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Archive for Week of June 15, 2010
 SUPERMARKET NEWS
Margate, Fla., Opening Sparks New ‘Fresh’ Start For Winn Dixie
Last week Winn Dixie celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Margate, Fla., which exemplifies the company’s overall fresh and local strategy of “providing customers with a neighborhood grocer that caters to their specific needs, tastes, and desires.
“Shoppers entering our new or remodeled stores now find themselves surrounded by colorful arrays of fresh produce, flowers and other perishables in a cleaner, modern and more attractive setting. In addition, our stores are now merchandised to fit the lifestyle of the communities we serve,” said Peter Lynch, Winn-Dixie chairman, president, and chief executive officer.
The store offers upgraded departments and expanded features and products that reflect the neighborhood’s cultural diversity.
Features specific to Margate include: a wood burning rotisserie, an olive and bruschetta bar, a wing bar, specialty desserts, larger selection of Hispanic and kosher items, whole bean coffee station, candy shoppe and specialty merchandise and gift selection.
To celebrate the opening of the Margate store, Winn-Dixie will host a series of summer celebrations through June and July that highlight all the store offerings including cooking demonstrations, food tastings, and live entertainment.
Price Chopper Dedicates New Headquarters Building
Last week Price Chopper Supermarkets and the Golub Corp. dedicated its new headquarters building in downtown Schenectady, N.Y. The six-story, 240,000 square foot building, houses more than 725 associates who support the chain’s supermarket operations and represent all departments except distribution, which remains poised to grow at the company’s Rotterdam campus.
The new building marks a major milestone in the renaissance of downtown Schenectady while exemplifying a commitment that Price Chopper Chairman and CEO Neil Golub made that the headquarters will play a key role in the city’s rebirth. “Schenectady is and always has been our hometown. When it became apparent that we were outgrowing our old main office facility, relocating to downtown Schenectady and becoming a part of the City’s renaissance was a natural move for us,” said Mr. Golub.
The new building is replete with state-of-the-art systems designed to save energy, promote water efficiency and reduce emissions The company has applied to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for the building to be recognized with Gold level L.E.E.D. certification status.
The new Golub Corporation/Price Chopper headquarters includes more than just office space and a variety of meeting rooms. The new headquarters is equipped with a fitness center/workout facility and a Café featuring fresh foods.
BI-LO Raises $4.5 Million For Non-Profits Across Southeast
BI-LO Charities announced last week that this year’s charity classic golf tournament raised a total of $4,515,236 to aid non-profit organizations across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee that contribute to children’s needs, education and hunger relief.“ This is a great accomplishment for BI-LO and BI-LO Charities. Everyone who had a hand in the success of this year’s tournament should feel very good,” said BI-LO President and CEO Michael Byars. “The support we have received from our supplier partners and members of the community has been overwhelming, and we look forward to seeing these funds make a lasting, positive impact in the communities BI-LO serves.”Funds were raised through corporate sponsorships of the golf tournament, auction and product sales, and donations by BI-LO customers.
The 2010 BI-LO Charity Classic golf tournament took place on a dozen of Upstate South Carolina and Western North Carolina’s golf courses Nearly 1,200 golfers and their guests traveled from across the country to participate in this one-of-a-kind event. While the golf tournament itself took place on a single day, the Charity Classic provides a full weekend of festivities. Charity Classic guests were also treated to an auction and pairings party as well as an awards banquet at the Hartness Estate in Greenville, S.C.
Retail Latest Word…
Bozzuto’s of Cheshire, Conn., announced late last week that Anthony Conti has joined the company as vice president of meat and seafood. He recently served as executive vice president of operations, procurement, facility management for AGAR Supply and formerly worked for James Ferrera and Sons and Roger Williams Food.
Shaw’s plans to soon open their Lakewood, R.I. store, the victim of a major March flood.
Bakery on Main of East Hartford, Conn. has informed their distributor and retailer partners that their production equipment was not damaged despite a recent fire and that Bakery on Main will be in production within two to three weeks.
   
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 FOODSERVICE NEWS
Mass. Food Allergy Requirements Take Effect Oct. 1
The Mass. Food Allergen Awareness Regulations were adopted by the Mass. Dept. of Public Health on June 9. All restaurants will be required to display an educational poster in their employee work area by Oct. 1. All restaurants including those with menus and menu boards will be required to include the following statement on all menus by Oct. 1. “Before placing your order, please inform your server if anyone in your party has a food allergy. “
Quick service restaurants must have a conspicuous statement posted at the point of sale. All restaurants must include the statement on take out menus, website or catering menus.
Restaurant managers or persons in charge will be required to receive a food allergy certification every five years. All restaurants will have until Feb. 1, 2011 for their food manager to receive the additional certification. At that point, health agents will check for the food allergy certificate as part of their regular inspections.
Joe Piantedosi Jr. Wins MRAEF Leadership Award
Since 2001, the Massachusetts Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (MRAEF) has awarded scholarships to qualified students who are embarking on futures in the food service industry. Each year the scholarship recipients are honored at the MRAEF Annual Making the Future Bright Scholarship Awards Gala, and each year, an MRAEF Leadership Award is presented to a person who has given longstanding support to the MRAEF.
“We were thrilled to be able to honor Joseph ‘Joe’ Piantedosi Jr., of Piantedosi Baking Company, Inc., as our 2010 recipient,” said MRAEF Education Coordinator Heather Carneiro. “The support Joe Piantedosi Jr. has given to the MRAEF and the MRA as a whole has been immeasurable. It is people like Joe who have helped take the MRAEF to the next level. Joe has truly helped to inspire students in this industry with his passion and his enthusiasm,” Ms. Carneiro said.
Mr. Piantedosi is the executive vice president of marketing and business Development, as well as co-owner, along with his two cousins, of Piantedosi Baking Co. He has been a very active member of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association (MRA), having been a past president of the MRAEF and current board member. He was also this year’s MRA Trade Show Committee Chairman, past chairman of the Associate Member Committee, and has been a member of various additional committees for the organization. In addition to serving on the board, over the years, Mr. Piantedosi has served on the MRAEF Scholarship Committee and helped to support the Annual ProStart Competition
NRA Praises White House Chefs Plan to Combat Child Obesity
The National Restaurant Association last week praised First Lady Michelle Obama's "Chefs Move to Schools" initiative aimed at encouraging chefs to "adopt" local schools in the campaign to eliminate childhood obesity.
Dawn Sweeney, president & chief executive officer of the association, said "Chefs play a critical role in influencing our diets and eating habits. They inspire trends and cooking styles, bringing out the best in our food. Chefs are leaders in their communities, helping to fight childhood obesity in schools, and in their roles as creators of America's restaurant and foodservice menus. Many members of the National Restaurant Association are encouraging their chefs and cooks to volunteer their time and expertise to get involved. The association is committed to encouraging and facilitating this involvement, and we look forward to helping others do so. We also want to take the opportunity to honor those chefs and cooks who have gone beyond volunteerism to make a career choice to work in schools full-time and are working to improve the health and well-being of our children each day.’’
Food Service Latest Word…
Because federal law supersedes state law, food establishments with at least 20 locations in Mass that were supposed to post calorie information on menus by Nov. 1 have been given an extension. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has a year to formulate uniform national regulations after the federal health care bill passed in March.
The Epicurean Club of Greater Boston will meet June 21 at 6 p.m. at Cabot’s Ice Cream and Restaurant in Newton, Mass.
Jeffrey Warne has resigned as president and chief executive officer of O’Charley's, parent of the Ninety Nine Restaurant. Company Chairman Phil Hickey will serve as interim chief executive until a permanent replacement is named.
McDonald’s announced that comparable sales growth of 4.8 percent in May and noted the popularity of Frappes to the beverage line up and the Shrek themed Chicken McNugget and Happy Meal promotions.
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 C-STORE NEWS
Tedeschi Undergoes Multi-Million Dollar Renovations To Its Stores
Tedeschi Food Shops is reinvesting in renovations of its convenience store locations. Recently, 23 locations, including stores in North Weymouth, Chelmsford, Billerica, Westford, and Needham, Mass., have undergone major remodels at an average cost of $250,000 per store in an effort to offer more fresh foods and convenient services, Additional stores will be renovated in the future.
