SUMMER KICK-OFF Nothing says summer better than the BBQ season. Grocery Business looks at how retailers can boost sales PAUL HOGAN Vice President and General Manager of Conagra Brands International We know consumers feel overwhelmed with the inundation of product options and recipes. Retailers should look to help shoppers assemble their meals, including their go-to “staple” ingredients. One way Conagra helps is through our in-store multi-brand shopper marketing campaigns. At key moments for consumers, such as the holidays, Easter, start of the summer and more, we inspire shoppers to try som ..read more

Loblaw has released its 2023 ESG Report, highlighting the grocery chain’s commitment to sustainability and reducing food waste. “Our leadership in ESG is rooted in our purpose to help Canadians Live Life Well, with twin pillars of advancing social equity and fight climate change, creating positive change for our business and the communities that we serve. In this, our 17th ESG report, we reflect on the achievements made in 2023,” says Sandra Kessler, vice president of ESG Integration and Reporting. The company diverted over 78,000 metric tonnes of food from landfills through food rescue initi ..read more

Burnbrae Farms celebrated the launch of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report with industry partners from retail, foodservice and industrial sectors at a Toronto immersive venue with a mission to educate people about supporting a more sustainable future, called Arcadia Earth. Grocery Business was There. Burnbrae’s “Eggs for Life” report covers a number of topics, from egg farming and production to a commitment to hen welfare, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and the nutritional benefits of eggs as part of a balanced diet. “While we recognize there’s always more to do ..read more

Team Sobeys athlete Melissa Humana-Paredes with a “Feed the Dream” lunchbox, a symbol of support inspired by childhood moments of finding notes of encouragement packed in lunches. (CNW Group/Empire Company Limited) Team Canada’s official grocer, Empire, has launched its Feed the Dream campaign to back Canadian athletes gearing up for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Feed the Dream will connect customers of Sobeys, IGA, Safeway, Foodland, Thrifty Foods and Voilà to show support for Team Canada athletes leading up to and during the Games. “As a company committed to nurturing fami ..read more

Loblaw CEO Per Bank says he’s “cautiously optimistic” the company will come to an agreement on the grocery code of conduct, according to a report from the Canadian Press.   “Where it’s going to land, I’m of course not sure, but I’m more optimistic now than before that we can land an agreement on the code,” Per Bank told a conference call discussing Loblaw’s first-quarter earnings Wednesday. The code, which intends to promote fair practices in the industry, has been delayed due to concerns that it would raise prices for consumers. Bank told analysts during a Q1 conference call that the co ..read more

The Hain Celestial Group says it plans to reduce the number of SKUs across its portfolio. Food product categories most affected by the program include meal preparation, baby/children’s, beverages and snacks. In meal prep, the company says it’s reducing the SKUs in its Linda McCartney plant-based meat line of products. In the baby/children’s category and beverages, the company said it is conducting ongoing brand maintenance and in snacks the company sold its Thinsters brand in April. Hain Celestial said it plans to continue to reshape its manufacturing footprint to improve efficiencies. T ..read more

St. Helen’s Meat has launched Rachel’s Premium Breakfast Strips. Made with a blend of high-quality halal beef and smoked to give a crisp texture and rich flavour, the strips provide a twist on a classic bacon experience.  sthelensmeat.com  The post Beef for breakfast  appeared first on Grocery Business Magazine ..read more

Scott Sulz has been appointed director of business development at The Canadian Health Food Association. With over 25 years of experience in natural and organic retail and distribution sales, Sulz is currently the director of sales in Canada at Chocxo Chocolatier. The post Scott Sulz appointed director of business development at The Canadian Health Food Association appeared first on Grocery Business Magazine ..read more

Storefront of a Dominion location in St. John’s, NL. (CNW Group/Unifor) Unifor members at 11 Dominion stores in Newfoundland have ratified a new collect agreement. “Unifor’s strategic and sector-wide bargaining strategy for supermarket workers has delivered the largest wage gains Dominion workers have ever seen,” said Unifor national president Lana Payne. The new agreement sees wage increases that total $4.50 per hour for full-time workers and $3.20 per hour for part-time workers at end rate over the life of the five-year agreement. For a full-time clerk at the end rate of pay, these wage incr ..read more

Loblaw Company revenue was $13,581 million for the 2024 first quarter, an increase of $586 million or 4.5 per cent. E-commerce sales grew by 16 per cent with food retail same-store sales increasing 3.4 per cent and drug retail same-store sales climbing 4.0 per cent. In drug retail, front store same-store sales growth was 0.7 per cent and pharmacy and healthcare services same-store sales grew 7.3%. In the food retail segment, traffic increased and basket size decreased. Sales in the segment were $9,409 million and same-store sales grew by 3.4 per cent versus 3.1 per cent in 2023. Drug retail ..read more