Market Trends

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Progressive Grocer magazine and General Merchandise Distributors Council (GMDC) will honor merchandising excellence in the General Merchandise categories with the second annual Pinnacle Awards.

LONDON - The Coca-Cola Co. is planning to launch a new vanilla-flavored Coke drink, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Three major chains plan to save big with centralized perishables buying, but will their fresh departments start to look like clones?

LOS ANGELES - Ralphs supermarkets and Food 4 Less stores have partnered with the Girl Scouts -- Mt. Wilson Vista Council to help "Build Bright Futures" for girls in Los Angeles County's San Gabriel Valley affected by the instability and insecurity of homelessness.

CHICAGO - With assistance from supermarket industry experts, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has expanded the ServSafe program to include a new line of training materials developed specifically for the supermarket industry.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has announced a new strategic alliance with FoodTrack Inc., providing members with 24/7 food safety surveillance information.

LOS ANGELES - The produce industry is showing its concern for regulations that might be considered by Congress as part of food security legislation, the Los Angeles Times reports.

NASHUA, N.H. - Identico Systems, a company that specializes in identity verification system, announced that Winn-Dixie has begun testing its True ID system to stop check-cashing and other fraud-related losses.