Supermarket/Grocery

800x600 Normal 0 false false false EN-US

Washington, D.C. -- A survey released by the National Retail Federation and conducted by BIGInsight found that the average parent will spend $688.62 on back-to-school items this year, compared with $603.63 last year. Total spending is expected to reach $30.3 billion.

NRF cited an increased number of children entering elementary and middle school this fall, as well as necessary back-to-school replenishments after last year’s cutbacks, for the predicted improvements.

MINNEAPOLIS — Fiber One has introduced new snack bars for kids.

Fiber One Chewy bars tout 110 calroies or less and 8 g or less of sugar and do not contain high-fructose corn syrup, Fiber One said. The bars are available in chocolate and strawberry PB&J varieties and are complete with a peanut butter or chocolate-flavored bottom.

CARLISLE, Pa. — Royal Ahold's American division has split its EVP marketing and merchandising position in two, the company said.

Ahold USA announced the appointment of Erik Keptner to the newly created position of EVP marketing. The search for an EVP merchandising is ongoing, the company said. Ahold USA operates the Giant-Carlisle, Giant-Landover and Stop & Shop chains and the online grocery service Peapod.

Williamsville, N.Y. -- Tops Friendly Markets has entered an agreement with C&S Wholesale Grocers affiliate GU Markets to acquire 21 supermarkets located in upstate New York and Vermont.

Tops said the acquisition will bring its number of operating stores to 153 and will expand Tops' footprint further into areas of northern and eastern New York State and neighboring northern Vermont. For the time being, 20 of the stores will continue to operate under the Grand Union banner, while the other store will continue to operate under the Bryant's banner.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion continues to roll out its new brand strategy, this time bringing the program to 269 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina, including its headquarter city of Salisbury, N.C. 

Food Lion's brand strategy offers customers lower prices on 6,000 items throughout the store and access to quality store brand products at lower prices, including the company's my essentials value tier, as well as enhanced produce and an easy and convenient shopping experience, such as faster checkout.

Salisbury, N.C. -- Food Lion on Wednesday expanded its new brand strategy to 269 stores in North Carolina and South Carolina. With the expansion, Food Lion has more than 700 locations operating under rebranding, representing more than 60% of its store base. 

The new strategy offers customers lower prices on 6,000 items, a greater emphasis on private brands,  enhanced produce and an easy and convenient shopping experience, such as faster checkout. To support its new strategy, the company created approximately 800 new jobs.

San Bernardino, Calif. -- Grocery chain Stater Bros. Markets said Tuesday it has promoted David Harris to the position of senior VP finance, CFO and principal accounting officer.

Harris joined Stater Bros. in 2009 as VP finance. In June 2011, he was promoted to his most recent position of senior VP finance.

Harris reports to Jack H. Brown, chairman and CEO.