News Roundup: Albertsons Launches Emerging Brand Competition; Cereal Maker Sues Rock Band

Albertsons Actives Launchpad Competition For Emerging Brands

Retail giant Albertsons’ will host its inaugural Launchpad Competition during Natural Products Expo West this year. The competition will see 60 small and independent brands – spanning food, beverage and pet categories – face off in a pitch-style on stage on March 8, 2023. Applications to enter are open now through the end of January.

“We envision the Albertsons Innovation Launchpad competition to be a fun and engaging way to connect with up-and-coming entrepreneurs and brands,” said Jen Saenz, EVP and Chief Merchandising Officer at Albertsons, in a press release. “We’re always looking to provide our customers fresh, innovative products and new meal ideas.”

Three winners will be selected from the total pool and will receive prizes valued at $170,000 including cash, services and industry recognition. The judges will evaluate brands based on their relevance to timely consumer trends such as low sugar, low carb, all-natural, plant-based, functional, global flavors, healthy prepared meals and premium pet items, according to the release.

The winners will also be considered for placement at any of the retailer’s banner stores including Albertsons, Safeway, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, ACME, Pavilions, Kings Food Markets, Balducci’s Food, Lovers Market and Market Street.

Additionally, the retailer opened up applications for its diverse supplier program last week. The annual program was first launched in 2021 and is designed to identify and bring in new diverse-owned suppliers to Albertsons’ network including individually-owned, small and mid-size businesses that are at least 51% owned, controlled and operated by women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, veterans or people with disabilities.

Post Holdings Sues Rock Band OK Go For Trademark Infringement

Post, the parent company to cereal brands Fruity Pebbles, Honey Bunches of Oats and Raisin Bran, among others, filed a lawsuit against rock band OK Go, in an attempt to secure approval from a Minnesota district judge to use the phrase “OK Go!” on its single-serve cereals and cereal-based snack foods.

In May, Post filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to lay claim to the mark, which was approved by the agency, and submitted for public comment in August. However in September, the band, which had collaborated with Post via a branding agreement over a decade ago, sent Post a cease-and-desist letter over its use of the “OK Go!” mark.

According to the complaint, the letter alleges that consumers will be confused and led to believe the band endorses the cereal products if they are allowed to be printed with the mark. Post refused to withdraw the trademark application following the cease-and-desist, and USPTO granted the mark to Post in December.

The cereal maker has since offered to pay the band through a collaboration or co-marketing agreement but its offer was rejected, according to the complaint. OK Go, the band, continues to claim that it owns the federal trademark for the name. Post began rolling out products with the mark earlier this month and filed the single-claim suit to request a statement from the judge for “declaratory relief” under the Latham Act in order to avoid future litigation over the issue.

Whole Foods CEO Aims To Increase Store Openings

Jason Buechel, CEO of Whole Foods Market, reportedly wants to triple the retailer’s new store openings annually, despite the fact its parent company Amazon has paused the expansion of its smart-store retail concept, AmazonFresh.

Buechel aims to increase Whole Foods’ footprint by approximately 30 stores per year, according to the reports from Business Insider, and stated that the company would also begin exploring new store formats and sizes during a National Retail Federation conference this week. Currently, the average Whole Foods retail store ranges from 25,000 to 50,000 sq. ft.

In 2016, the retailer launched a new store format centered around its private label brand 365 and dubbed the locations 365 stores; however, it halted the expansion of that program after building out 12 locations over the course of three years. Last year, Whole Foods closed six retail locations across the country. But, earlier this month, the natural grocer opened a new 46,000 sq. ft. location at One Wall St. in Manhattan in addition to another large format, 56,000 sq. ft. store in Manhattan last June.

Campbell’s Consolidates Snack Branches and Invests $50M Into Camden HQ

Campbell Soup Company has announced plans to consolidate its snack brand-focused offices, located in Charlotte, N.C. and Norwalk, Conn., into its Camden, N.J. headquarters. In order to prepare for the addition of the 1,600 employees to its headquarters Campbell’s will invest $50 million into its flagship facility.

The company believes the move will generate upwards of $10 million in cost savings over the next three years and believes it will also improve creativity, collaboration and career development within its existing workforce, according to a press release.

“We are thrilled to invest in our people, our facilities and our Camden community, which Campbell has called home for more than 150 years,” said Campbell’s President and CEO Mark Clouse, in a press release. “We remain committed to our two-division operating model and are confident that being together in one headquarters is the best way for us to continue building a culture that unlocks our full growth potential.”

The Camden facility renovations will include new buildings as well as a campus center, Snacks R&D center and pilot plant. Campbell’s will not eliminate any jobs in relation to the consolidation and will provide employees with “comprehensive relocation support.”

SPAM Style: Canned Meat Maker Goes Couture

Canned pork maker SPAM expanded its brand into clothing and accessories through a partnership with lifestyle food blog Nom Life. The limited-edition five item merchandise collection includes sweatshirts, t-shirts, tote bags and hats and has been co-designed and branded with Nom Life.

“We’re excited to introduce a first-ever collaborative merchandise collection with Nom Life that will let new and existing fans show off their SPAM brand love with classic yet bold looks in 2023,” said Jason Baskin, director of marketing for SPAM, in a press release. “And the best part about this collection is that all proceeds will go to Convoy of Hope, a long-time partner whose work is feeding communities around the globe in need every day.”