Trading Partners

With the help of numerous vendor partners, The Kroger Co. is inviting customers to help hungry people in their own communities by joining in "Bringing Hope to the Table," a two-week campaign that runs through June 13. The charitable effort is expected to generate $4 million dollars in cash and food donations to assist 80 local food banks in communities where Kroger's customers and associates live and work. These food banks are members of Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger-relief organization.

Consumers worried about packing on the pounds during barbecue season now have a tasty low-fat alternative to beef burgers: Chicken Grillables from Portland Maine-based frozen food manufacturer Barber Foods.

Syracuse, N.Y.-based independent Green Hills launched a new shopper loyalty software platform to enhance its targeted marketing efforts.

A recent poll of grocers found that bulk foods have jumped in sales volume about 10 percent over the past 12 months. Further, organic foods, one of the mainstays of the bulk food category, have seen double-digit sales growth for several years, while total U.S. food sales have been growing in the range of just 2 percent to 4 percent annually.

Jeff Noddle, chairman of the board and outgoing CEO of Supervalu, Inc., and Robert E. Rich Jr., chairman of Rich Products Corp. will be recipients of the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) 2009 Hall of Achievement Award.

Rapid advancements in network surveillance technology, as well as reduced hardware price points, will drive worldwide surveillance/monitoring camera shipments from 9.3 million in 2007 to 26.5 million in 2013, according to new research from IDC.

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.

Loblaw Cos., Ltd. has made a commitment to source all seafood sold in its stores from sustainable sources by the end of 2013. The commitment, known as the Loblaw Sustainable Seafood Policy Initiative, includes all canned, frozen, fresh, wild and farmed seafood products, in all categories.