Publix

Among the companies represented on the 2009 U.S. Reputation Pulse, a yearly ranking and study put out by New York-based reputation consulting firm Reputation Institute, members of the grocery industry made a strong showing.

Despite the surge in at-home meal preparation, the rocky economic landscape has taken its toll on food retailers: Publix posted sales Friday for the first quarter of 2009 of $6.4 billion, a 2.2 percent rise from last year’s $6.2 billion. First-quarter comps dropped 2.8 percent, however.

Two iPhone apps were developed to help consumers be a little greener this past Earth Day. The Coupon Sherpa iPhone application (www.couponsherpa.com), from the Fort Collins, Colo.-based company of the same name, allows shoppers to access in-store coupons on their iPhone or iPod Touch.

From a field of 73 entrants hailing from 40 supermarket chains, the International Dairy-Deli-Bakery Association (IDDBA) has narrowed to three the number of contestants chosen to participate in its 14th annual Cake Decorating Challenge to be held at its upcoming Dairy-Deli-Bake ’09 seminar and expo in Atlanta, GA, June 7-9.

Publix Super Markets Inc., Lakeland, Fla., expanded its Teradata Active Enterprise Data Warehouse to accommodate growth and more complex analytics.

For iPhone users, information on how to go organic for Earth Day is right at their fingertips, thanks to a new application developed through a collaboration by the Organic Trade Association (OTA), Earth Day Network and MusicMatters.

Like many in the industry, the regional grocer is feeling the effects of the economy.

The regional grocer currently uses Axway's B2B gateway technology.