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Fairtrade Products Grow to $7.3 Billion Worldwide
Shoppers continue to reach for Fairtrade-labeled products in ever-growing numbers while Fairtrade’s offer to farmers and workers deepens, according to a new report by Fairtrade International. The world’s leading ethical label had strong continued growth as consumer sales of Fairtrade-certified products grew to $7.3 billion worldwide in 2013. Among Fairtrade’s leading products, 2013 sales grew for coffee (8 percent), sugar (22 percent), bananas (12 percent) and flowers (16 percent). Strongest growth markets include the United States, where sales of Fairtrade products grew to $426 million since the Fairtrade mark’s introduction in 2012, and new markets India and Kenya, which join ... |
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Lindt Expands Warehouse, Distribution Capabilities
Premium chocolatier Lindt & Sprungli has acquired a new warehouse and distribution center in Carlisle, Pa. The approximately 400,000-square-foot space will house a distribution center and, eventually, a Lindt USA retail factory store. The new storage and distribution facility will allow the company to continue to produce at an increased capacity to meet growing consumer and market demand. This addition closely follows the announcement of a major, multi-million-dollar expansion plan for manufacturing at the company’s U.S. headquarters in Stratham, N.H., where Lindt produces premium chocolate products from bean to finished product. “As a leader in the premium chocolate category, Lindt ... |
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Williams-Sonoma Posts Strong Q2 Results, Q3 Guidance Misses Expectations
William-Sonoma Inc. posted net revenues of $1.04 billion in the second quarter, a 5.8 percent increase from the $982 million tallied in the year-ago quarter, and same-store sales increased 5.7 percent.“We are pleased to have delivered another quarter of solid performance, once again demonstrating the competitive advantages resulting from our multi-brand, multichannel business model,” said Laura Alber, president and CEO. “We enter the second half of 2014 well-positioned across our brands from a marketing, merchandise offering, store and online experience standpoint. We remain focused on disciplined execution against our growth initiatives and a balanced approach to capital allocation to continue ... |
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Keurig Green Mountain and Kraft Ink Coffee-Pod Deal
Keurig Green Mountain Inc. and Kraft Foods Group have signed a multiyear licensing, manufacturing, and distribution agreement for Kraft’s branded coffees in Keurig portion-pack formats compatible with Keurig consumer and commercial brewing systems in the U.S. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.With this new agreement, consumers in the U.S. can enjoy Kraft coffee brands – Maxwell House, Gevalia and Yuban, along with McCafé – in a variety of licensed Keurig portion-pack formats for both the at-home and away-from-home channels, including: K-Cup packs, which brews single-serve cups of coffee. K-Carafe packs, a single portion pack optimized to brew four ... |
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Fresh Thyme Market Plans Four New Detroit Area Stores
New supermarket chain Fresh Thyme Farmers Market expects to open at least four new grocery stores in metropolitan Detroit in 2016, according to Crain’s Detroit Business.Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is going head-to-head on site selection with other top grocers in the region vying for the same target customer base, including Whole Foods Market and Papa Joe’s Gourmet Market. The Phoenix-based natural grocer has already selected two sites – one in the Troy Commons shopping center and the other in Hampton Plaza shopping mall – where 30,000-square-foot stores will be developed. Another store has received site plan approval in Northville Township, ... |
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Fresh & Easy Launches Better-For-You Breakfast Program
Fresh & Easy is targeting morning customers on the go with a new fresh breakfast offering that it says is healthier than what fast-food restaurants are offering. El Segundo, Calif.-based Fresh & Easy is now selling grab-and-go breakfast sandwiches, salmon bagels, fruit parfait wraps and flavored oatmeal selections in all of its 167 stores. “Gone are the days of diet-busting drive-thru breakfast, eating on the go with Fresh & Easy is just as fast and isn’t full of artificial nasties,” said Sharon Price, Fresh & Easy’s grab-and-go guru. “We set out to develop more breakfast options that are delicious but ... |
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Forty One Madison to Mark 40th Anniversary at New York Tabletop Market
Forty years ago, Noritake signed a lease for a showroom at Forty One Madison. Today, 115 leading brands have located their wholesale showrooms at the building where every spring and fall they fill with major retail buyers from across North and Central America for the New York Tabletop Market. The upcoming edition is scheduled for Oct. 21-24, where Forty One Madison will celebrate its 40-year anniversary.“While we stay true to our mission of excellence by providing the best market experience to our visitors, change is the one constant here,” said Laurie Burns, senior vice president and director of Forty One ... |
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Colorado GMO Labeling Initiative Makes November Ballot
A GMO labeling initiative will be on the ballot in Colorado Nov. 4. The voter initiative requires the labeling of genetically modified or GMO foods, and will appear on the statewide ballot as Proposition 105. The Colorado Secretary of State’s office announced on Aug. 20 that nearly 125,000 valid signatures were received, giving the Right to Know Colorado campaign 145 percent of the number of signatures required for placement on the ballot. Right to Know Colorado submitted a total of 171,370 signatures by the Aug. 4 deadline, with a 73 percent validity rate. “This historic achievement is only possible because ... |
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Lamson & Goodnow Files for Chapter 11 Reorganization
Lamson & Goodnow Manufacturing Co., a maker of knives, tableware and kitchen tools based in Shelburne Falls, Mass., has filed for Chapter 11 federal bankruptcy protection from its creditors, according to The Republican newspaper in Massachusetts. It was reported that the company’s 18-acre factory complex on the Deerfield River was up for sale for $2.1 million and that Lamson & Goodnow could turn its business around once it secured a $500,000 loan for raw materials to fill existing customer orders. Lamson currently has 31 employees at its plant and a retail operation in Shelburne Falls with three employees. The company, ... |
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HTI Buying Group Adds Four Retail Members
The HTI Buying Group, which brings together affiliated specialty retailer members to provide access to training, information and resources to improve sales and increase profits while maintaining their autonomy and independence, recently added four retailers to its membership. Joining HTI is Cook and Craft, a kitchenware store in Old Greenwich, Conn., owned by Garrison Gunter. In addition to essential tools and electrics for the kitchen and gourmet pantry items, half of the store is dedicated to showcasing North American handmade crafts for the table. Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, Brandon, Fla., owned by Karen and Dave West, is another new member. ... |
