Content about Consumables

January 28, 2013
Back to Nature launches new all-natural granola

Back to Nature Foods Co. announced today that it has launched a new all-natural sunflower and pumpkin seed variety of Back to Nature Granola.

NAPLES, Fla. — Back to Nature Foods Co. announced today that it has launched a new all-natural sunflower and pumpkin seed variety of Back to Nature Granola.

Made with crunchy clusters of whole grain oats, the new variety packs 25 g of whole grain and 6 g of protein per serving. Like all Back to Nature products, it has no artificial preservatives, flavors or colors. The new product variety complements an existing line of granolas featuring ingredients like blueberries, cherries, almonds, pecans, honey and chocolate.

January 28, 2013
Budweiser announces birth of baby clydesdale with first tweet: Horse to be featured in Super Bowl ad

Budweiser launched its first Twitter account on Jan. 27, and made a splash with its first tweet: an image of a newborn member of the "Budweiser Clydesdales Class of 2013."

ST. LOUIS — Budweiser launched its first Twitter account on Jan. 27, and made a splash with its first tweet: an image of a newborn member of the "Budweiser Clydesdales Class of 2013."

 

January 28, 2013
Cracker Barrel plans expansion into groceries with branded food products

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is embarking on its third attempt to branch out from its chain of Southern comfort food restaurants by expanding a lineup of branded food products to be offered at grocers and outside retail outlets.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Cracker Barrel Old Country Store is embarking on its third attempt to branch out from its chain of  Southern comfort food restaurants by expanding a lineup of branded food products to be offered at grocers and outside retail outlets.

"Our research shows that our guests would like to be able to purchase Cracker Barrel products in places other than just our restaurants and retail stores, and we believe that there is opportunity here to meet that desire," the company stated.

January 28, 2013
Healthy Ones deli meat brand to donate to WomenHeart throughout February

Healthy Ones deli and lunch meat will be sporting red packaging and signage throughout the month of February in recognition of Heart Health Awareness Month.

Healthy Ones deli and lunch meat will be sporting red packaging and signage throughout the month of February in recognition of Heart Health Awareness Month.

The brand is donating 5 cents per tub of lunchmeat and 5 cents per pound of deli meat — up to $50,000 total — sold in grocery stores nationwide to WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease.

January 28, 2013
Little Debbie cakes maker bids on Hostess brand

McKee Foods, makers of Little Debbie snack cakes, is offering $25 to $30 million for Hostess Brands Inc.'s Drake's brand, according to published reports.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — McKee Foods, makers of Little Debbie snack cakes, is offering $25 to $30 million for Hostess Brands' Drake's brand, according to published reports. Hostess filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 2012.

January 28, 2013
Target to launch fresh food departments at nine Detroit stores

Target will dedicate about 10,000 sq. ft. at nine of its stores in the Detroit area to fresh groceries, the mass merchandise chain said Monday.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target will dedicate about 10,000 sq. ft. at nine of its stores in the Detroit area to fresh groceries, the mass merchandise chain said Monday.

The company said the remodeling effort was part of its ongoing effort to remodel stores across the country, and the new layout also would include reinventions in departments such as beauty, home, shoes and baby. Fresh foods will include produce, packaged meat and prepackaged baked goods, as well as frozen and dry food offerings.

January 28, 2013
ThinkThin launches ThinkThin Divine, nutritional bar featuring chocolate and coconut

ThinkThin last week launched its ThinkThin Divine nutritional bar featuring chocolate and coconut.

LOS ANGELES — ThinkThin last week launched its ThinkThin Divine nutritional bar featuring chocolate and coconut. 

 "ThinkThin Divine redefines the nutrition bar category," suggested Lizanne Falsetto, CEO ThinkThin. "With ThinkThin nutrition bars, it's never a choice between meeting your health needs and satisfying your sweet tooth. The new Divine line proves that natural, better-for-you ingredients can actually taste good — allowing chocolate-lovers to manage nutrition in a surprisingly delicious way."

January 28, 2013
Valentine's Day sales to increase 3.2%, report finds

Consumers expect to spend slightly more on Valentine's Day merchandise this year than last year, according to a report by market research firm IBISWorld.

LOS ANGELES — Consumers expect to spend slightly more on Valentine's Day merchandise this year than last year, according to a report by market research firm IBISWorld.

