Market Trends

Sales in most categories remained mostly flat in July 2010 compared WITH the same month last year, in contrast to the sharper growth of first quarter and the more moderate growth of second quarter 2010.

As a way to offer its customers a competitive in-store advantage on premium fish and shellfish products, Bi-Lo, LLC has formed a partnership with North Coast Seafood, a third-generation primary processor of North Atlantic seafood to become the only Southeast retailer to offer this variety of fresh product to shoppers, while Price Chopper Supermarkets, a Golub Corp. company, has joined forces with Local Ocean, becoming the first supermarket retailer in the United States to provide customers with the provider’s sustainable, “locally grown” sea bream.

This week Stater Bros. posted sales for the 13-week period ended June 27 of $900 million, vs. $928.6 million in the year-ago period.

Food Marketing Institute (FMI) has appointed Rhett Asher its VP of industry relations. In his new role, Asher will take charge of improving the capabilities and services of industry relations at the Arlington, Va.-based trade organization, specifically the FMI/Grocery Manufacturers Association Trading Partner Alliance.

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. is encouraging family health, fitness and togetherness this back-to-school season with two offerings through Sept. 30: The Family Fitness Fun Challenge, at www.TakeaHealthyBite.com, offers fitness-minded families savings on the company’s natural and organic products, and consumers can send in register receipts from their purchases of those items to receive Sports Authority Gift Cards for use in buying sporting equipment and athletic gear to help parents and kids stay in shape.

Maryland’s Giant Food, LLC and the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens have joined forces to benefit the Maryland Food Bank during the 2010 season, with Giant Food designated as the team’s official supermarket partner.

Whole Foods Market is expanding its all-organic and domestically sourced non-dairy beverage line as it launches the company’s first almond milk line – including the industry’s first-ever private label refrigerated organic almond milk – and light soymilk in Original and Vanilla varieties under its value-priced 365 Organic Everyday Value brand.

With consumer confidence seemingly stuck in neutral, The Nielsen Company forecasts a modest increase in dollar sales on back-to-school items, up 1.7 percent to $2.6 billion, although unit sales are projected to drop.