Supermarket stories bookended this week’s top 10 list of most-read food and beverage stories, starting with the news that Whole Foods Market will change its long-standing local buying practices under new owner Amazon. Starting next spring, the grocer will also stop letting brand representatives to hawk their products in stores or check on in-store displays.
A tale of ALDI’s ambitious plans for US growth landed in 10th place on this week’s list. The German discount grocer aims to grow to 2,500 US stores, making it the country’s third-largest supermarket chain.
Several CPG stories also proved popular with readers this week, including insights from Nestle CEO Mark Schneider on the company’s plans to reconfigure its product portfolio to boost profitability. Another chief executive, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, shared her concerns about the potential for Amazon to disrupt the business. Mars Food’s plan to relocate its North American headquarters to Chicago also made this week’s list.
Restaurant stories also resonated with readers this week, including Chick-fil-A’s plan for a five-story New York City restaurant. With a rooftop deck, meeting space and three dining rooms, the 12,000-square-foot Manhattan location will be the chain’s biggest restaurant. Panera Bread’s rollout of a new kid-size menu featuring many of the dishes on its regular menu also won clicks.
Read the entire top 10:
- Whole Foods to shift away from local sellers
- Nestle CEO: Portfolio shifts could impact 10% of the business
- PepsiCo’s Nooyi worries about Amazon “constantly”
- Mars Food moving North American HQ to Chicago
- Chick-fil-A to open its biggest eatery in N.Y.
- Conagra Brands to acquire parent company of Boomchickapop
- Panera debuts kid-size portions of grownup fare
- Fanned-out frying style makes for crispy eggplant Parmesan
- Unilever acquiring Korean cosmetics company for $2.7B
- ALDI has ambitious growth plans for US
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