Frozen Foods

WOODBURY, N.Y. - Weight Watchers International will reprise its Pick of the Season campaign in 2005, and is inviting produce suppliers to recommend participants.

NATICK, Mass. - BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. yesterday said it has made several changes in merchandising personnel. Brian Riccio has been promoted to s.v.p., general merchandise manager of fresh food; Jim Hilson has been promoted to v.p. of global sourcing; and Ross Medeiros has joined the company as v.p., divisional merchandise manager of fresh food, the position formerly held by Riccio.

CALGARY, Alta. - Canada Safeway, Ltd., a division of Safeway, Inc., has selected Ginger Beef Corp. to provide bulk "ready-to-heat" Chinese food products in the grocery chain's newly modernized Lifestyle locations as Canada Safeway continues upgrading and expanding its existing store base.

LAKELAND, Fla. - Building on plans to expand its distribution capacity, Publix Super Markets, Inc. here said it would construct a perishable warehouse and distribution center in Punta Gorda, Fla.

NEW YORK - From 1999 through 2004, sales of mainstream Mexican and authentic Hispanic convenience foods such as entrees and hand-held items have grown 103 percent, according to "The U.S. Market for Hispanic Foods and Beverages," a new market research report from Packaged Facts.

READING, Pa. - Executives from Redner's Markets, Inc. yesterday welcomed members of the community to the company's new location in Oxford, Pa. during a public open house to preview and become acquainted with its latest Warehouse Market, which officially opens for business today.

TORONTO - At a ceremony last week at Grocery Innovations Canada, the Canadian Federation of Independent Grocers (CFIG) presented three sets of annual awards for retail excellence among independent and franchised stores: Canadian Independent Grocer of the Year Awards, CFIG Master Merchandising Awards, and the Arnold Rands Heritage Award.

Montvale, N.J. ¿ The Food Emporium, a division of A&P, last week launched a same day delivery service covering most of Manhattan that includes products from its produce and floral, meat, seafood, deli and bakery, catering, grocery, and GM/HBC departments.