Trading Partners

The National Grocers Association (NGA) and Pan-Oston have developed two state-of-the-art mobile Innovation Centers that will bring the latest in front end technology to independent grocers across the country.

Two familiar brand names on U.S. grocery shelves will be presenting a more eco-friendly profile with the rollout of new packaging. Coca-Cola’s Dasani brand is launching its 100 percent-recyclable PlantBottle, which is made from a blend of up to 30 percent plant-based materials, by teaming up with PSIMadeThis.com founder/designer Erica Domesek on a limited-edition line of green-hued hats that benefit Ocean Conservancy and raise awareness of the importance of recycling, while Snyder’s of Hanover’s Organic Pretzel Sticks will now come in renewable bags created from 90 percent plant-based materials produced with as little as half the energy of traditional petroleum-based packaging.

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has named Pamela Stegeman its VP, Business Planning and Development, a newly created position.

As more and more American shoppers take to heart the lessons of environmental sustainability, Earth Day — the ecological observance this year marking its 40th anniversary — has become a major occasion for center store managers and CPG manufacturers to show just how green they are in terms of products and practices.

Once on their way to extinction, coupons made a strong resurgence in 2009. While they offer consumers a chance to stretch their dollars further, they also offer real growth opportunities for retailers and manufacturers — if they know exactly who to target and how to leverage established and emerging coupon delivery vehicles.

G.S. Gelato and Desserts, Inc. said last week it would become the sole vendor of authentic Italian gelato and sorbet in 260 Winn-Dixie stores throughout the southeastern United States.

ECRM, a Cleveland, Ohio-based trade event and software company, has launched a new event that will focus on the front end checklane area of the store.

The 2010 Henkel Helps campaign — “Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit” — aims to encourage parents, educators, students and community members to visit www.HenkelHelps.com to nominate their local school by answering the question: “What Would Your School Do with $25,000 to Improve Youth Fitness?”