Center Store

The back-to-school season brings a focus on single-serve snacks, and healthy snacks become a bigger part of the business every year. A recent report from Mintel revealed that while children are a major influence on the buying of multipack/bulk salty snacks, “given the increased concerns regarding nutrition, manufacturers can appeal to parents with products offering a better-for-you selling proposition.” Christine Brown, a spokeswoman for Natural Snacks said the company, which focuses on all-natural products, sees “a double-digit spike once school starts.”


SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets earlier this week named Regina Tator as its director of private brands. 

Tator succeeds Bruno Garisto, who was recently named VP center store sales and merchandising. Tator will oversee the product development and sales and marketing for the company’s 6,300 private-brand products, including center store, healthy and beauty care, and perishable private products.

CHICAGO — SymphonyIRI Group on Thursday released a brand report highlighting what elements help drive brand selection and brand loyalty.

RACINE, Wis. — SC Johnson is enhancing its Scrubbing Bubbles line with an easy-to-use toilet bowl cleaner.

New one step toilet bowl cleaner is a foot activated, hands-free toilet cleaner that helps keep the toilet clean for 30 days, SC Johnson said. To assure it toilets stay clean, it is recommended that consumers use the product twice a day.

The suggested retail price for the easy-to-use Scrubbing Bubbles one step toilet bowl cleaner is $9.99 for the starter kit and $3.99 for each refill.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Pedigree is encouraging Walmart shoppers to help feed homeless dogs by scanning the QR code on any package of Pedigree sold at Walmart with their smartphone.

Every QR code scanned represents one bowl of Pedigree food for dogs, which the brand will donate to an animal shelter (up to 500,000 8-oz. bowls).

ROCKLEIGH, N.J. — In line with its full-scale, national launch, functional beverage brand Ginseng Up is debuting a new apple flavor.

Ginseng Up noted that its apple flavor consists 96% real apple juice blended with a touch of sparkling water. Sold in single-serve and in four-packs of 12-oz. bottles, the beverage also is available in more than 10 additional natural varieties, and is touting a new tagline, "the root of all power."

CHICAGO — Extra is enlisting consumers to help it decide what should be the next Extra Dessert Delights flavor.

Through its Facebook page, consumers can select among bananas foster, root beer float and lemon square flavors. The winning flavor of this vote will be added to the Dessert Delights lineup of orange creme pop, apple pie, mint chocolate chip, strawberry shortcake and key lime pie. Voting ends Nov. 12. The new flavor is slated to hit store shelves next summer.

CHICAGO — Near East has introduced a new line that combines quinoa and brown rice to promote the goodness of whole grains.

New quinoa blends, available in rosemary and olive oil and roasted red pepper and basil flavors, offer 7g to 8g of protein and 34g of whole grain per one cup serving, Near East said.