These newly remodeled stores will offer customers fresh food items like the TD’s Deli Express lines of premium sandwiches, delicious wraps, and freshly made salads. The stores will continue to provide a variety of snacks and beverages as well as premium Green Mountain coffee, fountain and frozen drinks from Cool Adventures beverage centers, and Blockbuster EXPRESS self-service DVD-rental kiosks.
“We are not only reinvesting in our stores; we are also reinvesting in our neighborhoods,” said Peter Tedeschi, president and CEO of Tedeschi Food Shops, Inc. “Tedeschi Food Shops is proud to continue to serve the people in our communities. We hope that the changes we are implementing will provide a more convenient, satisfying shopping experience.” Mr. Tedeschi added that Tedeschi Food Shops plans to continue to reinvest in store remodels and new store locations while keeping the focus on healthy snack alternatives, and freshly prepared food.
Casey’s Board Again Rejects Couche-Tard’s Purchase Offer
The Board of Directors of Casey's General Stores, Inc. of Iowa again voted to recommend that Casey’s shareholders reject Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc.’s tender offer as it substantially undervalues Casey’s and is not in the best interests of Casey’s, its shareholders, and other constituencies. This is the second rejection in the last few months after the initial Couche-Tard offer.
Robert J. Myers, president and chief executive officer of Casey’s, said, “Our Board’s position is clear – shareholders should reject Couche-Tard’s offer and not tender their shares. We believe this is a self-serving and transparent attempt by Couche-Tard to take significant value that rightly belongs to Casey’s shareholders. We believe our shareholders will reap far greater value from our industry leading performance, significant growth opportunities, and successful execution of our strategic initiatives, strong balance sheet and real estate position, and the benefits of our highly differentiated business model and well regarded self-distribution system.”
Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Signs Pact With Coca Cola
Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc. has agreed to license certain brands to The Coca-Cola Company on the completion of Coca Cola’s Co’s proposed acquisition of Coca-Cola Enterprises' (CCE) North American Bottling Business. In addition, Coca Cola will offer Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper in local fountain accounts currently serviced by CCE and will include Dr Pepper and Diet Dr Pepper on its Freestyle fountain dispenser.
Under new licensing agreements, Coca Cola will distribute Dr Pepper in the U.S. and Canada Dry in the Northeast. where they are currently distributed by CCE. The new agreements will have an initial term of 20 years, with 20-year renewal periods, and will require Coca Cola to meet certain performance conditions. Coca Cola will continue to distribute Canada Dry, C'Plus and Schweppes in Canada.
Additionally, in certain U.S. territories where it has a manufacturing and distribution footprint, Dr. Pepper Snapple PS will begin selling Squirt, Canada Dry, Schweppes and Cactus Cooler, which are currently sold by Coca Cola Enterprises.
C-Store Latest Word…
The New England Convenience Store Assn (NECSA) annual golf tournament gets underway Wednesday, June 16 at Juniper Hills Golf Course in Northboro, Mass. A shot-gun start begins at 9 a.m. with a cookout at the turns at 11a.m followed by reception at 2 p.m. and a concluding dinner at 3 p.m.
Quick Chek, a chain of 120 stores throughout New Jersey and New York has a sub sand promotion. Customers may visit any Quick Chek location on June 21 between 5 and 11 a.m. and can receive a stamp on their hand. Upon returning on the same day between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m. and presenting their hand stamp, customers will be treated to a free six inch sub.
Gas Station TV and PepsiCo announced a multi year multi brand agreement to promote Pepsi, AMP Energy Drink and Energy Juice and Brisk to consumers at the gas pump.
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 NEW CHANNELS
Walgreens Drops Out of CVS Caremark Plans
CVS Caremark Corp and Walgreens could not come to terms of an agreement that would allow Walgreens to continue as a member of the CVS Caremark PBM pharmacy network. CVS said last week it would terminate Walgreens' participation in its retail pharmacy networks effective 30 days from June 7. In addition, CVS Caremark plans to terminate Walgreens' participation in its Medicare Part D retail pharmacy networks effective January 1, 2011.
