Consumables

AUSTIN, Texas — Natural foods retailer Whole Foods Market has appointed a former Accenture executive as its global VP and chief information officer, the company said.

Whole Foods announced the appointment of Jason Buechel, who will report directly to co-CEO Walter Robb and CFO Glenda Flanagan, overseeing the technology team in the company's Austin, Texas, headquarters and 12 regional offices in the United States and the United Kingdom.

ST. LOUIS — Budweiser will introduce the latest addition to its line of beers later this month, the company said Tuesday.

The brewing company announced plans to unveil Budweiser Black Crown on Jan. 21, based on 12 recipes, six beers brewed for national sampling and 25,000 opinions from the company's "Project 12" competition. The company plans to broadcast the first 30-second television advertisement during Super Bowl XLVII on Feb. 3.

NEW YORK — Snacks used to be primarily something given to children as a reward, but today, they're a major part of Americans' eating habits, according to a new report.

Bellevue, Wash.-based market research firm The Hartman Group surveyed members of HartmanSalt.com, a food information website and used data from its Eating Occasions Database to find that Americans, on average, eat 2.3 snacks per day, most frequently in the afternoon, evening and late at night.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — Stop & Shop is offering free produce for a year to winners of a healthy eating contest it is sponsoring, the Ahold banner said.

Through the end of this month, customers who purchase any 10 products designated as "Healthy Ideas" at one time using their Stop & Shop card will be automatically entered into the chain's Healthy New Year Free Produce for a Year sweepstakes.

AUSTIN, Minn. — Hormel Foods announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the Skippy peanut butter business from Unilever United States, of Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the receipt of regulatory approvals in the United States and other jurisdictions.

CHICAGO — Retailer and supplier consolidation has led to the demise of some conventional trade shows, but that’s not the case with the Sweets & Snacks Expo.

Record attendance is expected at the event scheduled for May 21 through May 23 in Chicago due in part to format changes by event organizer the National Confectioners Association and the strength of merchandise categories represented at the mega event.

ENGLEWOOD, N.J. — Popcorn, Indiana — maker of all-natural popcorn snacks — announced the debut of FIT, a new line of better-for-you popcorn that will be available in stores nationwide this month.

Boasting amazing taste, crispy crunch, 40 calories or less and just 2 g of fat per cup, FIT is ideal for those who are looking to snack smarter, not just skinnier, and don't want to sacrifice on flavor.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets on Friday announced the launch of its 10th round of price freezes, effective in all 163 store locations. 

More than 2,000 products have been reduced in price and will stay at these discounted levels for 90 days. Since the company began its price freezing initiative in January 2009, Weis customers have saved more than $40 million dollars, the grocer stated.