Content about RAPIDS

May 17, 2013
Eco Lips introduces Mongo Kiss, a lip balm sourced from Africa

Eco Lips launched Mongo Kiss, a lip balm made with mongongo nut oil and formulated with nutrients like vitamin E and essential fatty acids.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Eco Lips on Wednesday launched Mongo Kiss, a lip balm made with mongongo nut oil and formulated with nutrients like vitamin E and essential fatty acids. NMongo Kiss is certified organic, fair trade certified, non-GMO, gluten-free and made with 100% renewable energy offsets, the company stated. 

May 9, 2013
New Michigan store marks major milestone for Meijer

Meijer will open its 200th store next week, the mass merchandise retailer said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer will open its 200th store next week, the mass merchandise retailer said Thursday.

Calling the opening of the Swartz Creek, Mich., store a "milestone," the company said it will open on May 16. The store is the first of six new stores the chain plans to open this year in Michigan, Indiana and Illinois.

May 8, 2013
Meijer double-matches donations to food bank fundraising campaign

A campaign run by Midwestern mass-merchandise chain Meijer to raise money for food banks has netted more than half a million dollars, the company said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A campaign run by Midwestern mass-merchandise chain Meijer to raise money for food banks has netted more than half a million dollars, the company said.

Meijer said customers donated $184,230 during Simply Give Double Match Days to help food pantries around the Midwest stock shelves, and Meijer double-matched the donations for a total of $552,690.

May 1, 2013
Reports: Hy-Vee pilots composting program

Two Hy-Vee stores in Iowa will start composting food waste, produce and floral trimmings, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — Two Hy-Vee stores in Iowa will start composting food waste, produce and floral trimmings, according to published reports.

The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gazette reported that Hy-Vee stores in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids had partnered with Des Moines, Iowa-based organics recycler Green RU, which will pick up the waste from the stores and haul it to nearby compost centers. The newspaper reported that the company was considering whether to expand the pilot program throughout the chain.

March 26, 2013
Meijer launches Simply Give donation campaign

Meijer will fund local food pantries by doubling every customer's $10 donation next month, the mass-merchandise retailer said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer will fund local food pantries by doubling every customer's $10 donation next month, the mass-merchandise retailer said.

As part of the spring "Simply Give" campaign, the company will double donations made April 12-13 to restock shelves of pantries that were depleted during the holidays. Meijer said customers have donated nearly $5 million — equal to 30 million meals — since November 2008.

March 19, 2013
Meijer expands made-in-Michigan program

Mass merchandise chain Meijer is expanding an initiative started last year to feature products made in the state of Michigan.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Mass merchandise chain Meijer is expanding an initiative started last year to feature products made in the state of Michigan.

The company announced Tuesday a plan to feature 55 new Michigan-made grocery products in all its stores in the state. The company started the Made in Michigan initiative in January 2012 with the Michigan State University Product Center for Food-Ag-Bio.

March 7, 2013
Meijer, NuVal sponsor weight-loss competition

A weight-loss competition sponsored by mass merchandise retailer Meijer and nutritional scoring company NuVal is enlisting 60,000 team members who will compete for $15,000 in prize money over three months.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A weight-loss competition sponsored by mass merchandise retailer Meijer and nutritional scoring company NuVal is enlisting 60,000 team members who will compete for $15,000 in prize money over three months.

February 13, 2013
Meijer to build six new stores, remodel five in 2013

Meijer plans to invest more than $160 million to build six new stores and remodel five in 2013, the mass merchandise retailer said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Meijer plans to invest more than $160 million to build six new stores and remodel five in 2013, the mass merchandise retailer announced Wednesday.

The company said the new stores will be in Swartz Creek, Mich.; Detroit; Portage, Ind.; Warsaw, Ind.; Danville, Ill.; and Evergreen Park, Ill. The remodel projects include stores in Lansing, Taylor, Flint and Grand Rapids, Mich., and Springfield, Ill. The company currently operates 199 supercenters and grocery stores in Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.

January 29, 2013
Spartan Stores inks distribution deal with Chief Super Market

Spartan Stores, a regional grocery distributor and retailer, has entered into a distribution agreement with Chief Super Market under which Spartan Stores will be its primary wholesale grocery supplier.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Spartan Stores, a regional grocery distributor and retailer, has entered into a distribution agreement with Chief Super Market under which Spartan Stores will be its primary wholesale grocery supplier.

