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Albertsons’ Open Nature brand delves into nonfoods

More than 240 new home-care products due out this year

Russell Redman

April 4, 2018

1 Min Read
Albertsons’ Open Nature brand delves into nonfoods
courtesy of Albertsons

Albertsons Cos. is expanding its Open Nature brand into the nonfood realm.

The food and drug retailer plans to roll out more than 240 Open Nature home-care products this year. The new offerings follow the brand’s recent entry into the baby and pet food categories.

Open Nature launched in 2011 with about 100 products and has seen increased distribution across Albertsons Cos. supermarket banners.

The brand’s vision, Albertsons said, is to offer customers “real food” and natural products without artificial ingredients. Open Nature food products are free from 110 ingredients that many consumers want to avoid, including antibiotics, MSG-type ingredients, nitrates, and preservatives like sulfites and benzoates. Open Nature meat has no preservatives and added hormones, and the brand’s pet food comes in grain and grain-free options.

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“We know that our customers want high-quality, clean and more natural products at affordable prices. Whether it’s for their spouse, child or pet, we know how important it is to feel good about the food they feed their family and the products that come into their homes,” Geoff White, president of own brands at Albertsons Cos., said in a statement. “We’re more committed than ever to offering customers that experience, which is why we are excited to introduce a wider variety of Open Nature products and expand the brand’s free-from approach into nonfood categories.”

Open Nature and Albertsons Cos.’ O Organics brand generate $1.4 billion in combined sales, the company said. In January, the retailer unveiled plans to launch more than 450 new O Organics products in 2018.

Other labels in Albertsons Cos.’ own-brand lineup, which tallied sales of over $11 billion in fiscal 2017, include Signature Select, Lucerne, Primo Taglio and Value Corner.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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