The report forecasts spending of $134.08 per person, compared with last year's $133.99. Total revenue for the holiday is expected to grow by 3.2%, to $20.8 billion, despite incomes and consumer sentiments remaining below what they were before the recession.

January 25, 2013
'Must. Have. Wheat Thins.' ad campaign kicks off for Super Bowl

Wheat Thins today announced the launch of its new "Must. Have. Wheat Thins." campaign with a new TV ad debuting in the pregame show prior to the start of Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3.

EAST HANOVER, N.J. — Wheat Thins today announced the launch of its new "Must. Have. Wheat Thins." campaign with a new TV ad debuting in the pregame show prior to the start of Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3.

January 25, 2013
Popchips to launch Katy Perry-inspired flavor

Pop singer Katy Perry will leave her mark on the newest flavor from snack brand Popchips, the company said.

SAN FRANCISCO — Pop singer Katy Perry will leave her mark on the newest flavor from snack brand Popchips, the company said Friday.

Popchips said it would launch Katy's Kettle Corn, described as sweet and salty, at Target stores this month. Perry joined the company in July 2012 as an investor and creative partner and expressed an interest in creating a signature flavor of the snack.

January 25, 2013
Post Foods follows Greek yogurt craze with introduction of new Honey Bunches of Oats cereal

Post Foods on Friday announced the addition of a new variety to the Honey Bunches of Oats family: Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Crunch cereal.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Post Foods on Friday announced the addition of a new variety to the Honey Bunches of Oats family: Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Honey Crunch cereal.

Available nationwide, the new cereal combines real Greek yogurt bunches, crispy whole grain flakes and honey. It is the first of the Honey Bunches of Oats line to include Greek yogurt.

January 25, 2013
Retailers stand to benefit from Made-in-America wave

Walmart recently announced that it would source $50 billion of the products sold in its stores in the United States over the next 10 years, according to a report in USA Today.

"Be American; buy American" has long been a slogan that makes buying U.S.-made goods sound nothing less than patriotic because it helps create American jobs, much like CVS' initiatives to create jobs for veterans, and the recent Made-in-USA fervor around the country has more than demonstrated that. But there are practical reasons for sourcing domestically as well, making it high time for retailers to start looking into putting more products with the "Made in USA" label on their shelves.

Walmart recently announced that it would source $50 billion of the products sold in its stores in the United States over the next 10 years, according to a report in USA Today.

January 25, 2013
Simply Orange Juice mixes up new blends

Simply Orange Juice announced three new additions to their lines of Simply Orange Juice and Simply Lemonade: tangerine and banana under the Simply Orange Juice brand, and a blueberry variety from Simply Lemonade.

APOPKA, Fla. —Simply Orange Juice announced three new additions to their lines of Simply Orange Juice and Simply Lemonade varieties: tangerine and banana under the Simply Orange Juice brand, and a blueberry variety from Simply Lemonade.

January 24, 2013
Rexall launches new exclusive Be.better line

Canadian pharmacy retailer Rexall has unveiled its new flagship private brand, Be.better, a line of more than 100 products available exclusively at the more than 300 corporate Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus stores.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canadian pharmacy retailer Rexall has unveiled its new flagship private brand, Be.better, a line of more than 100 products available exclusively at the more than 300 corporate Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus stores.

January 24, 2013
SymphonyIRI: Due to economy, 1-in-5 consumers choose a product tied to loyalty card discount

One-in-5 consumers between the ages of 35 years and 54 years are choosing products due to a loyalty card discount, SymphonyIRI Group reported Wednesday as part of its fourth quarter 2012 MarketPulse survey.

CHICAGO — One-in-5 consumers between the ages of 35 years and 54 years are choosing products due to a loyalty card discount, SymphonyIRI Group reported Wednesday as part of its fourth quarter 2012 MarketPulse survey. And almost one-third are forsaking their preferred brands due to a sale price. The survey found that shopper sentiment dropped to its lowest point since Q3 2011.

January 23, 2013
ConAgra introduces new version of Pam cooking spray

A new version of ConAgra Foods' Pam cooking spray is designed to be calorie-free and leave less residue, the company said.

OMAHA, Neb. — A new version of ConAgra Foods' Pam cooking spray is designed to be calorie-free and leave less residue, the company said.

The food company said that the new Pam leaves up to 99% less residue and is available in three varieties: original, baking and butter.

