January 2023

Tripledemic Threat Bolsters Immunity Consumption

Closing out 2022, public health officials have been warning for weeks that a “tripledemic” of COVID-19, flu and R.S.V. would strain an already weary health care system. Hospitalizations from the three viruses have been rising together. Nationally, R.S.V. appears to have peaked, and flu is peaking in a few parts of the country, but infections from the two viruses are expected to plateau at high levels.

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As Unemployment Stays Low, Grocery Stores Are Adding Workers

In November, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the food and beverage stores added 4,500 positions within a tight labor market, while bars and restaurants added 62,100 positions.

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Erewhon Culver City… Coming Soon!

Outside from the most recent beautiful store in Beverly Hills, Erewhon is in the works of opening their 9th location in Culver City.

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Operationalizing Climate Action: Tracking the Natural Industry’s Progress

With a vision of “leveraging the power of the natural products industry to reverse climate change,” the nonprofit Climate Collaborative’s 2022 Tracking Progress Annual Report, published in December 2022, reflects the responses from 224 businesses in the natural channel.

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Whole Foods Market Halts Sale of Maine Lobsters

Whole Foods Market temporarily halted the sale of Maine lobsters effective December 15th in response to a change in sustainability ratings by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The MSC suspended its certification of Maine lobster due to the perceived impact on the local endangered North Atlantic right whale population.

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Walmart Expands Drone Delivery Service

Walmart has expanded its drone delivery program to an additional six states, including Texas, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Utah, and Virginia.

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Publix GreenWise Generates Strong Following

Business is booming for GreenWise Market, a chain of small-format specialty grocery stores operated by Publix.

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Digital Displays Coming to Associated Food Stores

Associated Food Stores is teaming up with Mesmerize to install digital displays in the pharmacy areas of 40 retail locations.

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Southeastern Grocers in Search of Sale

About a year after withdrawing its plans to go public, Jacksonville, Florida-based Southeastern Grocers Inc., (SEG) is exploring a sale.

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Boulder-Based Pharmaca’s Parent Company Files for Bankruptcy

Boulder-based Pharmaca Integrative Pharmacy Inc.’s parent company, Medly Health Inc., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December.

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New Seasons Market One of Oregon’s Top Ten Most Admired Companies

New Seasons Market has been selected as Oregon’s ninth “Most Admired Company” by the Portland Business Journal.

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New Seasons Market Gains New Partnership With UNFI Ridgefield

After six years with KeHE as their primary distributor, New Seasons Market has announced that they will be moving forward with a new single primary distributor, UNFI/TFF.

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H-E-B to Open Austin’s First Multi-Level Store in February

A new H-E-B in Austin on Lake Austin Boulevard has set a grand opening date of February 15th.

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H-E-B Construction Begins in Ft.Worth

H-E-B broke ground on a new location in north Tarrant County, on the northern boundary of Fort Worth. The new store is scheduled to open in late spring 2024 at 3451 Heritage Trace Parkway in the Alliance neighborhood of Fort Worth.

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H-E-B Celebrates Brand Shop Opening with Themed Merchandise

H-E-B celebrated its 117th anniversary in Kerrville, Texas with the opening of its first brand shop.

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New Bashas’ Support Center to Open in Arizona

Bashas’ division support and administrative employees will relocate to a new, upgraded facility in Chandler, Arizona, this coming spring.

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Market Basket New Store in Shrewsbury Experiences Setbacks

Shoppers won’t be able to put all the eggs in their basket just yet…

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Canyon Market Purchased by Gus’s Markets

Canyon Market located in the Glen Park neighborhood in San Francisco since 2006 has been purchased by Gus’s Markets.

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UNFI Renews Investment in Shoppers

UNFI has stepped up investment in its Mid-Atlantic supermarket chain Shoppers, which not so long ago was earmarked for divestiture.

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KeHE Notification Regarding PFAS Laws

KeHE sent notification to suppliers regarding the new regulations in New York and California

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Connecticut Bottle Deposit Law Reminder from KeHE Foods

KeHE communicated, that effective January 1st, 2023, Connecticut is expanding the “noncarbonated beverages” covered by the “Bottle Bill”

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KeHE New AOM and GTIN Requirements

KeHE announces their new AOM (Advanced Order Management) requirements and sent a follow up action notification regarding the GTIN requirements.

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KeHE’s Elevate Graduate

KeHE is very excited to announce that with the partnership of KeHE and PRESENCE, Ethique graduated from the KeHE Elevate program on December 2nd, 2022.

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United Natural Foods Expands Northeast Distribution Center Network

UNFI announced it has opened a 125,000 square foot refrigerated distribution center in Londonderry, New Hampshire.

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UNFI Operational Non-Compliance Fees

UNFI has announced updates to their handling service fee structure to provide consistency, align to current market rates, improve efficiency and service to their customers.

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Fraudulent Purchase Orders

It has come to UNFI’s attention that a bad actor is posing as a UNFI employee and has tried to order product from at least one UNFI supplier, presumably without the intent to pay.

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Lipari Acquired by Litlejohn & Co

Lipari was recently acquired by Littlejohn & Co, a private investment firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut.

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Sprouts Taps Restaurant Veteran for Head Marketing Spot

Phoenix-based Sprouts Farmers Market announced last month restaurant industry veteran Alisa Gmelich has joined the grocery chain as Senior VP and Chief Marketing Officer.

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Albertsons Southern Division Announces 2023 Holiday Show

Albertsons Southern Division has confirmed the date and location for its 2023 Holiday Show for center store vendor partners.

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New Hope Network News

More Hot Products at Expo West? Yes, please.

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Meijer Donates $1 Million for 4 Million Meals

Meijer donated $1 million to 250 Midwestern foodbanks after customers made 4 million purchases Thanksgiving week.

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H-E-B and Central Market Host Feast of Sharing Events

H-E-B’s holiday Feast of Sharing events were held in person again after two years of social distancing.

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Oliver’s Markets 2022 Holiday Bell Campaign Exceeds Their Goal

Oliver’s was proud to announce on their social media that they have exceeded their goal this year by generating $42,869 as of December 17th, 2022.

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Wedding Bells – Marie & Charles

We are excited to share that our National Account Executive, Marie Karlsen, got married on December 3rd! Please help us congratulate this happy couple!

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Milestones January 2023

PRESENCE New Hires and December 2023 Anniversaries

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New Arrivals

We welcomed another baby to the PRESENCE family!

Congratulations to our Executive Assistant, Lisa Schulz, and National Brand Specialist, Bradford Schulz, on the birth of their son Waylon Jeffrey Schulz. He was born on December 7th 2022 at 8:37 A.M. He is 7lbs, 1oz.

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