cookiesinheaven

a great little local organic store out in Goleta.

Check out their website....sign up for their email newsletters...then visit their store to grab one of their weekly specials.

Labels: grocery stores, Organic, produce

Say it ain't SOOOOOO!!!!
Looks like they already closed the Gelson's I used to shop at when I lived in the LaLa area...the one that Chef Curtis Stone loved to corner shoppers at.

Compton-based Arden Group operates 16 Gelson’s Markets in Southern California, in upscale areas like Marina Del Rey and Pacific Palisades. In a statement, Arden Group said it’s exploring “strategic alternatives, which may include a possible sale of the Company.” - KPCC

The 16-unit chain, headquartered in Encino, has developed a reputation for celebrity clientele and locates its stores in well-to-do areas such as Santa Barbara, Pacific Palisades and Newport Beach; certain ones feature red-carpet-quality service such as valet stands. The company is known for its pricey imported foods, specialty brands and sushi. Some stores host gelato bars and meat carving carts. While less upscale grocery chains such as Vons offer prepared-food counters licensed by Panda Express, Gelson's customers get celebrity chef-inspired meals from Wolfgang Puck Express. - Latte Times

Labels: Gelson's, grocery stores, Pasadena, Santa Barbara

is not opening up a second outstanding local store. 
(There is a second store in Long Beach...)

I wish...but the rumour just ain't true.

Labels: grocery stores, Lazy Acres, Santa Barbara, stores

SO not "Nom Nom Nom"....

Facebook has announced a new system that lets advertisers target you based on what groceries you buy, what car you drive, and what kind of phone you use. It’s just the latest example of an emerging pattern at the social network – follow the user all over the place to close more ad sales.

The bland name of Facebook’s new “Partner Categories” belies a bold mission: tying disparate real-world data to Facebook’s online social graph. The system allows Facebook advertisers to target groups of users based on loyalty card usage at grocery stores and elsewhere, based on public records like auto registration, and based on email addresses consumers give out at retail checkout registers. - Wired

 

Labels: facebook, grocery stores, technology

Labels: grocery stores, neighborhood market, Santa Barbara

in Long Beach, CA.

Lazy Acres, a natural/organic food store here owned by Bristol Farms, said it would open its second store early next month in Long Beach, CA 

..."Lazy Acres' focus on service and variety of healthy living products has been central to its success,” said Adam Caldecott, senior vice president of marketing. “The wholesome community market will remind you of how it used to be, bringing back the good feeling of slower times, genuine service and real food." At its store here the company has developed "a reputation as a resource for education on a healthy lifestyle," Caldecott said.- Supermarket News

Labels: Bristol Farms, California, grocery stores, Lazy Acres, Long Beach

Labels: albertsons, grocery stores

Labels: bees, food safety, grocery stores, Honey

Labels: Alma del Pueblo, downtown, grocery stores, local, neighborhood market, Santa Barbara

Gelson's Market, a photo by jericl cat on Flickr.

Designed by Stiles Clements, the shiny new Gelson’s Market was modernistic in design and had the air of a building set in a tropic land. Inside, from roof to floor, the market’s front had a glassed instead of a cement front, an industry first. It was completely air-conditioned and heated. Huge circulating fans and giant heaters guaranteed a complete circulation of clean, fresh air of proper temperature every five minutes. Specially designed fixtures in all departments afforded ample display of the peerless selection of items which Gelson’s handled. 

Spacious aisles — which would become a Gelson’s hallmark — and large shopping carts were available to make shoppers’ selection of merchandise a pleasure. The first Gelson’s also set the stage for what would become Gelson’s tradition of exemplary meat and seafood. The store had an ultra-modern, self-service Meat Department, with stainless steel and enamel cases running the building’s full length. Behind these cases, in full view of the customers — when you’ve got it, flaunt it! — was the meat cutting and wrapping room. - Gelson's

Labels: Anniversary, Gelson's, grocery stores, Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Supermarkets

Produce at Lazy Acres Market
Originally uploaded by bradlauster.

Happy 20 year Anniversary!

Labels: Anniversary, Flickr, grocery stores, Lazy Acres, Santa Barbara

Supermarket operator Supervalu Inc. said Friday it has sold its Bristol Farms chain to that division's management team in partnership with investment firm Endeavour Capital.

Bristol Farms, a southern California based grocery retailer formed in 1982, now operates 13 Bristol Farms stores and one Lazy Acres store. The locations will continue to operate under their current names with existing local management and employee base. - BusinessWeek

....In 2004, Albertsons bought the chain for an undisclosed amount. At the time, Albertsons had been waging an increasingly tough battle not only with other conventional grocery chains but also with mass merchandisers such as Wal-Mart and Costco that were becoming a force in groceries using cut-rate prices.

The goal had been to give Albertsons "the ability to operate smaller-format stores in wealthier neighborhoods and differentiate themselves not based on price but on quality and service," said Lloyd Greif, president of Greif & Co., a Los Angeles investment bank that put together both the 2004 deal and the most recent sale.

The corporate marriage "looked good on paper," Greif said, but was less so in practice. Burdened with aging stores and growing competition, Albertsons was sold in 2006 and broken into three pieces as part of an $11.1-billion deal plus the assumption of $6.3 billion in debt. Supervalu acquired more than 1,100 stores, including the 270 Albertsons and Bristol Farms markets in Southern California.

Bristol Farms "became a corporate orphan," Greif said. "It didn't fit in with the strategy to compete for customers on price." - Latte Times

Labels: grocery stores, Lazy Acres

Labels: FDA, food safety, grocery stores, tweets, twitter

Labels: Birthdays, grocery stores, Whole Foods

In 1915, four Jordano brothers opened a small market in Santa Barbara. More store openings soon followed, and by the 1950s the family-owned business was operating the first chain of supermarkets on the Central Coast. Jordano's stores were known for high quality products, innovative merchandising, and superior customer service. The company grew to become the area's largest wholesale distributor of foodand beverages, and one of the 50 largest companies of its kind in the United States.

Today, Jordano's is still family and employee owned, very proud of its Santa Barbara heritage, and committed to supporting the local community.

Labels: Anniversary, grocery stores, Jordano's, Kitchen, Santa Barbara, stores

Labels: balsamic, California, grocery stores, lead, vinegar

Labels: Co-op, Food, grocery stores, Isla Vista, local, sale

"As we have always done, we continue to listen and evolve to improve the shopping trip for customers. We're hearing customers want to stretch their dollars even further, without compromising on quality," said Tim Mason, Fresh & Easy CEO. "Particularly in this economy, we're pleased we can open four additional stores in new neighborhoods while creating more than 80 high-quality jobs." - PRNewswire

Labels: British, grocery stores

Kroger, one of the biggest supermarket chains in the United States, is recalling products in 31 states where it operates stores under various names. The stores involved are Kroger, Ralphs, Fred Meyer, Food 4 Less, Fry's, King Soopers, Smith's, Dillons, QFC, City Market, Foods Co., Jay C, Scott's, Owen's, Baker's, Gerbes, Hilander and Pay Less.

Kroger said it was recalling peanut butter store-baked and store-packaged cookies and select cakes sold in its family of stores because the products could be contaminated with salmonella. No illnesses have been reported in connection with the cookies and cakes, the company said in a statement on its Web site. - CNN

Labels: grocery stores, Kroger, Ralph's, Recalls