News Briefs

In one of the quieter recounts following a noisy November election, voters in Colorado okayed the sale of wine in grocery stores. Proposition 125 passed by a slim margin following a protracted vote tally, meaning that grocery stores that already have a beer license can sell wine starting on March 1, 2023. According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s office, with 64 of 64 counties reporting by Nov. 22, the vote was 50.58% in favor, with 1,228,394 “yes” votes, and 49.42% not in favor, with 1,200,205 “no” votes.

The split in the electorate was largely among location lines, as voters in urban areas were more in favor of allowing sales of wine at grocery stores. Many owners and operators of independent liquor stores opposed the legislation, contending that it would harm their business.

[Read more: "Which Adult Beverages Will Grocery Shoppers Purchase for the Holidays?"]

“We’re pleased that Coloradans will soon be able to pick up a bottle of wine when purchasing groceries,” Rick Reiter, campaign director for Wine in Grocery Stores, told the Colorado Sun newspaper. “Consumer habits are evolving, and it was inevitable that either this election, or one soon thereafter, that Colorado would become the 40th state to have wine in grocery stores.”

While licensed grocers can sell wine, sales are not allowed at self-checkout stands. Meanwhile, those who want to order wine and other adult beverages from delivery services will also have to wait, as Colorado voters shot down Proposition 126. That proposal, which would have allowed alcohol delivery and alcohol to-go, lost by more than two percentage points.

After launching a partnership with the Specialty Food Association (SFA) at the trade organization’s 2022 Summer Fancy Food Show this past June in New York City, (included) CPG, a collective of BIPOC founders and executives in the consumer packaged goods industry, will make its debut at SFA’s Winter Fancy Food Show early next year. The show is scheduled for Jan. 15-17, 2023, in Las Vegas.

“The Specialty Food Association is a not-for-profit membership trade association working toward a more inclusive specialty food industry,” noted Bill Lynch, president of New York-based SFA, which will sponsor an additional 10 BIPOC makers from the collective at the upcoming Winter Fancy Food Show. “In partnering with (included), we are able to reach a broader spectrum of BIPOC owners and makers who we can showcase at our Fancy Food Shows.” 

[Read more: "What Are the Top Specialty Food Trends for 2023?"]

The exhibitors from (included) at the show will be HibisBloom, Mojave Mallows, Niramaya Foods, One Stripe Chai, Power Up Foods, Route to India, Sanchi Foods, Urja, Wild Orchard and Wonder Monday.

“As BIPOC founders whose mission is to make an impact at scale for both people and the planet, there are so many challenges we face each and every day that make it an uphill battle,” said Michael D. Ham, president of Wild Orchard, a Mount Kisco, N.Y.-based maker of regenerative teas. “So we are extremely thankful and appreciative of the efforts made by (included) CPG and the Specialty Food Association to empower us with your resources, support and advocacy to help us realize our dreams.”

The largest B2B specialty food event in the western U.S., the Winter Fancy Food Show features thousands of specialty food and beverage products from around the world. 

For consumers, balance remains the name of the game, both in everyday shopping and special occasions. As the Thanksgiving holiday descends on a country that’s largely returning to pre-pandemic ways of celebrating, The Kroger Co. shared some ways that its customers are balancing nostalgia, convenience and taste.

Kroger reports that tradition and sentiment are strong for this Thanksgiving. Cranberries, for example, remain a holiday staple with an estimated 6.2 million pounds to be sold. Pumpkin, apple and pecan pies continue to be tops in desserts, while the pull of nostalgia is reflected in popular cocktails like maple old-fashioned and cranberry mules.

[Read more: "Kroger CEO Believes Inflation Is Beginning to Slow Down"]

That said, convenience is driving interest in some Thanksgiving solutions, according to Kroger. The retailer added a new half-pumpkin, half-pecan pie this year for consumers interested in a little bit of both flavors. Kroger is also offering ready-to-heat and ready-to-eat options for the holiday repast as part of its Our Brands private label line; examples include Private Selection Petite Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar and Cayenne, Kroger Family Size Broccoli and Cauliflower Au Gratin, Private Selection Cheesecake Bites, Simple Truth Salad Starters and Simple Truth Organic Butternut Squash Soup.

"Thanks to our amazing team of associates, Kroger is prepared to help our shoppers make holiday memories this season with all of their favorite family recipes and Thanksgiving staples — including 55 million pounds of turkey," said Stuart Aitken, Kroger’s SVP and chief merchant and marketing officer. "As families and friends gather this Thanksgiving, we are here to help them make it a meal they will remember – whether they're recreating longstanding traditions or creating new – no matter how they choose to celebrate."

Cincinnati-based Kroger is No. 4 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.

