Gourmet News

Giant Eagle Lowers Price on 200+ Produce Items

Published September 30, 2024

Giant Eagle, Inc. has reduced the average price of more than 200 produce items by 20 percent across its Giant Eagle and Market District locations, offering customers an estimated $25 million in annual savings. Its New Low Price initiative will include many of the most popular items in the produce department as Giant Eagle aims to provide affordable access to high-quality fresh food in the face of continued high grocery costs across the neighborhoods it serves.

“Today’s announcement reflects our unwavering commitment to delivering quality, variety, and value to our customers and communities,” said Brian Ferrier, senior vice president of merchandising at Giant Eagle. “By significantly reducing prices on more than 200 produce items, we’re not just offering savings – we’re investing in everyday value. In these challenging economic times, we’re proud to make the fresh, quality produce we stock daily more affordable and we believe these savings will make a real difference in people’s lives.”

With food prices remaining elevated throughout 2024, this latest price reduction effort from Giant Eagle is intended to help customers realize long-term, meaningful value in a fresh department that
customers and their families prioritize. According to the Food Industry Association’s 2023 Power of Produce report, 58% of Americans say they eat fresh produce at least four to five days a week.

These long-term price reductions play a critical role in how Giant Eagle plans to deliver value to customers. As industry factors may cause the shelf prices of these and other items to change in the
future, the investment the company has made into lowering these prices will remain.

Other price-focused initiatives include the continuation of strong weekly sales and unique one-day and three-day sales, the retailer’s seasonally focused Deals for Days discounted prices and personalized savings through the myPerks loyalty program.

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Rapper Flavor Flav Becomes Smartfood’s ‘Flavor Genie’

Published September 24, 2024

There’s something magical in every bag of Smartfood Popcorn, including a combination of delicious, non-artificial flavors and less than 100 calories per cup. That’s why America’s favorite popcorn brand is bringing consumers Flavor You Can Feel Good About, an entertaining new campaign that re-introduces Smartfood Popcorn’s lineup of light-textured, air-popped flavor variations.

To bring the magic to life, Smartfood has named a Flavor Genie—none other than legendary and flavorful rapper Flavor Flav—to spread positive affirmations for smart decision-making, in snacking and beyond. Since there’s no time like snack time and there’s no snack like Smartfood Popcorn, Flavor Flav has swapped his iconic clock necklace for an oversized popcorn kernel, the Pop Clock.

“Everyone knows I’m all about spreading positive vibes and bringing my signature flavor everywhere I go, which is why there’s no one better suited for the job of Flavor Genie than ya booyyyeeee,” said Flavor Flav. “I’ve loved Smartfood Popcorn for years, so I’m excited to be the unofficial Hype Man for snackers, dropping words of wisdom and positivity every time a bag of the flavorful snack is opened.”

To kick off Flavor Flav’s reign as Flavor Genie, the rapper is starring in a new online video in which he appears in an imaginative cloud of flavor genie dust to an unexpecting snacker with his classic “Yeah Booyyyeeee!” introduction. He brings joy to the woman savoring a mid-bike ride snack by complementing her flavor of choice: Smartfood White Cheddar flavored popcorn.

From savory and cheesy to sweet and spicy flavors, Smartfood offers a full lineup for any snacking occasion, including:

White Cheddar: What started it all, featuring air-popped popcorn tossed in delicious white cheddar cheese flavor.
Movie Theater Butter: The forever classic is delicious popcorn coated in golden butter flavor.
Sweet & Salty Kettle Corn: Snackers rejoice for this popcorn with sweet and salty flavors that balances sweet and salty desires all in one.
Doritos Nacho Cheese: A remix of everyone’s favorite snack – the light and fluffy texture of air-popped popcorn, with the finger-licking deliciousness of Doritos Nacho Cheese flavored seasoning.
Flamin’ Hot White Cheddar: Air-popped popcorn tossed in the flavors of white cheddar cheese and plenty of Flamin’ Hot heat you know and love.

“Smartfood is dedicated to providing popcorn lovers with delicious snacking options that they can feel good about, and we’re proud to have cracked the magical balance of light texture and bold flavor desired by snackers across the nation,” said Kristin Kroepfl, vice president of marketing, PepsiCo. “We’re excited to bring more joy to snack time, both through our five delicious flavor variations and our out-of-the-box partnership with the king of flavor himself, Flavor Flav.”

As a part of the fun, Smartfood and Flavor Flav are inviting fans nationwide to enter for a chance to win the one-of-a-kind Pop Clock – the same blinged-out kernel chain donned by the Flavor Genie himself. Between September 16 at 11 a.m. EST and September 19 at 11 a.m. EST:

Follow @Smartfoodpopcorn on Instagram
Like the giveaway launch post
Comment FLAVOR

Fans can follow along on the Flavor Genie fun by following @smartfoodpopcorn on Instagram, @officialsmartfoodpopcorn on TikTok, @Smartfood on X, and @Smartfood on Facebook. To experience Flavor You Can Feel Good About™, fans can pick up Smartfood Popcorn’s five different flavor variations at retailers nationwide or on Snacks.com.

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NRF Foundation Presents Customer Conflict De-Escalation Training

Published September 23, 2024

The NRF Foundation has launched a Customer Conflict De-escalation training program for front-line retail employees. The latest offering is part of the RISE Up educational training program and focuses on fostering a safe and positive environment for both retail employees and the millions of customers they serve.

“As the nation’s largest private-sector employer, retailers help millions of customers find the items they want and need on a daily basis,” NRF Foundation Executive Director Adam Lukoskie said. “The Customer Conflict De-escalation program provides customer-facing employees with the knowledge and training to identify situations of potential conflict, and, most importantly, abate them successfully and ensure an enjoyable shopping experience for all.”

The NRF Foundation partnered with the Crisis Prevention Institute to create a 30-minute online de-escalation training program. Developed specifically for front-line, customer-facing and distribution center employees, the course teaches associates how to identify and manage customer conflict within a retail environment.

“At CPI, we understand that retail employees face unique challenges on the front lines every day. Our partnership with the NRF Foundation to develop the Customer Conflict De-escalation training ensures that these vital skills are accessible to those who need them most, fostering safer and more positive environments for both employees and customers,” said Susan Driscoll, president of Crisis Prevention Institute.

More than 58,000 RISE Up training credentials were earned in 2023 from the NRF Foundation. For more information visit here.

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