Retail Beat

Ground beef high in omega-3 is available at Tops
Tops Friendly Markets is the first retailer to carry GreatO Premium Ground Beef, developed by NBO3 Technologies to be naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids. The beef, certified by the USDA, tastes like other beef and is made with cattle that are fed food high in omega-3 fatty acids. Progressive Grocer (3/8)

Trend-Spotter

Product launches build on proven brands
Companies at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York Conference appeared to be taking fewer risks, launching items that are a revamp of existing products. Kraft Foods Group, for example, is introducing additional flavors of Oscar Mayer bologna; Procter & Gamble is expanding the Bounty line with DuraTowel; and Campbell Soup is launching Bolthouse Farms Baby Carrot ShakeDowns, with flavoring that can be added to baby carrots. Reuters (3/8)

Health, Nutrition & Pharmacy

NuVal helps Meijer with weight-loss contest
Meijer and NuVal are working together on the Nu-Me Weight Loss Challenge, a three-month contest for Meijer employees that comes with $15,000 in prizes. The challenge includes an internal portal with weight-loss strategies and suggested weekly activities. Progressive Grocer (3/8)

Whole Foods vows GMO labeling by 2018
Whole Foods Market is the first grocery chain to set a deadline for labeling food with genetically modified organisms, vowing the move by 2018 at U.S. and Canadian stores. "We are stepping up our support of certified organic agriculture, where GMOs are not allowed, and we are working together with our supplier partners to grow our non-GMO supply chain to ensure we can continue to provide these choices in the future," co-CEO Walter Robb said. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (3/8), The Shelby Report online (3/8)

Supplier News

Degree bridges the gender divide
While deodorant brands typically take different marketing approaches for men and women, a unisex campaign for Unilever deodorant brands Degree Men and Degree Women targets both genders. The ads, from Omnicom Group's Davie Brown Entertainment, show star athletes Lolo Jones, Alex Morgan, Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Durant training in sports they are not known for, with the tagline "Do:More." The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (3/10)

Mikesell's CEO builds on 100 years of quality
Chuck Shive, who became president and CEO of Mikesell's Snack Foods in May, is working to build the company's century-old potato chip brand. The company updated its packaging, changed its slogan to reflect its history and added two flavors -- sweet chili and sour cream, and Tucson spice. "It's not a quick fix. Our point of rebranding and upgrading our packaging was not so we could do it every couple of years," Shive says. Smart Business online/Cincinnati (3/8)

Hot Topics

Technology Solutions

Walgreen store is expected to produce energy beyond usage
Walgreen is planning a store in Evanston, Ill., that will use solar panels, geothermal energy and wind turbines to generate more energy than it uses. The site is expected to generate 256,000 kilowatt hours of energy annually, while using 200,000. Building Design + Construction (free registration) (3/10)

Government Affairs

FDA offers advice on Nutrition Facts label
The FDA, marking the 40th National Nutrition Month, is urging shoppers to read the Nutrition Facts label. When consulting the label, the FDA says, take into consideration the serving size, calorie count and daily value of nutrients. Progressive Grocer (3/8)

FMI Spotlight

Safe Quality Food program will host information days globally
The SQF Institute has announced a worldwide seminar calendar. The institute will host information days in five countries and 12 cities during the next several months. These information days will be valuable to suppliers at all levels of the food chain, providing valuable insight and critical updates. View the tour dates and register.

Daily Quote

Let me listen to me and not to them." -- Gertrude Stein, American writer and feminist Share: