Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Grocery Manufacturers of America here is joining forces with the Kroger Co. to support America's Second Harvest -- The Nation's Food Bank Network during the hunger relief organization's 25th anniversary. The two groups will host a charity golf tournament benefiting America's Second Harvest during GMA's MSM (Marketing Sales Merchandising) Conference, Oct. 11, at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo.

NEW YORK -- The only conference and trade show focused at helping retailers maximize their business with the growing Hispanic market will make its debut this fall, at a time when supermarkets around the country are rushing to better serve their Latino shoppers.

WASHINGTON -- The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) here yesterday commended the U.S. House of Representatives for passing The Stop Counterfeiting in Manufactured Goods Act (H.R. 32).

PEWAUKEE, Wisc. -- Wholesaler-retailer Roundy's here will host a one-day "Produce University" in-store educational event for both retail produce executives and consumers, that will focus on specialty product information and sampling, as well as customized POP materials.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Retailers must pay close attention to the many nuances of the multicultural market if they are to service their ethnic customers properly, according to the General Merchandise Distributors Council Educational Foundation's latest study, released in part during the association's GM Marketing Conference held here earlier this week.

CHICAGO -- At the Retail Systems show at McCormick Place here yesterday, Intentia, a global enterprise solutions provider for the manufacturing, distribution, and maintenance industries, with U.S. headquarters in Schaumburg, Ill., laid out five trends in the retail industry that provide key opportunities and significant challenges as retailers' role in the supply chain significantly increases as a result of steady growth in the private label manufacturing industry.

NEW YORK -- If you think Wal-Mart's big now, just wait until 2010, when the retailing giant is expected to reach the half-trillion mark. Those were the cautionary words spoken here yesterday by Al Meyers, s.v.p., business development for Retail Forward, Inc., during the consultancy's conference, "Retailing 2010: Five Years Survived, Five Left to Thrive."

PITTSBURGH -- The H.J. Heinz Co., headquartered here, has named Jeffrey P. Berger e.v.p. Berger, who will retain his responsibilities as president and c.e.o. of Heinz North America Foodservice, will take charge of the company's worldwide foodservice business.