Content about Food

May 20, 2013
Smashburger plans expansion, possible IPO

Fast food hamburger chain Smashburger plans to more than double its nationwide store count to about 500 in the next few years. The chain currently runs about 200 locations across the US.

May 15, 2013
Kroger DC converting food waste to clean energy

The Kroger Co. unveiled a clean energy production system that will convert food that can't be sold or donated into clean energy to help power its Ralphs/Food 4 Less distribution center in Compton, Calif.

May 7, 2013
Chefs On Fire

In New York City, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Denver — and other major cities across the country — creative young chefs are opening their own restaurants.

"In New York, the trend isn't all that new. Think of Andre Soltner, Jean-Georges, David Chang and others," said Faith Hope Consolo, noted trend-watcher and chairman of Douglas Elliman's Retail Group in New York City.

Indeed, we probably shouldn't call it a trend any more. In a growing number of cities, chef-owned restaurants are a mainstay of rising urban neighborhoods.

May 7, 2013
Le Duff America Ignores the Slow Recovery

Chain Store Age asked Paul Carolan, chief development officer for Dallas-based Le Duff America, about the bakery-café company's aggressive growth plan in the United States.

The North American subsidiary of Paris-based Groupe Le Duff SA, Le Duff America now manages four brands in the United States: Bruegger's Bagels, la Madeleine Country French Café, Brioche Dorée and Mimi's Café, which was acquired in March.

May 7, 2013
Upping the Ante

I visited my first Von Maur store in 1999, a decade after I relocated from southern boomtown Atlanta to Lincoln, Neb., a sleepy college town that only really wakes up on Husker football Saturdays. Today I am back home in Baton Rouge, La., still no bustling metropolis, but the food and football trump.

May 7, 2013
Worth Watching

Here are several pure-play online retailers that are venturing into the physical space — or thinking about making the leap:

• Rent the Runway, which rents high-end designer gowns, dresses and accessories to women for weddings and other special events, will use a recent infusion of $24.4 million in financing to build showrooms where shoppers can try on the frocks and consult with stylists. The popular online destination reportedly has Chicago next on its agenda.

April 23, 2013
Publix implements ADC software system
Applied Data Corporation (ADC), a provider of fresh item management (FIM), recipe management and scales management software to the grocery retail and food service industries, announces that Publix Super Markets, a 1,068 store chain headquartered in Lakeland, Fla., has selected InterScale, ADC's Scales Management Software system, for data transmission to and from the barcode labeling scales in their stores.
April 17, 2013
Grocers gather on supermarket industry issues

Grocery retailers, wholesalers and food industry state association executives representing more than 30 states assembled in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to urge Congress to act on pro-business reforms that impact their industry.

April 16, 2013
Deloitte: Shoppers’ belts remain tight despite improving economy

Survey results by Deloitte, released Tuesday, found that even as the economy improves, 94% of Americans indicate they will remain cautious and keep their spending for food, beverage and household goods at its current level.

March 27, 2013
Englewood Construction launches four restaurant projects

Lemont, Ill.-based Englewood Construction said that its restaurant group has begun work on four new projects, including a food court in New Jersey’s largest outlet mall, a steakhouse in a downtown Chicago luxury hotel and two suburban Chicago mall restaurants.

March 18, 2013
NRF: Easter spending expected to be flat

A report released by the National Retail Federation said that the average person celebrating Easter this year will spend about $145.13 on candy, décor, apparel and food – with is flat with last year’s $145.28.

March 13, 2013
Survey: Chick-fil-A leads fast-food industry in customer service

Chick-fil-A, Dunkin' Donuts, Sonic Drive-In, and Little Caesar's earned the top spots in the fast food sector of the 2013 Temkin Experience Ratings. At the other end of the spectrum, KFC and McDonalds were the lowest-rated fast food restaurants.

March 7, 2013
Modest gains for retailers in February, led by Costco and Limited Brands

Costco Wholesale Corp., Limited Brands and TJX Cos. reported better-than-expected sales for February, as growing employment and a surging stock market apparently offset the impact of higher taxes.

March 6, 2013
NRF: St. Patrick’s Day spending to grow to $4.7 billion

A report released by the National Retail Federation said that spending for St. Patrick’s Day is expected to grow to $4.7 billion, as celebrants invest an average of $35.27 on green attire, St. Patrick’s Day décor and holiday food and drink.

March 5, 2013
Did You Know Your Bioptic Might Already be Outdated?

By Mike Poldino, Motorola Solutions

January 30, 2013
CBX to design prototype for not-for-profit grocery store in Philadelphia

Retail design consultancy and brand agency CBX has been retained by hunger relief organization Philabundance to design a prototype for Fare & Square, a not-for-profit grocery store slated to open this summer in Chester, Pa.

January 17, 2013
Giant Food Stores to open in-store cheese and specialty food shop

Ahold banner Giant Food Stores is opening a cheese and specialty food store in central Pennsylvania, the supermarket chain said.

January 7, 2013
The Accenture Luxury Shopping Survey: Insights for the Holidays and Beyond

By Raymond Florio, Accenture

December 27, 2012
Savoring the Brand ... McCormick’s World of Flavors

With sales of spices and seasonings on a steady upswing, the 123-year-old McCormick & Company has opened its first-ever retail location. More than a traditional retail outlet, the 3,818-sq.-ft. McCormick World of Flavors is a destination that aims to build brand excitement and demonstrate the company’s leadership in flavor. It showcases McCormick’s complete family of products and brands, which run the gamut from Old Bay to Thai Kitchen.

December 27, 2012
Retail’s Power Players

Some are merchants, with long careers in brick-and-mortar stores. Others are tech trailblazers, using new media to match merchandise and buyers. Others are influencing retail in less direct, but no less significant, ways. All share an ability to create new opportunities and, in their own way, are looking to reinvent the shopping experience. And all wield a great deal of influence in today’s complex retail landscape.

November 16, 2012
Danfloss helps Supervalu complete first all-natural refrigerant store

Baltimore -- Danfloss,  a manufacturer of high-efficiency electronic and mechanical components and controls for air-conditioning, heating, refrigeration and motion systems, and provider of energy management and control solutions for the food retail industry, was chosen by Supervalue to provide a range of energy-saving products and support for a remodel project that has resulted in the development of the company’s first grocery store operating 100%  on natural refrigerants.

November 14, 2012
Fresh Market leases four Houston-area locations

Greensboro, N.C. - The Fresh Market said Wednesday it has entered into agreements to lease four new store locations that are currently operated as Rice Epicurean Markets, a family-owned specialty food retailer based in Houston.

Rice Epicurean Markets will continue to operate the stores through the end of the year, and will close these four stores during the first quarter of 2013.

November 14, 2012
NRF report: Sandy and fiscal cliff send October retail sales downward

The National Retail Federation said that, for the first time in three months, retail sales ticked down slightly as consumers cooled discretionary spending in the face of inclement weather and uncertainty in Washington.

November 14, 2012
Wal-Mart launches food subscription service called Goodies

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. announced it will officially launch its previously announced food-by-mail subscription service, called Goodies, which allows customers to trial sample-sized foods for a monthly fee.

November 13, 2012
Study: Half of consumers to buy luxury items in next six months

Survey results released Tuesday by Accenture found that half of U.S. consumers are likely to make a small luxury purchase in the next six months, including 53% who are likely to purchase specialty food or drinks, 48% to purchase luxury clothing and 48% to purchase luxury personal care products.

© 2013