News Briefs

Ahold Delhaize announced the beginning of its 1 billion Euro share buyback program, which is expected to be completed before the end of 2023.

The purpose of the program is to help reduce the capital of the company by canceling all or part of the common shared acquired through the program, the organization shared.

Executed within the limits of relevant laws and regulations, the existing authority granted Ahold Delhaize’s 2022 annual general meeting of shareholders on April 12, 2022, and the authority if granted by the annual general meeting on April 12, 2023.

The share buyback program is executed in one or several tranches. For each of them, an intermediary is mandated to execute the purchase of the shares at his own discretion during open and closed periods in compliance with the Market Abuse Regulation and within pre-defined execution parameters.

Shares are bought in the market and accumulated on the treasury share account until cancellation. Pursuant to the relevant statutory provisions, cancellation may not be effected earlier than two months after a resolution to cancel shares is adopted and publicly announced. Ahold Delhaize is committed to the share buyback program, but the program is subject to changes in corporate activities, such as but not limited to material M&A activity.

There’s a new Olay skin care product in town.

The brand launched its new Regenerist Niacinamide + Peptide 24 Face Moisturizer, which looks to strengthen skin, even complexions and visibly correct wrinkles.

Featuring a formula that provides 24-hour hydration that looks to hydrate and repair the skin for a stronger barrier, it contains 99% pure niacinamide, peptides and glycerin to penetrate 10 layers deep in the skin’s surface, the company said.  

Olay’s Regenerist Niacinamide + Peptide 24 Face Moisturizer retails for $30.

Designer Greetings has acquired Oklahoma City master greeting card distributor QPS and their sub distributors: United Wholesale, Cards N Such, Intermountain Greetings, Cards Plus, Northwest Cardco, MDS, Maida and Kibby.

This is the largest acquisition of a greeting card distributor in North America’s history and marks the 17th acquisition for Designer Greetings.

Designer Greetings CEO and president, Steven Gimbelman, said, “QPS has been a distribution partner of Designer Greetings for over 15 years. We’ve developed a solid relationship over the years and the natural progression for an acquisition was imminent. QPS, under the leadership of Paul Casperson, grew the business over the years from repeated greeting card distributor acquisitions, namely United Wholesale, Northwest Cardco, Cards N Such, Intermountain Greetings, Cards Plus, MDS, Maida and Kibby.  QPS has always provided excellent product and superior service to its thousands of partner retailers throughout the United States. We are happy to welcome QPS to our family of partner acquisitions.”

There’s a new way to experience Native’s aluminum and paraben-free stick deodorants.

New from the brand is its line of Deodorant and Body Sprays, which are ozone-friendly and natural propellant spray that offers all-day odor protection.

Featuring water, fragrance and such plant-oil derived skin conditioning ingredients as caprylic/capric triglyceride and dipropylene glycol to help keep users fresh, it also contains denaturated alcohol made from plants for fast-drying, the company said.

Available scents include coconut and vanilla, cucumber and mint, eucalyptus and mint, lilac and white tea, sea salt and cedar, and sweet peach and nectar.

Retailing for $14 each, Native’s new Deodorant and Body Sprays are available for purchase online.

Siggi’s is expanding its iconic Icelandic skyr products with the launch of a new line — rich and creamy skyr.

Featuring an inspired twist of the brand’s iconic product, this latest innovation has whole milk, contains 10 g of protein per serving and comes in zesty lemon, ripe cherry and vanilla honey flavors.

Mostly available on the East Coast, retailers that carry the line include Whole Foods, Hannaford’s, Stop & Shop, Giant, Wegmans, Big Y and Wakefern, the company said. 

Siggi’s rich and creamy skyr retails for $1.89.

Mars’ popular Snickers brand is entering with nutrition performance category with a line of protein bars.

Snickers Hi Protein Bars, which contain chocolate, caramel and peanut ingredients, are packed with 20 g of protein per serving, the company said.

“Mars is consumer obsessed, and after talking with many consumers through the product development process, it was clear that the performance nutrition category was missing one key ingredient — delicious tasting products,’ said Michelle Deignan, senior brand director at Mars Wrigley. "With the demand for delicious tasting protein bars increasing, Snickers Hi Protein Bars are guaranteed to be a hit whether you work out avidly, casually or are looking for a delicious snack with more protein.”

Consumers can get their hands on Snickers Hi Protein Bars in January 2023 at select retailers. It will expand to additional retailers in the coming year.