Nearly nine in 10 Americans have made at least one meaningful adjustment to their financial behavior in response to economic pressures, with grocery prices ranking as the No. 1 concern, according to KeyBank’s 2026 Financial Mobility Survey Pulse Poll. The survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18-70, conducted by Schmidt Market Research in January, found that […]
Category: National
Posted inCenter Store, National, News
Kraft Heinz Becomes NFL’s First Condiment Partner In Five-Year Global Deal
The Kraft Heinz Co. and the National Football League have announced a five-year global strategic partnership, making Kraft Heinz the league’s first global condiment partner. The deal brings a broad portfolio of Kraft Heinz brands – including Heinz, Kraft, Velveeta, Philadelphia, Kraft Mac & Cheese, Primal Kitchen, Classico and A1 – into the center of the […]
Posted inExecutive News, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Featured News, National, News
AWG Taps Former Kroger Division Leader As COO
Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) has appointed Joe Kelley as COO, effective May 4. Kelley will oversee merchandising, procurement, distribution, sales, marketing and division support center operations across AWG’s 33-state footprint. Kelley joins from Kroger, where he most recently served as SVP of retail divisions, leading 11 divisions across the central and western United States. His […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Featured News, National, News, Save A Lot
Save A Lot Honors 10 Retail Partners At Annual Meeting
Save A Lot recognized 10 retail partners at its annual Retail Partner Awards, presented during the company’s annual meeting and food show in St. Charles, Missouri. Awards honored performance in calendar year 2025 across several major categories, including year-over-year customer and sales growth, Store Managers of the Year, Hometown Hero, Omnichannel Leaders, Outstanding Customer Service and […]
Posted inIndependent Store News, Association News, Featured News, National, News
Main Street Competition Coalition Expands Into Permanent Advocacy Organization
The Main Street Competition Coalition (MSCC) is formalizing its structure as a permanent advocacy organization, expanding its mission beyond Robinson-Patman Act enforcement to challenge market power abuses across grocery, pharmacy and agriculture. The coalition – founded by the National Grocers Association (NGA) and the National Community Pharmacists Association – describes itself as the first business-backed […]
Posted inC-Store News, Grocery Store Equipment, National, News
Tote Deploys AI Employee Agent With Loop Neighborhood Markets
Tote, the AI-native point-of-sale platform built for fuel and convenience retail, has deployed its Genie AI agent with Loop Neighborhood Markets, a California-based convenience retailer operating more than 50 locations. Since launch, the tool has handled associate inquiries across customer service, POS operations, maintenance and payments with 100 percent first-contact resolution and zero escalations to […]
Posted inSnacks Brands, Featured News, National, News
PepsiCo Begins Tostitos Brand Refresh, Introduces Updated Packaging
PepsiCo Foods U.S. is rolling out a comprehensive brand refresh for Tostitos, moving the tortilla chip and dip line beyond its traditional snacking identity with updated packaging, a revised logo and marketing that emphasizes ingredient quality and the traditional masa-making process behind the product. The refreshed packaging is hitting shelves now and will continue rolling […]
Posted inGuest Contributors, Featured News, National, News
Crossroads: How Cap Rates, Lease Terms Affect Grocery Store Property Value
In a previous column, we discussed building businesses to last and some of the factors that influence valuation. Today, we will take a closer look at one area that often creates confusion – the valuation of real estate in the grocery industry. Nerd alert: This one is a little more technical, but I believe it […]