Gourmet News

Dollar Tree Expands COO Creedon’s Leadership Duties

Published February 12, 2024

Dollar Tree, Inc. announced a key role expansion for the company’s Chief Operating Officer Mike Creedon, who will add leadership of Dollar Tree & Family Dollar Merchandising and Supply Chain to his scope.

“We are fortunate to have an incredibly talented and dedicated leadership team at Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. As we’ve worked together over the last year to build our transformation strategy, Mike has served as a key leader driving our operational path forward,” said chairman and CEO Rick Dreiling. “In this expanded role, Mike will have full end-to-end accountability for delivering a best-in-class store experience for our customers. As I shared with our associates, while Mike and I will continue to work closely together, I am committed to leading this company and I remain fully engaged in all areas of the business.

Lead Independent Director Edward J. Kelly III said, “The organization is at an important inflection point as it executes its transformation plan. With Mike in this expanded role, working closely with Rick at the helm, we bring together key elements of that strategy that will have a significant positive impact on the company.”

With this alignment, Dollar Tree Chief Merchandising Officer Rick McNeely, Family Dollar Chief Merchandising Officer Larry Gatta and Chief Supply Chain Officer Mike Kindy will report to Creedon.

Before joining Dollar Tree in 2022, Creedon held several leadership roles at Advance Auto Parts for almost nine years, most recently as EVP and president of U.S. Stores. He also held executive positions with Tyco International and ADT Security.

Dollar Tree, a Fortune 200 Company, operated 16,622 stores across 48 states and five Canadian provinces as of Oct. 28, 2023. Stores operate under the brands of Dollar Tree, Family Dollar and Dollar Tree Canada.

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UNFI Concludes First Selling Show of the Year

Published February 12, 2024

United Natural Foods, Inc. concluded its first comprehensive product and solution regional selling show, reinforcing the company’s customer and supplier-focused strategy. The UNFI show featured the company’s complete range of natural, conventional, fresh, and organic products and total store solutions, all focused on supporting UNFI’s western region customers.

The two-day event brought together more than 5,500 attendees, representing hundreds of UNFI customers, and connected them with UNFI’s extensive network of suppliers offering a comprehensive product assortment, spanning grocery, fresh, natural, organic, and specialty departments. The show also featured UNFI’s Professional Services, which is focused on driving growth and efficiency for retailers.

“We are excited to showcase our wall-to-wall representation of natural, organic, fresh, and conventional products,” said Steve Dietz, UNFI’s chief customer officer. “We’re helping our suppliers expand their product reach while helping our retailers access more of the right products for their markets, at competitive prices. Our suppliers and products span from top-selling national brands to local one-of-a-kind innovators, and are ready to connect with our retailers, whether single store operators, small local chains, larger regional chains, or national accounts. Our professional services team and vendors are on-site as well, to help retailers save money.”

UNFI’s first comprehensive product and solution show included:

More than 5,500 attendees, including domestic and international retailers and suppliers.
Over 700 suppliers, covering more than 100,000 square feet, showcasing more than 1,000 brands.
Hundreds of new products, with more than 40 selected and featured in UNFI’s New Product Showcase Area and several dozen highlighted as UpNext emerging brands.
More than 60 Certified Diverse Suppliers.
UNFI Professional Services experts, providing solutions to help retailers drive traffic, save money and time, and enhance their shoppers’ experience.
UNFI’s unique Pitch Slam competition, where contestants pitched their innovative new products to a live audience. The San Diego winners were Tea Drops, which makes a fair-trade, eco-friendly alternative to tea bags, and Fishwife, which produces premium, ethically-sourced, tinned seafood.

“It was great to see the full range of products and services that UNFI offers all in one show,” said Ryan White, program category manager at New Seasons Market. “We appreciate the way they partner with us and help us identify new trends and bring us new products, assist in supplier negotiations, and source great deals. They are key to our continued growth and success.”

The San Diego show was also the first time the company recognized its customers and suppliers with Circle of Excellence and Customer- and Supplier-of-the-Year awards. These awards honor innovation, market positioning, size, and geography of our customers and suppliers across the country. Following the Orlando show later this month, the company plans to publish the complete list of customer winners from both shows.

UNFI’s upcoming shows:

UNFI’s 2024 Spring and Summer show is scheduled for Feb. 20-21 in Orlando (Central and East). The company’s Holiday and Winter shows are scheduled for June 5-6 in Uncasville, Conn., (East), and Aug. 6-7 in Minneapolis (Central and West), respectively.

For more information on UNFI Shows, customers or suppliers can visit: https://www.unfi.com/shows-events or email events@unfi.com.

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Low-Carb Crisp Power Pretzel-Style Snack to make U.S. Debut in March

Published February 12, 2024

If it looks, tastes, and crunches like a pretzel, it’s undeniably one – especially when it’s the protein-packed, low-carb wonder of Crisp Power. Founded by Gilad Zilberberg, the mind behind Dream Pretzels, Crisp Power is gearing up for its U.S. debut in March. As a sister company to Dream Pretzels, Crisp Power brings a snack revolution, where intelligent choices meet extraordinary flavors to power everyone’s day, whether it’s a workout, work or party time.

“We are excited for wellness enthusiasts in search of high-protein, low-carb options to discover Crisp Power. After years of perfecting our recipe, we’re thrilled to present a crunchy snack with the flavor of an everything bagel and the crunchy texture of a satisfying pretzel,” said CEO Zilberberg.

Crisp Power, a brand committed to functional food, has crafted a pretzel that boasts high protein and low carb content, containing a mere 6g of carbs and an impressive 27-28g of plant-based protein per 1.7-ounce pack! Each pack provides a whopping 56 percent of the daily value of protein.

Created from a distinctive blend of proteins originated from grains and legumes, the protein-packed pretzel contains all the essential amino acids vital for health and muscle development. With high bioavailability, it has earned FDA recognition as a “Good source of protein” in the diet.

But that’s not all – the pretzels are not only baked, sugar-free, high in fibers (36 percent of DV per pack), and free from artificial colors or flavors, but they also boast an irresistible crunch. It might sound almost too good to be true, but it is.

The patent-pending recipes, abundant in protein, cater to everyone, not just athletes! Ideal for vegans, those following a keto lifestyle, individuals with diabetes and wellness enthusiasts.

The pretzel-style snack is revolutionizing how simple it is to eat between meals. Every bite satisfies the craving for a savory treat yet empowers snackers to get what they need in a new way – beyond protein bars and power bites. Instead, anyone can enjoy the power of the pretzel as a quick snack straight out of the bag or paired with hummus, healthful dips and cheeses.

For those looking to grab a quick bite on the go, fuel up for a workout, or share with friends and family, Crisp Power is designed to fit seamlessly into everyday occasions. In the snack aisles often dominated by empty calorie options, Crisp Power aims to stand out as a beacon of health and flavor. Crisp Power is proud to introduce a product that challenges the norms of the snack aisle and offers a nutritious alternative. By entering the grocery shelves, the new protein pretzels will transform how people perceive snacks, showing that indulgence and health can coexist. Whether nestled among traditional snacks or highlighted in a health-focused section, Crisp Power is set to revolutionize snack time, offering a guilt-free, protein-rich choice for those in search of something better.

Away from the hyper-caloric sweet bars and the usual empty-calorie crunchy snacks, Crisp Power heralds a new era in snacking, where taste and health are no longer mutually exclusive to satisfy those cravings for a crunchy snack.

Crisp Power will be rolling out on Amazon in March and at wholesale grocers later this year.

For more information visit crisppower.com

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