Sampling

NAPERVILLE, Ill. -- Promotions and food samples played a large role in the recent grand opening of Marsh Supermarket's new Lifestyle store here, said chain officials.

WILMINGTON, Del. -- Charlie Brown and his friends are returning to Wal-Mart stores nationwide for the second year with activity books, stickers, point of sale materials and recipes designed to make learning about and eating fruits and vegetables part of Halloween fun.

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Dakota Beef's complete line of certified organic products debuted at the newest Whole Foods store here, in what the vendor's executives said was a milestone in its history.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart and Sam's Club are making a nationwide case for diabetes screenings, by hosting screening and public education events at almost 4,000 stores on Sept 24.

With an emphasis on good nutrition, innovative products, and savvy merchandising, retailers and manufacturers of natural/organic branded and private label RTE cereals are proving that health sells.

ROSEMONT, Ill. -- Nearly 30 retailers, including Cub Foods, Kroger and Fred Meyer, Weis, Acme, Schnucks, Giant Eagle, Harris Teeter, Bi-Lo/Bruno's, and HEB have signed on for 3-A-Day of Dairy's fall promotion, encouraging moms to include dairy in their weight loss plan.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Putting action behind its statement earlier this year that organics and other healthy foods will play a bigger part in its stores, Wal-Mart Stores here is conducting a limited test market of Chicago-based Lifeway Foods, Inc.'s kefir product in up to 17 of its Chicago-land stores. The news, which came late Thursday, sent shares of Lifeway Foods soaring more than 20 percent early Friday.

PLANO, Texas -- 7UP here, hosted an exclusive premiere party in Los Angeles to launch new Cherry and Island Fruit flavors, and premiere a new star-studded advertising campaign. With a supermarket stock boy in tow, Marcia Cross and Nicollette Sheridan, stars of the hit TV show, "Desperate Housewives," were on hand to offer a sneak peek at the new 7UP PLUS commercial.