January 23, 2013
Kraft announces Mio Fit liquid water enhancer, Super Bowl commercial

Kraft Foods is adding to their line of flavored water enhancers with two flavors of Mio Fit, a portable liquid water enhancer with B vitamins and electrolytes, and has planned the brands first-ever Super Bowl spot to run during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVLII on Feb. 3.

NEW YORK — Kraft Foods is adding to their line of flavored water enhancers with two flavors of Mio Fit, a portable liquid water enhancer with B vitamins and electrolytes, and has planned the brands first-ever Super Bowl spot to run during the third quarter of Super Bowl XVLII on Feb. 3.

January 23, 2013
Nielsen: Retail opportunities for 2013 in big data, omnichannel and fresh

Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon.

CHICAGO — Growth in 2013 will be slow-going in the first half of 2013 but will pick up at the end, suggested James Russo, SVP global consumer insights for Nielsen, during a webinar Wednesday afternoon. "The consumer remains in maintenance mode," he said. "Consumers are being pragmatic in their spending. Uncertainty dominates."

January 22, 2013
Club retailers to see higher growth over next three years, Deloitte study finds

Club retailers could be in for a good time over the next three years, according to a new study.

NEW YORK — Club retailers could be in for a good time over the next three years, according to a new study.

The study, by Deloitte, found that consumer products executives expect growth through warehouse club retailers to outpace those of other retail channels, including mass merchandise, supermarkets and online retail.

January 22, 2013
Gourmet coffee, tea site launches

A new website features gourmet tea and coffee products.

HOUSTON — A new website features gourmet tea and coffee products.

GourmetCafeSpot.com, owned by Texas-based Internet company Pagee Distributing, features such coffee and tea products as tea pots, water kettles, coffee grinders and roasters, coffee machines, espresso machines, tea and coffee blends.

January 22, 2013
Report: Shoppers want more buy-America options and Walmart aims to give it to them

More than 80% of Americans are willing to pay more for Made in the USA products, according to a USA Today report published online late Monday night.

TYSONS CORNER, Va. — More than 80% of Americans are willing to pay more for Made in the USA products, according to a USA Today report published online late Monday night. 

Out of those shoppers actively seeking to buy all things American, 93% reported that they wanted to keep jobs in the U.S. as their primary reason for doing so, the report noted, citing a survey released in November by Boston Consulting Group.

January 22, 2013
Va. woman wins Giant-Landover sweepstakes

A customer of Giant Food of Landover, Md., received $7,800 in Giant gift cards after winning an online sweepstakes, the Ahold banner said.

LANDOVER, Md. — A customer of Giant Food of Landover, Md., received $7,800 in Giant gift cards after winning an online sweepstakes, the Ahold banner said Tuesday.

Giant, also known as Giant-Landover to distinguish it from fellow Ahold banner Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Pa., awarded the cards to customer Sarah Calamore and her family as part of its "Coupon to end All Coupons" sweepstakes, which encouraged customers to "like" the retailer's Facebook page.

January 21, 2013
Giant-Landover donates lunches, water to Inauguration Day law enforcement, participants

A supermarket chain in the Washington area is marking Inauguration Day by donating lunches to the police officers assigned to guard it.

LANDOVER, Md. — A supermarket chain in the Washington area is marking Inauguration Day by donating lunches to the police officers assigned to guard it.

Ahold banner Giant Food of Landover, Md. — also known as Giant-Landover to distinguish it from fellow Ahold banner Giant Food Stores of Carlisle, Pa. — said it would donate boxed lunches and water to the 5,000 officers of the Washington Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Park Police and National Park Service.

January 21, 2013
GMA recognizes executives, companies who contributed to advancement of industry

The Grocery Manufacturers Association on Saturday presented a number of industry awards during the association's GMA Chairman's Lecture.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The Grocery Manufacturers Association on Saturday presented a number of industry awards during the association's GMA Chairman's Lecture.

January 21, 2013
Sam's Club hires Katie Workman to promote healthy eating

Sam's Club has hired cookbook author Katie Workman to recommend simple and healthy foods to influence people to eat better, the club retailer said Monday.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Sam's Club has hired cookbook author Katie Workman to recommend simple and healthy foods to influence people to eat better, the club retailer said Monday.

Workman is the author of "The Mom 100 Cookbook," and the retailer has hired her to join its Sam's Club Simply Delicious Chef Brigade and give people healthy recipes and encourage them to add fish and vegetables to their diets.