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PLOVER, Wis. — Intevation Food Group has introduced a line of frozen crouton-coated vegetables.

Crunchtables includes sweet baby carrots, broccoli, green beans, zucchini, mushrooms and pickles, the company said.

"As Americans try to manage snacking and move toward improved nutritional choices, we must remember that food must deliver on taste — first and foremost," Intevation VP sales and marketing Dan Horan said. "We think of Crunchtables as a 'stealth health' product because it delivers great taste and better nutrition."

Drug stores continue to offer more fresh grocery items. “Fresh fruit and vegetables are top grocery categories. There’s high demand for the products, and the size of the market is huge. So it makes sense that the drug channel is going after that business,” said Harry Balzer, chief industry analyst and VP of the NPD Group.

Greg Tradup, category manager of perishable, supplies and foodservice at McLane Co., said that drug stores are seeing a jump in sales of fresh fruits, juices and thaw-and-serve sandwiches.

WAYNE, Pa. — Emerson Group on Wednesday named Shane Brown to the group's Walmart team.

Brown comes to Emerson from Bayer HealthCare where he held a variety of roles in sales and category management for Bayer’s over-the-counter businesses working with the Walmart account. His primary responsibility was working as category captain to Walmart on the cough, cold and allergy category. Brown utilized his knowledge of the cough, cold and allergy category in working with Bayer internal brand teams to develop and launch new items, as well as setting brand strategies.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — Summer Infant has named David Hemendinger as its new COO.

In his new role, Hemendinger will be responsible for assuring that the company's operational infrastructure in its information systems and supply chain effectively and efficiently supports the company's business and growth initiatives, Summer Infant said. He replaces Summer Infant COO Jeffery Hale.

NEW YORK — FyrFlyz could be the next big kid craze. The new spinning toy on a string from i-Star Entertainment has earned a spot on a number of “Hot Toy” lists, including the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio and Dr. Toy Top Ten Toys lists.


With multicolored LED lights that create unique light patterns when the toy is spun, FyrFlyz puts a new twist on the classic children’s spinning toy. Priced at $8.99 and aimed at kids 8 years and older, the toy is poised to be a holiday hit.


Industry experts say growth in the photo department will come from personalized products. “The photo category of the future is in user-generated content,” said Steve Giordano Jr., president of Lucidiom. “Customers should be able to go into a drug store and purchase personalized invitations, banners and thank you notes for a party.”

Retailers, Giordano said, have to go deep in the category to be competitive. That means offering everything from invitations and sticky notes to photobooks.

MISHAWAKA, Ind. — Just a few weeks after launching its all-natural Bavarian low-fat yogurt in the United States, Ehrmann announced that its distribution has tripled.

The company said its yogurt now is available in more than 500 stores throughout New England and upstate New York, including Shaw's, Price Chopper and Tops.

CHICAGO — Consumers looking for healthy meal solutions on the go have a new option: GoPicnic, a line of eight convenient, shelf-stable ready-to-eat meals. The brand partners with such top-quality manufacturers as Late July Organics and Old Wisconsin to develop meals that are all-natural and contain no preservatives. All menus have fewer than 500 calories; four of the options are gluten-free.