Produce / Floral

PITTSBURGH ¿ On the heels of reports that Pennsylvania health department officials suspect that a third, rare strain of salmonella bacteria may be linked to tomatoes served at Sheetz convenience stores, the Altoona, Pa.-based chain ran full-page advertisements in the Sunday editions of leading daily newspapers in its core Pittsburgh market.

NEW YORK - Product innovations, convenience, and healthy lifestyles may juice up fruit product sales, according to a new report from market research publisher Packaged Facts.

As more retailers put loss prevention at the forefront, they'll need to rely on a mix of new technology and basic training -- with commitment from the executive suite down to the checkout line.

With the FDA's scrutiny of produce-handling practices bound to heighten, retailers can play a more active role than ever in keeping their products and sales safe and secure.

CAMDEN, N.J. - The Campbell Soup Co. here has joined forces with Scholastic and NBC's "American Dreams" series for a novel promotion that will tie in an essay contest sponsored by Campbell's with a storyline on the show.

ST. LOUIS, Mo. - On the heels of last week's unveiling of its first Collierville, Tenn. store built from the ground up, Schnuck Markets, Inc. is aggressively embarking on Phase II of its Mid-South expansion plans.

The c-store segment continues to improve its portable fresh food lineup -- and reputation -- and supermarkets can ill afford to ignore their cross-channel competitors' bid to boost business from the inside out.

Sales and merchandising may center on the winter holidays, but the time is always right for an exciting hors d'oeuvres assortment.