Trading Partners

Advocates for food safety, including those in the grocery sector, scored a major win laste last week when the House of Representatives approved a bill that will initiate sweeping reform to existing laws.

Nielsen Chairman and CEO David Calhoun addressed the 53rd CIES World Food Business Summit in June, providing retailers and manufacturers with a comprehensive view of dramatic shifts in the consumer economy amid the global financial crisis.

Nestlé Purina and Cincinnati-based Kroger Co. have joined forces for their second annual “Tales for the Pet Lover’s Heart” campaign, which celebrates people’s connection to their pets while raising funds for animal welfare organizations across the United States.

Carla R. Cooper, a former SVP at PepsiCo and 28-year CPG veteran, has joined the board of directors at Daymon Worldwide, the Stamford, Conn.-based private label broker and consultancy.

Engaging shoppers in stores is more important than ever, but retailers and brands must team up or miss important perspectives their partners can provide, according to “Enabling the Shopping Process: In-Store Marketing for the Empowered Consumer” by Miami-based RSR Research.

Ahold USA, operator of the Stop & Shop, Giant, Martin’s, and Peapod banners, is using an online collaboration platform to enhance its communication with its suppliers.

In the face of lower sales and smaller margins brought about by bargain-hunting food shoppers amid the ongoing difficult economic environment, Supervalu posted a 30 percent decline in first-quarter profits of $113 million vs. $162 million a year earlier, and a 4.7 percent comparable net sales decrease of $12.72 billion from $13.35 billion, missing analysts’ estimates of $12.82 billion for the period ended June 20.

Customer satisfaction is important across all retail channels. Getting customers what they want, and moving them in and out quickly is imperative, and whether that means getting the store manager out of the back office and onto the sales floor, or offering faster payment options at the checkout, retailers are testing new options.