Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

Washington, D.C. -- A group of 18 national associations, many based here, have come together to launch a Web site -- http://www.bestfoodnation.com -- "dedicated to communicating accurate information" about the industry in answer to a controversial new book that slaps industry practices.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. -- Spartan Stores here posted lower net profit and sales for the fourth quarter, which it said was due in part to the timing of Easter, which fell in fiscal 2007 this year.

QUINCY, Mass. -- Ahold USA here, together with Cleveland, Ohio-based business-planning company Efficient Collaborative Retail Marketing (ECRM), will host the Ahold Supplier Diversity Trade Fair next month for women and minority-owned businesses in the consumer packaged goods industry.

CARLISLE, Pa. -- Giant Food Stores, LLC here said yesterday that it has hired Dan Glei to serve as v.p., grocery strategy. Glei will initially be responsible for value engineering in relation to Giant's suppliers. He will also identify process improvements in the way Giant conducts business, and develop strategic long-term opportunities for the retailer. Glei reports to Jeff Martin, s.v.p., nonperishables.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Supervalu, Inc. here said yesterday that it has appointed new executive management team to lead the company when its acquisition of Albertson's, Inc. retail properties is completed. The acquisition, which will create the third-largest U.S. grocery retailer, is expected to wrap up next month, following special shareholder meetings May 30.

CHICAGO -- With the official start of the 2006 hurricane season -- predicted to be very active -- just weeks away, Information Resources, Inc. (IRI) has released insights from an exhaustive analysis of CPG product demand before and after the 2005 Gulf Coast hurricanes, summarized in a four-part "Times & Trends" series.

SPRINGDALE, Ark. -- Sylvia A. Wulf has joined Tyson Foods, Inc. here as v.p. of marketing for the foodservice group. She will begin her new duties in June and report directly to Wendy Davidson, group v.p.

The drive to up the ante on service is evidenced by the increased deployment of customer-facing technology such as information kiosks, digital media displays, and marketing and promotion technology, all in essence dedicated to making more effective connections to shoppers and their needs. This high-touch environment also results in the avoidance of self-checkout technology, though, as the numbers show, most independents realize they'll eventually have to install these units for competitive reasons.