Business
Waitrose Changes Private Brand Product Name to Avoid Racial Insensitivity
Waitrose is changing the name of its private brand Cooks’ Ingredients Kaffir Lime Leaves to Makrut Lime Leaves. The original name of the product has historically been used as a racial slur in South Africa, and the change comes in response to customer comments we’ve received. The new packaging of the dried lime leaves, which are a popular ingredient in South East Asian cuisine, will be rolled out to all shops and Waitrose.com by early 2022. Helena Dennis, Waitrose grocery trading manager, says: ‘This name change is a crucial step in recognizing how important it is for us to listen to
Kroger Delivers Strong First Quarter & 253 New Private Brand Items
Late last week The Kroger Co. reported its first-quarter 2021 results and updated investors on how Leading with Fresh and Accelerating with Digital initiatives are positioning Kroger for long-term sustainable growth. "Kroger is even better positioned to connect with our customers than we were prior to the pandemic as a result of our relentless focus on leading with fresh and accelerating with digital. I am incredibly proud of our amazing associates who continue to be there for our customers, communities, and each other when they need us most and who strive to deliver a full, fresh, and friendly experience to
The Tenacious Journey of the REAL Trader Joe
Late last week publishing house HarperCollins Leadership announced the launch of the highly anticipated book Becoming Trader Joe. Trader Joe's is one of the most beloved grocery brands in America today, with loyal fans that have accumulated over 50 years. The story of its revolutionary success is told by private brand icon and founder, Joe Coulombe, who truly was a visionary. This book takes the reader on an exploration into the creative and expansive mind of a true entrepreneur who made his riches by seeing opportunities where others would miss them. "We should all be inspired to think like Joe. He shares
Private Brand Spirit Companies Stir Up a Merger
Prost Beverage Company, RF Kettle Company and Two Trees Distilling Company announced today they are merging under a newly formed parent company, Two Trees Beverage Co. Inc. with headquarters in Fletcher, NC. The companies merge to combine taste and technology to offer unblocked creativity to beer, wine and spirits innovation for private label, third-party manufacturing and its own line of proprietary brands. The transition is effective on July 1, 2021. The merger brings together Prost Beverage Company, that successfully collaborated with Tim Smith, reality TV star from Discovery Channel’s “Moonshiners”, to develop major national brands of Climax Spirits and Tim
Boxed To Go Public In $900M Deal
Vertex award-winning online retailer Boxed, and Seven Oaks Acquisition Corp., a publicly-traded special purpose acquisition company, today announced a definitive agreement for a business combination that would result in Boxed becoming a public company. The combined company will be called Boxed, Inc. upon the closing of the transaction and is expected to be listed in the U.S. under a new ticker symbol. Boxed will continue to be led by Chieh Huang, Boxed’s Chief Executive Officer. Gary Matthews, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Seven Oaks Acquisition Corp., will serve as Boxed’s Chairman of the Board when the business combination is
Congress Attacks Amazon Private Brand
Once again, Congress is looking into online retail giant Amazon and taking a direct shot at its growing private brands. The Wall Street Journal has reported that a new bipartisan bill may require Amazon to split its business in two. The move would create one business for the third-party marketplace and another for its first-party products, including its extensive private brand portfolio and its tech items like Fire TV and more. If not separated, Amazon would be required to remove its delete its private brand products. The bills, announced Friday, amount to the most significant congressional attack on Google, Apple, Facebook,
Lidl US Private Brands Earn 47 Medals at 2021 Sommeliers Choice Awards
Stefan Schwarz, Lidl’s Chief Product Officer Lidl, recently ranked a top 3 U.S. grocer by USA Today 10Best, captured 47 medals for its exclusive, private label wines in this year’s Sommeliers Choice Awards. Most of Lidl’s award-winning wines are priced at less than $10, demonstrating that high-quality taste can be achieved at a very attractive price. The Sommeliers Choice Awards, now in its third year, has become a top seal of approval in the industry, with wines being reviewed by buyers and experts from the marketplace. Wines were judged based on: Food Parability, Typicity, Quality, Value, and Packaging. “We are thrilled
Tesco & Carrefour End 3 Year Purchasing Alliance
French retailer Carrefour and UK retailer Tesco have confirmed that they will end their purchasing alliance after the original three-year operational framework expires, the alliance will formally end on December 31, 2021. Over the last three years, private brands at Carrefour and Tesco have benefited from a number of joint buying opportunities across food and general merchandise categories, enabling access to new suppliers, new sources, and new products. Moving forward, both companies have agreed that they will continue this work independently and focus on their own opportunities, building on the experience and the progress made during the alliance period.
Post Holdings Buys TreeHouse Foods Private Brand Cereal Business
Private Brand manufacturer TreeHouse Foods today announced it has simultaneously signed a definitive agreement and completed the sale of its ready-to-eat cereal business to Post Holdings, Inc. for a purchase price of $85 million. "This transaction is another important step in our strategic journey to create value for our customers and our shareholders," said Steve Oakland, CEO and President of TreeHouse Foods. "Based on our thorough efforts to find alternative buyers for the business, we believe this transaction is not only in the best interest of its employees and customers, but also gives the business the opportunity to flourish as part
Cheryl Sullivan Joins Symphony RetailAI as First Chief Product Officer
Symphony RetailAI, today announced that it has named Cheryl Sullivan to the newly created position of Chief Product Officer. Under Sullivan’s leadership, the company will combine its product management and marketing teams, as she works to develop an integrated product and marketing strategy across the organization. Over the past 30 years, Sullivan has demonstrated her success in delivering innovative technology that both solves business problems and modernizes business practices. Most recently, she served as President & General Manager for DemandTec, a strategic business unit of Acoustic. Prior to that, Sullivan spent more than eight years as the Chief Strategy &
