Retail Beat

Kroger promotes digital marketing
Customers have downloaded more than 500 million coupons, Kroger says, and traffic to its mobile application has increased 120% since it began promoting digital offerings. "We know that customers who are digitally engaged with Kroger are more loyal than those customers who aren't," President and Chief Operating Officer Rodney McMullen said. Supermarket News (free registration) (3/7)

Sweetbay will sell only sustainable seafood
Sweetbay Supermarket plans to sell only seafood that is certified as sustainable. The retailer is partnering with organizations including The Florida Aquarium, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute and Gulf Coast Fisheries to ensure sustainability. Sweetbay says shoppers will be able to go online to trace the source of their seafood. The Tampa Tribune (Fla.) (3/8)

Food Lion shifts pricing strategy
Food Lion is moving away from a strategy adopted last year of offering fewer promotions in favor of lower prices overall, said Roland Smith, CEO of Food Lion parent Delhaize America. "Volume increases were not across all of our categories, and they were not to the level that we were hoping for," he said. Supermarket News (free registration) (3/7)

Trend-Spotter

Safeway obtains LEED certification for Mont. store
A Safeway store in Bozeman, Mont., is the first supermarket in the state to gain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. The 180,000-square-foot store received LEED Silver certification for efforts that include diverting 97% of construction waste from landfills and eliminating flow to storm sewers through on-site water retention and filtration. Progressive Grocer (3/7)

Welch's report: Families prioritize eating together
In a survey by Welch's, 84% of respondents said eating with family is a favorite time of day, and 71% said they eat family meals as often as or more than they did when they were children. "Parents are making mealtimes a priority in order to share a moment with their children," said registered dietitian Sarah-Jane Bedwell, a member of the Welch's Health & Nutrition Advisory Panel. Progressive Grocer (3/7)

Health, Nutrition & Pharmacy

Food memory influences future eating habits, report says
British researchers analyzed data from 24 studies and found distractions can make people eat more food in the present and at future meals. The report in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition said if people used "attentive-eating principles" instead, they could lose weight without counting calories. Los Angeles Times (tiered subscription model)/Booster Shots blog (3/6)

Study: Food stamps don't improve nutrition for children
Regardless of whether they participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, most low-income children fail to meet national dietary recommendations for whole grains, fruits and vegetables, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics. Of those receiving SNAP benefits, about 19% are overweight and 18% are obese, researchers say, similar to percentages for low-income children not receiving SNAP benefits. Reuters (3/7)

Supplier News

Vaseline debuts Spray & Go moisturizer
Vaseline is launching Spray & Go moisturizing sprays, a response to consumer concerns that moisturizer takes too long to apply and sink in. Online ads for the Unilever-owned brand show a woman using the spray to moisturize and dress in 10 seconds. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (3/7)

Wrigley prepares to launch gum with caffeine
Wm. Wrigley Jr. plans to introduce Alert Energy Caffeine Gum in April, targeting consumers 25 and older who are seeking a portable energy boost. The gum, with a higher price point than traditional gum, will be offered in fruit and mint flavors but also will have a medicinal taste. The package will note that the gum is "not recommended for children or persons sensitive to caffeine." The Wall Street Journal (3/8)

FMI Spotlight

Available for your smartphone: Future Connect app
Prepare for Future Connect 2013 and download the event application to stay on top of program updates, news and education. Visit the Apple or Google Android app store on your smartphone to download.

Food Safety and Security

Bill takes aim at seafood fraud
A bill introduced by U.S. Rep. Ed Markey of Massachusetts is aimed at making sure consumers are given correct information about the seafood they are purchasing. If it becomes law, fishermen will be required to share with consumers the information they collect about the seafood they catch. The Boston Globe (tiered subscription model)/Business Updates blog (3/6)

Daily Quote

Hope is the physician of each misery." -- Irish proverb Share: