Content about Southern United States

WATERBURY, Vt. — Canus, a provider of goat's milk skin care products, is introducing its Caprina by Canus line of soaps, body washes and foaming milk baths to the U.S. market. 

Canus launched Caprina in Canada in early 2009 and, starting in June, Caprina will be available in U.S. retail stores. Both Publix Super Markets with 933 of its stores across the southern United States and Hannaford's 180 locations throughout New England, will begin offering a selection of Caprina products.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After 50 years of service with the company, Kroger's mid-south division president John Hackett is retiring. Hackett began his career with Kroger in 1963 as a store clerk in London, Ohio, while working his way through college at The Ohio State University.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion has revamped 178 of its stores and hired 800 new employees, the Delhaize Group-owned supermarket chain said.

The company said the stores would offer an improved shopping experience — such as faster checkout service — fresher produce through the "Fresh from the Field" initiative and cheaper private label products. The changes were made to stores in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia.

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Thursday announced plans to bring together more than 4,800 associates at the Kentucky Exposition Center on April 16 to assemble an estimated 17,000 emergency food and personal care boxes for the metro community of Louisville, Ky.

BRUSSELS — The Delhaize Group shakeup continues as news circulates that its Sweetbay Supermarket division will shutter 33 underperforming stores in Florida by mid-February, according to a report on Tampa Bay Online.

The closures, which are part of a broader reorganization plan, will results in the loss of about 2,000 jobs in Florida and changes for its pharmacy customers. Following the closures, Sweetbay will operate 72 locations.

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Steve Beshear on Monday announced the launch of a privately funded, statewide campaign aimed at increasing public awareness about "smurfing," the illegal process of buying products containing pseudoephedrine on behalf of methamphetamine criminals. The goal of the Anti-Smurfing Campaign is to inform potential smurfers and the general public — through signage displayed at pharmacy sales counters — that smurfing is a serious criminal offense that can result in criminal charges and possibly time in jail. 

LANDOVER, Md. — Giant Food is bringing back its A+ School Rewards program.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Members of Food Lion's loyalty card program have the opportunity to receive a copy of Southern Living magazine when they spend at least $35 and purchase one Kraft Foods or ConAgra Foods product.

MVP customers will be provided Southern Living's holiday recipe and tips guide, "Our Best Holiday Desserts," which is available through Dec. 27. The 48-page publication features both a variety of holiday-theme ideas and special Food Lion coupons.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Urgent care operator Solantic is moving its corporate headquarters from Florida to Tennessee, according to a local news report.

According to a report by The Independent Florida Alligator, the company’s corporate headquarters office is currently in Jacksonville but will be relocating to Nashville.

The report stated that Solantic’s 32 urgent care clinics in Florida will remain open.
 

ST. LOUIS — There has been a sharp increase in sales of pseudoephedrine products just outside St. Charles County, Mo., which implemented a prescription requirement on the sale of PSE beginning Aug. 30, according to an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch published Monday that cited data from Det. Sgt. Jason Grellner, past president of the Missouri Narcotics Officers Association.

According to that data, sales of PSE products were up 81% in September versus August in Bridgeton, Mo., and increases in Maryland Heights and Chesterfield were 59% and 51%, respectively.

DULUTH, Ga. — Delhaize America banners are getting the kiosk treatment.

NCR is adding more than 800 Blockbuster Express kiosks to Delhaize America supermarkets, including Food Lion, Bottom Dollar Food, Harveys and Reid's across 11 states.

Blockbuster Express kiosks will be located either inside or outside the stores and provide easy access to a wide selection of popular movies, starting at a promotional price of $1 per night per rental, NCR said.

SALISBURY, N.C. — First-quarter revenue for Delhaize America, the U.S. sector of the Delhaize Group, which includes such supermarket banners as Food Lion and Bottom Dollar, experienced a 0.1% increase to nearly $4.7 billion, the company reported.