Frozen Foods

Over the latest six (4-week) periods ending 5/16/2009, store brand unit sales averaged a 5.7% increase in consumer-packaged-goods departments tracked by Nielsen in food, drug and mass-merchandisers (including Walmart).

Giant Eagle is lowering prices on popular fresh chicken and ground beef products by an average of 17 percent, which the regional retailer says will deliver customers approximately $20 million in annualized savings.

Starting today, customers at participating A&P supermarkets in New York and New Jersey will be able to enjoy a sweet treat while they shop -- Le Mars, Iowa-based Blue Bunny is providing free samples of the new Sedona Sandwich, along with coupons for the new product. The giveaway runs until July 25.

Weeks after their contract expired, thousands of unionized King Soopers grocery workers in Colorado this week are voting on a new five-year labor deal.

Deciphering nutritional labels today requires the kind of brainpower I used to reserve for the daily Sudoku.

A certain amount of trade-off is expected when we make healthier food choices. A low-fat cereal bar is not the same as a double fudge brownie — no matter how you slice it. But if you are going to sit down to that cereal bar instead of the brownie, you want it to be the best-tasting cereal bar around, right?

Supervalu is rolling out a labeling program for its independent retailers to help their stores identify products that meet Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines for important health-related attributes such as low-fat, low-cholesterol and low-calorie. Dubbed “Healthy Elements,” the program is piloting in several Supervalu-supplied retail locations this month, with a nationwide launch expected for later this summer.

Bagel-fuls were such a success when they launched last year that Kraft Foods has now come out with Fruit & Cream Cheese varieties of the no-mess frozen breakfast or snack option: Strawberry & Cream Cheese, Apple Cinnamon & Cream Cheese, and Cherry & Cream Cheese.