Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Ruddick Corp., the parent company of regional retailer Harris Teeter as well as the owner of thread and yarn manufacturer American & Efird, Inc., said yesterday that improved operating profit at Harris Teeter helped boost its net income to $19.8 million for the second quarter of fiscal 2006. Harris Teeter's sales jumped 9.1 percent to $715.1 million, aided by a comparable-store sales increase of 3.04 percent.

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Health and Human Services yesterday released a report recommending concrete steps that industry can take to change their marketing and other practices to make progress against childhood obesity. The Grocery Manufacturers of America praised the guidelines, but noted that many food companies are already taking steps in the right direction.

Los Angeles, Calif. -- Tristan Kieva has joined Sun Pacific here -- as its new v.p. of marketing. Having worked for a retailer, wholesaler, manufacturer and now a grower/shipper, Kieva's career in produce marketing spans 16 years of working within all different aspects of the produce business.