Whole Foods Market Shareholders Give Mackey Big Thumbs Up
As reported Sunday a dissident group of Whole Foods shareholders was fighting hard to have company Chairman and CEO John Mackey relinquish one of this two leadership roles. Yet as reported in the Austin American-Statesman,stockholders affirmed Mackey’s role and rejected the proposal 73% to 27 %. Buttons spouting Mackey’s face surrounded by the phrases “Can’t Argue with Success” […]
Hain Celestial Continues Expansion, Buys Nspired Foods and A Turkey Too
Hain Celestial Foods announced the acquisition of Nspired foods, makers of Sunspire, Cloud Nine and Tropical Source brands of candy, Maranatha nut butters and O’Coco’s baked chocolate crisps. Unlike many previous acquisitions, where Hain purchased brands in segments the company already competed in, the Nspired purchaseprovides Hain with entry into two new segments, candy and nut […]
Hartman Group’s Tinderbox Dampens Tesco’s Heat
Among the many newsletters we get, one of our favorites is Tinderbox, an effort produced by the Hartman Group. In the current issue they prove NBN—and many others— wrong in our assessment of Tesco’s mighty punch. Their early looks suggest that despite Tesco’s fat wallet, filled with the increasingly valuable British pound, the UK Giant […]
Coca-Cola Buys 40% Share of Honest Tea
When we first heard the news that Honest Tea and Coke we’re merging we thought “Oh no, Coke will ruin them.” Then we reread the release and were relieved, learning that at least for now, Coke just bought 40%. Furthermore, we thought, who wouldn’t want the opportunity to grow their business with that kind of […]
Has Whole Foods Replaced Your Wild Oats?
If so, we want to know what you think. We’ve heard nothing but good things from customers at the Westport, Connecticut store that WFM is transforming slowly but surely. News is that the major remodeling will come this summer, but in the meantime the folks we talked to are happy as a pig…err, bad analogy […]
Ethics Schmethics from Profit Hungry Pfizer Pharmaceutical
NBN’s passions run deep but even we wondered why every time we saw the Lipitor television ad with Dr. Robert Jarvik, our blood started boiling. “When diet and exercise aren’t enough, adding Lipitor significantly lowers cholesterol,” Jarvik spins is his folksy, aw shucks kind of way, while touting his credentials as the inventor of the […]
Kellogg’s Gardenburger or A Cautionary Tale For Expo Entrepreneurs
A Tale of Flying Too High in The Freezer Aisle Once upon a time, there was a product that everyone loved and its sales showed. But like many kings, they grew too proud, stopped paying attention to their kingdom, and left the business of veggie burgers to others. When they announced to the world, “we’re […]
Clorox Goes Natural with Burt’s Bees and Green Works
NBN has had more than a few friends buried deep in Excel spreadsheets at Clorox Headquarters in Oakland, California and based on their experience we think that the November 2007 addition of Burt’s Bees to their lineup will do well. Everywhere we turn, there’s another Burt’s Bees display. The bigger question is, how long can […]
It’s Time To Stop Worrying So G-D Much About Chinese Products
Lions and Tigers and Chinese Imports, OH MY! Grocery chains are lining up to state that they are examining their policies on importing foods from China, reassuring consumers that all is well. For example, as www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-02-10-trader-joes-china_N.htm , “by April 1, Trader Joe’s will phase out single-ingredient Chinese imports such as garlic, frozen organic spinach, ginger […]
CNN Money Profiles United Natural Foods’ Michael Funk
While not newsworthy to those of us in the industry, CNN pulled back the curtain back to reveal the Wizard beyond United Natural Foods Michael Funk. NBN remembers meeting Funk by the keg of Sierra Nevada ale, in the then brand new Mountain People’s Warehouse in Aurora, California. Oddly enough, Funk, as atypical as any CEO in […]
