Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

If retailers shift focus away from commodity items and toward specialty products and computer accessories, they can jump-start category growth, according to a SHOPA study.

STOCKTON, Calif. -- Shoppers at new Grocery Outlet here will be burning away fat on their new George Foreman Grills, which will be given away to the first 100 customers in a grand opening promotion that begins April 1.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Independent retail food broker Atlantic Sales & Performance (ASP) is now selling LED-based signage solutions to supermarkets nationwide.

Wawa, Pa. -- Convenience store pioneer Wawa, Inc. based here, selected Merrychef USA to be its supplier of choice for accelerated cooking ovens.

NEW YORK -- In an apparent bid to prevent three drug makers from postponing the release of Plavix into the lower-price world of generics, Kroger Co. here filed a civil antitrust lawsuit last Thursday to the trio alleging they've entered into an illegal settlement of a patent lawsuit involving the popular Plavix blood thinner.

CHICAGO -- Global voluntary supermarket network IGA has named its 2006 President's Cup Award winners, honoring four licensed grocery distribution centers for their gains in IGA retail sales from the prior year, net increase in total IGA retail square footage, the number of supermarkets added to the IGA system, the IGA Operational Assessment rating, IGA brand support, Hometown Proud involvement, and participation in IGA events.

KALAMAZOO -- How to survive in an increasingly competitive environment, dealing with workforce challenges and appealing to a growing Hispanic population are among the topics to be addressed at Western Michigan University's 41st Food Marketing Conference to be held here March 27-28.

PLOVER, Wisc. -- The National Association for Retail Marketing Services (NARMS) here said it is expecting nearly 500 attendees from around the world at its 11th annual spring conference and business meeting, to be held April 1-4 at Amelia Island Plantation in northeast Florida.