Chief operates 12 stores in Northwest and West Central Ohio under the Chief and Rays banners. Spartan Stores stated that it will assume distribution to all of Chief’s banners for grocery, dairy, frozen, bakery and other products in March.

January 28, 2013
Meijer digital coupon program hits 1 million subscribers

Meijer's digital coupon program has reached 1 million subscribers, the mass merchandise chain said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer's digital coupon program has reached 1 million subscribers, the mass merchandise chain said.

Meijer announced that the program, called mPerks, generated 101,000 new members, 13.7 million clipped offers and more than $5 million in savings in December.

January 15, 2013
Meijer appoints J.K. Symancyk as president

Meijer has appointed J.K. Symancyk as president of the company, the mass merchandise retailer said Tuesday.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer has appointed J.K. Symancyk as president of the company, the mass merchandise retailer said Tuesday.

Meijer said Symancyk's new role came one year after he assumed the role of COO, while Mark Murray has been appointed to the new position of co-CEO, serving with current CEO Hank Meijer. Symancyk's new position will officially begin Feb. 3.

November 15, 2012
Meijer features U.S.-made toys on website

Two new wooden toys that won a contest sponsored by Midwestern mass merchandiser Meijer will be featured exclusively on the retailer's website, the company said Thursday.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Two new wooden toys that won a contest sponsored by Midwestern mass merchandiser Meijer will be featured exclusively on the retailer's website, the company said Thursday.

Meijer announced the winners of the Meijer Next Great Toymaker contest: Franklin, N.C.-based Circa Toys' Wagon of Blocks and Goshen, Ind.-based Peters' Group's Stick & Stack Cozy Cabin. The Wagon of Blocks, which sells for $69.99, is designed for children ages 1 to 3 years, while the Cozy Cabin, at $44.99, is for children ages 4 to 8 years.

November 13, 2012
Plackers marks 40th anniversary with sweepstakes

A company that makes disposable flossers is giving away $40,000 in a contest to mark the 40 years the product has been available.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — A company that makes disposable flossers is giving away $40,000 in a contest to mark the 40 years the product has been available.

Plackers, which credits itself as the maker of the first disposable flosser, said people could buy specially marked packages of Plackers flossers, including Micro Mint, Gentle Fine, Twin-Line and GentleSlide and enter to win the grand prize. Other prize winners will receive an Apple iPad, iPod Nano or a year's supply of flossers.

November 2, 2012
Ranir to unveil rebranding at PLMA

Ranir, a maker of consumer oral and personal healthcare products, is unveiling its rebranding at the PLMA’s 2012 Private Label Trade Show in Chicago Nov. 10 to 13.



GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Ranir, a maker of consumer oral and personal healthcare products, is unveiling its rebranding at the PLMA’s 2012 Private Label Trade Show in Chicago Nov. 10 to 13.



November 1, 2012
Lil' Drug Store Products adds fertility-friendly personal lubricant to its women's health lineup

Lil’ Drug Store Products on Thursday announced the purchase of the Pre-Seed brand of feminine lubricant from BioOrigyn.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Lil’ Drug Store Products on Thursday announced the purchase of the Pre-Seed brand of feminine lubricant from BioOrigyn.

November 1, 2012
Meijer offers toy discounts for holiday season

Meijer is offering discounts on more than 400 toys at stores and online in anticipation of the holiday season as many customers are likely to want to keep prices down, the Midwestern mass-merchandise chain said Thursday.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Meijer is offering discounts on more than 400 toys at stores and online in anticipation of the holiday season as many customers are likely to want to keep prices down, the Midwestern mass-merchandise chain said Thursday.

The chain also plans to release a holiday gift guide that includes 18 pages of toys and an online release of its list of its top 25 toys. The toy discounts include toys in “virtually every” category, ranging from action figures to educational toys.

October 17, 2012
Survey explores reasons why people don't floss regularly

Though the American Dental Hygienists' Association recommends daily flossing, Americans don't floss as often as they should, according to a new survey by an oral care products manufacturer.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Though the American Dental Hygienists' Association recommends daily flossing, Americans don't floss as often as they should, according to a new survey by an oral care products manufacturer.

