Supermarket/Grocery

New York -- Survey results unveiled Thursday by online coupon site RetailMeNot.com and Ipsos Public Affairs found that  an overwhelming number of consumers think the economy is in dire straits. As well, this pessimistic group is shoppers to adjust their holiday consumption behaviors and shop earlier this year.  

Specific findings of the report include:

Chicken Soup for the Soul, the well-known book publisher and leader in life improvement, inspiration and wellness, will launch a national line of nutritious, quality comfort foods that will be available in supermarkets and food retailers in early 2013.

New York - Amazon.com, Trader Joe’s and Costco Wholesale Corp. came out on top with consumers in a survey by global strategy firm OC&C Strategy Consultants, Boston. Rounding out the top five were Zappos and iTunes.

PHOENIX — Sprouts Farmers Markets announced that Shon Boney, who has served as CEO since the company's founding in 2002, will assume the role of chairman of the board of Sprouts. Long-time Sprouts president Doug Sanders will become president and CEO, whereby he will continue to be responsible for all day-to-day aspects of running the business.

According to the company, Boney is taking on the chairman role in order to spend more time with his family in Sand Diego.

Phoenix -- Sprouts Farmers Markets said Thursday that current CEO Shon Boney will move into the role of chairman, and that current president Doug Sanders will take the reins of the organic grocery chain as president and CEO.

Sanders joined Sprouts in 2002 when the company had only one store. He became president in 2005 after serving in various roles including CIO and COO.
 

As a prelude to the upcoming World Retail Congress in London (September 19- 21), five retail leaders who will be speaking at the event participated in the following Q&A:

What would you say is the biggest issue facing retailers today?
 

Chicago — Suitors are lining up to carve out divisions of Supervalu following the company's announcement last month that strategic divestitures were on the table as the Eden Prairie, Minn.-based grocer seeks to turn around its business performance. A Crain's report published Monday identified Klaff Realty as one of the first companies to express an interest, in this case the Jewel-Osco piece of the business.

The Philadelphia chocolate-and-peanut bar that started as a World War I ration is back — even though it didn't really go anywhere. Candy company Just Born announced that it has overhauled its Peanut Chews' brand image to better reflect its roots.