Market Trends

Hawkins Strategic, a Los Angeles-based retail technology consultancy owned and operated by Green Hills CEO Gary Hawkins, yesterday released a new position paper on how to prepare a retail organization for the next generation of retailing.

DCI Cheese Co. is launching the “Taste of Paris” promotion in support of its imported French cheese brand Joan of Arc. From March 1 through April 30, participating retailers such as Supervalu, Tops Markets and HyVee will feature displays encouraging consumers to submit recipes that highlight Joan of Arc cheese.

The National Grocers Association (NGA) elected five new board members and re-elected nine board members to its board of directors at the trade group’s 2010 Annual Convention and Supermarket Synergy Showcase, which was held last week in Las Vegas.

Rob Neenan, VP of government affairs for the Sacramento-based California League of Food Processors, will join United Fresh Produce Association in the newly created position of VP/environmental affairs and sustainability.

Americans’ Satisfaction with the goods and services they buy stayed strong in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI).

Weis Markets has enhanced its senior leadership team by naming four of its executives SVPs reporting directly to the grocery chain’s president and CEO David J. Hepfinger. The four are Rusty Graber, Jim Marcil, Jay Ropietksi and Kurt Schertle.

Nineteen-year-old Martin’s Super Markets associate Kyle Perry is the nation’s new Best Bagger Champion, thanks to superior abilities that were on display at the National Grocers Association (NGA) contest held in conjunction with its convention in Las Vegas last week.

Making good on a pledge made by CEO Craig Herkert late last year to divest nonstrategic assets in select geographic markets, Supervalu has sold 16 Shaw’s supermarkets in Connecticut to two entrenched Northeast corridor retailers as it continues to seek buyers for two additional locations in the state.