October 3, 2012
Plackers introduces travel case with Micro Mint flossers

Oral care company Plackers is making flossing on the go more convenient than ever with the introduction of the new Micro Mint Travel Case, a plastic flosser case that easily slips into purses, gym bags, carry-ons and more.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Oral care company Plackers is making flossing on the go more convenient than ever with the introduction of the new Micro Mint Travel Case, a plastic flosser case that easily slips into purses, gym bags, carry-ons and more.
 

September 12, 2012
Meijer's Simply Give Week garners more than $400K in donations

Meijer's Simply Give Week garnered more than $145,000 in donations from its customers. The effort, combined with the commitment from Meijer to double all donations made Sept. 2 to 8, brought the week's total donation to $437,400, Meijer co-chairman Hank Meijer said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer's Simply Give Week garnered more than $145,000 in donations from its customers. The effort, combined with the commitment from Meijer to double all donations made Sept. 2 to 8, brought the week's total donation to $437,400, Meijer co-chairman Hank Meijer said.

Meijer launched Simply Give Week to support Hunger Action Month in September and highlights its continuing commitment to hunger relief.

September 4, 2012
Meijer offers generic Lipitor for free

In what could symbolize the so-called "patent cliff" that an executive from healthcare market research firm IMS Health spoke of at a recent trade show, a regional mass merchandise chain is taking what used to be the world's top-selling drug and giving it away for free.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In what could symbolize the so-called "patent cliff" that an executive from healthcare market research firm IMS Health spoke of at a recent trade show, a regional mass merchandise chain is taking what used to be the world's top-selling drug and giving it away for free.

August 27, 2012
Meijer takes action against hunger

Meijer will double match every customer's $10 Simply Give donation made Sept. 2 to 8 in support of Hunger Action Month.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer will double match every customer's $10 Simply Give donation made Sept. 2 to 8 in support of Hunger Action Month.

The Simply Give Week double match is part of a $1 million donation to the retailer's 2012 Simply Give program, which aims to replenish the shelves of nearly 200 food pantries in its five-state region campaign.

August 1, 2012
Plackers introduces floss for tight teeth, sensitive gums

Disposable dental flosser maker Plackers has expanded its porfolio with the launch of its new GentleSlide flossers.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Disposable dental flosser maker Plackers has expanded its porfolio with the launch of its new GentleSlide flossers.
 
Featuring a shred-resistant polytetrafluoroethylene floss technology, GentleSlide is designed to make flossing between tight teeth easy and comfortable, and is gentle on sensitive gums. People with tight teeth and sensitive gums often forgo flossing altogether because of the discomfort. The floss has a cool mint flavoring.
 

July 25, 2012
Lil' Drug Store Products renews distribution with convenience store operator Circle K

Lil' Drug Store Products on Wednesday announced that it has renewed its supply relationship with Circle K, which has more than 3,300 convenience store locations across 42 states.

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Lil' Drug Store Products on Wednesday announced that it has renewed its supply relationship with Circle K, which has more than 3,300 convenience store locations across 42 states.

“At a time when ongoing product shortages make it essential for retailing partners and their consumer customers to have immediate flexibility and responsiveness in product supply, Lil' Drug Store Products is the kind of reliable supplier we can depend on to serve our nationwide customer base," stated Jim King, Circle K's national director of procurement.

June 19, 2012
Meijer joins EPA GreenChill Partnership

Meijer recently joined the U.S. Environment Protection Agency's GreenChill Partnership.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer recently joined the U.S. Environment Protection Agency's GreenChill Partnership. Created as a voluntary partnership, GreenChill members focus on reducing refrigerant emissions and decreasing their impact on the environment and ultimately people's health. By joining GreenChill, Meijer is pledging to meet higher standards that go beyond the regulatory requirements to protect the ozone layer and combat climate change.

June 15, 2012
Meijer celebrates 50th anniversary of supercenter concept

It has been 50 years since Hendrik and Fred Meijer opened "Thrifty Acres" in Grand Rapids, Mich., marking the birth of the nation's pioneering supercenter and an innovative concept that grew into a retail phenomenon.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — It has been 50 years since Hendrik and Fred Meijer opened "Thrifty Acres" in Grand Rapids, Mich., marking the birth of the nation's pioneering supercenter and an innovative concept that grew into a retail phenomenon.

"They didn't realize it at the time, but our father and grandfather were making history when they opened 'Thrifty Acres' in June 1962," stated Hank Meijer, co-chairman. "The store offered groceries and general merchandise and enabled customers to enjoy 'one-stop shopping.'"