Comag Marketing Group, LLC

White Plains, NY-based yogurt maker Dannon last fall assembled a “shelf-obsession team” to press its case for expanded display space at retail.  The special-operations-type unit supports existing sales teams with account-specific market research and merchandising concepts gleaned from Dannon’s global operations.  Sure to be among their oft-cited research is that the dairy category comprises 9% of grocery store sales, [...]

On Friday, Safeway opened its Lifestyle format in Bellevue, Washingon, replacing an older Safeway supermarket. The store is the first of its kind in the Seattle market. The upscale Lifestyle format features a gelato bar, a nut bar, wine cellar, fireplace, sushi bar, and a Starbucks. Progressive Grocer (June 30, 2008)

Empire Company Ltd., owner of the Sobeys grocery chain,  has announced a 4th Q2007 profit of $66.5-million, up from $64.8-million for the 4thQ 2006.�
The Canadian Press

War on Want, the charity group, has accused Tesco, the United Kingdom’s largest grocery chain, of retailing clothes that were created under slave labor conditions.   It is alleged that Tesco is buying their clothes from a textile factory that, in India, pays it’s employees $17.29 (USD) for a 54 hour week.  This equates to $.32 per hour.
The Times [...]

Workers at Vancouver’s Save On Foods  have voted 58% to reject a new contract offer from the  Overwaitea Food Group (owned by Jim Pattison).  Union representatives covering 27 stores from the Chilliwack to Squamish regions, will issue a 72 hour perishable goods notice today. Perishable notices are issued in order to give the company time to deal with [...]

Wal-Mart Store Inc has plans to open four Marketside stores in the Phoenix area, as part of its small, community grocery store concept. The stores will feature a wide selection of meal solutions and fresh ingredients, to compete with Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Markets, opened by Tesco in the U.S. market late last year. [...]

U.S. Presidential candidate, Barack Obama, is urging TESCO’s Sir Terry Leahy to reconsider their policy of non-engagement with unions.  Obama is concerned over the worker’s rights in TESCO’s FRESH & EASY outlets.
The Times of London

In the United Kingdom, as a result of the credit crunch, a growing number of consumers are shopping in discount retailers LIDL and ALDI.  These two discounters are moving ahead of their retail rivals in the British grocery sector.  ALDI grew by 20.7 per cent.  While below ALDI’s performance, LIDL’s sales lift of 12.8 per [...]

Ralphs Supermarkets, a division of Kroger Co., is planning to lower prices at all of its Southern California stores, according to an ad in Sunday’s Los Angeles Times.  The ad states: “Coming soon to a Ralphs near you. Wednesday, June 25. New lower prices every day.”  Supermarket News (June 24, 2008)

High-end, Austin-Texas-based grocer Whole Foods Market yesterday launched a set of money-saving tools for its shoppers called “Shopping Tips, Tours and Top Sellers.”  Bruce Silverman, who heads up the chain’s private label program and counts “Value Guru” among his corporate titles, said, “These tools are aimed at helping direct shoppers to the best values in [...]