Content about Food industry

May 22, 2013

Kohl’s has appointed Starbucks executive Michelle Gass to the newly created position of chief customer officer. She will report directly to Kohl’s chairman, president and CEO Kevin Mansell.

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s has appointed Starbucks executive Michelle Gass to the newly created position of chief customer officer. She will report directly to Kohl’s chairman, president and CEO Kevin Mansell.

Gass, who joins Kohl’s on June 17, will have leadership responsibility for Kohl’s branding across all channels. She will oversee all marketing efforts, the company’s high growth e-commerce business on Kohls.com and the customer’s total omnichannel experience.

May 21, 2013

Balance Innovations, a provider of reconciliation and cash office management solutions for the retail industry in the United States and Canada, has named former Safeway executive Steve Rempel president and CEO.

LENEXA, Kan. — Balance Innovations, a provider of reconciliation and cash office management solutions for the retail industry in the United States and Canada, has named former Safeway executive Steve Rempel president and CEO. 

In this role, Rempel will lead the company as it further develops its core products and evolves to the next generation of cash office reconciliation solutions for the retail industry.

May 16, 2013

PCI Security Standards Council has appointed representatives from retail merchants such as Walmart, Woolworths Limited and Starbucks, as well as from the Retail Solution Providers Association, to its board of advisors.

WAKEFIELD, Mass. — PCI Security Standards Council has appointed representatives from retail merchants such as Walmart, Woolworths Limited and Starbucks, as well as from the Retail Solution Providers Association, to its board of advisors.

The open, global forum for the development of payment card security standards is looking to its board to provide counsel to SSC leadership. 

May 14, 2013

Olivier Goudet, partner and CEO of the Joh. A. Benckiser Group and former CFO of Mars Inc., has been appointed global beauty brand Coty’s board of directors. Goudet replaces Bernd Beetz, who stepped down from Coty's board to pursue other interests.

NEW YORK — Olivier Goudet, partner and CEO of the Joh. A. Benckiser Group and former CFO of Mars Inc., has been appointed global beauty brand Coty’s board of directors. Goudet replaces Bernd Beetz, who stepped down from Coty's board to pursue other interests.  

JAB is a privately held group that owns and invests in premium brands; it is also Coty's majority shareholder.

May 3, 2013

Safeway’s Lucerne brand cow is the face of the company’s eighth annual Lucerne: The Art of Dairy art contest. Safeway chose nine student finalists whose life-size fiberglass cows stand to win one of them a $30,000 grand prize.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway’s Lucerne brand cow is the face of the company’s eighth annual Lucerne: The Art of Dairy art contest. Safeway chose nine student finalists whose life-size fiberglass cows stand to win one of them a $30,000 grand prize.

May 2, 2013

Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz announced changes to the company’s senior leadership team, aimed to further accelerate the company’s global growth plans.

Starbucks chairman, president and CEO Howard Schultz announced changes to the company’s senior leadership team, aimed to further accelerate the company’s global growth plans.

May 1, 2013

A collaboration between Life is good Company and J.M. Smucker Company will bring a line of coffee products to retail shelves throughout North America.

BOSTON & ORRVILLE, Ohio — A collaboration between Life is good Company and J.M. Smucker Company will bring a line of coffee products to retail shelves throughout North America.

May 1, 2013

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 representing the greater New York area claimed victory over Target this week and offered some harsh words following a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board.

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1500 representing the greater New York area claimed victory over Target this week and offered some harsh words following a ruling by the National Labor Relations Board.

April 29, 2013

Robert Edwards will replace Steven Burd as CEO of Safeway, the company announced Monday evening.

Robert Edwards will replace Steven Burd as CEO of Safeway, the company announced Monday evening.
 
Edwards, 57, currently serves as Safeway’s president and will assume CEO responsibilities on May 14 when Burd resigns as CEO and chairman. Filling the chairman role will be lead independent director T. Gary Rogers who will become non-executive chairman.
 

April 26, 2013

Starbucks reported that its second-quarter profit rose 26% to $390.4 million, up from $309.9 million last year, amid sales increases in the Americas and Asia regions.

SEATTLE — Starbucks reported that its second-quarter profit rose 26% to $390.4 million, up from $309.9 million last year, amid sales increases in the Americas and Asia regions.
 
Total net revenue for the quarter ended March 31 rose 11% to $3.56 billion, not quite the $3.58 billion Wall Street expected. Global same-store store sales grew 6%, driven by a 4% increase in traffic and a 2% increase in average ticket, marking the 13th consecutive quarter of global comp growth greater than 5%. 
 

April 25, 2013

Coca-Cola’s board of directors has elected Robin Moore as one of the company’s VPs.

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola’s board of directors has elected Robin Moore as one of the company’s VPs.
 
Moore, 47, was recently named chief of internal audit, effective May 1, replacing Connie McDaniel who is retiring after 24 years with the company. Moore is currently global director of finance operations in global business services. She began her career with the company in 1995 and has assumed roles of increasing responsibility including senior audit manager in corporate audit and director of financial reporting in the controller’s group.

April 25, 2013

Safeway shares dropped dramatically as the company reported $10 billion in sales for its first quarter 2013 ended March 23, which is essentially flat as compared to the first quarter of 2012.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway shares dropped dramatically as the company reported $10 billion in sales for its first quarter 2013 ended March 23, which is essentially flat as compared to the first quarter of 2012. An identical-store sales increase of 1.5% (excluding fuel) was offset primarily by the disposition of Genuardi's stores in 2012 and lower fuel sales in 2013.
 

April 18, 2013

PepsiCo reported a net revenue increase of 1% to $12,581 billion from $12,428 billion for the period ended March 23. Its net income declined by slightly more than 1 billion to $1,085 billion from $1,133 billion.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — PepsiCo reported a net revenue increase of 1% to $12,581 billion from $12,428 billion for the period ended March 23. Its net income declined by slightly more than 1 billion to $1,085 billion from $1,133 billion. 

However, on a constant currency basis, revenue increased 4%. 

April 17, 2013

According to research conducted by Unilever's Dove brand, the way women depict themselves is dramatically different from how others perceive them.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — According to research conducted by Unilever's Dove brand, the way women depict themselves is dramatically different from how others perceive them.

April 17, 2013

Unilever United States and Canada has achieved 100% zero waste to landfill in all 26 of its manufacturing and non-manufacturing headquarter facilities. Other countries in which Unilever has achieved this milestone include the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Japan.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Unilever United States and Canada has achieved 100% zero waste to landfill in all 26 of its manufacturing and non-manufacturing headquarter facilities. Other countries in which Unilever has achieved this milestone include the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, France, Germany and Japan.

April 15, 2013

Kool-Aid’s latest brand campaign, called "Smile. It's Kool-Aid," introduces a new look and feel for the brand as well as for its spokespitcher, Kool-Aid Man, in time for its launch of Kool-Aid Liquid Drink Mix.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Kool-Aid’s latest brand campaign, called "Smile. It's Kool-Aid," introduces a new look and feel for the brand as well as for its spokespitcher, Kool-Aid Man, in time for its launch of Kool-Aid Liquid Drink Mix.

Owned by Kraft Foods Group, North America's fourth largest consumer packaged food and beverage company, Kool-Aid partnered with Saatchi & Saatchi New York and VSA Partners of Chicago to revamp its image. 

April 2, 2013

Whole Foods Market has partnered with Gotham Greens to build the nation’s first commercial- scale greenhouse farm integrated within a supermarket.

NEW YORK -- Whole Foods Market has partnered with Gotham Greens to build the nation’s first commercial- scale greenhouse farm integrated within a supermarket. The 20,000-sq.-ft. greenhouse, which is currently under construction on the roof of the forthcoming Whole Foods Market store in Gowanus, Brooklyn, is scheduled to open in late 2013.

