Supermarket/Grocery

Whole Foods has earned the top spot in Greenpeace’s annual seafood sustainability ranking of U.S. supermarkets, claiming both the highest overall score and the strongest sustainable seafood policy. Whole Foods Market has been ranked first for the last two years in a row for the fourth time since 2008.

London - Sainsbury’s has selected Quantum Retail Technology to provide software and services to help optimize its fashion and general merchandise inventory through improved allocation and replenishment functionality.  

The Hillshire Brands Company has completed its acquisition of Van’s Natural Foods from Catterton Partners. Van’s is a leading better-for-you food brand with multiple product lines in frozen breakfast and snack foods.

Same store sales and operating profits declined at Sam’s Club during the first quarter prompting president and CEO Rosalind Brewer to call the reporting period, “one of our more difficult quarters.”

Chicago - Easy2Find is a new online analytics tool designed to simplify food industry research and intelligence at the unit level. It is a joint service offering that joins foodservice data analytics provider CHD Expert and research and consulting firm Technomic.

Easy2Find lets chains see and understand a restaurant's footprint in any given geographic market and restaurant segment. It is designed to allow users to find where competitors are opening new unit locations and how they impact sales, helping to uncover market expansion potential.

The Coca-Cola Company’s innovative fountain dispensing platform, Coca-Cola Freestyle, has unveiled three new dispensers that will significantly expand the number of customer locations suited for the technology.

The units offer additional beverage choices, including more low- and no-calorie options, as well as connectivity. The dispensers will be piloted by the end of the year.

Walmart’s first quarter sales were not great, but longer term success could be driven by an interesting range of pilot programs and expanding initiatives the company shared during a recap of its results.

Austin, Texas – Whole Foods Market is thrilled opens a new location at Greenway Town Center in Tigard, Oregon, on May 21. The store will feature products from local producers, a community art installation, LED lighting, recycled building materials, a fire pit, and a three-season outdoor seating area for about 60 customers.