijer Facility to Have Food Safety Audit

Feb 1, 2010, By MICHAEL GARRY

PHOENIX — Meijer, Grand Rapids, Mich., is slated to have its first food manufacturing/warehousing facility undergo a level-three SQF (Safe Quality Food) certification audit at its Middlebury, Ind., deli/bakery facility this month, Robert Mooney, Meijer’s group vice president, distribution and manufacturing, told SN following a presentation on food safety he gave Monday. ...

Supervalu Names Consultant as CMO

Feb 1, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu here said Monday it has named Julie Dexter Berg executive vice president and chief marketing officer, effective March 15....

Tops Seals Penn Traffic Buy, Plans Improvements

Jan 29, 2010, By MARK HAMSTRA

WILLIAMSVILLE, N.Y. — Tops Friendly Markets here said Friday that it has completed the acquisition of a majority of the assets of Penn Traffic out of bankruptcy assets, including its 79 supermarkets in New York, Pennsylvania, Vermont and New Hampshire....

Union, Safeway Cleaning Service Dispute Safety Provisions

Jan 29, 2010, By MICHAEL GARRY

OAKLAND, Calif. — In response to SN’s online article, “Union Spotlights Online Cleaning Chemicals,” ABM Janitorial Services, New York, one of four cleaning services employed by Safeway in Northern California, disputes a statement attributed to Rachele Huennekens, Northern California communications specialist for the SEIU United Service Workers West, including Local 1877, based here, who said that SEIU has not been able to file a grievance regarding the impact of cleaning chemicals on janitorial employees because there was no green cleaning standards provision in the previous contract that is now being renegotiated....

Recession Hits Bottom Line in Ingles’ Q1

Jan 29, 2010, By JON SPRINGER

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Ingles Markets eked out a small gain in comparable-store sales, but net income fell by 45.6% in the fiscal first quarter that ended Dec. 26, the retailer here said Friday. ...

Four Retailers Earn Beef Backer Awards

Jan 29, 2010

SAN ANTONIO — Four retailers — Sendik’s Food Markets, Whitefish Bay, Wis.; Southern Family Markets, Birmingham, Ala.; Harris Teeter Supermarkets, Matthews, N.C.; and Supervalu, Minneapolis, Minn. — have received the 2009 Beef Checkoff-funded Retail Beef Backer Awards for their beef marketing and merchandising programs. ...