Nonfoods

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. -- Publix Super Markets unveiled what its president called a data synchronization solution that would expand and accelerate existing industry efforts, with retailers' needs uppermost in mind.

OTTAWA, Ontario -- Since specialty retailer Farm Boy, Inc., based here, retained Relizon last autumn to develop and implement a gift card marketing program to encourage customer acquisition and drive revenues, the business results have been impressive, the retailer revealed yesterday. For example, during the 2004 holiday season, Farm Boy reported a 28 percent rise in gift card sales over last year's holiday returns.

New York, N.Y. -- The EFFIE Awards, which recognize effective advertising and marketing campaigns, presented its slate of winning client and agency partners at a ceremony held last week here.

NEW YORK -- According to double-blind taste tests conducted in 10 locations across the country by Meyers Research Center for the Private Label Manufacturers Association (PLMA), consumers by a 51-percent-to-49-percent say the prefer the taste of private label items over their national brand counterparts in 12 popular categories.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. -- The Associate Member Council (AMC) of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) awarded its CPG Award to the Campbell Soup Co. here during the GMA Executive Conference. The award is given annually by the AMC to companies that show superior innovation, creativity, and industry collaboration.

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W. Va. -- The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) announced this weekend that Richard H. Lenny, chairman, president and c.e.o. of the Hershey Co., has been elected as the new chairman of the GMA board of directors for a two-year term. The announcement came during GMA's Executive Conference here.

TOLLESON, Ariz. -- Fry's Food & Drug, one of Cincinnati-based Kroger Co.'s Arizona banners, opened Tully's Coffee in-store concept in its Buckeye, Ariz. location.

WILMINGTON, Del. --Timed to coincide with the release of the Fantastic Four's first movie in July, a collaboration between the Produce for Better Health Foundation and Wal-Mart Stores hopes to find families flying the produce departments at over 1,700 Wal-Mart Supercenters and Neighborhood Markets on June 25 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. to "Build a Fantastic You with 5 A Day The Color Way."