Early on June 7, Walgreens announced, that it would not participate in CVS Caremark PBM networks going forward for members covered under new or renewal plans. CVS officials said while Walgreens already receives comparable reimbursement rates to those of other large national retail chains, including CVS/pharmacy, Walgreens has continued to seek higher reimbursement rates. CVS said CVS Caremark's agreements with Walgreens and other retail pharmacies do not permit network participation on a selective basis.
Kermit Crawford, executive vice president of pharmacy of Walgreens said, “ We are disappointed but not surprised that CVS Caremark has taken this action. In making our decision not to participate in any new and renewed plans by CVS Caremark, we sought to minimize any disruption to existing relationships between pharmacists and patients. CVS Caremark’s move plainly contradicts its own statement on June 7 that their mission is to provide broad access and choice for consumers. Their patent disregard for patient choice and broad access reflected in today’s decision reinforces our conviction that it would not have been in the best interests of our patients, pharmacists or shareholders to grow our business with CVS Caremark. Regardless of CVS Caremark’s decision, we are confident of our ability to continue to grow our business as a provider in hundreds of other pharmacy benefit networks and as a direct provider to employers.”
Stew Leonard’s Offer On-Site Physicals For Norwalk Staff
Stew Leonard's has launched a pilot program offering on-site physicals for staff members at the Norwalk, Conn. store. "Stew Leonard's surveyed our team members and we found that a lack of time and not having a trusted doctor locally kept many from getting their yearly physicals," said Jill Leonard Tavello, executive vice president of culture and communications at Stew Leonard's.
Last week, staff members who wanted to participate reported to the Wellness Mobile, located in a private trailer behind the store, for blood work, an EKG, and preliminary paperwork with a doctor. The doctor performed the physicals and with each team member regarding their healthcare-related questions. Ms. Tavello said the Wellness Mobile could be expanded to their other stores in Yonkers, N.Y. and Danbury and Newington, Conn.
Stew Leonard's has taken an active approach to preventive health care for their more than 2,500 team members. On-site cholesterol and blood pressure screenings, mammograms, and flu shots are offered throughout year and discounts on weight loss programs, smoking cessation aids, and fitness center memberships are also provided to both full and part-time Team Members. Additionally, between now and August 31, Stew Leonard's will give Team Members $500 in Benefit Bucks – or money towards their deductible – to encourage them to visit their doctor for their annual check-up.
Wegmans Organic Research Farm Produces Product
The first ripe cherry and grape tomatoes were picked on May 21 at Wegmans’ Organic Research Farm in Canandaigua, N.Y. just two months after the young tomato plants were put in the ground in March. This month, the farm should be harvesting enough ripe tomatoes to make several deliveries a week to Wegmans stores in Pittsford and Canandaigua, and to Wegmans’ restaurant, Next Door Bar and Grill in Pittsford, N.Y. Wegmans began work on the Organic Research Farm in 2005 to learn more about growing fruits and vegetables organically in the Northeast’s climate and to share those learnings with local grower partners.
“We set aside time each year to meet with local growers, have them tour our farm, and exchange information about what we’ve all learned during the most recent growing season,” says Jamie Robinson, a team leader at the farm. “It’s a two-way street that helps everybody.” Wegmans has built up a network of hundreds of local grower partnerships. Deliveries of local produce come directly from the farm to the store, providing customers with the freshest produce possible, supporting local farmers and communities, and shortening the distance crops travel, which reduces environmental impact.
New Channels Latest Word…
The Kellogg Co. has agreed to new advertising restrictions to resolve a Federal Trade Commission investigation in immunity related claims for Rice Krispies cereal. This is the second time in the last year that the FTC has taken action against the company.
General Nutrition Centers of Pittsburgh, Pa named David Berg as chief operating officer, a new position for the global specialty retailer of nutritional products. He had been executive vice president of global business development and chief operating officer for GNC’s international operations.
Kashi Co. is working with Burt’s Bees on a national tour that teaches people about the importance of holistic health.
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Copyright Griffin Publishing Co. 2009
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