April 2, 2013

Walmart and leading grocery suppliers, including Campbell's Soup, ConAgra Foods, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, General Mills, Kraft Foods Group, Kellogg Company, Mondelez International, Nestle USA, PepsiCo and Unilever, have joined forces to engage millions of customers and Walmart associates this spring and bring much needed food and funding to nonprofit organizations that work to fight hunger.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and leading grocery suppliers, including Campbell's Soup, ConAgra Foods, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, General Mills, Kraft Foods Group, Kellogg Company, Mondelez International, Nestle USA, PepsiCo and Unilever, have joined forces to engage millions of customers and Walmart associates this spring and bring much needed food and funding to nonprofit organizations that work to fight hunger.

March 29, 2013

Ahold USA has appointed Paul Scorza as its chief information officer, the supermarket operator said Friday.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Ahold USA has named Paul Scorza as its chief information officer, the supermarket operator said Friday.

Ahold USA, the U.S. subsidiary of Netherlands-based Royal Ahold, said Scorza would assume the new position on Monday, based in Quincy, Mass., overseeing all Ahold USA information management functions, with a focus on systems and business processes to improve efficiency, effectiveness, controls and operations, reporting to EVP finance and CFO Paula Price.

March 27, 2013

Sprouts Farmers Market, an independent natural foods grocery store chain, opened its first Houston-area store today.

Houston — Sprouts Farmers Market, an independent natural foods grocery store chain, opened its first Houston-area store today.

The 25,300-sq.-ft. store opened at the southwest corner of Cinco Ranch Boulevard and Peek Road in Katy, Texas. The store will sell farm-fresh produce and thousands of natural, organic and mainstream food items at an affordable price point.

March 26, 2013

Feed The Children, PepsiCo and Walmart partnered with Central Union Mission in Washington, D.C. this week to distribute two tractor-trailers full of food and essentials to help 800 area children and families in need.

Feed The Children, PepsiCo and Walmart partnered with Central Union Mission in Washington, D.C. this week to distribute two tractor-trailers full of food and essentials to help 800 area children and families in need.

PepsiCo, a longtime Feed The Children partner, donated Frito-Lay brand snacks, Quaker brand products and Pepsi brand beverages while Walmart, with the assistance of its suppliers, provided a loaf of bread and a five pound bag of apples and oranges to each of the 800 families.

March 26, 2013

Howard Schultz, founder and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company, has never been one to shy away from taking a stand.

New York -- Howard Schultz, founder and CEO of Starbucks Coffee Company, has never been one to shy away from taking a stand. Last week, at the chain’s annual meeting of shareholders in Seattle, one shareholder questioned Schultz over the company’s support of same-sex marriage, including the same-sex marriage referendum in the state of Washington.

March 26, 2013

Supervalu announced plans to eliminate about 1,100 positions nationwide, or about 3% of its national workforce.

Minneapolis -- Supervalu announced plans to eliminate about 1,100 positions nationwide, or about 3% of its national workforce. The reductions include both current positions and open jobs that will not be filled.

The news comes less than a week after Supervalu completed the sale of five of its grocery banners, including Albertson’s and Shaws/Star Markets. The company said the sale of the five chains means that the remaining business will need "significantly fewer" corporate and store support roles and functions.

March 15, 2013

Safeway president of merchandising, Kelly Griffith, was named to a new operational position, filling a void created by the retirement of EVP of retail operations Bruce Everette.

Safeway president of merchandising, Kelly Griffith, was named to a new operational position, filling a void created by the retirement of EVP of retail operations Bruce Everette.

March 4, 2013

Supervalu has named new leadership at the executive and banner retail level.

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu has named new leadership at the executive and banner retail level. According to the company, the move is part of its plans to move forward with a focus on serving wholesale grocery operators, growing its hard discount format and running a smaller, more efficient retail operation following the close of its previously announced transaction with AB Acquisition LLC. That transaction is expected to be completed the week of March 18.