Market Trends

After over 89 years as the cheerily mute symbol of Hanover, Pa.-based Utz Quality Foods, The Little Utz Girl is finally having her say, courtesy of a new blog and Facebook page that will enable the popular snack brand’s fans to hear directly from her at last on such topics as industry news, recipes and what it’s like to be a corporate icon.

ShopRite is testing a new free digital coupon service developed by Verizon for its wireless and FiOS TV customers to save users money on their next trip to the grocery store.

With a goal of raising $40,000 for the Lincoln Community Playhouse, Lincoln, Neb.-based, employee-owned B&R Stores will host the Lincoln Wine & Food Experience, which gives participants an opportunity to sample exquisite food and wines from around the world.

K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. has extended its use of workforce management solution, adding time and attendance, analytics, absence management, and optimized scheduling to its existing hiring solution.

Julie Dexter Berg, a seasoned brand marketing consultant, will join Supervalu on March 15 as its new EVP/CMO, where she will lead all of the company’s marketing activities that will include customer and brand strategy, advertising and research and analytics.

Sedano’s Supermarkets, the top Hispanic retailer in the United States, last week bowed three central Florida locations in the Orlando region.

Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc.’s new Covington, La., store, which bows today, is special for several reasons: Not only is the 55,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art supermarket the Jacksonville, Fla.-based grocer’s first newly constructed location since 2004.

Renowned for its quality deep-roasted coffee, Emeryville, Calif.-based Peet’s Coffee & Tea has launched Uzuri African Blend as the culmination of hundreds of hours of hands-on farmer training by its coffee buyers.