Content about food

May 13, 2013

U.S. retail and food services sales for April increased slightly, but home channel sales increased more.

Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers, the NAICS 444 category that includes lumberyards, home centers and hardware stores, showed sales of $25.5 billion, according to the government data. That's up 1.5% from the previous month, and up 4.1% from the same month a year ago.

That compares to increases of 0.1% and 3.7%, respectively, for all U.S. retail and food services sales.

April 19, 2013

Continued employment gains in lower-skilled, lower-paying hourly wage categories are expected to benefit teenagers seeking jobs this summer, according to a new outlook released April 11, 2013, by global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

Continued employment gains in lower-skilled, lower-paying hourly wage categories are expected to benefit teenagers seeking jobs this summer, according to a new outlook released April 11, 2013, by global outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas Inc.

Although job-seeking teens are likely to face competition from recent college graduates, as well as from those at the opposite end of the age spectrum, employment gains for 16- to 19-year-olds in May, June and July should surpass last year’s levels, Challenger reports.

March 21, 2013

The Canadian home improvement giant tapped a grocery industry veteran to lead its battle against U.S. rivals.

Boucherville, Quebec-based RONA named Robert Sawyer as CEO, ending its search for a permanent replacement for long-time CEO Robert Dutton, who resigned in November.

Sawyer is the former chief operating officer of Metro Inc., the Quebec-based food retailer.

Robert Chevrier, executive chairman of RONA, trumpeted Sawyer’s retail experience.

March 13, 2013

In the NAICS class 444 -- “building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers” -- sales closely followed total retail sales.

Data released Wednesday morning by the U.S Census Bureau, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but not for price changes, shows $424.1 billion in retail sales, up 1.1% from the previous month, and up 4.6% above February 2012.

In the NAICS class 444 -- “building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers” -- sales closely followed total retail sales. The segment was up 1.1% for the month, and up 4.5% for the year.

February 13, 2013

Retail sales increased ever so slightly in January, up 0.1%, according to the tally from the U.S. Census Bureau released Wednesday morning.

Retail sales increased ever so slightly in January, up 0.1%, according to the tally from the U.S. Census Bureau released Wednesday morning. 

The data show advanced estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $416.6 billion. While the figure was essentially flat compared with the prior month, it’s up 4.4% compared with January 2012.

January 16, 2013

Work clothes maker Dickies will expand its occupational wear division’s product offerings, as well as its geographical availability. 

January 15, 2013

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for December, were $415.7 billion, an increase of 0.5% from the previous month and up 4.7 percent compared with December 2011. 

In the data released Tuesday morning, total sales for the 12 months of 2012 were up 5.2% from 2011.

Retail trade sales were up 0.4% from November 2012 and 4.4% above last year. Nonstore retailers were up 12.6% from December 2011. 

January 9, 2013

Springfield, Mass.-based Rocky’s Ace Hardware collected more than three tons (6,556 lbs.) of pet food, along with beds, leashes, treats, toys and cleaning supplies during its second annual pet food drive. The supplies were delivered to local animal shelters.

Each of the 33 Rocky’s Ace Hardware stores partnered with an area Humane Society or Shelter to collect food during the holiday.

November 14, 2012

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October were $411.6 billion, down 0.3% from the previous month, but up 3.8% compared with the same month last year. 

The figures, released Wednesday morning, are adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes. 

November 6, 2012

Simpson Strong-Tie has announced it will make a $25,000 donation to assist in the relief response and recovery efforts throughout the East Coast in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. The funds were given directly to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and will aid in providing food, shelter, emotional support and other assistance to those affected by the hurricane. 

September 14, 2012

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for August were $406.7 billion, up 0.9% from the previous month and up 4.7% compared with the same month last year.

The figures, released Friday morning, are adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes.

September 9, 2012

Scotts Miracle-Gro, the nation’s largest supplier of lawn and garden products, has been sentenced to pay a $4 million fine for 11 criminal violations relating to the use of toxic insecticides in its wild bird feed products. The Marysville, Ohio-based company also agreed to  more than $6 million in penalties and $2 million for environmental projects under a settlement that resolves additional civil pesticide violations filed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 

September 7, 2012

The national unemployment rate fell from 8.3% to 8.1%, according to data released this morning by the Labor Department.

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 96,000 in August, less than the 127,000 or so expected by analysts.

Employment increased in food services and drinking places, in professional and technical services, and in health care.

September 6, 2012

When Mike Clark, True Value’s senior VP and chief merchandising officer, talks about growth areas, he points to canning, he points to pet food. He points to strength in these warm times, of anything that moves cool air through a ouse, or moves water around the yard.

But Clark seems most excited about initiatives in farm and ranch. 

September 6, 2012

When Mike Clark, True Value’s  senior VP and chief merchandising officer, talks about growth areas, he points to canning, he points to pet food. He points to strength in these warm times, of anything that moves cool air through a house, or moves water around the yard.

But Clark seems most excited about initiatives in farm and ranch. 

August 14, 2012

Advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales were up slightly in July, according to data released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, July monthly sales were $403.9 billion, up 0.8% from the previous month, and up 4.1% from July last year.

For building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (NAICS classification 444), July sales were $23.46 billion, up 1.0% from both June 2012 and July 2011.

July 16, 2012

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for June, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $401.5 billion, down 0.5% from the previous month, but 3.8% above June 2011.

Total sales for the April through June 2012 period were up 4.7% from the same period a year ago.

May 15, 2012

Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers had a strong month in April compared with a year ago, according to government data released Tuesday.

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for April were up 0.1% to $408 billion. The April figure, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences but not for price changes, was up 6.4% from the April 2011 estimate.

April 16, 2012

The U.S. Census Bureau announced Monday that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for March, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $411.1 billion, an increase of 0.8% from the previous month.           

Compared with the same month last year, sales were up 6.5%.

March 13, 2012

NSF International, an independent global organization that writes standards, tests and certifies products for the food, water and consumer goods industries, has launched the NSF Home Product Certification Program for home kitchen products and appliances. NSF announced the new program on March 12 at the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago.

January 12, 2012

The U.S. Census Bureau announced today that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for December, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $400.6 billion.

The December figure is up 0.1% from November, and up 6.5% from December 2010.

Total sales for the October through December 2011 period were up 7.0% from the same period a year ago.

December 13, 2011

U.S. retail and food services improved slightly in November, but NAICS code 444 retailers took a step backward. 

The U.S. Census Bureau announced Tuesday morning that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for November, adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading-day differences, but not for price changes, were $399.3 billion, an increase of 0.2% from the previous month and 6.7% above November 2010.

November 15, 2011

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that advance estimates of U.S. retail and food services sales for October were $397.7 billion, an increase of 0.5% from the previous month and 7.2% above October 2010. 

Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (NAICS 444) increased slightly from month to month, improving to $25.770 billion, up from $25.388 billion in September. Compared with a year ago, sales of 444 category retailers increased 5.6%, according to the report released Tuesday morning.

October 18, 2011

Wal-Mart Stores has announced that the president of its China unit is stepping down. A company spokesman said the resignation was unrelated to a Chinese government food safety case against several Wal-Mart stores.

Ed Chan, CEO of Wal-Mart China, left for personal reasons, the company said. Scott Price, president of Wal-Mart Asia, will fill the position in the interim.

September 28, 2011

While no product category is absolutely recession-proof, there are a few in the home channel that come close. Paint will always sell, and weather permitting, lawn and garden is a safe bet.

Add pet products to the list.