Trading Partners

The National Grocers Association (NGA) and Pan-Oston have developed two state-of-the-art mobile Innovation Centers that will bring the latest in front end technology to independent grocers across the country.

Two familiar brand names on U.S. grocery shelves will be presenting a more eco-friendly profile with the rollout of new packaging. Coca-Cola’s Dasani brand is launching its 100 percent-recyclable PlantBottle, which is made from a blend of up to 30 percent plant-based materials, by teaming up with PSIMadeThis.com founder/designer Erica Domesek on a limited-edition line of green-hued hats that benefit Ocean Conservancy and raise awareness of the importance of recycling, while Snyder’s of Hanover’s Organic Pretzel Sticks will now come in renewable bags created from 90 percent plant-based materials produced with as little as half the energy of traditional petroleum-based packaging.

ECRM, a Cleveland, Ohio-based trade event and software company, has launched a new event that will focus on the front end checklane area of the store.

The 2010 Henkel Helps campaign — “Henkel Helps Get Kids Fit” — aims to encourage parents, educators, students and community members to visit www.HenkelHelps.com to nominate their local school by answering the question: “What Would Your School Do with $25,000 to Improve Youth Fitness?”

Core organic consumers — those who are the most loyal to buying organics — are seeking more authentic, clean foods through farmers’ markets and community support agriculture (CSAs), according to the “State of the Organic Consumer 2010” by the Hartman Group.

G.S. Gelato and Desserts, Inc. said last week it would become the sole vendor of authentic Italian gelato and sorbet in 260 Winn-Dixie stores throughout the southeastern United States.

Andrea Astrachan of Ahold USA has assumed her post as chair of Produce for Better Health Foundation’s (PBH) board from outgoing chairman Chair Paul Klutes, of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc. during the group’s annual meeting last week.

Even with fewer new product introductions, the specialty food industry rang up $63.09 billion in sales in 2009, an increase of 2.9 percent over the previous year, according to “The State of the Specialty Food Industry 2010,” an annual report from SPINS, Mintel International and the National Association of the Specialty Food Trade.