Sep 11, 2012

CHICAGO — If supermarket beer sales were an Olympic sport the gold front runner would be super-premium brews, crafts would take silver and imports bronze. That’s according to mid-year dollar sales growth as reported by Dan Wandel, senior v...

Hy-Vee Heats Up Beer Brand With Bonfire

Sep 07, 2012

WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Hy-Vee Food Stores has expanded its private-label craft beer line with a new flavor. Bonfire Marzen Ale is the latest flavor under the Baraboo Brewing Co. brand. Combining toasted caramel malts, German hops and ...

Safeway Plans IPO of Blackhawk Gift-Card Division

Sep 05, 2012

Blackhawk is “a high-growth company captured inside of what is currently a low-multiple body.” — Steve Burd, chairman and CEO, Safeway

Supervalu Debuts Single-Serve Coffee Pod

Sep 04, 2012

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu is the latest private-label marketer to throw its hat in the single-cup coffee ring. Java Delight Single Serve UnCup, a new single-portion size of its premium coffee product, will begin appearing in stores in about ...

Whole Foods Said to Eye Foodmaster

Aug 30, 2012

CHELSEA, Mass. — Whole Food Market is in talks to acquire six supermarkets in the Boston area from Johnny’s Foodmaster, based here, according to reports. Neither Austin, Texas-based Whole Foods nor Foodmaster could be reached for comment...

Consumer Reports Taste-Tests Private Labels, National Brands

Aug 30, 2012

YONKERS, N.Y. — More than half of the store brands blind-tasted in a Consumer Reports test tied or beat their name-brand rivals. Nineteen private-label/national-brand pairs were tested, with store brands tying name brands for taste in 10 i...

Brookshire Dairy Switches to Clear Milk Caps

Aug 16, 2012

TYLER, Texas — Dairy caps produced at Brookshire Grocery Co.’s dairy plant here are now clear in color, Brookshire announced on Thursday. These clear caps — used for Food Club milk products — have cost savings, and also provide environmen...

Wal-Mart Q2 Sales, Earnings Rise

Aug 16, 2012

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores here on Thursday said net earnings for its fiscal second quarter increased by 5.7%, helped along by a modest gain in U.S. sales. Net sales for the quarter ending July 31 totaled $113.5 billion, a 4.5% ga...

Price Chopper Hops on Chuck Wagon

Aug 16, 2012

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — Price Chopper Supermarkets is promoting its new Chuck Wagon private-label dog food. Marketed by Topco Associates, the brand was introduced on the Price Chopper Facebook page last week. “So you remember your favorite...

Wal-Mart Launches Ultra Premium Dog Food

Aug 14, 2012

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Wal-Mart Stores introduced its first ultra premium dry dog food Tuesday. Pure Balance is free of soy, wheat and corn additives, artificial colors, preservatives and chicken by-products. The dog food's first and primary ...