Consumables

PORTLAND, Ore. — Independent brewer Craft Brew Alliance gave Safeway one of its Retailer of the Year awards at its inaugural annual conference for beer wholesalers in Las Vegas earlier this week, the company said.

CBA said the Retailer of the Year Awards recognize retailers that have contributed to the company's sales growth and demand for its products. Safeway was named the off-premise retailer of the year, while restaurant chain Buffalo Wild Wings was named on-premise retailer of the year.

MINNEAPOLIS — Progresso has expanded its soup offerings with a new line of Artisan Soups that feature a new repertoire of ingredients in five  varieties.

CHICAGO — Peapod is offering customers in the Chicago area organic produce from a local, indoor urban farming company, shortly after its announcement of a new pickup location near the city.

The online grocer said its Chicagoland customers would be able to buy salad mixes, arugula, basil, mint and others from Farmedhere. Farmedhere uses aquaponic growing techniques that combine hydroponics with aquaculture.

CAMDEN, N.J. — A new line of juice drinks from Campbell includes a boost of nutrition, but lower calories and less sugar than most others.

Campbell announced the launch of V8 V-Fusion Refreshers, available in peach strawberry, black cherry berry, cranberry grape and tangerine passionfruit flavors.

The drinks contain 100 calories per serving, are naturally sweetened with no high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors or preservatives and provide 100% of the daily value of vitamin C. The drinks also contain 20% to 25% fruit and vegetable juice.

HERSHEY, Pa. — Hershey is releasing small-sized versions of several candy brands in time for Halloween, the chocolate maker said.

Hershey said the new snack-sized candies included Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Minis, Rolo Caramels in Milk Chocolate and Jolly Rancher Caramel Apple Flavor Lollipops. The company also highlighted the Cadbury Screme Egg candy with green yolk, Reese's Peanut Butter Pumpkin and Kit Kat Halloween Bar, as well as Hershey's Kisses with a pumpkin spice flavor and Kisses Acorn Treats.

LONDON — Now consumers can have their cake and eat it too with Weight Watchers' new Snack Packs.

Each Snack Pack consists of five individually sealed portions of the Weight Watchers Cake Slices and is available in Angel, Toffee Apple, Bakewell, Carrot, Belgian Chocolate, Coconut or Lemon Slices flavors. Each Cake Slice has a ProProints value of two — now snacking on the go is a piece of cake.
 

ATLANTA — The Coca-Cola Co. is releasing a limited-edition version of Diet Coke in cans inspired by pop singer Taylor Swift, the company said.

Coca-Cola said the Diet Coke Taylor Swift can six-pack would be on beverage aisles nationwide this month and next month. Each 12-oz. can has a special, slim design and is adorned in handwritten style with a Swift quotation: "If you're lucky enough to be different, don't ever change." The collector's edition can is part of Coca-Cola's multi-year partnership with Swift.

NEW YORK — Thirty-seven percent of shoppers in the United States are shopping omnichannel, compared with 29% around the globe, according to a new study.

The study, conducted by GfK, found that consumers are "freely mingling" in-store visits, online product research and other information sources when making purchases. The extent of omnichannel shopping varies by category and country and appears tied to mobile device penetration. The study was based on 8,400 interviews in 14 countries.