Trading Partners

Weber-Stephen Products Co., a Palatine, Ill.-based manufacturer of charcoal and gas grills, grilling accessories, and other outdoor products, has introduced an application for the iPhone and iPod touch to help consumers with their summer grilling.

Fry’s Food Stores president Jon Flora will be among three industry executives honored by the Phoenix-based Arizona Food Marketing Alliance (AFMA) during its annual Excellence in Leadership Awards banquet to be held Nov. 20, 2009 at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.

In the face of lower sales and smaller margins brought about by bargain-hunting food shoppers amid the ongoing difficult economic environment, Supervalu posted a 30 percent decline in first-quarter profits of $113 million vs. $162 million a year earlier, and a 4.7 percent comparable net sales decrease of $12.72 billion from $13.35 billion, missing analysts’ estimates of $12.82 billion for the period ended June 20.

Customer satisfaction is important across all retail channels. Getting customers what they want, and moving them in and out quickly is imperative, and whether that means getting the store manager out of the back office and onto the sales floor, or offering faster payment options at the checkout, retailers are testing new options.

According to a new national survey conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research (GQRR) and Public Opinion Strategies (POS), while almost all mothers acknowledge the importance and benefits of breastfeeding both for themselves and their babies, a large majority of moms want the right to make their own infant feeding decisions, based on all available information and to best suit their own family’s needs.

Michigan-based independent grocer Hiller’s Markets will host a gluten-free food fair Aug. 15 and Aug. 16 at its West Bloomfield, Mich., store, preceded earlier that week by a demo by the company’s executive chef, Peter Julian, featuring Hiller’s exclusive gluten-free recipes.

In an effort to provide customers with additional savings opportunities, Giant Food Stores and Martin’s Food Markets have made many of their manufacturer coupons available online through Giant’s ongoing partnership with Grocery Shopping Network, and the My Giant Online and My Martin’s Online personalized Web experiences developed through the partnership.

Private label products are anything but cheap imitations of brand-name items, according to a new report. The Chicago-based retail consultancy Mintel GNPD finds that manufacturers of private label food products are staying up on current food trends, including the use of premium and healthy ingredients as well as convenient packaging.