Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

CHICAGO -- In an effort to provide its retail customers with an online experience that parallels traditional trade shows/food shows, Keene, N.H.-based C&S Wholesale Grocers is producing the CSXpo, its first online selling event.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- The California Grocers Association (CGA), based here, has appointed Kristin Power its v.p., government relations, effective Feb. 27. Power will assume responsibility for managing CGA government relations program at both the state and local level, including CGA's two local government representatives. She will be the organization's chief lobbyist and direct CGA's contract lobbyists.

WASHINGTON -- The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) yesterday revealed its program lineup for the annual Information Systems/Logistics Distribution (IS/LD) Conference, an event for IT and logistics professionals in the CPG sector, which will take place April 3 to April 5 at the Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, Ariz.

CARLISLE, Pa. -- With one-stop shopping quickly becoming a growing trend, Giant Food Stores here and its Williamsville, N.Y.-based Tops Markets sister division are embarking on two new ways to add even greater value for customers: a new "Guaranteed Value" grocery and household product line and a new "Your Neighborhood Drugstore," concept for its heath and beauty care and sundries categories.

RICHMOND, Va. -- Ukrop's Super Markets, Inc. here has unveiled details of a major new pricing initiative, the "Consistent Low Price" (C.L.P.) program. The initiative is designed to offer a simpler approach to grocery pricing, and includes reduced prices on more than 8,000 items.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart here said plans to purchase all of its wild-caught fresh and frozen fish for the North American market from Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)-certified fisheries within the next three to five years, as part of a commitment to offering sustainable products at affordable prices to its customers.

GRAND RAPIDS -- Spartan Stores here, through its neighborhood supermarkets, is selling Special Olympics medallions through February. The funds raised from the sale support the Summer Games in Michigan.

LOS ANGELES -- Nearly 300 retail industry executives, store owners, law enforcement personnel, lawmakers, and prosecutors met here yesterday in a united effort to curb the $34 billion problem of organized retail theft, also known as ORT.