Supermarket & Grocery Industry News

Many retailers continue to be wary of full-on case-ready conversion, but its influence will nonetheless continue to spread.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A supermarket operator could be the subject of one of four agro-terrorism preparedness pilot visits that the U.S. government is planning, as part of its new national effort to protect the nation's food supply from terrorist threats, a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokeswoman told Progressive Grocer yesterday.

SCHAUMBURG, Ill. -- American consumers rate themselves as the world's most savvy shoppers when it comes to understanding nutrition labels on the foods they buy. But rather than worry about preservatives or additives, most focus on fat content and calories, according to a new global survey of consumers by ACNielsen.

SALISBURY, N.C. -- Food Lion has brought in a merchandiser from Kroger to help with its ongoing strategy to focus more intensively on fresh.

NEW YORK -- In a sign that manufacturers have upped the ante on their coupon promotions, FSI coupon use was on the rise in the first half of the year, led by a 15.7 percent jump in personal care product coupons, according to the latest Marx FSI Trend Report issued yesterday.

LONDON, United Kingdom -- In an effort to boost productivity at its checkouts, Tesco is piloting a new bi-optic, in-counter scanner/scale solution in 400 lanes.

GREENVILLE, S.C. -- BI-LO here said it is upgrading its ability to micro-market to shoppers, by deploying planning and forecasting applications that enable it to tailor shelf assortments tailored to more specific local customer demand.

MCLEAN, Va. -- The American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI), based here, yesterday issued a heartfelt tribute to one of its own -- Gerald E. "Gerry" Thomas, inventor of the TV dinner, who died in Paradise Valley, Ariz. this week of cancer at the age of 83.