Meijer

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Frederik Meijer, the founder of the supercenter retail chain of the same name, died Nov. 25. He was 91.

A Michigan native, Meijer first entered the grocery business as a bagger in his father's store. By 1962, Meijer opened its first “Thrifty Acres” supercenter in Grand Rapids, a food and general merchandise store that touted one-stop shopping for customers. The chain now operates 197 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. The company also celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2009.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer has launched a chainwide effort to position its pharmacy staff as diabetes specialists.

The announcement was made by Effie Steele, the chain's clinical services manager.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer announced that it is opening a new concept store in the Chicago suburb of Melrose Park that will provide a tailored grocery offering and a broad variety of general merchandise.

Called Meijer Marketplace, the new store will be 96,000 sq. ft., about half the size of Meijer's largest supercenters.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — An e-cigarette brand announced that its disposable e-cigarettes now are available at H-E-B and Meijer stores.

The company said that this marks Blu Cigs' transition from online sales to retail by being sold in all of H-E-B's 329 stores across Texas and Mexico, as well as Meijer's 196 supercenters and grocery stores throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky. Each disposable e-cigarette equals about 20 to 30 traditional cigarettes, the company said.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Is this the nutritional Twilight Zone?

Despite the common perception that kids are always reluctant to eat their greens, a new survey by Midwest retailer Meijer found that almost 6-in-10 adults don’t think they’re eating enough fruits and vegetables, while kids seem to be eating enough.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Meijer's free prenatal vitamins prescription program filled its 1 millionth prescription this week, the company announced Wednesday.

The retailer said that its program, which launched in May 2008, has garnered nearly $14 million in savings to Midwest families. The Meijer free prenatal vitamins program offers such brands as TriAdvance, Trinatal GT, Trinatal Ultra, Vol-Nate, Vol-Plus and Vol-Tab, and enables any customer, regardless of insurance or copay, to have his or her prenatal prescription filled free of charge.

IRVINE, Calif. — Dr. Sears Family Essentials, whose products are sold at such retailers as The Vitamin Shoppe, Whole Foods, H-E-B, Meijer and Fred Meyer, has announced the launch of its all-natural baby care line.

IRVINE, Calif. — A line of popped whole grain crisps has expanded to include three new varieties.

Dr. Sears Family Essentials' Popumz now includes barbecue, ranch and cheddar varieties. The all-natural crisps are packed with protein, fiber and omega-3 DHA, the company said. The new flavors join the current lineup of sweet Popumz flavors of chocolate, vanilla and caramel.

The new Popumz crisps will retail for $3.99 per box of five 0.75-oz., single-serve bags.