In time for the holidays, quick-commerce platform Gopuff has introduced four new features in response to customer feedback, with the aim of delivering greater flexibility and more options: 24-hour online ordering, scheduled delivery, gifting, and buy online, pickup in store (BOPIS).

[Read more: "Gopuff Ads Launches Off- and On-Site Ad Integration"]

Details are as follows:

• 24-hour ordering, which enables customers to place an order even when Gopuff is closed, with delivery as soon as the company reopens.
• Scheduled delivery, permitting customers to schedule orders in advance for a specific date and time. 
• Gifting, which streamlines the process for customers using Gopuff to send products to friends and family members in other locations.
• BOPIS, available at many Gopuff locations for customers on the go. 

“Since 2013, we have constantly refined and expanded what it means to deliver to our customers when and how they want,” noted Philadelphia-based Gopuff. “These four new features continue that commitment – we’re here whenever and however you need us.” 

Additionally, Gopuff has designated Nov. 25 as Blue Friday, with up to 50% off on all things blue for one day only. Hot-ticket items like Beats Flex All-Day Wireless Earphones in Flame Blue (pictured) will be 43% off on Gopuff on that day. 

“From Frosted Flakes to Dawn Dish Soap and everything blue in between, the discounts on blue household products are endless, and with Gopuff, you can get them delivered straight to your door,” the company said.

Gopuff is No. 79 on The PG 100, Progressive Grocer’s 2022 list of the top food and consumables retailers in North America.

Hugo’s Family Marketplace has purchased Palubicki’s Family Market, in Fosston, Minn.

In 1975, Jim and Nina Palubicki moved to Fosston and bought the grocery store, which they called Palubicki’s Red Owl. The couple’s four daughters and five grandchildren have worked for the business in various capacities throughout the years. In 2006, the Palubickis’ daughter Leah bought the store and entered the fuel business with Palubicki’s Express in 2012. In 2016, Palubicki’s Family Market and Spirits opened, doubling the size of the old grocery store and adding a pharmacy, a Caribou Coffee location and a liquor store.

[Read more: "Morton Williams Now Part of Allegiance Retail Services"]

“We are excited to purchase this store and become members of the Fosston community,” said Kristi Magnuson Nelson, president/CEO of Grand Forks, N.D.-based Hugo’s. “Leah and her family have built an impressive company rooted in family values, which makes this new addition to our family of supermarkets so special. We are committed to maintaining the great tradition, quality and service that the Palubicki family has built.”

“I am thankful and grateful for all the wonderful staff throughout the years,” said Leah Palubicki. “We are proud of what we have accomplished in Fosston and are excited for Hugo’s and the future of Fosston.”

Nelson expects the ownership transition to be seamless for the shoppers and employees of Palubicki’s, noting that Hugo’s will retain all of Palubicki’s management team and employees who currently work at the store.

Founded by Hugo and Dorothy Magnuson in 1939, Hugo’s was operated by Curt Magnuson until his death in 2007; Nelson, his daughter, then succeeded him. With the addition of the Fosston store, the grocer will operate 12 supermarkets, seven liquor stores, two pubs, four pharmacies and nine Caribou Coffee shops throughout North Dakota and Minnesota.

A sustainable water bottle is coming to store shelves in California. Starting Dec. 1, Los Angeles family-owned grocer Erewhon will begin carrying biodegradable water bottles developed by material innovation company Cove.

The bottle has been in the works for nearly four years. Cove’s plastic-free, renewable bottle is made from PHA, a natural, non-toxic material that is said to break down by microorganisms in nature.

[Read more: "Line of Grocery Bags Certified as Biodegradable"]

“Erewhon has celebrated the amazing benefits of naturally grown foods and the importance of preserving the earth for more than 50 years and continues to lead the way in conscious consumption today,” said Vito Antoci, EVP of Erewhon Markets, which operates six locations across the greater Los Angeles area. “When we were introduced to Cove, we were incredibly excited to be part of this innovative and potentially world-changing moment for CPG – the world’s first fully biodegradable water bottle is something we are very proud to be launching at Erewhon.”

“Cove entering retail is a significant milestone for the company and it was important for us to find a mission-aligned retail partner to debut Cove. We’ve found that in Erewhon and are excited to take a big step forward in our mission to create a sustainable material world.” said Alex Totterman, founder and CEO of Cove. “Erewhon will also offer a valuable end of life option for our customers by allowing them to deposit their used Cove bottles into their bins for compostables, which will then be routed to a local compost operation for biological recycling.”

Following the launch at Erewhon stores, Cove plans to expand distribution to other retail partners in the coming months as it ramps up its manufacturing capability. The LA-based company is backed by high-profile investors such as Valor Equity, Marc Benioff, James Murdoch, Tony Robbins and Peter Rahal.