Market Trends

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.

The Delhaize Group named a trio of seasoned women grocers to new executive positions as part of a major restructuring initiative announced last month.

Whole Foods Market new store in San Jose, Calif. Will be its third powered with on-site fuel cell power, joining the Dedham, Mass., and Glastonbury, Conn. Locations already using the green power technology.

In tandem with consumers’ increased interest in store brands across many key categories, Supervalu has rolled out a new line of Baby Basics diapers that joins its other signature house brands, which include Wild Harvest, Culinary Circle, Stockman & Dakota, Stone Ridge Creamery, Java Delight, Homelife, Equaline and Shoppers Value.

Independent retailer-owned wholesaler Associated Food Stores, Inc. and Premier Retail Networks, Inc. (PRN), a San Francisco-based provider of digital out-of-home media solutions, have signed a multiyear agreement to continue the operation of PRN’s Checkout TV Network in Associated Food’s newly acquired Fresh Market stores.

The economic slump took its toll on U.S. food and drink manufacturers in 2009, according to a recent review of Mintel’s Global New Product Database (GNPD). Food and drink product launches showed a substantial decline of nearly 30 percent from 2008.

Weis Markets, Inc. has promoted Jerry Hatch, Brad Kochenour and Mike Mignola to the newly created position of regional VP.

Mike Tracy has joined Associated Grocers of New England as a meat specialist/retail counselor, in which role he will report to head of retail accounts Paul Greenan.