Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Robert Stiles, president of Gelson's Markets, was elected chairman of the board for the California Grocers Association (CGA) for 2004-2005. Stiles won the post in a unanimous vote during the association's annual meeting, which was held in conjunction with the 2004 Western Food Industry Exposition in Las Vegas.

ISSAQUAH, Wash; NATICK, Mass.; and MATHEWS, S.C. - Costco Wholesale Corp., BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. and Family Dollar Stores, Inc, yesterday issued their October sales results, and the news from all three companies was positive.

WASHINGTON, D.C. ¿ Plans are currently underway for the 2005 Annual Meat Conference, which will take place March 6-8, 2005 at the Caribe Royal Resort & Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

PITTSBURGH ¿ Even if the Pittsburgh Steelers are defeated by their cross-state NFL rivals the Philadelphia Eagles this weekend, Steel City residents could still walk away winners as a result of a new price reduction strategy rolled out by the market leading supermarket chain Giant Eagle.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Regional grocery and general merchandise retailer Meijer will be giving away thousands of diabetes education kits this weekend, as the company kicks off a month-long focus on the chronic disease that affects at least 17 million Americans.

UNITED KINGDOM - Tesco plans to equip its staff with $9 million worth of wearable computers in a bid to boost fulfillment efficiency for customer orders placed over its tesco.com Web site.

Packaged luncheon meats are responding to changing tastes and lifestyles -- and the challenge of the service deli.

Corporate branding strategies are growing more sophisticated, stratified, and effective than ever as retailers seek to grow profits and stand out.