Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

Their rep as superfoods more solid than ever, fresh berries are poised to surmount the barriers of price spikes and seasonality.

NEW YORK - The Grain Foods Foundation, whose goal is "to [advance] the public's understanding of the beneficial role grain-based foods play in the human diet" in a low-carb-crazy world, will launch its multiyear "Grains for LIFE" campaign here and in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 1, 2005.

SAN DIEGO - Bumble Bee Seafoods, LLC has reached a $93 million transaction agreement with Castleberry/Snow's Brands, Inc., under which a subsidiary of Bumble Bee will merge with Castleberry.

SYDNEY - While rumors swirl of dissension in the ranks, Australian retailer Coles Myer, Ltd. said yesterday it has fired Steven Cain, head of its food, liquor, and fuel divisions, after little more than a year at the helm of a business accounting for about 80 percent of Coles' earnings, according to published reports.

BOSTON - The organizers of the Super Floral Show here have grown the event¿s education program, which is designed to help supermarkets and other retailers grow their floral businesses.

WOODBURY, N.Y. - Weight Watchers International will reprise its Pick of the Season campaign in 2005, and is inviting produce suppliers to recommend participants.

ONTARIO, Calif. - Cardenas Markets here will build a broadband high-speed communications network to connect its nine locations and headquarters.

WASHINGTON - The Grocery Manufacturers of America (GMA) yesterday appointed Monica Gonzalez the new director of scientific and regulatory policy. Gonzalez will manage GMA's public policy objectives for food safety, recalls, traceability, and other issues.