Specialty Food Magazine is the leading publication for retailers, manufacturers and foodservice professionals in the specialty food trade. It provides news, trends and business-building insights that help readers keep their businesses competitive.
Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/68592
SPECIALTY FOOD THE NEWS UPDATE FOR SPECIALTY FOOD PROFESSIONALS NEWS ALBERTSONS REDUCING FLORIDA LOCATIONS Stung by the recession and big-box retail- ers, grocery chain Albertsons, Boise, Idaho, is closing 13 stores in Florida, leav- ing only four stores operating in the state. The company also is closing its Plant City, Fla., distribution center. Murray's Cheese Opening Wine Bar New York institution Murray's Cheese has plans to open a wine and cheese bar in Manhattan's West Village to complement its nearby Murray's Cheese store, which sells more than 300 types of cheese and boasts "subterranean cheese caves" where cheeses are aged and ripened. BJ'S WHOLESALE LAUNCHES LOCAL PRODUCE PROGRAM BJ's Wholesale Club's locally grown– produce program Farm to Club will be available in each of its 195 locations across 15 states by the end of this summer. The company is defining "local" as grown within each location's respective state. Patagonia Debuts Packaged Foods Line Los Angeles retailer Patagonia is entering the packaged food industry with Patagonia Provisions, a new line of sustainable foods. Launching with three flavors of Wild Salmon Jerky, the line will become available in all of Patagonia's 30 U.S. stores over the next few months. "MANLY" BAKERY OPENS IN HOUSTON Newly opened Ranch Bakery, Houston, is a manly bakery, says its owner, John Homrighausen, a former construction worker turned caterer. Menu items feature such ingredients as beer, bourbon, jala- peños, bacon and frosting seared with a blow torch. The Irish Carbomb cupcake, for example, is made with St. Arnold's Stout, Irish whiskey ganache and Bailey's buttercream frosting. New Pancake Mixes from Bakery-Restaurant Bakery and restaurant The Bunnery, Jackson Hole, Wyo., has introduced "O.S.M." pan- cake mixes featuring oats, sunflower seeds and millet, in Double Chocolate, Coconut Vanilla and Wild Blueberry flavors. INSOMNIA COOKIES EXPANDS Anticipating the return of college students to campus, the late-night cook- ie delivery business Insomnia Cookies, which the founder began while a student at the University of Pennsylvania, has opened a store in Philadelphia. The 9- year-old business has locations in Purdue, Syracuse, Yale and New York Universities. Food Truck Court with Live Music Opens A new food-truck court is operating in St. Paul, Minn., Thursdays on Kellogg Boulevard, frequently featuring live music performances and local purveyors Messy Giuseppe, Neato's Burgers, Potter's Pasties and The Cave. REAL SUSHI-MAKING MACHINE Japanese company Suzumo has unveiled a sushi-making robot, which can roll 300 sushi rolls in less than an hour. The device debuted at the World Food and Beverage 14 ❘ SPECIALTY FOOD MAGAZINE ❘ specialtyfood.com ® BY ROBYN PFORR RYAN A look at industry happenings, store and restaurant openings, legislative and regulatory updates and more Great Expo 2012 in Tokyo, averaging 12 seconds per sushi roll. Fairway Comes to Rockland New York retail chain Fairway Market is opening a new store in Rockland, N.Y. The specialty food merchant will be a 66,000-square-foot anchor store at the Shops at Nanuet when the new mall opens in fall 2013, reports Simon Property Group, owner of the Nanuet Mall. VIRTUAL FOOD SHOPPING AT CHICAGO TRAIN STATION Online grocer Peapod has turned a Chicago Transit Authority station into a vir- tual supermarket aisle, launching a 12-week test that enables commuters to use their smartphones to scan and buy any of 70 virtually displayed items, from paper towels to fresh produce. Android and iPhone users can download a free Peapod mobile app to purchase items for delivery the next day. D.C. Expansion for Harris Teeter Supermarket chain Harris Teeter will con- tinue expansion in the Washington, D.C., metro market area with four new stores and complete remodels on ten existing stores. MORE SPECIALTY OLIVE OIL STORES FOR MILWAUKEE Two specialty olive oil shops opened in May in the greater Milwaukee area, bringing the area's total count to five olive oil retailers. Owners Jim and Susan Allen opened Oliva di Vita in Delafield, while Josh and Nichol Saiia opened their third Oro di Oliva in the Milwaukee Public Market, reports Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.