JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Winn-Dixie, a unit of Southeastern Grocers, is making a strong push at promoting smaller regional brands at its Florida stores, including the sausage brands Roger Wood, Registers and Nettles. Southeastern Grocers in March also announced a push at increasing the number of minority-owned brands sold at theMORE HERE
ISTANBUL — The Kraft Heinz Company will purchase Assan Foods from the privately held Turkish company Kibar Holding in a deal that values the enterprise at approximately $100 million. Assan Foods is a sauce-focused business with manufacturing facilities in Balikesir and Izmir that has been a production partner for KraftMORE HERE
Their success at making a regional grocer and retail brand into a national franchise is a path for any local retailer that was established over 75 years ago. There is enough goodwill and brand story to make the product compelling to those outside the city.MORE HERE
Promoting regional food manufacturers and suppliers is good business. But national retailers have been aggressive about getting rid of smaller suppliers, preferring to reduce the number of SKUs, or products, and allowing manufacturers to buy up and fill up center aisles. These trends go in cyles; the chain like WalmartMORE HERE
At one time, not too long ago, there was no such thing as “decaffeinated” coffee. You either had coffee, or Sanka. And a key part of the Sanka identity was orange. Orange appeared on the bands on decaf coffee pots in restaurants, and in the packaging of Sanka. However, overMORE HERE
Comstock is one of the nation’s early canned pie fillings and may be the nation’s first. The idea? Instead of cutting and cooking apples before you bake them in a pie, all you have to do is buy a crust, open the can, pour it in, and bake. No Peel!MORE HERE
PEACH GLEN, Penn. – Supporting local farmers is often seen as finding fresh, local produce, or visiting a locavore restaurant. But there are easier ways to change the food process. Buy American, and buy from co-ops and smaller suppliers in the center aisles, with prepared and canned foods. Lucky Leaf,MORE HERE
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Uncle Wiley’s is a food seasoning brand for the produce aisle, geared to vegetables like yams and greens. With simply titled seasonings, each flavor packet describes what it is for, no explanations needed. Flavors include Eat Your Beans, Eat Your Greens and Eat Your Yams. Retail pricesMORE HERE
Chestnut Hill, Tenn. – If one wants to see the perfect template for promoting a consumer product brand, steal a few ideas from Bush Brothers & Company, makers of Bush’s Best beans. The brand, founded in 1908, is still family owned, with offices and plant in East Tennessee. The brandMORE HERE
Parsippany, N.J. – Last December, B&G Foods, Inc. (NYSE: BGS) announced the purchase of the Crisco brand of shortening from J. M. Smucker Co. for $550 million in cash. As part of the acquisition, B&G Foods also acquired the Crisco factory and warehouse in Cincinnati, Ohio. B&G specializes in “shelf-stable”MORE HERE