Nonfoods

Kroger is going gourmet and all out with its new and largest store, located in Texas. Jacksonville, Fla.-based Regency Centers, a national owner, operator and developer of grocery-anchored and community shopping centers, has announced the completion of construction at Waterside Marketplace shopping center with the formal opening of the center, and the first and largest Kroger Marketplace store in Texas, in October.

All American Pet Co., Inc. is adding to its lineup of super-premium dog foods with the cleverly named Grrr-Nola. The dry dog food formula is veterinarian-recommended for a heart-healthy daily diet, because of the inclusion of supplemental taurine and L-carnitine, both of which may help maintain and improve canine cardiac function and protect the dog heart from stress and damage.

The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Co., Inc. has unveiled the newest incarnation of its A&P Fresh store at 459 Route 31 South in Hampton, N.J. The newly renovated location offers customers a “one-stop” gourmet shopping experience with fresh foods and quality groceries offered amidst an innovative European market design.

With more than 25 local growers signed on to supply St. Louis-based Schnucks Markets, Inc. with farm-fresh produce, the regional retailer is gearing up for a major homegrown produce push that will showcase products from some of the best farms in the Midwest.

Amazing Grass recently launched the Organic Green Superfood Energy Bar. The new item contains the San Franciso-based company’s alkalizing superfood powder, along with fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, for a cold-processed, raw, gluten- and dairy-free, and vegan end product. It comes in two flavors: the Whole Food Energy Bar and a chocolate version featuring fair trade organic dark chocolate.

Beech-Nut, a Latham, N.Y.-based subsidiary of Switzerland’s Hero Group, has expanded its Stage 3 jarred infant food offering with a new product line. All natural and with added vitamins and minerals, like all Beech-Nut products, Homestyle Stage 3 Fruits are specially made with more texture for a baby’s physical developmental changes from about eight months and up.

A recent Progressive Grocer Economic Pulse survey of 91 grocery retailers on the current state of business their business has that, despite the down economy, 44.4 percent projected that second-quarter 2009 sales would be above last year’s.

A study of 8,000 people ages 2 to 85 has found that folic acid — or vitamin B9 — may help reduce allergies and asthma, reports Medical News Today.