Business
New Campaign Targets Trader Joe’s Private Brand Cocoa
According to a press release from Green America and the Environmental Investigation Agency Trader Joe’s ranks poorly among U.S. grocery stores when it comes to both ethical chocolate (in terms of child labor and deforestation concerns) and super-pollutant hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used as refrigerants. A new push by the groups tackles both issues in a bid to hold the popular food retailer accountable. The new Don’t Discount Our Future, Trader Joe’s campaign urges the national grocery chain to improve its sourcing for private brand cocoa products and use of HFCs. The retailer received one of the worst scores on Green America’s Chocolate Retailer Scorecard,
Marjorie Murphy joins Equator Design as VP
This week, agency Equator Design announced the appointment of Marjorie Murphy to the role of VP of Client Service UK/IE/Aus & Global Strategy Director. The announcement comes as the Vertex award-winning agency makes shifts in senior management – along with Marjorie Murphy’s appointment, Matt Caldwell has taken the helm as MD. Having worked with Equator for several years as an external partner, Marjorie joins the team following more than 15 years’ experience in the commercial category and senior strategic marketing roles within the food retail sector. A drive for actionable insights and results, together with a strong analytical background and
Kroger’s Private Selection Grows 17%
Today, Cincinnati-based grocer Kroger held it’s Q3 2020 earnings call. The positive tone of the announcement was set by Chairman and CEO Rodney McMullen. "Our Kroger family of associates have been nothing short of incredible during the pandemic and they continue to inspire me every day. I am proud of our dedicated associates who continued to diligently execute our Restock Kroger transformation while serving our customers when they need us most. We delivered strong results in the third quarter. Customers are at the center of everything we do and sales remain elevated as we continue to enhance our competitive moats
CVS Health Names Neela Montgomery President of CVS Pharmacy
CVS Health today announced that Neela Montgomery has been named Executive Vice President and President of CVS Pharmacy/Retail, effective November 30, 2020. Montgomery will oversee the company's 10,000 pharmacies across the United States. "Neela is a seasoned retail industry leader with extensive digital and e-commerce experience," said Karen S. Lynch, who will become President and CEO of CVS Health in February 2021. "She brings deep consumer insights that will allow us to better anticipate consumers' changing needs and deliver even more value to our customers in local, personalized ways. Neela is well-positioned to lead CVS Pharmacy today and into the future." Montgomery, currently a Board
Ahold Delhaize to Aquire FreshDirect
Ahold Delhaize and Centerbridge Partners announced they have entered into a definitive agreement to acquire New York City-based online grocer FreshDirect. Ahold Delhaize will acquire the majority share, funded by cash on hand, and Centerbridge Partners will be a minority equity investor with a 20% stake. After the deal closes, FreshDirect will retain its brand name, report to a seven-person board, and continue to independently operate out of its facility in New York City. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, following the satisfaction of customary
Sprouts Announces Holiday Offerings
Natural and Organic grocer Sprouts Farmers Market is celebrating the holidays this year with fresh, healthy and convenient selections. Today through November 23, shoppers can reserve turkeys and holiday meats, prepared meals and party trays online at sprouts.com/holiday. “Shoppers are particularly interested in the quality of the meats they’re preparing for their families this year,” said Sprouts Chief Fresh Merchandising Officer Scott Neal. “Sprouts’ natural turkeys are raised with no antibiotics ever, and Sprouts’ organic turkeys are free-range and fed a certified-organic diet on family-run farms.” Holiday offerings include a selection of private brand meats: Natural Turkey (no antibiotics, ever)
Kroger’s Restock Kroger Transformation Makes Progress
This week Kroger provided an update on its Restock Kroger framework which was created to reinvent the retailer's business model. "Our associates remain relentlessly focused on our customers, who are at the center of everything we do," said Rodney McMullen, Kroger's chairman and chief executive officer. "Our customer obsession led us to make several strategic decisions three years ago to reinvent our business model to better serve our customers. We believed customers would continue to move to a seamless shopping platform that combined the best of physical and digital experiences. These choices and investments have positioned Kroger to more effectively respond to
Equator Design Promotes Senior Leaders
Agency Equator Design announced last week the appointment of Matt Caldwell to the role of Managing Director, as Phil Jones moves into the role of USA VP of Client Engagement. The firm which is headquartered in Manchester, United Kingdom, has US studios in Chicago in Cincinnati as well as three additional offices in Nottingham, Dublin and Sydney. Now at its helm, Chicago-based Matt Caldwell joined Equator in 2017 following sales and marketing roles across diverse markets. His career in retail began in Aldi UK’s graduate scheme, after which he progressed through operations into senior commercial roles, gaining experience across fresh,
HorizonScan Integrates with Oracle Retail
FoodChain ID has entered into a software development relationship with Oracle Retail. The collaboration aims to develop and integrate a system for automatic hazard identification and risk assessment into the Oracle Retail Brand Compliance Management Cloud Service (ORBC) platform. FoodChain ID is a member of Oracle Partner Network (OPN). "This integration will transform the way food retailers identify and manage potential hazards in their private-label products," notes Ron Stakland, senior director of business development for FoodChain ID. "It utilizes data from HorizonScan, the world's most comprehensive and up-to-date database of emerging food safety and quality incidents." The integrated solution will automatically assess the
Waitrose Lowers Private Brand Prices
Waitrose is lowering the prices of over 200 of its most popular private brand products by an average of more than 15%. The cuts quickly follow the John Lewis Partnership’s Plan, which pledged to give affordable quality to customers. The price reductions will apply to a range of everyday items, from meat to fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as cleaning products. The price cuts will be accompanied by a new marketing campaign throughout Waitrose stores and on Waitrose.com, communicating the lower prices to customers. Around half the prices being reduced will be from the Essential Waitrose range - renowned for offering value without compromise.
