KROGER

LOS ANGELES — Kroger banners Ralphs and Food 4 Less/Foods Co have kicked off their respective charitable campaigns to benefit children in the markets they serve.

Just when you thought the low end of the generic drug price spectrum couldn’t get any more commoditized, the $2 price point debuted with a big splash in September 2010.


DEERFIELD, Ill. — A Novato, Calif.-based corporate brand beer supplier has launched a private-label beer for Walgreens, according to published reports.

Winery Exchange is the producer behind Big Flats 1901, a lager brewed by Genesee Brewing Co., based in Rochester, N.Y. Big Flats 1901 sells for around 50 cents per can at most Walgreens stores, according to reports.

Winery Exchange's retail partners include Supervalu, Kroger, Costco, Delhaize and more.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — The Little Clinic has promoted Chance Cole to VP business development and processes, handling business-to-business and overall business development, process improvement and nonclinical training activities.

Cole joined the company in July 2010 as The Little Clinic manager of integration. Prior to accepting a position with The Little Clinic, he spent 20 years with Kroger as a store manager, Kroger coordinator, Kroger merchandising, retail operations manager and marketplace merchandising manager.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — Fast on the heels of her departure from Ahold USA’s Giant Foods of Landover supermarket unit, Robin Michel has been tapped for an increasingly critical role at retail giant Sears Holdings. Michel, who left as president of Giant-Landover in December 2010, will serve as SVP and president of food and consumables, health and beauty and pharmacy at Sears and its Kmart subsidiary.

NEW YORK — Fujitsu on Monday unveiled its latest checkout technology at the National Retail Federation trade show. According to the company, the new technology boasts reduced time in lines and a customer-friendly checkout experience.

HOUSTON — It seems that Kroger is looking to upgrade some of its stores in the Houston area, according to published reports.

The grocer is planning on opening a Marketplace store — a larger-scale model — in Willis, Texas, and will do major overhauls on five stores and minor remodels on six stores, according to the Houston Chronicle. The report also noted that Kroger planned to close two underperforming stores in the area as well.

CINCINNATI — Kroger recalled select packages of pet food sold in some of its retail stores because the products may contain aflatoxin, a naturally occurring toxic chemical byproduct from the growth of a certain fungus.

The recall affects Kroger stores in 17 states, as well as Dillons and Gerbes stores in Kansas and Missouri; Baker's stores in Nebraska; Food 4 Less stores in Nebraska, Illinois and Indiana (Chicago area); and Jay C, Hilander, Owen's, Pay Less and Scott's stores in Illinois and Indiana.