General Merchandise

Kroger is teaming up with Chase Pay, the digital engagement wallet from JPMorgan Chase & Co., to offer mobile payments. The initiative will kick off in select retail markets and e-commerce programs in 2018.

Kroger’s payment solutions are a part of the company’s “Restock Kroger Plan.” One of the key strategic drivers is to expand partnerships to create customer value, which includes Kroger forming alliances to accelerate digital and e-commerce platforms.

Clear/Cut Phocus has put its own spin on water. The Louisville Ky.,-based company is introducing a new sparkling water that contains caffeine, which is derived from green tea.

Phocus sparkling waters were created as a natural alternative to sugary, calorie-laden sodas and energy drinks, the company said. Each product contains as much caffeine as an eight-ounce cup of coffee and is Kosher, vegan, non-dairy, non-GMO and gluten-free.

Yoplait is teaming up with the Girl Scouts of the USA to bring flavors of their infamous cookies to a whole new range of consumers. The General Mills-owned company is launching three new yogurts that draw inspiration from the organization’s famous cookies.

The new flavors — Yoplait Whips! Girl Scouts Thin Mints; Yoplait Whips! Girl Scouts Peanut Butter Chocolate; and Yoplait Original Girl Scouts Caramel Coconut will be available at retailers nationwide beginning in December. They also are new permanent, year-round additions to the company’s portfolio.

The discounter, which said 84% of Americans are still shopping for the holidays, is making a big push for its same day in-store pickup service. It’s made more items eligible for the service than ever before. Also, customers will be able to shop for qualifying items, notated with “Free Pickup Today,” online until 4 p.m. local time on Dec. 23. The items can be picked up in stores until 6 p.m. on Dec, 24.

Earth Mama has announced the launch of a new product. The Portland-Ore.-based company has debuted its new Earth Mama Deodorants, which are formulated especially for those who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have sensitive skin.

Certified by Oregon Tilth, the products come in a variety of four different scents: Ginger Fresh, Bright Citrus, Natural Non-Scents and Calming Lavender. The deodorants are available in a 3-oz. stick, travel-friendly mini and a four-pack mini gift set.

Alter Eco, a brand that looks to provide chocolate-centric, sustainability-directed food to consumers is entering the snack category by launching Dark Chocolate Coconut Clusters.

The products are organic and fair-trade snacks, with five grams of sugar per serving, the company said. Each Dark Chocolate Coconut Cluster contains the brand’s 70% Ecuadorian chocolate with coconut flakes substantially harvested from whole coconuts that are sliced and toasted. 

Hershey's had added even more chocolate to its Cookie Layer Crunch product line. The Hershey, Pennsylvania-based company has announced the debut of the Triple Chocolate flavor, which is made from chocolate crème, chocolate cookie bits and milk chocolate.  

After requests from fans of the Pop-Tarts products to bring back a discontinued flavor, the brand has decided to give into demand and bring the Frosted Strawberry Milkshake flavor back to store shelves. For a limited time, consumers will be able to purchase the toaster pastries beginning in December.