Trading Partners

Low retail prices, combined with aggressive promotions, have boosted pork sales at Hy-Vee to record levels for 2009, according to officials from the West Des Moines, Iowa-based grocer.

Ahold, an international group of leading supermarket companies in the United States and Europe, yesterday extended its relationship with HP by signing a new seven-year infrastructure and applications services agreement.

New vitamingum DEFENSE Formula, available in peppermint ice flavor, offers extra vitamin C, antioxidant vitamins A and E, B vitamins, and calcium plus vitamin D to help consumers ward off illness during cold and flu season.

Bi-Lo, LLC has named Mike Mannion director of grocery merchandising, effective immediately.

A group of top executives from some of the world's leading companies — including PepsiCo Americas Foods, Wal-Mart, Nestlé, Kimberly-Clark and The Walt Disney Co. — gathered at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, earlier this month to help the College of Business Administration launch its inaugural Shopper Marketing Forum.

Packed with information, retailer and expert insights, and exclusive PG research, the expanded "Opportunity Knocking" offers in-depth analysis of such crucial issues as shopper traffic, Supplier relationships, merchandiser/marketing strategies, operational trends and competitive threats and retailers' expectations for the balance of 2009. Exclusive Web-only sidebars include pieces on specialty food categories, Internet coupons and how consumers are coping with the economic downturn. Click here for more information

Mann Packing Co. is joining forces with Gourmet Garden to offer members of Curves, the largest fitness franchise in the world, on a cross-promotional offer this January and February in western Canada, during which more than 70,000 handouts will be distributed at Curves locations as part of “Member Appreciation Gift Packs.”

General Mills was recently named one of the 100 “Greenest Companies in America” by Newsweek magazine, which ranked the Minneapolis-based manufacturer in the top 10 among peer food and beverage companies.