Trading Partners

José Olé, a manufacturer of premium quality frozen Mexican food, will be celebrating its 10th anniversary with “Come Join the Party!” — a multi-faceted promotional and charitable campaign representing the biggest such effort in the company’s history.

The 2010 Hispanic Retail 360 Summit promises to be chockfull of retailer case studies and insights when the CPG industry convenes in Scottsdale, Ariz., this August for what has become the retail industry’s premier event on selling and marketing to Latino consumers.

Consumers across the globe firmly believe store brands to be the same as, or better than, national brands at providing a range of benefits, according to a study from New York-based market research company Ipsos.

According to the “2010 NCH Coupon Facts Report” released by NCH Marketing Services, Inc., a Valassis company, current economic conditions are causing 94 percent of those surveyed to use consumer package goods (CPG) coupons at least once in the past year, and 77 percent regularly.

California Grocers Association SVP Jill Rulon, has left the organization to pursue other opportunities.

With an influx of grocers angling to enhance their value and sustainability propositions, many are expanding their bulk food sections across a variety of categories, which has in turn prompted an estimated 15 percent increase in bulk food sales during 2009 over the previous year, according to the Little Rock, Ark.-based BGC Bulk is Green Council (BGC).

As part of its “Be Good to Your Whole Body” campaign in its Whole Body departments, Whole Foods Market this month is boosting its efforts to educate consumers on its Premium Body Care standards.

The Kroger Co. has stepped up as the first national retail chain to encourage its suppliers to subscribe to the Rapid Recall Exchange, an online service that standardizes and accelerates food and product recalls and withdrawals.