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Safeway: Organic Food Contender?

Safeway (NYSE: SWY), the third largest supermarket chain in the U.S., has seen Whole Foods Market (WFMI) move into many of its key markets. Since the two chains attract a similar demographic, Safeway decided to compete head to head by introducing organic foods that are competitively priced with conventional foods. Safeway has introduced “O Organics”, its own private label line of 150 organic products that run the gamut – beverages, bakery goods, cereals, canned and frozen foods, dairy products and snack items. Prices are comparable or, in some cases, less expensive than even conventional products. This month, O Organics was introduced throughout Safeway’s chain of 1,775 stores in the United States and Canada. In an interview with Reuters, James White, Safeway’s senior vice president of corporate brands, said O Organics is the broadest range of organic products offered by a major retailer other than Whole Foods Market. Some products are sourced from outside suppliers, while others are manufactured by Safeway. The goal is to make it possible for shoppers to “avoid additional shopping trips” by buying conventional and organic products in one place. Organics are now big business – annual sales in the US stand at $20 billion as of […]

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Compass Group's Landmark Sustainable Seafood Policy

Compass Group USA, the largest contract food service company in the US, announced a major policy change – it will shift purchases away from threatened fish species and toward sustainably sourced supplies. The new policy will impact about one million pounds of fish a year. The company has $7.5 billion in revenues and more than 152,000 employees throughout the US, Canada and Latin America. Under the policy, scheduled to begin implementation on March 1, 2006, Compass Group will replace Atlantic cod, a species which leading conservationists recommend people avoid, with the more environmentally-safe Pacific cod, Pollock and other alternatives. The company also plans to decrease its use of shrimp and salmon that are farmed in unsustainably. It will eliminate all other ‘Avoid’ species from the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch list, and increase its use of ‘Best Choices.’ The policy is expected to be fully implemented within three years. “Compass Group is proud to embrace a sustainable seafood policy that will support the health of our oceans. When we learned about the significant impact that our purchasing shift could make, it was clear that this was the right thing to do,” said Gary Green, CEO of Compass Group – The […]

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Weekly Clean Energy Roundup:March 29, 2006

News and Events Alexander Karsner Sworn in as Assistant Secretary for EERE Trade Group Says U.S. Geothermal Power Production Growing Fast Texas Rivals California for Wind Power in Latest AWEA Rankings ADM and Metabolix to Build Biobased Plastics Plant in Iowa States Offer Cash Prizes for Clean Energy Business Proposals Energy ConnectionsCompany Proposes to Build a Coal-to-Liquids Plant in Wyoming News and EventsAlexander Karsner Sworn in as Assistant Secretary for EEREEnergy Secretary Samuel Bodman swore in Alexander “Andy” Karsner as Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) on March 23rd. Assistant Secretary Karsner was confirmed by unanimous consent of the U.S. Senate on March 16th. He previously served as managing director of Enercorp LLC, which was known for international project development, management, and financing of renewable energy infrastructure. Karsner’s global energy experience has encompassed a wide range of technologies, including biomass, wind energy, and distributed generation based upon renewable technologies. His international experience includes living and working in Pakistan and Hong Kong and working throughout Asia. See the DOE press release and Karsner’s testimony before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.Trade Group Says U.S. Geothermal Power Production Growing FastNew geothermal power projects in seven western states […]

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US Senators Say Renewable Energy Deserves Full Funding

A bipartisan coalition of Senators led by Idaho’s Mike Crapo and Iowa’s Tom Harkin is asking Senate appropriators to ensure programs improving renewable energy production and resulting economic development receive the full funding possible in the coming fiscal year. Crapo, Harkin, and 20 other Senators signing the letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies, note that Section 9006 of the 2002 Farm Bill has expanded the use of renewable energy such as wind, solar power, ethanol and biodiesel. “This renewable energy program creates jobs in rural America, saves energy, and produces a cleaner environment,” said Crapo, who is Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation and Rural Revitalization. “The Section 9006 program has already helped to produce more than 170 million gallons a year of ethanol and biofuels and more than 300 megawatts of wind power. The 150 energy efficiency projects, including some in my home state of Idaho, have saved America millions of dollars in energy costs. We must continue this record of success to work for energy independence.” Crapo noted he heard strong support for renewable energy when he toured Idaho earlier this year to […]

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