KROGER

LOS ANGELES — Tea of a Kind, a tea beverage company, announced today a wide distribution expansion into retail pharmacies, grocery stores and supermarkets in Northern California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico and more.

The product, which recently won Best Ready-to-Drink Tea Beverage at the 2012 Interbev Awards in Las Vegas, utilizes a "Gizmo Closure and Delivery System," a cap technology, which holds fresh, functional ingredients in a nitrogen pressurized chamber until the point of consumption, the company stated.

CINCINNATI — Kroger announced today the company's committment to sourcing sustainable palm oil by the end of 2015 amid the growing popularity of vegetable oil and deforestation fears.

Kroger issued the following policy statement:

Palm oil has become the world's leading oil crop and today accounts for roughly one-third of the global vegetable oil production. This oil has grown in popularity within the food industry as a cooking oil, shortening, margarine, milk-fat replacer, and as a cocoa-butter substitute.

TROY, Mich. — Five regional retailers — including mass-merchandisers Meijer and Fred Meyer — are selling a mobile point-of-sale credit card processing system compatible with most smartphones and tablets in their stores.

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Thursday announced plans to bring together more than 4,800 associates at the Kentucky Exposition Center on April 16 to assemble an estimated 17,000 emergency food and personal care boxes for the metro community of Louisville, Ky.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Hellmann's announced today expansion of its product line with what the company calls the brand's first Real Whipped Tangy Dressing.

Hellmann's Real Whipped Tangy Dressing has fewer calories and a tangy taste profile versus mayonnaise, the company stated. Real Whipped Tangy Dressing is made with oil, vinegar, cage-free eggs and select seasonings.

Hellmann's Real Whipped Tangy Dressing is available at major retailers, such as Wal-Mart, Target, Kroger and Hy-Vee, in the Midwest and Central region of the country.

NEW YORK — A national campaign launched by heath and environmental groups is targeting 10 major retailers to encourage them to remove from their shelves products that contain potentially hazardous materials.

SAN FRANCISCO — ECOtality and Kroger on Monday announced an expanded partnership that includes the installation of more than 200 level-2 (quick-charge) charging stations, and 25 DC Fast Chargers, to be installed across key markets through the EV Project. This multimillion dollar expansion will bring the total number of Blink chargers at the Kroger Family of Stores to almost 300.

ROCKVILLE, Md. — Walmart and Target are ramping up offerings of private-label products directed at multicultural and health-conscious consumers, according to a new study.

The findings were part of a study by market research firm Packaged Facts on mass merchandisers, "The Supercenter Grocery Shopper: U.S. Consumer Patterns at Walmart, Target, Meijer and Fred Meyer." The report noted that mass merchandisers in recent years have marketed private-label food and beverage products that rival those of national brands in price, value and quality.