Content about Colorado

BOULDER, Colo. — GeoPalz on Tuesday announced its partnership with Whole Foods around an endcap featuring the companies line of kid-friendly pedometers.

Along with distributing promotional flyers and hosting in-store GeoPalz demos, Whole Foods will showcase GeoPalz in its “Back to School Essentials” displays within the stores. The store’s team members will be active participants in the GeoPalz program. Each will wear a button encouraging shoppers to, “Ask me how many steps I’ve taken!”

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Global Market Development Center earlier this week named Mark Mechelse to the role of director of industry insights.

"We are excited to welcome Mark Mechelse into GMDC as one of our newest team members," stated Dave McConnell, president and CEO of GMDC. "The addition of his skill set is a compliment to the GMDC strategy that will enhance the connection between our members, as well as GMDC's education programs; and he will provide insight into market trends."

AURORA, Colo. — Consumers have found a soft spot for hardwood floor mops as concerns about indoor air quality, rising asthma rates among children and a desire for convenience has swept widespread interest in the fledgling category.


Picking up on the trend is Bona US with its Hardwood Floor Mop Motion ($49.99). Next up, and a likely target for drug chains, is its lower-
priced Bona Hardwood Floor Mop Curve ($29.99). The mop features an on-board reservoir specifically formulated for hardwood floors and cleans hard-to-reach areas, such as under couches and tables.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — SC Johnson is bringing together its cleaning brands in a new, lightweight sprayer.

The SC Johnson all-in-one cleaning system brings together Windex, Fantastik, Scrubbing Bubbles, Pledge and Shout Carpet. The cleaning system allows users to hold 3-of-the-5 concentrated cleaner cartridges at once in a single hand-held sprayer, allowing consumers to seamlessly clean each room and surface by instantly switching among the cleaners.

BOISE, Idaho — Albertsons is pulling the plug on its self-checkout units, which will be replaced by standard "H" lanes or express lanes, the grocer has confirmed.

The 217-store grocer that operates in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, New Mexico, Texas and Utah has self-checkout units installed in roughly 100 of its stores. Those units will be removed by the end of the summer.

According to the grocer, the self-checkout units prevent it from providing the level of customer service it wants to offer its shoppers.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Global Marketing Development Center's 2011 General Merchandise Marketing Conference featured more than 300 items in the Showcase Plus display earlier this month, GMDC said Wednesday.

The Showcase Plus allowed suppliers to present 4-ft. inline sections, as well as individual retail items, to the 165 wholesale/retail members who were in attendance.

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — Sunflower Farmers Market, a chain of 33 grocery outlets, now is carrying an array of TCCD International's Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal products.

Sunflower Farmers Market customers can find 10 Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal products in stores, including roll-ons, spray mists and crystal sticks. The natural and organic retailer is offering Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal products at discount prices throughout this month.

DENVER, Colo. — Suncore Products said that its new cookie brand touts 20 essential vitamins and minerals, as well as dietary fiber.

WhoNu? cookies, which are available in soft and chewy chocolate chip, crispy chocolate chip, chocolate sandwich creme and vanilla sandwich creme varieties, claim to deliver 3 g of fiber and 20% or more of the daily allowance of calcium; vitamins A, B12, C, D and E; and iron in each three-cookie serving.

ST. PAUL, Minn — A provider of simple and convenient online diagnosis and treatment of common health needs is broadening its reach.

Zipnosis said it will launch services in Colorado and Washington on May 15. Patients interested in having their symptoms reviewed and diagnosed can register at Zipnosis.com.


In response to the news last month that Rite Aid named Tony Montini EVP merchandising, DSN shared this exchange with an online reader:


Dear DSN;


I am a Rite Aid pharmacist in the small desert town of Needles, Calif. Needles is a poor town with a lot of our business being Medi-Cal — state Medicaid. ... This is the rub: There are no Medi-Cal providers in the city! Most people have to go to the emergency room, or those with Medicare D plans [travel] 20 miles across the Colorado River to Arizona. ...


BOULDER, Colo. — Izze has expanded its line of 50-calorie sparkling juices, the company announced Tuesday.

New low-calorie Izzue Esque sparkling watermelon flavor hit store shelves this month. With the new flavor, the Izze Esque lineup now features four flavors, including sparkling black raspberry, sparkling limon and sparkling mandarin.

Izze Esque is available nationwide in Whole Foods Market, as well as in select grocery stores, for a suggested retail price of $1.39 to $1.69 per bottle or $4.99 to $5.49 per four-pack.